SL Universe .com
turns
10
the
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SL Vote PODIUMS
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WHERE THERE'S SMOKE, THERE'S SUMMER It's summer here at Nu Vibez Magazine and we have been here before, you and I. As a matter of fact we have shared several summers here if you are one of our faithful regulars. Now for all you first timers, all I can say is "You'll be back" in my best Arnold Schwarzenegger voice. Even though it's early into the summer, the heat is on already. Warm temperatures after a cold winter make you wish and moan about when things get warm again. However in true human fickle fashion, I find myself (if I look really, really deep) missing a chilly day just a little bit. I guess it's true what they say about wanting often being much cooler than having, no pun intended by the way.
In this jam-packed summer edition of Nu Vibez we have spared no expense in bringing you an issue that makes it clear why we have been a successful trend-setting virtual magazine for years. Covering mixed reality media's contemporary issues, current events and entertainment news is what Nu Vibez does and in my humble opinion does very well. So unless you are someplace cool already, grab a frosty beverage, a comfy seat, a copy of this sizzling summer issue and leave the driving to us. Stay Frosty, Scorpinosis Nightfire Nu Vibez Publisher and Founder
Paren ng is very much like running a business, it's a lot of trial and error and a lot of remembering that no one's perfect and everyone perceives things differently than everyone else. Some mes it involves nego a on, some mes a commanding presence, some mes a cheering sec on, some mes an infirmary or a crea ve brainstorming session. I’ve even heard business experts refer to mothers as the perfect CEO’s for star ng their own small businesses, mom’s are just like CEO’s, they mul -task, they manage the budget, they manage the chores and so on. There are a lot of contexts that really apply in all facets of life, especially in managing your children to successful adulthood. While on one hand, you are the parent and you must teach your children wrong from right as well as suppor ng them through school, making sure homework gets done; doctor's visits happen and so on, you also have a responsibility to lead them, the way you want your children to be when they grow up. The old phrase "do as I say not as I do" really needs to be reversed as this seems to be what really impacts children more, impacts adults too ... leading by example ... "do as I do." I may not be a child psychologist, or someone well known in the arena of paren ng advisory, magazines, websites or wherever you seem to feel you find your credible sources, but I am a parent. I have three beau ful children, 20, 18 and
15, and one amazing 1yr old grand daughter. I am swifly approaching the status of "empty nester" with great an cipa on, and some re cence, but I have cherished each stage of their lives from birth un l now. Well save, perhaps, those difficult teenage years of my daughters -- man girls can be difficult! She takes credit for the grey that Miss Clairol and I deny. So where am I going with all this parental rambling you may ask. Well, as of June 20th, the second of my three children has graduated High School and I am le with many things on my mind. I was listening to the speeches of the teachers and students at my son's high school gradua on this past week and it really made me stop and think about things from a whole new perspec ve. While on one hand the end of something familiar, like parochial school, feels like the end to the world, it really is a new beginning. This holds true for everything that ends ... all things do eventually, but when they do, new opportuni es present themselves. That old adage, "When God closes a door, somewhere, he opens a window" comes to mind. Here are a few other adages in which I have always found truth and comfort: Ÿ Everything happens for a reason and
for the best in the end. Ÿ Do unto others as you would have done unto yourself. Ÿ Give them enough rope to hang themselves.
Ÿ Time wounds all heels. Ÿ It’s a ‘meant to be!’ Ÿ Never bite the hand that feeds you, it
will move on to feed someone else. ...and last but not least, what I so o en refer to as "my religion": "Always strive to do your best sense of personal right, and you can never go wrong." That one is especially important when you are a believer in God and that in the end, it is only He/Her who can and will judge you based on what is in your own heart and mind. As long as you have always lived your life true to your honest understanding of what is right and turned your back upon what you know in your heart to be wrong ... then you will do just fine! If you don’t believe in God, this is s ll a great path to walk to ensure you leave behind the right memories of you, your life and what you stood for. These are the lessons I have shared with my children. We have been through many amazing ups and terrible downs together, but, the important thing to note is that one word ... "TOGETHER". Our difficul es have brought us closer than ever and I hope that this sappy motherly-love Editor's Note brings you some helpful insight or at least a smile, for in truth, I wish nothing but the best and happiest that life has to offer, to each and every one of you! Have a safe and happy summer! Filipa Thespian, Editor-In-Chief
Photo by Filipa Thespian
The goal of this publication is to provide a unique insight into the world of entertainment and lifestyles be it in virtual communities or real world neighborhoods.
