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Second Life users raise more than a quarter million for cancer research

Tateru Nino — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, News items, Second Life, Virtual worlds

This weekend, saw the main event of the Second Life Relay for Life, raising funds for the American Cancer Society for cancer research. The exact figure raised for cancer research by Second Life users is a bit hazy, being reported slightly differently from multiple sources, but the American Cancer Society is reporting that the contributed amount is a very exciting US$270,388.

While Second Life often receives a fairly low opinion in the media, particularly the tech media, and tends to get a poor rap from MMOG players, their contribution every year to cancer research is not to be sold short. We'd like to see some of you MMOG players try to beat that next year.

In the meantime, if you're at Dragon*Con 2009 this year, you MMOGers have a chance to show you care, at the convention-wide blood drive. It'll be Horde versus Alliance versus everyone who thinks you're too self-absorbed to participate. Show you've got it in you, and let them take some of it out of you!

Are you a part of the most widely-known collaborative virtual environment or keeping a close eye on it? Massively's Second Life coverage keeps you in the loop.

Second Life users raise more than a quarter million for cancer research originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Annual Second Life Relay for Life to raise funds for cancer research this weekend

Tateru Nino — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Events, real-world, Events, in-game, News items, Second Life, Virtual worlds

The annual Second Life Relay for Life raises cash for the American Cancer Society every year as a virtual environment analog of the physical world event. It's definitely one of the high points of the Second Life calendar. Though lesser fundraising events are held through the year to raise money for this worthy cause, this weekend is the big one.

Second Life's Relay for Life has raised over a third of a million US dollars since its inception, and raises more each year. Look past the sensationalistic guff in the media, and one of the most remarked on characteristics of Second Life users is their charity and generosity towards those in genuine need.

Continue reading Annual Second Life Relay for Life to raise funds for cancer research this weekend

Annual Second Life Relay for Life to raise funds for cancer research this weekend originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Increase ROI by training in virtual worlds

Alexis Kassan — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Real life, Academic, Virtual worlds

Forterra, makers of OLIVE virtual worlds, along with ACS Learning Services recently conducted a proof of concept in employee training using their customized systems. It's a new approach to corporate dilemmas of training large groups for as little money as possible.

The experiment began with training the users on how to move their avatars to interact, thus pushing past potential problems with people being uncomfortable in the virtual space. They were then brought into the training environment where, rather than merely watching slides go by, they must move around and interact to find the answers to questions. How do they know the info got through? Tremendous feedback.

Increase ROI by training in virtual worlds originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cinemassively: Relay for Life sims tour

Moo Money — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Video, Second Life, Free-to-play, Cinemassively, Machinima

MarkTwain White has released the first part of his three-part tour series of the SLRFL08 sims. The theme, Heroes, was put to good use. There were builds dealing with superheroes, ancient lore, and everything in between.

MarkTwain, the proprietor of the Holly Kai Golf Club, was able to capture the hard work and dedication that went into this event, which ran over the weekend for a full 24 hours. For those that missed it, the builds will be up until the end of today, at which point Linden Lab will reclaim the land. Go check them out before it's too late!

If you have machinima or movie suggestions from any MMO, please send them to machinima AT massively DOT com, along with any information you might have about them.

Cinemassively: Relay for Life sims tour originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cinemassively: Walking the SLRFL track in real life

Moo Money — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Video, Second Life, Cinemassively, Machinima

Over a year and a half ago, Moriash Moreau, then a team member of McDunnough's Relay Gang for the Second Life Relay for Life, created a contraption that would let him walk virtually using his real body. Channeling MacGyver, he used a treadmill, a butchered USB keyboard, and assorted spare parts to enable him to participate in a whole new way! He even outlined the steps from start to finish on his website. Set to music by Torley Linden, he documented his test journey using popular sims throughout the grid to make sure that his method worked properly. In the end, he walked a whopping 23 miles, or 84 kilometers in Second Life!

