A Year of Transition

2021 was a year of transition for the Second Life team. While there were many accomplishments worth celebrating that helped to improve our collective Second Life experiences, we want to start by acknowledging the many contributions of and pay our respects to Linden Lab CEO Ebbe Altberg, who passed away earlier this year. 

Ebbe embraced all aspects of Second Life, learning about its many nuances to understand the impacts of decisions we make.  He put tremendous effort into understanding the community, and many of us who are deeply embedded in Second Life. Ebbe’s goals for Second Life included promoting Second Life as the world’s best virtual world, community and platform. Ebbe would be very proud of our accomplishments today. There is no doubt in our minds that he wouldn’t have had it any other way.

We miss Ebbe but his spirit lives on through many of the initiatives and features he championed during his many years leading Second Life.

More Changes
The year 2021 had several hellos and goodbyes among the Second Life leadership team. Former VP of engineering Oz Linden retired mid-year. Oz was an instrumental force in driving key decisions and implementations of Second Life’s development for over a decade. Oz left on a high note, having successfully completed the tremendous effort of migrating Second Life into the Cloud. We have felt his absence, celebrated his tenure, cast him in bronze, and used extensively his blanket permission to blame him for everything that goes wrong.

We have been thrilled to welcome Oz’s replacement Andrew Kertesz (better known as Mojo Linden) in August. Mojo has a wealth of experience building teams and launching PC, mobile, and console game products – and we are already seeing him work his magic on new initiatives for the coming year. Spoiler alert: Keep reading for a peek at our 2022 roadmap!

We also welcomed new ownership this year as Oberwolf Linden (a.k.a. Brad Oberwager) stepped in as Executive Chairman following the successful acquisition of Linden Lab by an investment group he leads with Randy Waterfield. Earlier this year, Oberwolf made his debut on “Lab Gab” – if you missed it, we recommend you check it out to hear directly from him about his vision and enthusiasm for Second Life.

Since that appearance, Oberwolf has not wasted any time in allocating new resources to Linden Lab, including the addition of several new engineers and developers, as well as other key leaders to help us further improve and grow faster. Among the newest hires are several established industry veterans including a new Chief Marketing Officer, Chief of Staff, Chief People Officer, and Chief Information Security Officer. 

So many changes…but that leads us to some exciting plans for 2022!

2022 Roadmap

We are already hard at work on several new features and improvements for the coming year. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s underway:

• Avatar “expressiveness” that brings camera-based gestures and movement to your avatar for a whole new level of interaction and connectedness
• Premium Plus - a new upgrade option with added features and extras
• A new mobile viewer to enhance and improve your Second Life experience
• Improved group chat reliability
• Viewer and script performance improvements 
• New user avatar customization and improvements
• Updated mesh optimizer
• Search engine improvements
• Improved materials and terrain
• Adding web marketplace variants
• …and much more!

We can’t wait to unveil more details on these and other improvements in 2022. We’ll be sharing more specifics on a future episode of our streaming video show “Lab Gab” and our blog soon.

2021 Highlights

As we prepare for the coming year, we also want to reflect on key accomplishments for 2021. 

Migration to the Cloud
The year started strong with our successful migration to the Cloud, which was completed in January after many years of careful preparation to minimize disruption to the Second Life community. We can’t emphasize enough how complex and delicate this transition was, but we were all happy to breathe a sigh of relief upon its successful completion. We have spent a good part of this year optimizing our infrastructure in the Cloud to better take advantage of the new possibilities. 
 
Performance Improvements
We’re proud of the many Second Life performance enhancements that launched in the past year including investments in our infrastructure to further improve speed and cadence of updates, overhauling the onboarding experience for the newest Residents, various UI and search cleanup improvements, and backend work to ensure compliance with multiple regulatory requirements. As an example, we’ve seen some of our lowest viewer crash rates ever – a 35% decrease in crashes from a couple of years ago! 

Over the last few months we have been busy optimizing our viewer and simulator, too. We have already made good gains that we are eager to share with the community as we deploy in the new year. An area of emphasis and success for us has been improved avatar rendering; initial test results show an increase from 25fps to 55fps with our new viewer with 20 avatars in the scene. 

