Second Life Forums Archive - So, I bought the book.."Second Life: The Official Guide"

Jennifer Roundfield

Supersized Amazon

Join date: 7 Apr 2006

Posts: 176

02-27-2007 15:31

Second Life: The Official Guide

I bought it. It was on the shelf at Barnes & Nobel the other night and I thought, why not? It might be cool. Besides, I like books.

It is pretty cool, after browsing it in more detail. Nice pictures, nice graphics...and a CD. And that is where I have a problem. Two problems actually.

1) The Machinima, while very cool, do not play well on the two machines I tried. The playback skips periodicaly, very annoying! Is this a fact of life or a cd problem?

2) The free stuff. It looks like you only get it when you register as a new user, so the value seems non-existant to anyone actually in SL. Can you say bait and switch?

I may take it back based on the CD problem and spend the money on Lindens...

~Jenni~

Brenda Connolly

Un United Avatar

Join date: 10 Jan 2007

Posts: 25,000

02-27-2007 15:36

I haven't seen the book, but so far it seems most questions can be answered either here or by a little trial and error in world.I'd rather spend the money on Linden$ as well.

_____________________

Don't you ever try to look behind my eyes. You don't want to know what they have seen.

http://brenda-connolly.blogspot.com

Wildefire Walcott

Heartbreaking

Join date: 8 Nov 2005

Posts: 2,156

02-27-2007 15:40

Don't take it back! They quoted me in that book!

But they spelled my last name wrong.

On second thought maybe you should return it on grounds it's defective.

_____________________

Desperation Isle Estates: Great prices, great neighbors, great service!
http://desperationisle.blogspot.com/

New Desperation Isle: The prettiest BDSM Playground and Fetish Mall in SL!
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Desperation Isle Productions: Skyboxes for lots (and budgets) of all sizes!

Atashi Toshihiko

Frequently Befuddled

Join date: 7 Dec 2006

Posts: 1,423

02-27-2007 17:30

I bought the book from Amazon. It was ok.. I think it would be a good book for newcomers, but I doubt newcomers would plunk down money for the book till they knew they liked SL, and by then they wouldln't be newcomers exactly. I was disapointed in the CD, all the exclusive stuff I found on it, I'd already downloaded from various parts of SL or sites SL had linked to. Not so exclusive after all.

About the only part of the book that I've found useful was the area that's like a tourism guide-book. Sadly though, half the places I've wanted to visit don't exist any more.

-Atashi

_____________________

Visit Atashi's Art and Oddities Store and the Waikiti Motor Works at beautiful Waikiti.

Raudf Fox

(ra-ow-th)

Join date: 25 Feb 2005

Posts: 5,119

02-27-2007 17:39

Whoa.. there's a hard copy player's guide?! (just kidding)

Since you can see the machinima here or in world, the freebies... well, there are tons of them, and the build tips that it might have? You can find them in world too or on web pages.. Yeah, I'd take it back for the defective CD and spend the money on L.

_____________________

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Cybin Monde

Resident Moderator (?)

Join date: 27 Jan 2004

Posts: 2,468

it's just fun

02-27-2007 19:29

on one hand, i got the book as a Christmas present.. on the other hand, i wasn't mentioned.. so a bit of a bummer, but still.. it's THE hard copy book as of now.

i say don't return it.. just because it's the first official SL book.

to me, it didn't matter what was in it.. heck, i haven't even read it yet. i'm just happy to own it.

plus, you're not really buying it for the CD.. it's a piece of history. just to say, "i'm part of that!" is enough. well, for me anyway..

_____________________

"We, as developers, are doing the easy part – building the scaffolding for a new world. You, as the engines of creation, must breathe life into it."
- Philip Linden

"There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination. Living there, you'll be free if you truly wish to be."
- Willy Wonka (circa 1971)

SecondSpace (http://groups.myspace.com/secondspace) : MySpace group for SLers.

SuezanneC Baskerville

Forums Rock!

Join date: 22 Dec 2003

Posts: 14,229

02-27-2007 19:58

The review I read began:

From: someone

I attempted to open the book to read it but was at first unable to open the cover. It took repeated attempts over a period of half an hour before the cover would let me in. The characters on the page appeared blurry, as if they were having trouble loading in full resolution, untill I realized my optics didn't meet the system requirements. Upgrading my optical system by putting on my reading glasses solved that problem. As I scanned my eyes back and forth over the pages I was distracted repeatedly by flying penises and singing/muttering Batman cubes floating through the air. I don't recall having observed this phenomenon previously, and I feel reasonably certain that I would recall such a thing. I wonder if it might be related to the book??

