I think SL is WAY over my head....

.....I don't know, but it seems like most of you guys are so much more advanced in the computer world than me lol....can a person that's not so compter savvy actually enjoy and be successful in SL? I'm definately no computer graphics designer LOL....I do good to d/l music and upload pic's!! Should I keep trying or give it up after about 4hrs of wondering aimlessly?!? lol I love Sims Online....is this so far advanced from that, that I will never fit in The World? Opinions?

To enjoy, you just need to be able to operate the client.

To become successful you will need some kind of real-world savvy depending on the field you are entering.

People of all skill levels can find stuff to enjoy in SL.

Maybe you don't have the computer skills (yet) to make fancy clothing or create a flying spaceship (or whatever).... in which case maybe hanging out with people, chatting, dancing, or playing games might be more your speed. For a great newbie hangout do a Search (button on the bottom of your SL window) for a place called The Shelter. They take great care of new folks there.

As you get used to SL, you'll find your skills growing, opening more options of stuff to explore in SL.

-Ghoti

Wondering aimlessly is part of the learning experience. Meeting people can be difficult You can start going to some of the classes or the meet and greets they have, those are listed undersearch than under events.

But you need no knowledge just move around and make friends really.. And once you are comfortable with that than you can branch out to other things.. People really are generally nice, don't let the forums fool you, everyone is quite nice in teh game.

Well, I guess I'm just overwhelmed and not giving it enough time...I've already screwed up my Avie...she looks HORRIBLE lol....and I can't change her face back. I click on something in my inventory last night that someone was kind enough to give me, not realizing I'd be stuck with freckles and just not looking like I want lol...I already don't know where to turn to fix it. Just typical newbie stuff I guess.

We were all new once... don't worry, and I just told you in How's Life what to do about your look

SL is only as complicated as what you choose to do. Nobody says you have to be the world's greatest builder, scripter and everything else... choose your own path, make your own game, and most of all enjoy yourself!

Lewis

meh, i'll be on this evening, feel free to message me and well figure it out or find you one of the many freebie skins out there that aren't to bad. Well that is if someone else doesn't help you first.. hehe


I think there is a sandbox that is for newbies somewhere, maybe do a search for sandbox and than look through them till you see its for newbies.. I think people there will be willing to help and there are quite a few of free stuff there for you to pick up.

OMGosh don't give up yet. Yes there a lot of things to learn about the controls, options, settings etc.

I certainly can say that I have learned what I needed thus far, but there sre still many many aspects of SL that I am clueless about. It can be intimidating but you will not regret having patience w/ yourself and taking baby steps.

Edited to add...I also will be on tonight and I have a freebie box for gurls that I like to hand out and in it is a favorite skin that is free. I also like to help so please IM me.....seriously you won't be bothering me

I think this is my first time posting.

ive been ingame for about a month now. Joined up as my wife wanted me to come on.

im an advid gamer but didnt know what to do. I was aimless and just exploring for a week.


Started watching someone make an object and someone gave me a tattoo. Thats when i realized it was just a texture on a clothing option.

Noq it helps my wife is a graphic designer. but i had NO knowledge of Photoshop. I read abunch of tutorials online and now we have a shop were I see my own tattoos. I am begining to get the earge to do objects ingame as I have seen more of them and starting to understand the way the SL system works.


Give it time i constantly have something to do now, along with my store, the clubs i visit and my DJ work in SL... ive barely scratched the surface of what the game can offer. it is overwelming at first... but soon you will find something that your mind just kinda SNAPS to and you begin to understand alot more.

LOL...OK, maybe I just need to go take some Buspar or Prozac or something and chill! Maybe I'm just over thinking everything. I even went so far as to uninstall SL last night. I need to take a deep breath.....and let all this good advise sink in! Thx everyone, y'all are great.

Tatiana, welcome to Second Life. If you were lost for 4 hours wandering aimlessly, you're still well within the learning curve. I've been here a year and there's still times I wander aimlessly

Get with Volatile on the avie. I'd be happy to offer my advice too, if you want it -- and there are some free female skins available that will at least get you to the non-newb look for now Just know that it takes a while to get your avatar where you want it, and you can always keep altering it as you wish. Be sure to "save" your appearance the first time, then each time you change it, "Save As" with a date -- for example, my current avatar appearance is named "Cindy 07-24-2006" because that's the last time I messed with her nose. If I change it again, I'll save that shape as "Cindy" + that current date. This way you can always go back and wear older shapes as you wish or create really outlandish new ones for fun and still go back to the main one you prefer. Each shape can be saved with its own name.

Watch your inventory tonight. I'm going to send you some folders of landmarks and some notecards that will help you get started and keep you from getting so lost IM me if you need any help.