We have also seen great script performance improvements with our last set of server upgrades and move to AMD hardware. There is yet another significant server upgrade in RC now and rolling out to the full grid in January. 

New Features
Are you in a lot of groups and getting too many offline messages in your email, but still want to see offline IMs? No problem. Receiving group notices to your email while you are offline is a new preference that you control separately from your offline instant message preferences. You are now able to choose between getting only IMs, only Group notices, both, or neither through email while offline.

Based on popular demand, we unveiled several new limited-edition “Last Name” options over the past year including some specialty-themed and holiday offerings. UwU or OwO, anyone? (We counted the paws. It’s UwU. Some of us knew that all along.)

Another popular request from our community has been support for multi-factor authentication, and other additional account security improvements to help protect our Residents. There’s also the new 360 Snapshot Tool that enables more immersive 360-degree snapshots to be taken within Second Life and shared externally. Many people in the community are already testing out the new feature – check out these images taken by our own Alexa Linden on Flickr.

Improving the New User Experience
We recognize the importance of first impressions to Second Life, so we’ve invested in enhancements to the new user experience including an all-new Welcome Island and related New User Guidebook. We continue to iterate on different approaches to onboarding. 

Improvements to Search have also started to roll out. We recently gave Search a visual refresh this year, and that’s being followed up next year with an investment to improve the quality of Second Life search results.

Let’s not forget the many improvements to the Marketplace! In 2021, we shipped over 140 Marketplace updates and fixes. Highlights include tying Marketplace into the overall single sign-on (SSO) system, adding a “Save For Later” feature in the shopping cart, adding bulk redelivery for merchants, as well as fixing several issues and improving speed and stability. There is still a lot more in the works for the Marketplace in the coming year. 

Linden Homes

2021 saw the release of of two different Linden Homes themes and the introduction of a third.  In March the Chalet type Linden Home was launched, and in August the Fantasy type Linden Homes were launched. 

The newest theme, Newbrooke will be joining the available new Linden Homes very soon. 

Marketing the “Metaverse”
So, perhaps you have heard of this new thing called the metaverse?  Unless you’ve been living under a rock (virtual or otherwise), you probably already know that Facebook recently changed its corporate name to Meta as they work on their own vision and version of a “metaverse.” While we appreciate that this development has super-charged interest in virtual worlds, we also know that there is genuine concern about Facebook’s plans in this space given its spotty reputation on many issues including consumer data privacy and protections.

At Second Life, we’re proud that we don’t monetize, sell, or share consumer data - and we’ve been heartened to see the mainstream media reevaluate our own virtual world amidst the heightened interest in all-things-metaverse including a renewed recognition and celebration of our pioneering contributions to the concepts of virtual economies, cultures, and communities.

As a result, we had one of our strongest years ever in mainstream and specialized media coverage - with over 15,000 articles and broadcast outlets referencing Second Life in 2021 according to PR tracking service Cision. Mainstream media highlights for the past year include prominent coverage across the globe including BBC News, TIME Magazine, The Telegraph, VentureBeat, Business Insider, Right This Minute TV, France TV, and many, many more.

2021 was also a “year of experiments” for Second Life marketing including a few “out of the box” ideas to draw attention to Second Life through new partnerships and content initiatives.

We recently tested a limited roll out of our first mainstream commercial “Children of Creation,” which won both top prize at the 2021 Telly Awards and a top 2021 Clio Award (the advertising industry’s equivalent of the Oscars). Elements of the commercial can be seen on our newly-revamped homepage, but you can also check it out on YouTube.

Over the past year, we’ve aligned with several community content creators and external partners to collaborate on new cross-promotion opportunities that aim to broaden the appeal and awareness of Second Life. Partnerships span a broad range of communities including fans of indie comic books (Zenescope), indie films (Film Threat), sports (NFL Alumni Association), and animation (Titmouse). 

So, what’s next? In the coming year, we’re allocating even more resources to help us better proactively capture new PR and media opportunities. We’re also gearing up for several exciting new community promotions and social media content initiatives. 

