I have always had a yen for…...

……building. Whether it’s small, large, simple, or intricate, I like creating something that not only I enjoy, but others can also. I like exploring the builds that others have created and have always wanted to be a part of something like that. I have a sim that I got just because I wanted to experiment and the atmosphere at my old home of Ibiza had changed from the friendly neighbors who also liked building to something else.

I have posted here a few times, and in the process firmed up my expectations for myself, and those I am looking to have as tenants and fellow builders. Building a sim takes more than one person (at least for me!) and building a community takes more than the 3 people. Someone answered one of my posts with a ‘what is the goal” and I couldn’t answer then, but I have it now.

The community I am looking to start up is made up of people who would like to see more than the same tropical island theme. You should want to create something different. Everyone has an idea of what would be a great fun in sl, share it! My idea of fun is to create themed builds. Some of the ideas for creating sim wide that has been kicked around:

Creating a island with a New England feel to it, along with changing weather, and seasons.
Another was to do something a bit gothic
Someone thought about doing something vaguely around “SnowCrash”
Film Noir was also one of the ideas, along with movies period

The sim will not stay the same forever just as our ideas of what is fun will not stay the same. However, I believe that if a group of likeminded people get together they can come up with common themes to create when the mood strikes. This is not going to be the genesis of one person; it’s something that the community of the sim will come together on to build. For example, who wouldn’t love to recreate the scene from “Halloween” in a New England setting, during the month of October?

So if you have a creative bent that you cannot quite bring out on the small parcel of land you are living on and want to join in on this as a tenant/builder or just have an idea that you want to share, post it here or send me an im. Remember the builders are also the tenants, so you’ll be living in the mess too.

Just FYI, I think someone already did an array of sims with New England (cape cod) theme. Don't remeber the name.. but my firend bought me there and she shows me where she used to live in RL. Maybe you can so some search to find it.

Don't stomp on my parade Jack. I'm teasing.

Like I said, these are just ideas for now until a good group comes together and firms something up completely. Then maybe it might turn into a New England town, with lobsters...and it's Halloween and Jamie Lee Curtis is running around, trying to hide from Michael Myers.

I will definitely do that search!

I love what you are doing and it seems to be a theme lately; people buying sims and enabling the rise of neighborhoods that are based on SL realities. I can't wait to see these once they get set up. Out of the ashes, something really cool is starting to emerge.

Now, I'm glad that someone decided to build (badly) a sex club next to my little first land garden; it hurt at first but then it energized me to buy more land, expand my garden and fight what I saw as ugliness with beauty. The sex club is long gone but my garden remains.

So good luck Joie and to everyone else doing this. Great idea!

Are there any deserts with lush oases? I was pondering that last night as I was building something.

One thing that really works with almost any theme is seasons.

A sim owner can make variants of the ground textures: green grass, grass with leaves, snow-covered, or grass with spring flowers for instance.

People pick up on this fast, and soon you'll see your sim blanketed in swirling leaves, colored trees and pumpkins in Fall; or christmas decorations in winter... it adds a lot of life.

I also on rare occasion do a phantom 'megaprim' 65km on a side (yep it's THAT big!) to make a foreboding, oppressive Victorian Overcast.

In the works is a Weather Machine that animates, updates and rotates the texture - I've now got one that goes from clear SecondLife skies to little fluffy clouds, to darkening Storm and then back over the course of an hour or so.

I've done lag tests and found this particular method is actually quite minimal in impact; once I've got it down all of Caledon will have a storm pass through every few days at least.

If there's enough interest, I may pass out the system for free... not for mainland use though, as a single 65km x 65km prim is kinda big... grins

OFF TOPIC: Bodhisatva Paperclip is the best avatar name ever!

*jumps up and down* Over here! Interest over here for the player behind the avatar!

Oh the implactions for all of those who have an interest Machinima..namely me. See that little aside remark about Jamie Lee Curtis and Halloween wasn't so casual was it? What if (and this is just an idea that is being fleshed out more and while I sneak into forums during lunch) you had this New England town on the coast... beautiful, stereotypical and it was all set up to be the scene of some movie... with building facades that could be moved around... a weather machine (that is awesome!) and the ability to go from being a modern place.. to something completely turn of the century?

You'll see in the streets sometimes the equipement that goes with a Hollywood production; cameras, directoors chair, those boom mic thingies, etc.

ok um yeah, I'm going to go back to eat now.

hahahahahaha yes, but how do you pronounce it?

