Tucked away on one side of the Space Frontier Sandbox in Second Life is a reproduction Saturn V , apparently to scale, at rest on the launch-pad and serviced by the customary gantry. The individual pieces are made by different Second Life users, but the combined work is that of one Wicked Quasimodo, who has turned it into a very authentic-seeming launch, flight and (eventually) moon-landing simulation.

A HUD object provided on the launch pad provides all the NASA ambience that you'd expect from a detailed simulation. While still a work-in-progress, and with a few little glitches, it remains a very atmospheric experience.

Continue reading Second Life takes you to the moon (almost)

Second Life takes you to the moon (almost) originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 May 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Actually, we're talking about the other Gibson for those of you who were thinking about William Gibson. Gibson Guitar corporation, the famous manufacturer of acoustic and electric guitars (their website is down due to a configuration error at the time of writing), are launching an island in Second Life on Wednesday, 16 July to promote their products, and the work done through the Gibson Foundation (ditto on the website cock-up, sorry).

While Gibson Island (not to be confused with the more famous Gibson location in Second Life, the cyberpunk dystopia named for the aforementioned William Gibson) is not yet open to the public, we were able to get an early peek at the site (a really long lens comes in handy) while Metaverse Media Group staff and contractors were finishing up construction on the site.

As part of the launch, 70s multi-platinum solo artist and former Fleetwood Mac vocalist/guitarist Bob Welch will perform in an exclusive concert with other Second Life musicians. Bob Welch's avatar (Bobwelch Magic) will also appear on stage along with celebrity musicians Cypress Rosewood and Von Johin.

Continue reading Gibson joins Second Life, Bob Welch to perform

Gibson joins Second Life, Bob Welch to perform originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Jul 2008 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Hosted by Rezzable Productions in Second Life in conjunction with NPIRL, the garden is an art show, with over a hundred content creators. It has art over four simulators, and up to 3,000 metres above the sims. Some of the creators have provided freebies -- such as free avatars.

Light Waves has produced a puzzle -- a hidden sculpture; there's live concerts and DJs playing throughout; a sandbox with tutorials and a building mash-up and more. To see everything here could take you quite a while. It's running until 23 June, which doesn't leave you a lot of time.

Gallery: Second Life Places - The Garden of NPIRL Delights

Continue reading Second Life Places: The garden of Not Possible In RL delights

Second Life Places: The garden of Not Possible In RL delights originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Jun 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It's one of those little Melbourne bars, not so much wider than the bar that runs much of the length of it, with some seating near the front for the smokers (who are nearly out in the cold, literally), and a smaller lounge area in the back with a tiny little stage.

It's poorly lit (too dark for clean photography), and the cramped space is moderately crowded. The focus is, strangely, two men, and their laptops. Their laptop screens are projected against the walls, and strange ambient music is circulating through the room. This is a living performance in Second Life created solely for an audience in the physical world.

Continue reading Mixed reality Melbourne: Seventeen Unsung Songs

Mixed reality Melbourne: Seventeen Unsung Songs originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jun 2008 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Visit Mexico Ruta Maya sims are sponsored by the Mexican Tourism Board. And they've done a great job -- so many sponsored sites are like someone has tried to create a real-world expo and transport it to Second Life. Visit Mexico Ruta Maya is not like that at all. It presents a solid Second Life experience, that happens to make you want to go to Mexico and find out what it's like with scent, touch and taste.

Gallery: Second Life Places - Visit Mexico

Continue reading Second Life places: Visit Mexico Ruta Maya

Second Life places: Visit Mexico Ruta Maya originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 May 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Virtual world build/art fan-group, NPIRL (Not Possible In Real Life) are opening a huge Second Life art show today (Friday, 16 May) in conjunction with metaverse development group Rezzable Productions. More than a hundred content-creators, artists, architects and scripters are involved

The show runs all the way until 22 June (the day before Second Life's fifth anniversary) and will be holding numerous events (including live-music and tutorials) through the four sims allocated(Rezzable Create, Rezzable Design, Rezzable Discover, and Rezzable Explore) in which are depicted Paradise, Earth and the Underworld.

Spectacular, surreal, varied, complex, crowded, disturbing and delicious. It all starts here.

Garden of NPIRL Delights opens originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 May 2008 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We've wanted to visit NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) for years, but haven't previously had the opportunity. Some of us live on the wrong continent to do so, for one thing. We've visited NASA now however, and you can too. NASA has a presence in Second Life.