Then the pages all went blank! First time I've ever had a book crash on me...

_____________________

-

So long to these forums, the vBulletin forums that used to be at forums.secondlife.com. I will miss them.

I can be found on the web by searching for "SuezanneC Baskerville", or go to

http://www.google.com/profiles/suezanne

-

http://lindenlab.tribe.net/ created on 11/19/03.

Members: Ben, Catherine, Colin, Cory, Dan, Doug, Jim, Philip, Phoenix, Richard,
Robin, and Ryan

-

Mike Westerburg

Who, What, Where?

Join date: 2 May 2004

Posts: 317

02-28-2007 00:06

From: SuezanneC Baskerville

The review I read began:
I attempted to open the book to read it but was at first unable to open the cover. It took repeated attempts over a period of half an hour before the cover would let me in. The characters on the page appeared blurry, as if they were having trouble loading in full resolution, untill I realized my optics didn't meet the system requirements. Upgrading my optical system by putting on my reading glasses solved that problem. As I scanned my eyes back and forth over the pages I was distracted repeatedly by flying penises and singing/muttering Batman cubes floating through the air. I don't recall having observed this phenomenon previously, and I feel reasonably certain that I would recall such a thing. I wonder if it might be related to the book??

Then the pages all went blank! First time I've ever had a book crash on me...

O..M..G..!
Too funny!!!!!!!!!

_____________________

"Life throws you a lemon, you make lemonade and then plant the seeds"

Caramia Camilo

Registered User

Join date: 7 Dec 2006

Posts: 27

02-28-2007 02:47

got the book for a present as I thought it would give me a better idea on how to script etc but you can actually learn more from in-game than in the book

Markubis Brentano

Hi...YAH!!

Join date: 15 Apr 2006

Posts: 836

02-28-2007 03:10

There's a book now??!!

What version is the book? 1.7? 1.12? I imagine it wouldn't be 1.10....that one would have gray goo on some of the pages...hehe

Does it have a pull out centerfold of a Banana phone?

Inquiziter Desideri

Registered User

Join date: 23 Jan 2007

Posts: 34

02-28-2007 06:21

Think I will just wait for the movie to come out,

What is a book anyway?

Podo Umarov

Registered User

Join date: 26 Feb 2007

Posts: 10

02-28-2007 08:17

I bought the book, it was vaguely helpful...

I guess I will keep it as a historical document. It does include a nice history of SL.

Julia Hathor

Child Of Nature

Join date: 7 Feb 2005

Posts: 172

02-28-2007 10:15

Actually I found the book to be quite shallow- you can learn more from reading the knowledge base. If you can't learn more from a book then from the knowledge base, why buy it? It was definately not worth the money, but since it was a gift, I didn't blow a gasket at my disappointment. The travel-log section was the best feature, but shouldn't every place mentioned there at least have gotten one small photo?

It still had the same emphesis on making money in SL that you see in all the media hype - which is neither easy nor the only thing it is good for. What about its ability to help the disabled lead a better life? How about bringing education to the masses? How about the ability to link-up families separated across the world? I love SL, its creativity it inspires, and can see its promise for the future even in the face of its failures. This wasn't a book to help you see the 'magic' & cope with its limitations & frustrations.

Shallow.

You can bet there will be other books in the future that are better then one that only touts a rose-colored shallow company view.

Ketter McAllister

Registered User

Join date: 28 Aug 2006

Posts: 104

02-28-2007 13:55

I really enjoyed the history chapter. The building chapter was basically useless -- wished they'd done more with that.

Too bad you can't get "upgrades" of the book.

Matt Newchurch

Registered User

Join date: 6 Jan 2006

Posts: 215

02-28-2007 14:38

From: Ketter McAllister

I really enjoyed the history chapter. The building chapter was basically useless -- wished they'd done more with that.

Too bad you can't get "upgrades" of the book.

Especially considering how out of date it must be.

"Chapter Four: Dwell and You"

"Chapter Seven: Educating For Fun And Profit"

"Chapter Twelve: Transportation in Secondlife, or, why flawless teleportation is not just a science fiction pipe dream"

"Chapter Seventeen: Making the most of your FirstLand"

_____________________

Are you an executive furry, and not a weirdo furry? Join the brand-new "Executive Furries" group!

Raudf Fox

(ra-ow-th)

Join date: 25 Feb 2005

Posts: 5,119

02-28-2007 14:43

Here's a book I'd love to see about Second Life: The Snapshots of History - Places that we miss now. A book about the landmarks of Second Life that are no more. Eh, maybe a website, then.