Happy Holidays from Second Life

We’re sincerely grateful for the support and loyalty of the entire Second Life community - and we will continue to work hard to improve your virtual lives in the coming year and beyond.

Have a great holiday,

The Second Life team

P.S. We just posted on our socials a new year-end video that spotlights several of our community members as they share what Second Life means to them this holiday season. Check it out!

This week we are bringing you five Residents from all over the world who each bring their unique voices and experiences to the Second Life Blogger Network.

Lexy Nexen is the owner of Wild Branch Brewery as well as a Second Life YouTuber, where she shares her love of exploration and food. Wild Branch is a craft brewery experience, the first of its kind in Second Life. Lexy tells us it was inspired by “times in life prior to the pandemic, where being in the community of a brewery was a time to bond and make memories with friends, family or even complete strangers over a pint of beer and some good ole board games.” For Lexy, Wild Branch is a chance to “{exchange} real human interaction during the pandemic” in an environment tied to both a specific subculture and of course, warmth and openness to others.

Lexy's websites:
Linktree
Wild Branch Brewery: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Riverbrook/76/90/31

Miwa Bunny, who has been in SL for over a decade, tells us that “during the pandemic Second Life became a source of both income and stability, I was able to make connections, meet new friends and keep in touch with all of them.” Miwa manages several brands on top of blogging, with some of her favorite aspects of SL being self-expression and connection. For Miwa, being inworld is “almost like a meditation… for my mental health.” We love to see Residents encouraging others to take care of themselves!

Miwa's websites:
Official Website
Twitter
Flickr
Instagram 
TikTok 

Aurora Mercury, a British Resident who is proud of her Jamaican heritage, is “the owner and creator of women's networking group Sisters in SL, a community that helps women come together and network with like minded women. It allows women to meet others from all over the world and gets them out of their comfort zone.” Aurora also made an accompanying magazine for this organization, and she has a YouTube channel where she engages in “meaningful conversations with people all over the grid to discuss topics {that} allow people to share their experiences and perspectives during their journey in SL.” Aurora stresses the value of these shared experiences during the pandemic as a “reminder that we are all going through this together… it’s a different type of connection.”

Aurora's websites:
Youtube: Aurora Mercury 
Official Website
Sisters in SL Website
Sisters in SL Facebook Group
Sisters in SL Magazine
 

Oema lives in Northern Italy in the physical world, and for the last seven years has been writing for her blog VIRTUALITY. Oema tells us “I care about communication {and} spreading helpful information to old and new members. So together with some talented friends, we created 360 GRADI: a magazine that talks about fashion, virtual psychology, destinations, art, photography, and music.” 360 Gradi is hosted on her VIRTUALITY blog, and has become a collaborative effort with many other talented Residents, who she gives immense thanks to for all of their contributions over the years. In Oema’s words, “During the time of the pandemic, Second Life helped distract me. Even now during the Christmas holidays, this incredible metaverse called Second Life, where users can create and give expression to their imagination, is a pleasant daily fixture.”

Oema's websites:
VIRTUALITY Blog
360 GRADI Magazine
YouTube
Facebook

Victoria James is a Second Life explorer, shopper, and blogger. Victoria first signed up for SL a decade ago and tells us “I still love logging into Second Life because there is always something new to discover. New regions to explore, new stores to go shopping at (and old favorites), and of course being creative with my own blogging and photography.” It is our honor to share that, like countless others, Victoria found something priceless in SL: “Second Life changed my life… I actually met my husband in Second Life.” They’ve been married for over four years! It is often hard to describe exactly what SL is, and Victoria puts it perfectly with, “To me it’s not a game, it’s an extension of real life.”

Victoria's websites:
Blog
Flickr
Instagram
Facebook

Happy Holidays, everybody!

Video Production Credits:
Draxtor Despres

Pictured: The Outer Garden

This will be the final Destination Guide highlights post for this year. I hope to continue them in the new year, with weekly updates on what's new on the Second Life Destination Guide. In the year 2022, we hope to give the Destination Guide a much-needed facelift and possibly a few other changes, which I am really looking forward to! 