PUBLISHER Scorpinosis Nightfire
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Filipa Thespian
PHOTOGRAPHERS Filipa Thespian Wren Noir
CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS Cobra Momiji Daeden Jessop Ethan Ellsmere Filipa Thespian Scorpinosis Nightfire Sherri Shepherd
SALES & MARKETING Scorpinosis Nightfire Filipa Thespian
SUPPORT Lark Avedon SaraMae Xaris Yolanda Hellman
Covering the issues important to people whether they are avatars or human beings, NuVibez circulates to a large population of readers online and in virtual worlds. NuVibez is published for those whose interests are varied but focused on being entertained and educated on current events, new entertainment venues and artists and finding ways to improve their online experiences. Opinions of the columnists are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the owner or staff, nor does NuVibez Magazine assume liability for claims of advertisers. Letters to the editor: address changes and other correspondence to: 4nfent@gmail.com. Advertising inquiries and submissions need "Advertising" in the subject line and emailed to: 4nfent@gmail.com.
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About Our Cover Art
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Many have likened the Google Glass to pop culture cyborg movies and our cover, by Filipa Thespian, represents the phenomenon.
Google Glass: Invasion of the Glassholes? The first small steps of fusing man and machine or a tool for spying on others?
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Facebook: Leap Forward, Step Back?
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Facebook’s app now listens to everything around us to help marketers?
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SL History: The SL Voting Station What’s the deal with that archaic looking station with the SL hand on it?
The University of West Australia The UWA in SecondLife fosters and promotes artistic expression, and we take a deep look into what they do.
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The Magic of the Stage Theatrical Licensing firm J&G shares a little insight into the world of Community Theatre.
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SLUniverse.com turns 10 SLUniverse.com turned 10 this year, only one year younger than SecondLife and some amazingly “old” avatars hit the grid once again to party it up with SLU.
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Multi-Media Productions for
Video 路 Audio 路 Graphics 路 W
the mixed-reality generation
Websites 路 Virtual Environments
facebook One but...
Giant Leap Forward Several Steps Back written by Scorpinosis Nightď€ re
FACEBOOK: One Giant Leap Forawrd but... Several Steps Back - p2
When the news reached our offices that SAMSUNG (the world's largest phone maker) was partnering with Oculus VR (Facebook's recent mul billion dollar acquisi on) to introduce a new virtual world, we were excited. However someone reminded us that
reality d ev i ce p ow e r e d by Samsung's Galaxy S5 line of phones, Engadget reports. You literally plug your phone into the headset and you're inside a "shockingly good" virtual world.”