Well, that shoots my desert idea in the shorts. Unless we want to subject the oases to occasional droughts. Actually...that idea's not half bad...

Thank you!

Slowly and carefully and never with food in your mouth.

I like the idea of a movie set within SL. Illusory reality within illusory reality.

Art imitating art.

oh yes.. weather in the desert...sand storms. Lots of huge sand storms.

I have found it. It's called Mystic and it's gorgeous! *goes back to the drawingboard*

Talk to one Ms Phara Akula regarding that. She did it with a Gorean sim once; Tale of Nine Wells or some such (I'm probably botching the name terribly, pls forgive me).

She didn't do the sandstorms but had someone make them; the sim may be under someone else's control now.

I've not been to a Gorean sim before or since the night Phara showed me that one, but I must say the sandstorms were Remarkably Good - as in, I'd not seen anything even close to that good before or since.

Also - if you've not been to a Gorean sim, that one, and one other I was shown completely changed my preconceptions about them. Naked female avatars here and there, yes, but essentially the 'point' of what I saw was mostly some sort of combat game.

"Kiss chase" was the phrase used to describe it to me, and it seemed apt. Of course, nobody paid much attention to 19th century Des in his tweed and tie, and those who did say hello were quite cordial.

I know next to zilch about Goreans, but wouldn't a sandstorm make the naked women uncomfortable, to say the least? Or is it some sort of exfoliant regime? With the things they offer in spas these days it wouldn't surprise me.

I've found camels. I may just do my own oasis for now if I can figure out an economical way to do a prim sand ground on the mainland.

Wouldn't a third-party, searchable site of themed sims be nice? If anyone knows of one, pass on the URL. I'm finding the in-world search a bit lacking.

Sandstorms will never work in Gorean sims or anyplace else with naked, voluptuous, in some sense available women. Damn sand gets in everything...

lol

I let my own thread be hi-jacked...and even joined in on it! I am still looking for others to join me on this.

I'm so excited i haven't even read all the replies yet ;P Here's my idea:

Comic book inspired movie sets, combined into one sim.
Sin City (Basin City or Old Town)
Dick Tracy (Police Headquarters?)
Gotham from Batman (cathedrals, factories)

The twist:
All B&W, except for the avatar's clothing and occaisional fabrics or special impact elements, done in primary (specifically red) the same as in the movie Sin City.

RP groups: Mafia, Crooked Cops, Callgirls/Streetwalkers*, Hooch Runners, Hitmen,etc.
(*not for the sole solicitation of sex, but rather as go betweens for RP info)

Combat system: Something identical to CoLA's CCS, no futuristic weapons unless 'gadget inspired' as in Dick Tracy's lo-tech 40's gear, more PvP hand to hand/ melee

Vendors: art deco boutiques amidst the juke joints, cathouses, etc all in theme fashions/wares

Events: Act out a certain role for a machinima, Period Contests, automobile 'drag' racing in the streets, Gangster shoot outs, Cinema Night with feat'd flicks, Ballroom Gala Black Tie, Heroes vs. Villains (focus not being on just the costume but the development of a storyline) and of course bars/strip club/burlesque for the seedy parts of town all in theme.

Basically your favorite comic books, done SL style, with the sim as the 'backdrop' for whatever develops. If possible a forced midnight effect constantly (can be overriden by users) with frequent rainshowers and thunder effects. Streelights with local lighting, flickering and buzzing. Vehicles as permanent features, taxis, police cars, period antiques.
No fly zone, underground sewers, areas to hide in, trap doors, secret rooms.
Use color so sparingly that you really feel as in you're in something painted, all textures of the same style, heavy emphasis on architecture with elaborate shadowing and details.

They have that already...it's called Gotham... There's a store somewhere in there where you can buy superhero suits that do things (I've got a Dark Phoenix that flames from the feet and hands..)


*thinks about tearing down her entire property and starting over with an oasis...*

I don't want to be a superhero, nor am i suggesting we all play out comic book characters. I think if you watch Sin City with the idea of building a sim around that style, texturewise, you'll see where i'm headed.

I was just commenting that Gotham exists in SL. Didn't mean to insult your idea!

Discussions and enthusiasm!

Those are awesome ideas. Right now the island is filled, and we are just settling in. Hopefully, we begin to hash out ideas and things to do within the coming month. Please contact me in game. It's always fun to talk with others who have similar ideas.


Joie
*former "Mage" and "A Distant Soil" comics reader*