NASA created the CoLab Island to enable 'co-working and project incubation ... for NASA staff and the entrepreneurial technology community'. There's a bunch more marketer-speak on their 'NASA CoLab SL Project Overview' notecard, but the English form of it is that they want to talk to us, and want us all to talk to them.

Gallery: Second Life Places - NASA CoLab

Continue reading Second Life Places: NASA CoLab

Second Life Places: NASA CoLab originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 May 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The SS Galaxy is impressive. Crossing three simulators and on the order of 600 metres long, it is the single largest structure that we are aware of in Second Life. (If there's something larger than the SS Galaxy, by all means let us know!)

We took a trip to the SS Galaxy this week, and crawled over it from stem to stern, to see exactly what it offered, other than just an event venue.

Gallery: Second Life Places - SS Galaxy

Continue reading Cruise on a luxury liner: The SS Galaxy

Cruise on a luxury liner: The SS Galaxy originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 May 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Where can you go to see a sea dragon, read art books, have your fortune told, and play music, all in the one spot? Well, Svarga in Second Life certainly has all of this. And that's not all you can do in this wonderful simulation.

The most wonderful things about Svarga don't show on the surface. You can roam the island for hours and still miss details - such as the variety of underground spaces. As with most virtual world sites, words and pictures don't do it justice -- which is part of what virtual worlds are all about.

Gallery: Second Life Places - Svarga

Continue reading Have a picnic in a living world

Have a picnic in a living world originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Dubai Women's College is, as far as we can tell, the first educational institution in the Middle East to open a campus in Second Life (are we wrong? There's a lot of educational institutions with setups and sites on the grid).

The island, Dubai Women's College, isn't, as yet, a whole lot to write home about -- a mosque, some signs, some classroom-platforms, out in the middle of community-college-ocean. There's a college map, and a museum-under-construction.

Oh, and a sign out front that proclaims: 'The extent of a teacher's imagination is the only limit to what or how teaching can take place in this learning environment.' Well, that and a functional grid gets you a virtual-world-enabled education.

Continue reading Dubai Women's College

Dubai Women's College originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The London School of Journalism is taking their budding journos in-world. This great British institution has joined a long list of educational institutions and set up a college in Second Life, where they plan to offer free lectures on writing and journalism and industry issues to anyone who's interested.

The school's director says the mixed-medium of sound, text and the ability to see avatars' faces will enhance their teachings. 'We've already had an enormous response on Second Life, with between 500 and 1,000 people visiting our area each day,' LSJ director Michael Winckworth told industry blog www.Journalism.co.uk

Unfortunately he displayed some less-than-investigative journalistic skills by also saying 'I know of no-one else on Second Life offering open lectures,' despite the veritable plethora of same. But we all have our off days.

Continue reading The London School of Journalism

The London School of Journalism originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Running until the 26th, the 2008 Merovingi Fashion Awards are on now. If that name seems familiar it may well be because Gabriel Merovingi (Sebastian Oxide in SL) and Australian based Merovingi Group ran them last year, as well. This year the show is fund-raising for Doctors Without Borders, and the National Cancer Society.

The prizes for the category winners this year include L$ and Apple hardware.

Continue reading Merovingi 2008 Fashion Awards now running

Merovingi 2008 Fashion Awards now running originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Babelswarm has a way with words originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Shoshana Epsilon, one of Second Life's more renowned photographers is opening an exhibition later today at the Avatrait gallery at 1PM SLT (US Pacific Time). The Avatrait gallery itself, known for its devotion to digital impressionist art has been partly on hiatus for some time while it and the simulator it resides in have been undergoing refits.

Avatrait gallery is relaunching their monthly gallery showings with Epsilon's work which will be available for purchase inworld, or as hard-copy, high-quality physical-world prints. Epsilon's work has never disappointed us. It's classy and has range and depth.

Epsilon will be at the opening today to meet the exhibition attendees and to answer questions about her work. If you love Second Life photography and art, take the time to go and see Epsilon's work.

Second Life through the eyes of Shoshana Epsilon originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Apr 2008 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Cinemassively: Visit Mexico in Second Life originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Second Neo-Realms Tournament Fishing League starting soon originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Apr 2008 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Liverpool Hope University holds open day in Second Life originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Mar 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Genome Island in Second Life is a real treat if you're a genetics geek or a science geek. If you're not, it's still an amazingly cool place to visit. Max Chatnoir (Dr M. A Clark, Professor of Biology, Texas Wesleyan University) has brought this site to life along with the help of some skilled and able assistants, most notably Elizabeth Gloucester (Professor of Microbial Molecular Genetics at a medica school in New England), and Apaul Balut (Professor of Microbiology at a medical school in the Midwest USA).