Facebook was also promo ng its new listening feature that turns on your phone's mic and listens to all the sounds around you to be er equip companies to personalize their sales promo ons. This reminder seemed
So two thumbs up for Facebook's purchase of Oculus VR because this deal with Samsung is going to make that purchase a very profitable one. Yet don't keep those thumbs in the air for too long because as fellow Business Insider Joey Cosco reports:
to take the wind out of our sails when just moments ago we were so excited about Oculus and Samsung. Of course what's happening with Facebook and the Oculus virtual headset tech is thrilling to us, as we have preached the coming of the virtual kingdom for years now. Our efforts here at the magazine, and at our parent company, Avatar PR, are to be on the forefront of this new virtual age. A recent ar cle by Business Insider contributor Jim Edwards had this to say: “Samsung and Facebook's Oculus VR unit are working together to create a virtual
“Facebook recently rolled out a new feature that's leaving some users speechless and others running to sign a pe on to have it removed, news.com.au reports. When enabled by users, the social network's new quirk allows its mobile app to turn on your smartphone's microphone, and listen in on what's around you. Facebook iden fies the music or TV shows it hears, and can tell the world [that] you're currently listening to ‘Iggy Azale’ if it hears you bumping ‘Fancy.’ Nu Vibez Magazine - June, 2014 - 21
FACEBOOK: One Giant Leap Forawrd but... Several Steps Back - p3
The opt-in feature has many users creeped out. More than half a million have flocked to sign a sumofus.com pe on to have the new gimmick axed from the app.” We have already covered Google's surveillance device in the form of Google Glass and now we have Facebook also wan ng to hear all we do as Google watches all we do. If either of these companies ever buys the other or they merge, George Orwell's sci-fi classic 1984 will seem like it's today's news. What does all this emphasis on watching and listening to us tell us? It
22 - Nu Vibez Magazine - June, 2014
tells us that informa on gathering is power. The more you know, the more you can do to profit in anyway beneficial to your specific needs. Is it a coincidence that both these Facebook tech advances are for mobile devices, right when the company is partnering with the largest phone maker in the world? No, it's not. Mobile devices are expected to become more and more “our devices of choice” for shopping, entertainment viewing and news. You don't have to be Einstein to see that if informa on is power, and power corrupts, then the pe on circula ng be er reach its 750,000 signatures needed for Facebook to listen.
From the Pages of SL History: What’s with those SL Vo ng Sta ons? - p1
From the Pages of SL History: What’s with those SL Voting Stations? written by Lana Gossamer images by Filipa Thespian
We've all seen them, clicked them, thought how archaic by today's graphics quality standards they look and even wondered about what happens when we do click them ... those funny looking green SL Voting Stations.
dwell--a builder or property owner would put one out on their property and gain money nightly from the voting station depending on how many residents clicked it to "cast their vote" as a way of saying "nice job" on the build or property.” What a fabulous concept and I bet you're all thinking "lets get ours back out there" ... except they don't work anymore ... they haven't functioned since 2011 when Linden Labs discontinued them. You can still click the station to vote, but the back-end system to tally votes and do something with them, no longer exists.
Even when they were new, were we sure what they did? Well, their intention was to provide an income of sorts, to the property owner, based on how their visitors felt about their build. In other words, if we "liked" the build, the owner of the voting station would get money from Linden Labs each night. In the beginning of the program, a really popular night club might actually make a prot thanks to the Votes to the Station each day.
The SL VOTE Station program was discontinued because too many people tried "gaming" the system; inating popularity for their clubs and stores using camping chairs and gambling games, to increase their numbers. But this didn't really represent the people coming to the build they had. Torley went on to say, "dwell was a metric used to reward Second Life residents for creating attractions that cause users to gather in a given location. Due to abuse, Linden Labs announced the end of the Dwell bonuses.”
Torley Linden shared, "the voting station was used in a similar manner to
The stations still do one thing; each day they IM the owner with the total
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From the Pages of SL History: What’s with those SL Vo ng Sta ons? - p2
number of votes received that day, but by today's standards, they are looking rather dated and are a tad heavy in primmage. One merchant told us, "I placed a vote box by my freebies area, since it's a way of saying "thanks"... it's nice to see a few people clicked on the vote box after a difcult day. I keep the vote box rezzed, because I can spare the prims, and it's nice to get a little reminder now and then that people appreciate the freebies.” Next time you see a VOTE station, go ahead and click it if you enjoyed your stay, it surely will not hurt anything or anyone! Torley concludes, "they no longer give a bonus, though they do still keep count of how many people have voted, they make a sound and turn red, giving off a light when clicked. They also take up a fair amount of prims. This is why they are rarely seen anymore; most people deleted them to save prims.” A little bit of SL history disappears to save the prims.
