nothing held us back or dared to try

For any fans of Warhammer 40K out there: there apparently is going to be a Warhammer MMO.

Whether that's a good or bad thing, well...I leave to the folks who decide to play it.

Nintendo is pioneering 3D handheld games that won't require 3D glasses. I have no idea how that works, but they seem pretty confident.

And Curse.com is giving out APB beta keys for a bit, but they're going fast! If you have any interest, go get one now. (I did, actually, because I'm dying to play with their character generator--unfortunately, my system is not robust enough to run the game, so that's that.)

Chatroulette, according to Disinfo.com, is developing software to use in conjunction with the chat site to block or 'fade out' visible genitalia. Apparently, this will improve the overall adoption of the site, and propel them, Facebook-like, into internet stardom.

Why does everyone want to be the next Facebook? Seriously, people. Being big doesn't mean people are happy there; it just means a lot of people are doing it. Most of those people are either individuals who spend less than five hours per week on the site, or spammers who are there because so many other people are there. This is not success; this is popularity. And the way Facebook is acting now, with the new 'privacy is BAD' restrictions? They won't even be popular in another few years.

"Linden Lab has never really made an effort to stop treating its customers with disdain – from the April fools MotDs telling us to get a life back in 2007 to M telling us to move aside in 2009 and the general ignoring of customer concerns it’s all added to reducing the goodwill of the customer base."

I'd especially point your notice towards the long list of Linden Labs' failures since 2006--and they are many--because practically everything on that list? Will never be addressed by the Labs. In full point of fact, I'm fairly sure they don't even see anything on that list as a problem.



This one happened today, on my first attempt at login. Made my loves laugh hysterically when out of the blue they heard me say "No, REALLY?!?"

This region is experiencing problems? I would imagine SO, based on observable evidence. What's next on your list, Captain Obvious? Water is wet?

In happenings beyond SL...



Had to capture this one for posterity. Had to. That, and it reminded me of the Goddamn Batman Sims series on LJ.



I've been watching a lot of Dr. Who lately. Which is never a bad thing. This was one still from an episode I had to capture, though, especially considering the twin inscriptions on the Wales Millenium Centre in Cardiff. The Welsh version says Creu Gwir fel gwydr o ffwrnais awen, which means "Creating truth like glass from the furnace of inspiration", referring to Wales' long history with the mining and smelting of metal and materials, as well as the poetry in the Welsh soul; and the English version says "In these stones horizons sing", a reference to age, history, and Welsh spirituality, among other things.

Both of which are perfectly paired with the Tardis and the Doctor, side by side.

Filed under "Oh dear God no" at Techland, news of a new musical--I Kissed a Vampire.

Sadly, I'm not kidding.

There is coming a Fallout MMO; for fans of Fallout, this is a good thing. How'ver, it still has a long dusty road to walk before launch, due to legal battles between the several companies who currently hold rights to the property.

Still, between Fallout and System Shock (with a side bit of Grand Theft Auto) lies all modern gaming, practically, and there are serious and hardcore fans for Fallout, who will keep asking for a Fallout MMO. One way or the other, it will become a reality.

Who ends up running that reality...well, that's a different story altogether.

drink up, sweet decadence, I can't say no to you

First off: Not yet, you fools! A very precise analysis of why voice is BAD on the grid--any grid--any virtual world.

Now, onward.



It was my first Rez Day party yesterday. I decided I'd make something a little less than standard on the invitation--I mocked up the image you see, painted it onto a whitewashed board, nailed two support boards top and bottom to the main signboard post with three copper square nails, and stuck the entire thing into a moss-overgrown round of cemented river rocks. Fun.



