oh I won't sleep tonight, I won't sleep tonight

(from the media album)

It has been many, many years since I've had this feeling of awestruck wonder. The last time, of course, being when I walked into Professor Sputnik's TARDIS--excuse me, Etheric Travel Cabinet--and had that moment of impossible deja vu.

This was another of those times.

(from the media album)

If you go to the sim, there's not actually that much on the ground. This is because most of the action--as, in fact, it happens on Babylon 5 itself takes place in and around the Babylon station.

(from the media album)

Right now, they're doing their best to bridge both solid immersion roleplay, and legal acceptance of copyright. Which is why, before you get to the station, you find posters with information cards in them as well as this copyright notice, protecting copyright as much as possible within the context of the play.

It is something J. Michael Straczynski has always held--if what we do, as fans, we do with honor, acknowledging that previous copyright exists--he has no problem with fan-created uniforms, art, or even derivative works.

(from the media album)

This was the first time I'd been aboard the station, and while I was there to resolve a sim-based issue, I still felt radically out of place. Now, claims can be made for virtually any avatar in anything beyond sheerly "modern" attire, because it could simply be a representative from a race that Babylon 5 had not seen yet. Still, I think dressing for the general theme of space-based interaction does no harm. If--or more likely, when--I go back, I think I'm developing another spacer "look". To--more or less, at least--fit in as much as possible.

(from the media album)

This was another moment when I simply had to inhale, staring at the screen in wonder. While I mostly associate the Zocalo with the main club on the station--or, at least, the club seen most often--this places it rather firmly in the realm of the main promenade, and yes, it does go off into the distance for a fair (and walkable) distance.

(from the media album)

And, at least in this version of the promenade, the carts are for rent. From what one of they sent me in a small polite block of text:

[00:52] Zocalo Vendor 7 whispers: Zocolo @ Delenn 136, 116, 2689
[00:52] Zocalo Vendor 7 whispers: Price per week: L$50
[00:52] Zocalo Vendor 7 whispers: Minimum rental weeks: 1
[00:52] Zocalo Vendor 7 whispers: Maximum rental weeks: 8
[00:52] Zocalo Vendor 7 whispers: Prims Allowed: 20

That's a fair deal in any universe.

If you want to join in, you'll want to start near the entry gate. Thankfully, that's not hard to do. You can reach Babylon 5 faster than you'd think; but keep in mind, they do have an active roleplay atmosphere, and they're doing their best to keep it reasonably consistent with the show. If you're interested, however, they'd love to have you come and play.

They're looking for scripters; for costume designers (their main uniform designer departed to other realms, and took her designs with her); for builders (they have one, but he's something of a dilettante, though his work is fascinating); and, of course, for roleplayers to add to the dimensions. Mr. reese Shawbridge is the one to talk to, I believe, about renting merchant stalls; he may also be the one to ask about getting involved in the RP. At the least, go to the station and click to join the group, and ask questions there.

I'm very glad to have seen this, and to know it exists in Second Life. Already, they have much of the Babylon Station, the ISN broadcasting center, the Grey Council meeting room, and something that I initially took for Mars, but which turns out Epsilon III--and yes, there is a small room featuring the Great Machine.

Next up, says Mr. Shawbridge: Minbari City. I thought he meant the entire planet at first but he says no--for one, they don't have the prims for that. But the main city, with the spires, and the crystal, the wide paved streets--that, yes, he wants to do.

I can't wait to see it.