Nu Vibez Magazine - June, 2014 - 27
The University of Western Australia in Second Life - p2
The University of Western Australia in Second Life Wri en by Umberto Giano People, businesses, and educa onal ins tu ons come to Second Life (SL) t h r o u g h m a n y d i ffe r e n t r o u t e s . Some mes these forays into our virtual world are short-lived. For the University of Western Australia (UWA), the experiment has become an established and highly respected venue for ar s c expression and development. UWA's first venture in 2007, establishing a virtual presence on the university's server, won the Google Earth Build Your Campus in 3D Compe on. Jay Jay Jegathesan, UWA's Manager of the School of Physics, remembers, "this carried na onal press coverage," which allowed successful fundraising for "the next, most important step...the journey into Second Life." While Jegathesan, known in SL as JayJay Zifanwe, is, to many, the unofficial face of the UWA in SL, he is part of a brilliant team, including Professor Ted Snell,
Director of the Cultural Precinct at UWA; John Stubbs, Director of Student Services at UWA; Professor Ian McArthur, Head of School, Physics; UWA former ViceChancellor, Professor Alan Robson; and FreeWee Ling, UWA Curator of virtual arts. In June 2009, UWA took its first steps into Second Life. Originally, the plan was simply to recreate por ons of its campus, complete with its peacocks, rainbow lorikeets, ducklings in the reflec ng pond, and amazing foliage in the UWA Sunken gardens and Tropical Grove. "But then," Jegathesan says, "through a series of amazing coincidences and unexpected collabora ons, it grew beyond just a campus in SL to a presence that supports teaching, research, art, architecture and machinima.” At first the UWA was completely unknown and inexperienced in the virtual art and machinima world of SL, but that didn’t last long. The virtual UWA team hit the ground running with art and film challenges, which s rred excitement in the virtual art and film community. “The first year of the major art & film challenges changed that, and we started to build a name, and I guess we started to build trust between ar sts and filmmakers,” Zifanwe states.
Nu Vibez Magazine - June, 2014 - 31
The University of Western Australia in Second Life- p3
The first rounds of film and art challenges ran in 2009 – 2010, receiving more than 800 art entries and more than 70 machinima submissions. It was a huge cri cal success. The Second Life community embraced the work done by the UWA and the ar sts, establishing the UWA in SL as a major presence. UWA SL's challenges and accomplishments a racted posi ve reviews, a en on and praise from all quarters, including an “increasing number of research and journal papers that have been produced, linking the work done by UWA in SL to helping establish a global community.”
Recently, the UWA SL turned its vision toward the significant benefits Second 32 - Nu Vibez Magazine - June, 2014
Life's virtual world offers to those who are disabled or deal with chronic illness. In partnership with DADAA (Disability in the Arts, Disadvantage in the Arts, Australia), the Virtual Ability Group, the Centre for ME/CFS and Other Invisible Illnesses Group, UWA in SL organized The Freedom Project, a 2D/3D art and film event which showcased the work of ar sts across the world who self-iden fy as having a disability. All submissions engaged the theme of "freedom" and demonstrated in some way how virtual worlds helped the ar sts or those around them. A book commemora ng The Freedom Project and featuring the submissions and personal stories of the contribu ng ar sts will be published soon. This summer the UWA in SL will be running another bevy of art and film challenges, which will include approximately L$500,000 in awards. Those interested in submi ng their work for the challenges or visi ng the UWA in SL should check the UWA blog for updates and i n f o r m a o n (h p://uwainsl.blogspot.com.au) and join the UWA 3D Art & Design Challenge group in-world.
The University of Western Australia in Second Life - p4
Zifanwe encourages anyone interested in the arts and virtual film to learn more about the UWA in SL and the challenges. He notes, “You can par cipate as an ar st, a filmmaker, a fan of the arts, a sponsor, a partner for various events, and perhaps other ways.” For the UWA's Second Life campus, real life UWA alumnus and founding curator of art at the UWA sims, quadrapop Lane, masterfully created a plinth containing, in part, the following words:
“In Second Life, as in first life, it is the people who make a project happen. You can have the best environment in the world, but it will be lifeless without the people." The crea ve community in Second Life, and those who enjoy their virtual ar stry, are supported, encouraged, challenged, and rewarded by the University of Western Australia in Second Life. And that's a legacy to be proud of.
