Pontiac sims - heaven for the petrol-heads
May 19, 2007
The Pontiac sims are a haven for everything motorised, as long as it has wheels. There’s a dirt raceway and a more traditional speedway plus a large range of motor-related vendors.
There’s plenty of vehicles to test drive (although most aren’t tall-friendly):
The speedway:
Two fellow residents at the speedway:
Like a lot of scripted objects in Second Life, their performance can be a little unpredictable - or maybe it’s just my driving.
Popularity: 2% [?]
Mainstream media and Lowell’s public appearance
May 18, 2007
Crikey.com.au have covered Second Life twice this week, firstly in relation to crime, then a discussion on lawlessness and research and development issues.
Similar issues are likely to be discussed at the Australian Interactive Media Industry Association forum on Tuesday 22nd May. Titled The Future of Virtual Worlds, it features Chris Collins (Logan Linden) from Linden Lab, Abigail Thomas (Abi Goldflake) from the ABC and yours truly as the moderator. Registration required on the AIMIA site.
Popularity: 7% [?]
SL support systems take the next step
May 18, 2007
Cyn Linden has announced the imminent launch of an improved support system for SL users. In the past few months there appeared to be a deterioration in support options for users including the closing of a number of sections on the SL community forums.
The new system is a tiered one - if you pay to use SL then your level of support increases. For premium users, support will predominantly be via the website however the inclusion of a support history is welcome to track responses to identified issues. If your land fees exceed $125 US per month you have access to live phone help on top of the other optiions.
I’d expect some backlash from free account holders on the new tiered structure and given the likelihood of most support requests coming from new users, Linden Labs have firmly directed those users to ‘read the manual’.
The full list of options are:
“Premium Accounts: Premium accounts that pay a membership fee monthly, quarterly or annually get further access. They can:
-Access the Knowledge Base and solution finder
-Submit a support ticket
-Have a live chat session with a support team member
-Have access to their own personalized support history page which tracks all ticket and correspondence, as well as live text chat session for later reference and to monitor progress
These services will initially be available through the Support Portal on the website.
Concierge Accounts: Concierge clients (US$125 per month or greater in Land fees, mainland or private estate) have access to the above services plus:
-Dedicated phone line currently with 17/5 coverage and moving to 24/7 shortly
-Live text chat and ticketing coverage with extended hours
-Monitoring of rollback requests17/7 with grid back up the hours we aren’t yet covering
You can access those services through the Support Portal on the website.
Popularity: 5% [?]
ABC’s Alien Competition
May 17, 2007
It’s been an active week or so on ABC Island. In recent weeks the first Sandbox Challenge was completed: designing an Alien.
(Photo courtesy Gary Hayes)
First place was Alien no. 5 which was Rifty Ristow’s. Second place was no. 8 (the brain in the jar) by Diag Anzac and third place was no. 7 by Sabs Moo. The booby prize went to no. 6 which had zero votes (also by Sabs Moo!). The three winners will be placed on a sky platform above the sandbox for posterity, for all to see.
Popularity: 4% [?]
Prim School 1 - did everyone pass?
May 16, 2007
The first Prim School was held this evening on ABC Island. Led by Gizzy Electricteeth, forty aussies were shown the basics of object creation. Future sessions are planned for those who’ve mastered the basics - joining the ABC Friends group will ensure you receive notice of the next session.
Popularity: 4% [?]
Maddie McCann campaign makes SL appearance
May 16, 2007
UK newspaper, The Liverpool Echo has created a poster originally designed for dissemination via email. Whilst wandering around the Stanlee sim which hosts the Liverpool replica, I noticed Maddie McCann had entered Second Life:
Imagine the power of a SL-based missing persons viewing area.
Popularity: 5% [?]
Kathy’s Kaffeeklatsch
May 15, 2007
Australian teachers may be familiar with Kathy Schrock.
This USA educator has had an internet presence for just over a decade now and her website “Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Educators” is a popular resource which has certainly developed and changed since the early days.
Of course it stands to reason that Kathy is now exploring the options that SL has to offer educators and with that in mind she has established Kathy’s Kaffeeklatsch.
Downstairs there is a great coffee lounge adjoining a poster display of resources. The posters are, mainly, Web 1.0 links to various resources and events such as NECC 2007.
Upstairs Kathy has a more formally configured SL classroom in which to conduct Web 2.0 professional development and group gatherings.
The “To Put your Hand Up - press the fly up (PAGE UP) key. To Put your Hand Down - press the fly down (PAGE DOWN) key” when sitting in the classroom area is a reminder that in some ways school never changes, regardless of technology!
Popularity: 4% [?]