_____________________

DiamonX Studios, the place of the Victorian Times series of gowns and dresses - Located at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Fushida/224/176

Want more attachment points for your avatar's wearing pleasure? Then please vote for

https://jira.secondlife.com/browse/VWR-1065?

SuezanneC Baskerville

Forums Rock!

Join date: 22 Dec 2003

Posts: 14,229

02-28-2007 17:05

From: Julia Hathor

How about bringing education to the masses?

SL might have to share a bit of the credit for that with the printing press.

Also the phonograph, radio, tv, cassettes, home computers, CDs, DVD, and the internet.

------- addendum

also writing and teachers

_____________________

-

So long to these forums, the vBulletin forums that used to be at forums.secondlife.com. I will miss them.

I can be found on the web by searching for "SuezanneC Baskerville", or go to

http://www.google.com/profiles/suezanne

-

http://lindenlab.tribe.net/ created on 11/19/03.

Members: Ben, Catherine, Colin, Cory, Dan, Doug, Jim, Philip, Phoenix, Richard,
Robin, and Ryan

-

Winter Phoenix

Voyager of Experiences

Join date: 15 Nov 2004

Posts: 683

an easy read

02-28-2007 20:38

I picked it up. Just cus it was an SL book. Gotta support the fact that somebody took the time to write one. I think its more suitable for the newbie. It didnt show me anything I didnt know already, but Ive been around awhile.

_____________________

~GIVEN FREE REIGN THE SYSTEM WILL TELL YOU,
WHAT TO DO,
WHEN AND HOW TO DO IT,
WHAT YOU CAN READ, VIEW, OR LISTEN TO,
WHAT YOU CAN SAY,
WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR OWN BODY,
AND SUCK ALL YOUR MONEY OUT OF YOUR POCKET WHILE IT DOES THIS!
QUESTION AUTHORITY!~ W.P

Sylvia Trilling

Flying Tribe

Join date: 2 Oct 2006

Posts: 1,117

02-28-2007 22:06

I know a resident, Ansel Gasparini (who I have also met in real life) who is writing an SL book. He intends for it to have in-depth, practical how-to information and I beleive he will succeed.