The Photo Licensed by Linden Labs Nu Vibez Magazine - June, 2014 - 33
Google Glass, Invasion of the Glassholes? - p2
Glass (as it is called by wearers) has been covered in this magazine before. Still, for those that may not have seen my last article on this topic, or who are hearing about Google Glass for the first time, let's start by explaining what "Glass" is. Google Glass is a wearable eyeglass computer with an optical headmounted display (OHMD). It was developed by Google with the mission of producing a massmarket computer that would be integrated into every activity we engage in during our day-to-day activities. Google Glass displays information in a smartphone-like h a n d s - f r e e f o r m a t . We a r e r s communicate with the Internet via natural language voice commands. Also worthy of mention is that Glass is seen as a spying tool by many and as the first small steps of fusing man and machine in ways right out of a sci-fi movie. However, it's this rapidly growing debate that brings us back for a broader look at this very important technology with incredible social implications.
With Glass being on the open market and the public more aware of it being out there, people realize that the lenses are just the first wave in a growing industry of "wearable computers": "For much of 2013, I wore the future across my brow, a true Glasshole peering uncertainly into the post-screen world. I'm not out here all alone, at least not for long. The future is coming to your face too. And your wrist. Hell, it might even be in your clothes. You're going to be wearing the future all over yourself, and soon. When it comes to wearable computing, it's no longer a question of if it happens, only when and why and can you get in front of it to stop it with a ball-pein [sic] hammer?” Wired columnist Matt Honan (2013). Think of it. Computer integration into our clothing and accessories. Walking info center gathering and dispersing all we see and hear around us to others. If I didn't know better I Nu Vibez Magazine - June, 2014 - 39
Google Glass, Invasion of the Glassholes? - p3
would say personal privacy is going to be very challenged by all this ubiquitous surveillance wear. This issues of being recorded as you eat with your family or watch a comedian at a comedy club is taken so seriously by some that they have created counter surveillance measures to block Glass: Berlin artist Julian Oliver has written a simple program called Glasshole.sh that 40 - Nu Vibez Magazine - June, 2014
detects any Glass device attempting to connect to a Wi-Fi network based on a unique character string that he says he's found in the MAC addresses of Google's augmented reality headsets. Install Oliver's program on a Raspberry Pi or Beaglebone mini-computer and plug it into a USB network antenna, and the gadget becomes a G o o g l e G l a s s d e t e c t o r, sniffing the local network for signs of Glass users. When it detects Glass, it uses the program Aircrack-NG to impersonate the network and send a “deauthorization” command, cutting the headset's Wi-Fi connection. It can also emit a beep to signal the Glass-wearer's presence to anyone nearby. Wired contributor Andy Greenberg (2014). Julian goes on to say in this piece by Greenberg: “To say 'I don't want to be filmed' at a restaurant, at a
Google Glass, Invasion of the Glassholes? - p4
party, or playing with your kids is perfectly OK. But how do you do that when you don't even know if a device is recording?” ... “This steps up the game. It's taking a jammer-like approach.” As pointed out in my last article on Glass, we are dealing with some amazing tech that gives us great power and, at the risk of sounding
cliché that demands great responsibility in how we use it. If history tells us anything, it tells us that advance without contemplation and consideration will always end in exploitation. Let's do our part by staying informed and vocal so that people looking to abuse tech for personal gain know that they are not the only ones watching.