Three-dimensional protein sequences hang in the air, among educational displays and trivia games, and giant reproductions of individual cells, with labeled structures in motion and larger than your head.

Gallery: Second Life Genome Island

Continue reading Genomes on the map

Genomes on the map originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

That's the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and not that other ABC in the United States of America. Partner and counterpart to the United Kingdom's BBC, "Aunty" ABC occupies a special place in the hearts of Australians. Oh, she gets some teasing sometimes -- but she's been with us since 1929 with Radio, Television, and the Web and has always excelled at embracing new media and finding ways to integrate old and new media together in new and compelling ways.

As public broadcasters go, the ABC sports an impressive catalogue of high-quality educational programs, news, music and entertainment, and isn't shy about finding new ways to deliver them, with an increasing amount of content available on the Web or via Second Life.

Continue reading ABC Island anniversary tonight!

ABC Island anniversary tonight! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This coming Wednesday, 19 March, the USC Network Culture Project will feature the work of thirteen talented virtual world artists on the theme of justice, all specifically created for this event to celebrate the International Criminal Court.

The artists involved are a talented set indeed from visual, audio and performance fields: Tuna Oddfellow, AM Radio, Pavig Lok, Tooter Claxton, Juria Yoshikawa, Dancoyote Antonelli, Filthy Fluno, elros Tuominen, Chance Abattoir, Adam Ramona, Josina Burgess, Velazquez Bonetto, and Junivers Stockholm.

Continue reading Visions of Global Justice

Visions of Global Justice originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Mar 2008 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

One of the things that really impresses us with virtual worlds is all the user-created content. Having spent some time on-grid myself, I can tell you that the array of ideas and designs is just mind-boggling. Today our very own Tateru Nino shares a screenshot she took in Second Life. This area is in Caledon, about two sims north of Tateru's office in Nova Civis. Tateru describes Caledon as "the home of Victorian civility, mad science, and gentleman adventurers in dirigibles where giant steam-powered robots hardly ever attack -- at least not during tea." Having tried (and failed) to build many things in SL myself, I can say that between lining up all of your prims (primitive 'building blocks') and adding textures to them (assuming you didn't have to make your own) you can imagine how much time and care went into all of the many user-generated things that we see in this screenshot. Impressive!

If you have something you've made, dreamed up, or just like to look at, what are you waiting for? Grab a quick screenshot, tell us who you are and what it's about, and pop it into the mail to us at oneshots@massively.com. Your image could be next!

Gallery: One Shots

One Shots: A peaceful day in Caledon originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Mar 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Twice each year Linden Lab holds a lottery for shop spaces in two prestigious Second Life simulators, where winners score a rent-free lot for a six month lease. The winners can use the store interiors to sell their products (though they are unable to change the exteriors - one of the factors that makes Luna a very popular destination).

The Luna Oaks boardwalk allows for a variety of non-mature product, while Busy Ben's Vehicle Lot in Oak Grove is restricted to vehicular sales only.

Winners of the last lottery draw have to clear out by Noon SLT (US Pacific) Tuesday, 25 March, and new winners can move in by 1PM SLT Tuesday, 15 April. Would-be entrants in the lottery should check the terms and conditions as they tend to vary slightly from draw to draw.

Luna Oaks/Busy Ben lottery time originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Mar 2008 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

SL's Node Zero Gallery originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Interactive Science Museums in Second Life originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Officially licensed merchandise for twelve bands can be found at the new Rock Vault in Second Life. Avenged Sevenfold, Slipknot, Funeral for a Friend, HIM, Kings of Leon, The Ramones, Trivium, Iron Maiden, Bullet for my Valentine, Nickelback, Stone Sour, and Cradle of Filth are the bands represented, though not every one of them has inworld shirts to buy.

Whether there are inworld shirts or not (the price for all of them seems to be about L$150) each kiosk links to an online merchandise site where you can order the physical article. Don't go to to sleep quite yet, though. There's something much more interesting about this place than just selling tee-shirts -- thank heavens!

Continue reading Rock Vault brings heavy metal merchandising

Rock Vault brings heavy metal merchandising originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Mar 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

History of Earth in Second Life originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Circuit City originally opened in Second Life as a part of the IBM subcontinent. The build there was comparatively modest and not heavily trafficked, but it was successful enough for Circuit City to make a much larger commitment to the virtual world, in the form of four sims, forming an extra-large island, with the help and expertise of IBM.