So, I bought the book.."Second Life: The Official Guide"
Jennifer Roundfield Supersized Amazon Join date: 7 Apr 2006 Posts: 176	02-27-2007 15:31 Second Life: The Official Guide I bought it. It was on the shelf at Barnes & Nobel the other night and I thought, why not? It might be cool. Besides, I like books. It is pretty cool, after browsing it in more detail. Nice pictures, nice graphics...and a CD. And that is where I have a problem. Two problems actually. 1) The Machinima, while very cool, do not play well on the two machines I tried. The playback skips periodicaly, very annoying! Is this a fact of life or a cd problem? 2) The free stuff. It looks like you only get it when you register as a new user, so the value seems non-existant to anyone actually in SL. Can you say bait and switch? I may take it back based on the CD problem and spend the money on Lindens... ~Jenni~
Brenda Connolly Un United Avatar Join date: 10 Jan 2007 Posts: 25,000	02-27-2007 15:36 I haven't seen the book, but so far it seems most questions can be answered either here or by a little trial and error in world.I'd rather spend the money on Linden$ as well. _____________________ Don't you ever try to look behind my eyes. You don't want to know what they have seen. http://brenda-connolly.blogspot.com
Wildefire Walcott Heartbreaking Join date: 8 Nov 2005 Posts: 2,156	02-27-2007 15:40 Don't take it back! They quoted me in that book! But they spelled my last name wrong. On second thought maybe you should return it on grounds it's defective. _____________________ Desperation Isle Estates: Great prices, great neighbors, great service! http://desperationisle.blogspot.com/ New Desperation Isle: The prettiest BDSM Playground and Fetish Mall in SL! http://desperationisle.com/ Desperation Isle Productions: Skyboxes for lots (and budgets) of all sizes!
Atashi Toshihiko Frequently Befuddled Join date: 7 Dec 2006 Posts: 1,423	02-27-2007 17:30 I bought the book from Amazon. It was ok.. I think it would be a good book for newcomers, but I doubt newcomers would plunk down money for the book till they knew they liked SL, and by then they wouldln't be newcomers exactly. I was disapointed in the CD, all the exclusive stuff I found on it, I'd already downloaded from various parts of SL or sites SL had linked to. Not so exclusive after all. About the only part of the book that I've found useful was the area that's like a tourism guide-book. Sadly though, half the places I've wanted to visit don't exist any more. -Atashi _____________________ Visit Atashi's Art and Oddities Store and the Waikiti Motor Works at beautiful Waikiti.
Raudf Fox (ra-ow-th) Join date: 25 Feb 2005 Posts: 5,119	02-27-2007 17:39 Whoa.. there's a hard copy player's guide?! (just kidding) Since you can see the machinima here or in world, the freebies... well, there are tons of them, and the build tips that it might have? You can find them in world too or on web pages.. Yeah, I'd take it back for the defective CD and spend the money on L. _____________________ DiamonX Studios, the place of the Victorian Times series of gowns and dresses - Located at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Fushida/224/176 Want more attachment points for your avatar's wearing pleasure? Then please vote for https://jira.secondlife.com/browse/VWR-1065?
Cybin Monde Resident Moderator (?) Join date: 27 Jan 2004 Posts: 2,468	it's just fun 02-27-2007 19:29 on one hand, i got the book as a Christmas present.. on the other hand, i wasn't mentioned.. so a bit of a bummer, but still.. it's THE hard copy book as of now. i say don't return it.. just because it's the first official SL book. to me, it didn't matter what was in it.. heck, i haven't even read it yet. i'm just happy to own it. plus, you're not really buying it for the CD.. it's a piece of history. just to say, "i'm part of that!" is enough. well, for me anyway.. _____________________ "We, as developers, are doing the easy part – building the scaffolding for a new world. You, as the engines of creation, must breathe life into it." - Philip Linden "There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination. Living there, you'll be free if you truly wish to be." - Willy Wonka (circa 1971) SecondSpace (http://groups.myspace.com/secondspace) : MySpace group for SLers.
SuezanneC Baskerville Forums Rock! Join date: 22 Dec 2003 Posts: 14,229	02-27-2007 19:58 The review I read began: From: someone I attempted to open the book to read it but was at first unable to open the cover. It took repeated attempts over a period of half an hour before the cover would let me in. The characters on the page appeared blurry, as if they were having trouble loading in full resolution, untill I realized my optics didn't meet the system requirements. Upgrading my optical system by putting on my reading glasses solved that problem. As I scanned my eyes back and forth over the pages I was distracted repeatedly by flying penises and singing/muttering Batman cubes floating through the air. I don't recall having observed this phenomenon previously, and I feel reasonably certain that I would recall such a thing. I wonder if it might be related to the book?? Then the pages all went blank! First time I've ever had a book crash on me... _____________________ - So long to these forums, the vBulletin forums that used to be at forums.secondlife.com. I will miss them. I can be found on the web by searching for "SuezanneC Baskerville", or go to http://www.google.com/profiles/suezanne - http://lindenlab.tribe.net/ created on 11/19/03. Members: Ben, Catherine, Colin, Cory, Dan, Doug, Jim, Philip, Phoenix, Richard, Robin, and Ryan -