Nu Vibez Magazine - June, 2014 - 41
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Stage compliments complimentsof ofJ&G J&GUnlimited, Unlimited,LLC. LLC. ((JandGunlimited.com) JandGunlimited.com)
The Magic of the Stage- p2
There’s a whole segment of the population that’s missing the boat on one of the greatest forms of entertainment this country has to offer… “Community Theater!” There’s nothing like being in the room and experiencing the live action of real “flesh and blood” people giving their “all” to perform just for you. Then there are those special nights when the magic seems to go a step further and you feel so well connected to what’s going on, it’s almost like you’re on stage with them. And if you look closer, you might see someone you know up there. After all… that’s why they call it “Community Theater”. Those who get involved are there for a myriad of reasons. Perhaps they’re there to build friendships or just plain do something different. Maybe they need a place to vent, or they love the arts so much that they just want to feel what it’s like to be on the inside of what goes on. And, then again, you never know when you might get a look at the next “Box Office Star”. They all have
to start somewhere, you know. If you look at the bios of your favorite actor you’re almost sure to see the name of the local “Community Theater” where they originally got “the itch!” People like Barbra Streisand, Gene Hackman, Bea Arthur, James Earl Jones, Cicely Tyson, Harvey Keitel, Judd Hirsch, Gary Sinise, Jerry Stiller, Rue McClenahan, Roy Scheider, Frank Langella, Tyne Daly and Kevin Bacon. Impressed? But, let’s not forget those that you never see. The results of their labors can be just the thing to make or break the performance. Where would the show be without the costumes, the props, the sets? Or how about the Stage Crew? There’s the lights and sound! A good Tech person is a real jewel. Then, of course, there’s the Director. A really good Director lends their talent and creativity to the expression of the script and takes a performance from “good” to “amazing”. The Producers are the ones that do all that detail stuff that nobody really notices but is crucial to making sure that the whole thing happens to begin with. Nu Vibez Magazine - June, 2014 - 47
The Magic of the Stage - p3
That’s what I’m talking about! It’s a whole bunch of people coming together with a passion to do something crazy and wonderful… simply for the fun of it. I started out in Community Theater in 1981. The first time I entered my local theater, I didn’t have the first idea what I was doing. Somebody said “Stage Right” and “Stage Left” and I said, “Huh?” And “blocking!” What in the world was that? But, like many, I learned and was finally given the opportunity to wear a lot of hats. I acted in both Plays and Musicals. When I was given the role of “Mama Rose” in “Gypsy”, at first I was elated! However, then I got the script and came face to face with the size of the role and panicked. But, I did it! I conquered the part and even got my first newspaper review and it was great! I tried out everything and loved gaining the experience. I worked in costuming, directed and even produced. But, then I found my niche. I was called upon to write. I co-wrote a show about Gershwin and I was hooked. 48 - Nu Vibez Magazine - June, 2014
And now, after years of hard work, I have co-written several Plays and Musicals and I’m thrilled to say that they’ve all enjoyed the opportunity of being performed on the live stage in front of appreciative audiences all over the country. I can’t tell you what an amazing feeling it is to hear the words that you struggled to put down on paper being spoken on a live stage and getting applause, no less. (I’m not ashamed to say that the applause is addictive.) I’m living my dream! And it all started because, one day, I saw an ad in the paper for a theater that was holding auditions and I said to myself, “Why not?” So, I encourage you! Get involved with your local Community Theater! Meet new friends! Do something different! Express yourself! You’ll be surprised to find how welcome you are. And you never know where it may take you. At the very least, the next time you’re looking for a “night out” treat yourself to a new experience. Look up what your local “Community Theater” is performing and go see it… “Live!”