But before the party, I still had set-up to do. Over the past two days, I have:

* bought three more slow dances from Bits and Bobs, for the dance alcove at Taiyou
* bought three 'cuddle' sets from Bits and Bobs, to set out in various places (two are in place on the upper balcony, one has yet to be placed, I ran out of time)
* bought two hot tubs (one a la Nipponaise, pale wood slats, I still have to work on tweaking the position of it, and one Egyptianesque, quite ornate, with its own fireplace and flowing orange silks around the pillars)
* built the above-mentioned invitation, tossed a give script into it, along with the notecard of impromptu party notice
* commissioned a cake, had it made, had it scripted (fell in love all over again, hee--it's a LOVELY, lovely cake)
* hired two DJs (Hunter lost his connection last night, but we survived, and he says he owes me a night now)
* bought a dress for the party (sachi's lovely handkerchief-dagged gown, in dark purple)
* set out a bed, an intimate rug, a hot tub, a hummingbird lantern, and a set of shelves for the lantern to sit upon in the Asian skybox
* set out a bed, an intimate rug, a large stone bath, and two hanging lanterns in the Arabian skybox
* realized I'd given the wrong landmark for the party, so went to Kokopelli (where everyone was beaming in, who didn't come in on their own landmarks for Steelhead), made up a second signboard apologizing and telling people to follow the arrows, then dropped several gleaming, bright red arrows hovering in midair at set positions, guiding folks from the dance square to Taiyou

The decoration of the two skyboxen was most difficult in all of it. Why? Well, due to family obligations, Lunar--who'd built Taiyou, who'd built the skyboxen--couldn't quite script up the teleport system before he had to go. So I had to fly up--this is me hovering next to the Asian skybox, you see, with scripter and anime chibi Winter Ventura (and drat, wish I had better pictures of her, she was CUTE) hovering behind me--and sneak in to decorate both skyboxen.



Here's a shot of me hovering over the Arabian skybox, Winter behind me. Hee.

But finally, finally, everything was done. And I started setting out tables, and nibbles, and the cake, and goblets of blood for any vampires, and chocolate for everyone else--realized just as things started happening that I really wanted something of a 'visual progression' on the walls. So I dragged a quick frame out, set about eight of them along the back of the tea area, and started with a pic that very very few people have seen--the first day I was in world, little cyberbot me, pale skin, dead black confused eyes, close-cropped red-tipped black hair. The next shot is of cyberfae me--cyberbot skin, purple corset, purple-tipped black hair caught up in two huge ponytails, and glimmering blue wings.

And on we went--one shot of me in the original dance skin, at the original Club Enigma, with tousled blonde hair; one shot of me in the then-new X2 skin, with platinum hair; the shot taken the first day I ever wore my Arctic fox, in the little goth Lolita minidress I'd found for her, which is still predominantly what my fox wears, when my fox doesn't wear native buckskins; a shot of the pale kitten, in black, with the mourning band, sitting in the crypt of the vampire princeling; the first modeling shot with new Kin hair (Sora, in vibrant gleaming red) and black leather head to foot; and finally, a shot of me in the Boneflower skin I received (along with net-sleeved Asian silk top and Asian silk skirt, and retro cat-eye glasses, all compensation for modeling for a series of promotional ads for Boneflower), all arch look, pleased expression, in sachi's Emilly hair (in volcano, how apropos, being as how it's black-tipped red).



I didn't get many shots of the actual party, or much leading up to and leading from. I was very much too busy. But this is a fun shot, so from left to right, the usual suspects (click for larger image):

Fawkes Allen, designer of the cake; Hank Rucker, haloed land baron and friend; his lady wife Alexandra Rucker; DJ Sir Edward Pearse, in gleaming uniform (which he made, by the way, available for sale at any branch of Pearse'd & Cut near you); Lumina Elvejhem in lovely salmon-gold sari silks; Lady Christine McAllister-Pearse, in her glorious green silk wedding gown; a very saucily dressed Duchess Gabrielle Riel; the tall Lauren, girlfriend and possession of Miss Roku; Winter Ventura, the small chibi wonder in purple hair; Miss Roku2 Hallard, new Taiyou Companion; Mr. americanpsyco98 Book, spinning next to Lady Amber Palowakski (sadly out of frame); and Miss Qlippothic Projects, spinning in monochrome kimono.

We had grand fun.



Another shot of the dancing crowd. You can clearly see the end picture of the 'how far I've come' wall, just above the cake. Hee.

Finally, this is something I've meant to post for a bit--how the Bumblebee avatar, puir wee creature of cogs and design--can be somewhat perverted by someone with wicked intent.

I present to you--Bumblebee, poledancing.

::giggles insanely and scampers off::