Mike Westerburg Who, What, Where? Join date: 2 May 2004 Posts: 317	02-28-2007 00:06 From: SuezanneC Baskerville The review I read began: I attempted to open the book to read it but was at first unable to open the cover. It took repeated attempts over a period of half an hour before the cover would let me in. The characters on the page appeared blurry, as if they were having trouble loading in full resolution, untill I realized my optics didn't meet the system requirements. Upgrading my optical system by putting on my reading glasses solved that problem. As I scanned my eyes back and forth over the pages I was distracted repeatedly by flying penises and singing/muttering Batman cubes floating through the air. I don't recall having observed this phenomenon previously, and I feel reasonably certain that I would recall such a thing. I wonder if it might be related to the book?? Then the pages all went blank! First time I've ever had a book crash on me... O..M..G..! Too funny!!!!!!!!! _____________________ "Life throws you a lemon, you make lemonade and then plant the seeds"
Caramia Camilo Registered User Join date: 7 Dec 2006 Posts: 27	02-28-2007 02:47 got the book for a present as I thought it would give me a better idea on how to script etc but you can actually learn more from in-game than in the book
Markubis Brentano Hi...YAH!! Join date: 15 Apr 2006 Posts: 836	02-28-2007 03:10 There's a book now??!! What version is the book? 1.7? 1.12? I imagine it wouldn't be 1.10....that one would have gray goo on some of the pages...hehe Does it have a pull out centerfold of a Banana phone?
Inquiziter Desideri Registered User Join date: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 34	02-28-2007 06:21 Think I will just wait for the movie to come out, What is a book anyway?
Podo Umarov Registered User Join date: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 10	02-28-2007 08:17 I bought the book, it was vaguely helpful... I guess I will keep it as a historical document. It does include a nice history of SL.
Julia Hathor Child Of Nature Join date: 7 Feb 2005 Posts: 172	02-28-2007 10:15 Actually I found the book to be quite shallow- you can learn more from reading the knowledge base. If you can't learn more from a book then from the knowledge base, why buy it? It was definately not worth the money, but since it was a gift, I didn't blow a gasket at my disappointment. The travel-log section was the best feature, but shouldn't every place mentioned there at least have gotten one small photo? It still had the same emphesis on making money in SL that you see in all the media hype - which is neither easy nor the only thing it is good for. What about its ability to help the disabled lead a better life? How about bringing education to the masses? How about the ability to link-up families separated across the world? I love SL, its creativity it inspires, and can see its promise for the future even in the face of its failures. This wasn't a book to help you see the 'magic' & cope with its limitations & frustrations. Shallow. You can bet there will be other books in the future that are better then one that only touts a rose-colored shallow company view.
Ketter McAllister Registered User Join date: 28 Aug 2006 Posts: 104	02-28-2007 13:55 I really enjoyed the history chapter. The building chapter was basically useless -- wished they'd done more with that. Too bad you can't get "upgrades" of the book.
Matt Newchurch Registered User Join date: 6 Jan 2006 Posts: 215	02-28-2007 14:38 From: Ketter McAllister I really enjoyed the history chapter. The building chapter was basically useless -- wished they'd done more with that. Too bad you can't get "upgrades" of the book. Especially considering how out of date it must be. "Chapter Four: Dwell and You" "Chapter Seven: Educating For Fun And Profit" "Chapter Twelve: Transportation in Secondlife, or, why flawless teleportation is not just a science fiction pipe dream" "Chapter Seventeen: Making the most of your FirstLand" _____________________ Are you an executive furry, and not a weirdo furry? Join the brand-new "Executive Furries" group!
Raudf Fox (ra-ow-th) Join date: 25 Feb 2005 Posts: 5,119	02-28-2007 14:43 Here's a book I'd love to see about Second Life: The Snapshots of History - Places that we miss now. A book about the landmarks of Second Life that are no more. Eh, maybe a website, then. _____________________ DiamonX Studios, the place of the Victorian Times series of gowns and dresses - Located at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Fushida/224/176 Want more attachment points for your avatar's wearing pleasure? Then please vote for https://jira.secondlife.com/browse/VWR-1065?
SuezanneC Baskerville Forums Rock! Join date: 22 Dec 2003 Posts: 14,229	02-28-2007 17:05 From: Julia Hathor How about bringing education to the masses? SL might have to share a bit of the credit for that with the printing press. Also the phonograph, radio, tv, cassettes, home computers, CDs, DVD, and the internet. ------- addendum also writing and teachers _____________________ - So long to these forums, the vBulletin forums that used to be at forums.secondlife.com. I will miss them. I can be found on the web by searching for "SuezanneC Baskerville", or go to http://www.google.com/profiles/suezanne - http://lindenlab.tribe.net/ created on 11/19/03. Members: Ben, Catherine, Colin, Cory, Dan, Doug, Jim, Philip, Phoenix, Richard, Robin, and Ryan -
Winter Phoenix Voyager of Experiences Join date: 15 Nov 2004 Posts: 683	an easy read 02-28-2007 20:38 I picked it up. Just cus it was an SL book. Gotta support the fact that somebody took the time to write one. I think its more suitable for the newbie. It didnt show me anything I didnt know already, but Ive been around awhile. _____________________ ~GIVEN FREE REIGN THE SYSTEM WILL TELL YOU, WHAT TO DO, WHEN AND HOW TO DO IT, WHAT YOU CAN READ, VIEW, OR LISTEN TO, WHAT YOU CAN SAY, WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR OWN BODY, AND SUCK ALL YOUR MONEY OUT OF YOUR POCKET WHILE IT DOES THIS! QUESTION AUTHORITY!~ W.P
Sylvia Trilling Flying Tribe Join date: 2 Oct 2006 Posts: 1,117	02-28-2007 22:06 I know a resident, Ansel Gasparini (who I have also met in real life) who is writing an SL book. He intends for it to have in-depth, practical how-to information and I beleive he will succeed.

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So, I bought the book.."Second Life: The Official Guide"