Gianna’s Second Life Event Picks 1/8-1/12
As the holidays are coming to a close, and we are settling into 2009, things are beginning to get back to normal. I slowly feel the winter starting to slip away. Luckily, if you haven’t gotten your fill of winter, the beautiful landscapes and festivities can be experienced all over the grid. Rendervisions Isle is one such SIM. On Wednesday January 14th from 4:30pm to 7:30pm SLT (PST) they will be hosting a Winter Skating Party! Wear your ice skates or buy them at the event and twirl around the frozen river and celebrate. If you are a fish out of water on the ice, there is still plenty for you to experience. Just off of the lake, you can gather by the fire and have some warm cocoa. You can also take a whimsical carriage ride around the beautiful wonderland as I got to do with owner Cherry Hotlaing. If you explore the SIM further you can also find many other cute interactive features (for example, don’t hop in the cannon like I did unless you are ready to shoot out of it!). Click here to teleport and see it yourself!
Some other events that I think should not be missed:
(note: all events are free of charge and list times as Second Life Time (SLT) which is Pacific Time (PST) unless otherwise noted.)
Thursday January 8th
6pm – Virtually Speaking with James Fallows
James Fallows of the Atlantic, and author of a number of books will join Virtually Speaking to talk about China, Iraq, and security in America. It should be an interesting discussion for all! It will take place at InWorld Studios Island. Click here to teleport and join the discussion.
Cinemax Forbidden Science, originally uploaded by Gianna Borgnine.
7pm – Cinemax Presents: Forbidden Science
The Diva Rockin announced the Electric Sheep will host the launch party for Cinemax’s newest show Forbidden Science set to premier on Friday January 9th at midnight. Forbidden Science is set in the future and revolves around an elite corporation, 4Ever Innovations, whose young and brilliant scientists download and sell memories, replace those we’ve lost with clones, and devise technology that helps us live out our greatest fantasies. Stop by the event and dance to some hot SL tunes from DJ Nexeus Fatale, and you’ll get to check out a special video preview of the show, and receive your FREE Forbidden Science VR headset! It will all take place on Cinemax Island . Click here to teleport and check out the preview.
Friday January 9th
2pm – Learning with Games in Second Life
Meet at the Virtual State Fair for Learning with Games in Second Life where as a group you will visit Madpea Productions on Orange Island and try one of their games. Since their hit game, the Zodiac Killer launched in May 2008, MadPea Productions has taken a serious step forward in the development of games for Second Life. Leveraging the development capability and social interaction of Second Life, MadPea seek to create games that are beyond anything currently out there. Since collaborating with Orange Island, MadPea has been working to produce new adventures, and challenges using new technology. Both parties believe in understanding and exploring new opportunities as well as providing fun experiences. And all their games are free to play. Challenge your imagination and have fun! Everyone will originally meet at Morrill Island. Click here to teleport and meet up with the group.
5pm – Rockcliffe University’s Virtual World Marketing Forum
Fletch Xeno will discuss virtual worlds as a game within a game. Meaning and creation of social narratives are developed through communal competition which has a profound impact for marketers wanting to take advantage of influencing consumer behaviors. This forum discusses how the rules have changed when the lines between meaning and creation are blurred by the medium. It takes place at Corimall Hall, Rockcliffe X. Click here to teleport and participate.
Saturday January 10th
The Colors of Wonderment, originally uploaded by Gianna Borgnine.
6pm – The Colors of Wonderment: Photographs by Special Jewell
SL New England is proud to present an exhibit of photographs by Special Jewell. Special Jewell uses SL photography to produce fine art creations without post processing, using the Linden Lab camera. Special Jewell’s passion is to create strong works of fine art through this medium. Composition, color, subject and details come together in beautiful thought provoking works tickled with Windlight. The exhibit will be in Nantucket Square on the island of Nantucket until January 31, 2009. Click here to teleport and experience The Colors of Wonderment.
Sunday January 11th
Tour guides Janita Collins and Esme Qunhua will lead participants to a range of educationally significant sims. They will visit 3 or 4 sims (time permitting), and provide a brief overview of the location’s purpose or pose questions to consider, then encourage exploration. They use the ISTE-SL Tour Group channel so that participants can communicate regardless of where they are in the sim. Please be prepared to join the group (they’ll help you if you don’t know how, but you will need to temporarily drop one group if you are at the 25 group limit). They ask that you please arrive early so that you are able to collect materials, set up voice and be ready to take off at 9am. The group will meet at ISTE Island. Click here to teleport and get ready to tour.