So far this December we've shared many different winter-themed destinations in videos and blog posts. In this final blog post, I am going to share a few more of my favorites that I don't believe have been featured as of yet. Don't forget to check out the full Winter Attractions category as we have over 100 destinations waiting for you to explore!

Have a safe and special holiday season with your loved ones in both the physical and virtual worlds!

The Outer Garden

The Outer Garden is a place where love is hiding. The landing point is filled with happiness where the romantic atmosphere and pale lights surround you, which would make your time with friends and lovers special. Also, the mirror standing at the landing point will take you to some other gardens, where you can enjoy walking and taking pictures. You will have a sweet time in this brilliant season, the RoseGarden, and pale lights.

Visit in Second Life

North Pole - A Beautiful Christmas Escape

Discover the forest and dive into a magical winter wonderland with hidden secrets. Strap on your skates or take a relaxing horse ride in the snow. Enjoy the romantic atmosphere and cuddle or dance with your loved ones or perhaps take pictures together. This place impresses with true winter nature, instead of just background scenes.

Visit in Second Life

Snowdrops

Snowdrops is a family-friendly photogenic winter destination with many activities for the whole family! Visit the festive market, venture out on the ski slopes, go ice skating, ride Teegle horses, go snowboarding, play mini-golf, and visit the Christmas workshop. There are also many free festive gifts available from many fantastic designers. Come celebrate the season at Snowdrops!

Visit in Second Life

Snowhaven

Winter has arrived at the Bellisseria Fairgrounds! Snowhaven returns to welcome the Second Life community to a rustic winter retreat until December 29th. Walk across the bridge to explore the trails and find hidden areas. Enjoy winter activities using the provided equipment or bring your own. The large red ornaments are teleporters. Come visit and have fun!

Visit in Second Life

The Glass Slipper

The Glass Slipper (TGS) is an elegant, romantic location that offers ballroom dancing and so much more. There are two free-to-use wedding venues, carriage rides, boat rides, live vendors, and beautiful photogenic spots. Catering to both couples and singles, The Glass Slipper is a friendly, fun PG atmosphere to spend some time in.

Visit in Second Life

Dreamz Express

The Dreamz Express has arrived! Relive the magic of this classic holiday story with your family on a real train. Do you believe? Visit Toy Land, the North Pole, and Meet Santa and his helpers!

Visit in Second Life

Cozy Corner with Egnog the Winter Troll

A Cozy Corner during the holiday season. Relax with a mug of hot cocoa, grab some skates for a bit of skating or browse the exclusive little craft market before venturing through the magic portal to find Egnog the Winter Troll. If you have been good he will give you free gifts when his tummy is rubbed. Grab your chance before Egnog disappears on New Years Day!

Visit in Second Life

'Tis The Season

'Tis The Season at this Winter Wonderland at Moochie for all things festive this winter. Old fashioned snowy sleigh rides, hot cocoa at the outdoor Christmas market, ice-skating on the frozen lake, visit Mrs. Claus' Christmas tree lot, or just get lost pressing through the snow. If you're in need of rest after exploring, make your way to the Christmas campfire, sit back beneath the stars, and enjoy a storytelling classic.

Visit in Second Life

Let it Snow! A Winter Wonderland

A snowy, winter setting for dancing and romancing. Come and explore, dance, ice-skate, take photographs, or just hang out. Everyone is welcome! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Visit in Second Life

Winter Hollow

Winter Hollow includes a full region of vintage winter holiday peace. Take the horse-drawn sleigh tours (aerial or ground-based) of the Hollow, ride the pony ride for weekly gifts, or stop by for one of the skating events. Explore the caves and Winterley Manor, fully decorated for the season!

Visit in Second Life

A Seanchai Winter Holiday

Cozy nooks to curl up with a good book, a meeting place for friends to chat or play games, enjoy Christmas videos, go ice skating, ride the trains and carousel, or have a snowball fight. Enjoy two levels of holiday cheer, inspired by fantasy and good company, and special seasonal story events.

Visit in Second Life

Got a spot that you’d like listed in the Destination Guide? Make sure to drop us a note at editor@lindenlab.com or submit your spot via web form. Don’t forget to read more about the Destination Guide info, guidelines and criteria for Editors’ Picks or the Destinations Floater in the viewer, to increase your chances of being featured in those coveted spots!