With SLRFL08 coming to a close, we'll have some interviews and statistics available to you soon, so stay tuned!

If you have machinima or movie suggestions from any MMO, please send them to machinima AT massively DOT com, along with any information you might have about them.

Cinemassively: Walking the SLRFL track in real life originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 Jul 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SLRFL08: Live music and a telethon

Moo Money — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:27:00 EST

Filed under: News items, Second Life

The Second Life Cable Network is broadcasting programming live from SLRFL08. They began at 10am PST and will continue until 10pm PST. You can teleport to the Heroes 28 sim to check out their studio, or visit their website for a live stream of the events. It is also available on the 40,000 TV sets in-world that feature their channels.

In addition to the telethon, there is a full day of live music going on in four different Relay sims -- Shea Stadium, New Orleans, Sci-fi, and Robinson Crusoe. There are so many people performing that the schedule is actually broken down into a complicated table, so we'll just link to it!

Stay tuned for a look at activities, as well as interviews, and other exciting things as the Relay continues until 10am PST tomorrow!

SLRFL08: Live music and a telethon originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SLRFL08: Opening ceremony and schedule

Moo Money — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:07:00 EST

Filed under: News items, Second Life

Emotions were high as Trader1 Whiplash, the "voice of Relay" and DJ of T1 Radio, introduced Relay chair Fayandria Foley and American Cancer Society representative Randal Moss to the audience. Over 1,000 residents gathered in the 35 sims to listen to the audio. During the ceremony, they outlined the live music portion and some of the activities, which we've detailed for you below.

After that, a teary Trader1 passed the microphone over to Nuala Maracas to start off the Survivor/Caregiver Lap. Residents were asked to line up along the sidewalks and wave their flags in support of those who have survived cancer. After that, teams took to the track to bring in SLRFL08. Next up is the "EVERYONE on the track" Lap at 1:00 PM PST. The celebration starts in the Heroes 1 sim.

Check out the full lap schedule after the jump ...

Continue reading SLRFL08: Opening ceremony and schedule

SLRFL08: Opening ceremony and schedule originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cinemassively: Second Life Relay for Life starts today!

Moo Money — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:35:00 EST

Filed under: Real life, Video, Events, real-world, Events, in-game, Second Life, Free-to-play, Cinemassively, Machinima

(Disclosure: I am far from an innocent bystander in covering this event. This Survivor Lap video was created by me last year for the now defunct Second Life Insider. I was a team captain last year, and this year I produced an as yet unreleased 17-minute documentary for American Cancer Society on the event.)

The largest event in Second Life history will kick off today. In the four years that Relay for Life has been fundraising in SL, they have raised over $333,000 USD, of which $167,000 USD of it came from this year. The sims open up in just 25 minutes, at 10:00 AM PST, with activities going on frequently for the next 25 hours. We'll be providing you up-to-date coverage on the event, including things to do and special moments, throughout the day! To participate, visit the Heroes 1 sim.

If you have machinima or movie suggestions from any MMO, please send them to machinima AT massively DOT com, along with any information you might have about them. For this instance only, if you have any Second Life Relay for Life videos, please email them.

Cinemassively: Second Life Relay for Life starts today! originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cinemassively: Making of Richard Hawley's Second Life

Moo Money — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Video, Second Life, Cinemassively

It's not every day that a musician takes you behind the scenes on how he performed. However, that's exactly what the team behind Richard Hawley's appearance in Second Life did. Hawley was there as a cheeky response to a ban on smoking in the UK, dubbing it the "first" virtual gig for "puffers." He even encouraged his fans in-world to light up. The American Cancer Society would not be pleased ...

What I'm more interested in, though, is the technology behind the performance. As you can see from the video, he was fitted with motion capture sensors, so that his real-life movements would be mimicked in-world. Most performers in SL use canned animations, which makes this quite refreshing!

Cinemassively: Making of Richard Hawley's Second Life originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Dec 2007 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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