*places ceremonial box on head in solidarity with OP*

As a recovering cyber-luddite I understand completely. But don't give up--like most things that are worthwhile, it takes time. And don't forget, with they way things keep getting changed added, and scrambled, at some point almost everyone--even those who have been here since the specs were drawn up for dirt--is continually on some sort of learning curve or other. Not sure how reassuring THAT might be, but it should put things in perspective. The nice thing is you will encounter lots of very good folks who are more than happy to help you figure stuff out. One thing that is very appealing about SL is the way many of the residents truly enjoy helping new folk who are willing and enthused about the possiblities. And you will find that as you progress in making it work, it will give you a surprising degree of satisfaction with regards to your growth as an increasingly computer savy person.

So welcome, take a deep breath, have fun with it.

Thx Cindy.... that's one problem I have....I didn't save my Avie before I clicked in my inventory and changed my make-up....so I haven't been able to get back in the face changing mode as it says I'm locked out or whatever.... ACK! I'll definately be looking in my inventory...tysm!

Im not sure what your money situation is.
But I used to play the sims 2 to see what the fuss was about on the 3d graphics stuff. And having a place of your own or a thing of your own is very motivating.

If a place you could buy or rent. Or you could pursue a skill.
Having some kind of home base seems like a good idea. From that you can learn
how to buy, and place and furnish a place. I find the challenge of learning new
things to be very absorbing.
Other people really get into the social aspect more predominantly.
Some just gamble (not reccomended IMHO) lol.
It is a good idea to have an idea of what you want to do in world.
And do not let anyone tell you what to do if it is not something you already want to do.

Ok, that's because you're wearing someone's no-modify makeup kit.

Some tricks:

1. Open inventory. Type in "Worn" in the search field. It will then filter for everything you're wearing, including skins, makeup, prims, hair. It makes it easier to find something if it's not in the right folder.

2. Take off the makeup kit, then go into Appearance and you should be able to change things again. If your shape changes again when you wear the makeup, then the makeup includes a shape too, and you might want to consider whether you want to wear it at all.

3. Items you wear or use in SL have three permission settings and any item can be any combination of these three:

* Modify -- allows you as "next owner" to alter its dimensions and position, maybe even the texture and color it uses. No-Mod means you can't change it.
* Copy -- You can make copies of something, for example if you have stockings or a skirt you like with several outfits you can make copies of them into each folder.
* Transfer - meaning you can give or sell to someone else. No-trans means it's yours forever.

I won't get into a complicated discussion of what the various combinations might mean for you as a buyer/user, but most stuff you see will either be "Mod/Copy/Notrans" or "No-Mod/No-Copy/Transfer". Rarely will something have all permissions set unless it's a notecard.

LOL....omg....i think I need to take a WEEK off from rl work and sit in a locked room w/no distractions and MAYBE just maybe I'll figure some of this out!! lol

Just to get you out of a bind. If you open the inventory, and look at the section called Library... open Body Parts and you should see all the starter avatars in there... it may not be perfect, but at least it will reset you to where you came in.

And just to add to what Siobhan said, you just drag a folder onto your av and you are instantly transformed.

To change settings like the freckles and anything else you want to try, you right click on your av, choose appearance from the menu that pops up and then experiment away!

Cliffy....i know how to change to appearance (well, sort of) , but I put something from my inventory on and it has a lock on it so I can't change it....but apparently I can go back to default....DA#M I wish I was at home so I could get on sl now! lol

I came here from sims online also , not having any idea how to do anything. At first its a bit overwhelming but the cool thing about here is almost everyone you meet will be happy to show you around and teach you something helpful. And you dont need ANY real world savvy at anything to do anything here i have like NO savvy I dont even know what savvy means !!!! You really can learn here with no previous experience, theres so many guides and learning tutorials available. You will like it SO much better here , the clothes, oh the clothes , theres so much clothes here always new clothes yayy for clothes and stuff like that, plus you dont have to look like anyone else in game EVER if you dont wanna.

I'm sorry, Tatiana, I probably gave you TMI

Put simply, it sounds like the makeup you're wearing is set to No-Mod. Take it off first, change your avatar, SAVE AS with whatever name you want, then see if the makeup changes you back. if it does, I think I'd just take it off and not wear it. There are plenty of other modifiable makeups around.

Again, ty Cindy....I'm breathing better now lol! I'm going to go home after while and just relax with it and have fun....but if you get an IM from me saying HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you'll know that breathing is not working!!

I'll bring my oxygen mask

Do we breathe? That's a new one.

Oh, you need way more than a week! That's what keeps me coming back for more.... there is always something new to learn or do, places to go, people to meet...

Don't rush- just have fun.