Connect with Second Life on Social Media:
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Flickr | Pinterest | Tumblr | Plurk | TikTok | Reddit | LinkedIn

This week we are shining a spotlight on Dirk Vanlager, an extensive traveler of both the physical and virtual worlds. He's reviewed over 50 hotels in Second Life and is known as the SL Hotel Inspector!

How long have you been in Second Life and how did you first hear about it?

I originally came to Second Life around 14 years ago for my RL job. At the time, I worked in an advertising agency, and we were handling an inworld project for a client. When my RL work in SL finished, I stayed. 

I heard about Second Life via the media.

When and how did you get started writing about hotels and resorts in Second Life?

Travel has been a big part of my life. It's something I love doing personally, and over the past few years I’ve also worked in the travel industry.

The pandemic, of course, put a stop to that. 

Then, in September 2020, a friend took me to a Balinese themed resort (which has now closed) called Timor Isles. I was amazed to find out that there are vacation resorts and hotels in Second Life that mimic the RL experience. That’s what led me to create my website, which focused on visiting and reviewing as many Second Life hotels as I could. It began as a bit of personal pandemic therapy, but the reaction to it far exceeded my expectations so I carried on. Fifteen months later, and I’ve now stayed in over 50 SL hotels.

Do you have a submission process for Residents who want to have their hotel or resort promoted on your blog?

I would love to hear from hotel or resort owners. The simplest way to reach me is just to send me a notecard inworld (IW name - Dirk Vanlager).

I do have some criteria, of course. It needs to be a hotel, motel, resort, campsite or bed and breakfast that roughly resembles an RL equivalent.

Ideally it should allow you to book rooms by the night. Occasionally I’ll consider places that have weekly rentals (as many resorts in RL do offer weekly packages). However, I generally don’t cover long term rental places.

Finally, I don’t accept free stays when I do a review. I insist on paying my way. That’s a policy I introduced all the way at the beginning and I have stuck to it. That way the reader knows that what I am saying is what I actually think.

Tell us about some of the other Residents in SL that inspire you and whose work you admire.

I’ve had the chance to meet and experience the work of some truly creative designers and {region} builders. Three, I think, deserve a special mention.

Jasmine Kiyori is behind one of my favourite {regions}, Kiyori City, which is loosely based on Tokyo and Seoul. In addition to Kiyori City and the neighbouring Kiyroi {region}, Jasmine runs a Greek island vacation experience called ‘Little Santorini’ and the seasonal ‘Cheri Noel’ Christmas {region}. Jasmine is incredibly talented, and runs all of these destinations on her own - I truly don’t know how she does it.

Victoire Goudenoff-Sire Clitton designed Le Chateau Motel and Resort, a French themed 1980s Motel which is a riot of colour and fun. Vic is like some non-stop fountain of creativity. Over the past few months, everything from a French Guianese village to a jungle airport has been added to Le Chateau. The other day she even sent me the first output of her newly created “Le Chateau Records.”

AshaRhia is both a {region} designer who always seems to have projects on the go, as well as the owner of an SL travel agency. As part of her travel agency, Asha creates pop up destinations, which exist for several weeks before she tears them down and starts all over again. For example, in November she built a five {region} Africa experience covering Egypt, Angola, Congo and Kenya. And now in December she’s removed it and is opening ‘Finland,’ spanning four {regions}. What Asha is doing is pretty unique. She loves travel, and loves to show people a constantly rotating list of destinations recreated here in Second Life.

Where can people follow your work? Please share links to your sites and social media accounts.

My website - https://virtualhotels.online 
Flickr - https://www.flickr.com/photos/kirkusmaximus

We hope you enjoyed learning more about Dirk’s traveling adventures across the grid, as well as the virtual hotel industry of the metaverse. Each of these weekly Spotlight posts will feature a different Resident to showcase the spectrum of experiences and personalities found in our virtual world. If you have created something inworld that you’re proud of, or have had a deeply meaningful experience that could brighten someone else’s day, please sign up! More info here: https://second.life/spotlight-signup

It’s hard to pick where to start with all the winter fun in SL, but here's a curated selection with some behind the scenes info on what inspired these creators!