2pm – Second Life Hockey Association (SLHA) Game
SLHA (SL Hockey Association) is now in its SEVENTH season. Established in 2006, the league continues its tradition of challenging and professional game play. In 2008, they have a new, Havok-friendly script, realistic, detailed, exciting and the finest inside SL. Others may imitate but there’s just one true hockey league inside SL! Equipment & membership is FREE. If you haven’t been to a game or played in a scrimmage, it is one of the most fun activates. If you can’t make it to the game you can also watch it live (and later archived) on SLCN. The games take place in the Jericho Hill ring. Click here to teleport and enjoy the game!
Monday January 12th
2pm – Virtual Worlds Research Discussion
Don Wen of National Chiao-Tung University, Taiwan presents a research project conducted at PARC in 2008. In virtual worlds, users project themselves into the environment via a virtual body (avatar) which they control and whose appearance is often customizable. However, considering the prevalence of this form of embodiment, there is a surprising lack of data about how and why users customize their avatar, as well as how easy and satisfying the existing avatar creation tools are. In this paper, we report on a study investigating these issues through a questionnaire administered to more than a hundred users of three virtual worlds offering widely different avatar creation and customization systems (Maple Story, World of Warcraft, and Second Life).They illustrate the often-surprising choices users make when creating their digital representation and discuss the impact of our findings for the design of future avatar creation systems. It takes place at Monash University. Click here to teleport and join in the discussion!
4pm – The Harper Messmer Experience
Take part in the Harper Messmer Experience. Be delighted with the soothing blend of rock and pop featuring his own songs and those by some of today’s popular artists. These artists include John Mayer, Jason Mraz, Snow Patrol, Coldplay, Jack Johnson, and the Dave Matthews Band. Harper Messmer is an up and coming second life performer with a unique sound that everyone needs to experience. He will be performing at Heaven. Click here to teleport and listen!
5pm – Metanomics Bash
Join the Metanomics team and all the fans to celebration the show and season. Discuss what has happened and have fun! More information and surprises to come! It will be held at Metanomics. Click here to teleport and join the fun!
Tuesday January 13th
10am – Interactive Designer Discussion
Join host Agent Heliosense for a meeting and discussion at The Tech Virtual Exhibit Design Workshop.
Get resources, feedback, and network with other designers. Learn how you can be part of an innovative new museum exhibition on digital arts. All levels welcome. Held at The Tech 2. Click here to teleport and join the discussion.
6pm – Avatrait Gallery Presents: Monroe Snook
The Avatrait Gallery proudly presents ‘Flight of Fancy’, featuring artist Monroe Snook. Check out the new build, and start your SL original collection. All the pieces on display in the main gallery are sold as originals. While you are enjoying the exhibit don’t forget to take your free piece of art that Monroe has offered just for The Avatrait’s patrons! All pieces are SL photography/art. No RL pictures are included. The pieces are said to be Digital Impressionism, a new art-form that deserves attention. It is held at Evoluon. Click here to teleport and view this new form of art.
Wednesday January 14th
6pm – Paulo Coelho Celebration
This event will celebrate the writings of Brazilian author, Paulo Coelho. Perhaps best known for the Alchemist (translated in 56 languages), this event will explore his works and life. Join the celebration for a reading of selected quotations, a discussion of Coelho’s works, and information about his life as a theatre director, lyricist, journalist, and writer. The event will be held in the Reader’s Garden of Cybrary City. Click here to teleport and celebrate his work.
10pm – Star Trek Museum Winter Party
Join other Trekkies and explore science exhibits, shuttle rides, holodecks, astrometrics, The Starfleet Science Institute, Planetarium, Star Trek Cinema and Game Room. Loads of freebies including Starfleet uniforms, padd, tribble, T-shirts, tricorder, phaser, games and downloads. Swim with George and Gracie, the humpback whales from “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home”. Feast on LIVE GAGH, Bajoran Hasperat and Vulcan Plomeet soup at our Federation Buffet. Fly in your very own shuttle to the Spacedock, return through a wormhole. Shuttles will take you to Imzadi for Shore Leave, hot air balloon rides and scuba diving. Fly to Minshara where you will board the FULL SIZE NCC-1701 Starship Enterprise, see Capt. Kirk’s quarters, Dr. McCoy’s Sickbay, and Scotty’s Engineering section (complete with Jeffries tube). Visit the Vulcan colony on Eridani, tour P’Jem Monastery and T’Karath Sanctuary. Museum staff will be available during event hours, to answer all your trek questions. It will take place on TovaDok 2. Click here to teleport and join the party!