The island features an orientation area (though a registration portal is still in the works), and some helpful signage. A Circuit City HUD enables you to summon assistance from a staff member, and has a built-in flight assister as a bonus. What might really grab your attention though are prizes!

Continue reading Circuit City relaunches in Second Life

Circuit City relaunches in Second Life originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Two hospitals opened up in Second Life today. Except only one actually did any opening. IBM's Virtual Health Center actually isn't open to the public. Rumors of its opening seem to be greatly exaggerated, and are largely confined to the press-release and coverage by folks who didn't actually try to visit it. We've asked IBM what's up with that, and we're waiting for an answer - so we can't even show you a picture of the place.

So, the more interesting hospital (ie: the one we could actually look at) comes to us courtesy of Cisco, Palomar Pomerado Health, and metaverse developers Millions-of-us. The design of the hospital is exceptionally modern, and the Second Life version of the hospital is - essentially - a model of the physical campus that will be built (by the year 2011) in San Diego, California, all packed with top-of-the-line, medical-grade Cisco technology.

Palomar West hospital has its own Second Life account registration portal, and a video tour. On the whole, the campus is very pretty. It's as 21st century as you could hope to see, without flying cars.

Cisco opens virtual hospital in Second Life and IBM ... doesn't originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The British obituary, death notices, tribute and celebrity deaths website, Lasting Tribute has created an island in Second Life in conjunction with Nick Hewitt of Associated Northcliffe Digital.

Outside of the British Services memorial park, Tribute Island more resembles a theme-park of sorts -- more celebratory than somber. There are numerous small displays featuring icons or scenes, or photo opportunities for visitors.

Continue reading Second Life's Tribute Island

Second Life's Tribute Island originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 Feb 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As a part of a sweet nod to Valentine's tradition (or perhaps more technically to ????? - giri-choko), the Japanese Pocky people, Ezaki Glico Company, are holding a festival on their new Pocky island in Second Life. The Pocky festival runs all the way until White Day (??????, March 14).

Popular Japanese ska girl group, Ore Ska Band (???????) will be playing on the island 29th of Februrary and 1st of March at 7PM and 10PM - though we're not sure which side of the dateline or which timezone that's in exactly. We'd figure Japan Standard Time so you'd be looking at the day before, japanophiles. That's the safe way to play it. If it turns out to be in SLT (US Pacific) you've at least not missed it.

Continue reading Pocky's sweet festival

Pocky's sweet festival originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Feb 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Flexpetz is a ... well, let's call it a timeshare club for dogs. Rent-a-pet, if you will. Face it, some of us like to have canine company, and just don't have the time or the circumstances to own. It's one of those concepts that can be done really badly or really well. We don't know a whole lot about Flexpetz, so we'll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that they do it really well.

Their new site in Second Life, however - now that trips the odd-ometer a little.

Continue reading Flexpetz purveys prim pooches

Flexpetz purveys prim pooches originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Feb 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: Nexus Prime destruction

Breaking News: SL's Nexus Prime devastated [UPDATED] originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 Jan 2008 03:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: Second Life Israel

Second Life Israel originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

San Jose's Tech Museum looks for virtual exhibits in Second Life originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Jan 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Free SL art classes at the Avatrait Gallery originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

When it comes to impressive builds in Second Life , one of the more impressive ones is actually actually not a strictly an architectural showcase, role-playing setting, or corporate-funded park. It's a shopping mall.

Undeniably attractive, this floating mercantile behemoth is actually part park/recreation and part mall - it is the home of Grendel's Children, featuring a wide range of some of the best non-human avatars and accessories to be found in Second Life.

Gallery: Grendel's Children

Continue reading Must see: Grendel's Children

Must see: Grendel's Children originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Dec 2007 05:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

NOAA Expands in Second Life originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Dec 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Second Life Kumite! originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Dec 2007 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Dealey Plaza, JFK assassination site, recreated in Second Life originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Nov 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I Am Legend (for those of you that have been living under a rock) is the third film adaptation of the 1954 Richard Matheson novel of the same name. Quite the popular property, it has spawned film versions in 1964 (with Vincent Price - now in the public domain and available for viewing or download) and 1971 (with Charlton Heston - I saw that one when it came out); A Rob Zombie song; the upcoming Warner Brothers film with Will Smith; a DC Comics tie-in; planned online, animated featurettes;

And the Second Life game, of course. Whew. The game is doing very well in Second Life indeed. Last week I wandered around and took a look at it.

Continue reading First impressions: I Am Legend in Second Life

First impressions: I Am Legend in Second Life originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Nov 2007 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.