SLUniverse.com Turns 10: Exclusive Party See’s Oldbies on the Grid Again. - p2
SLUniverse.com Turns 10 Exclusive Birthday Party see’s the “Oldbies” return for a fun hoo-rah! wri en by Lana Gossimer images by Filipa Thespian You know the old saying about things “staying in Vegas”? That may be true some places, but its most definitely not true of Second Life. Besides the Linden Lab web sites, there are blogs, feeds, Twi er and Plurk communi es, and photo sharing sites such as Flickr and KOINUP. No one knows how many or who or what content, other than Second Liferelated. You might say the Second Life outside Second Life is bigger in some ways. One of the first, one of the biggest communi es outside SL is SLUniverse, founded by Cris ano Midnight. Midnight says "SLU started out as just a small alterna ve forum to the main SL fo r u m s , b u t g re w i n to a h u g e
community site over the past 10 years I think it is now the largest third-party SL-related site” A few numbers from the SLU site: 1.9 million posts, 86,000 threads by 31,000 members. So when the 10 year anniversary was coming up, Midnight and others talked about what to do. Midnight, "This event is actually a follow up to a prom event I had for Munchflower Zaius in 2011. We were talking about it the other day, and before I knew what happened, we had a 2 day SLU 10th Anniversary Prom event happening. It's kind of overwhelming - so many people helped to put this together - the venue, the decora ons, the music.” With 10 years of history, many of the members are well known for what they have done and accomplished in SL. A theme emerged at the party, “return of the oldbie.” Many of the forum members connect with SL not by logging in, but by cha ng, pos ng, commen ng to long me friends using the SLU forums. The forums have become the medium to bind people into community, as SL once did. Nu Vibez Magazine - June, 2014 - 57
SLUniverse.com Turns 10: Exclusive Party See’s Oldbies on the Grid Again. - p3
Midnight remembers, "Well, I've been in SL since 2002, and from the very b e g i n n i n g , i t h a d a ve r y g h t community of users. We ini ally pre y much all knew each other. It's been fla ering having a lot of long me users who never even sign into SL anymore come to the event tonight. SLU has certainly evolved - it went from a very small community to growing into something pre y special, I think. The road to this solid community has not been easy or simple. "It hasn't been easy - at mes, it's been incredibly difficult, but I wouldn't change a thing. I'm proud of what it has become.” Midnight suggests.
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Talking with the guests, about what they enjoy and how that has evolved, one thread seemed to recur. Teeny Leviathan says, "It is very different now. Sl was friendly. Now, you have to watch your back.” She further remembers, "Back in 2003, SL was a niche thing. Crea ve people were a racted to it, and we had a very friendly, small town sort of community. People would show off their crea ons, and you could just go to any random green dot on the map and not get kicked out by a security orb." Asked how SL has changed and how that happened, she suggests, "I think the general feel of SL changed when
SLUniverse.com Turns 10: Exclusive Party See’s Oldbies on the Grid Again. - p4
Linden Dollars got real world value. Suddenly we had fortune hunters appear. Businesses in SL existed before I arrived. In those days, they were a hobby which traded in play money. Today, people have more skin in the game, so to speak. It isn't just build a s t a n d a n d s e l l s t u ff a ny m o r e . Successful SL brands today seem to require lots of me and RL money to succeed.” Perhaps its not possible for anything, RL or SL to remain the same. That quiet street in a small town that you may remember growing up on — well it don’t exist. Life is change, thats how it differs from the rocks.
"You and me, we had a culture. Maybe it was a good one, and maybe it wasn't. But it's gone now, for be er or worse. By sheer numbers, these new women and men are Second Life. They outnumber us, and they will be the ones to make or break the world. They don't know who Aimee Weber is, or Anshe Chung, or Starax Statosky or Prokofy Neva or Torley Linden.” Tateru Nino wrote that October 24, 2006. So much has changed since then. Cris ano Midnight and SL Universe is all the more extraordinary for having thrived and grown to almost 2 million posts since it began. Perhaps SLU’s longevity is a func on of what it is. Nu Vibez Magazine - June, 2014 - 59
SLUniverse.com Turns 10: Exclusive Party See’s Oldbies on the Grid Again. - p5
"It's actually something that transcends SL at this point - it is more about the community of people.” Midnight claims. So whats in store for SLU in the future? One thing we can be sure of — change. Midnight, “Well, on the immediate horizon is revamping Snapzilla - that is something I've wanted to do for awhile. Beyond that, I'm not sure yetbut I want to keep SLU growing and expanding. As long as it is a place people want to keep coming to, I'm thrilled." Perhaps you don’t have to log into Second Life to find a virtual community. 58 - Nu Vibez Magazine - June, 2014