Crisp Kringle is a wholesome Swedish hamlet on the Frogmore region. Creator Tolla tells us, “I wanted to create a small village deeply covered in snow with a feeling of Swedish lapland, small vintage shops, merchantiles, bakeries, coffee, mulled wine, and of course toys.” Crisp Kringle is open to all Residents, and rumor has it that you can feed carrots to Santa’s reindeer. Get cozy and treat yourself to a Fika today.

Next up is Peaceful Dreams, where the rolling hills are covered in powdery snow and a soft blue glow provides an ethereal sense of wonder. Creator Vega was inspired by “That feeling of the first snowfall, when the snowflakes hit your face and it feels magical. That peaceful walk down a snowy path, with nothing but the sound of your feet crunching in the snow, and finally, that kiss you share with your loved one in a sleigh ride through the snow.” Peaceful Dreams is the perfect place for a romantic winter adventure or a quiet solo moment to appreciate beauty and creativity.

Where Our Journey Begins is a photogenic wonderland offering many interactive winter activities. Experience the snow fall around you, coating the trees in soft white, and don’t miss out on the view of the glowing sky from a ski lift. Exquisitely carved gazebos and fountains give this region a rustic flair. Creator Vivian feels that “During the pandemic it is especially important to have places where one feels happy and content and {can} share these places with others, because these hard times are affecting all of us. Our place is here for people to meet and experience the holidays together.”

Snowdrift has a playfully surreal tone, with a chandelier at the entrance and reindeer with ornate antlers covered in lights and ornaments. Creator Whimsy has a very special relationship with Second Life: “After a near fatal car accident resulting in traumatic brain injury ended an 18 year career, SL gave me an outlet to stay connected and meet new people while I was homebound recovering.” Whimsy is now a mixed media artist who describes SL as “a lifeline to keep my creative spirit alive,” as one can see by visiting this enchanting region that melds natural beauty with a fairy tale aesthetic.

Inspire Space Park, co-owned by Delain Canucci, Jamilah "JaMee" Rossini, and Bonny Greenwood, is sort of a cultural institution. This region has been around for almost as long as SL itself, and the winter makeover will take your breath away. Cute forest critters, Ice skating, and the characteristic floating meteors are just a few of the things that make this place so special. Delain tells us, “What we did at Inspire with winter is to show people that even though we are in space, we still love to see beautiful environments. We will never change the main look of the park, but with special seasons we will decorate and try to make landscapes that leave people in awe.” This blend of science museum and winter wonderland is truly something that could only be found in SL. Jamilah has been visiting Inpsire Space Park for over 15 years, saying, “I will never forget that first time stepping into space. I was in awe at the sight I was seeing and how incredible it felt being in space, even though it was virtual… These three individuals (the original creators Earth, Raphael and Grafx, who recently passed away) came together and built a place to chill, meet others from all over the world and enjoy the music. I found home here.”

Now that you have a diverse set of options to choose from, we hope to see you inworld today! Ice skating, snowboarding, skiing and more are just a click away.

Video Production Credits:
Draxtor Despres
 

Pictured: A Christmas Wish

On Lab Gab today, Tara Linden and I went to several different winter destinations using the Destination Guide. I thought in today's blog post I would share all the destinations we went to. You can watch today's episode of Lab Gab on YouTube.

We started the show at the 2021 Shop & Hop showing off some of the goodies we picked up there. Then we headed over to the Swaginator Hunt, completed the hunt, and walked around with our Linden Bear winnings. After that, we went to Winter Wonderland and showed how to use the snow pistols so you will be all set for the Linden & Resident Snowball fight next week. Then we bounced around using the Destination Guide to different regions where we went skiing, horseback riding, and just enjoying the wonderful atmosphere of the beautiful locations, all listed in the Winter Attractions category on the Destination Guide. These are the destinations we teleported around to:

Coeur Lac d'Annecy Ski Resort

The Coeur Lac d'Annecy Ski Resort has two slopes for timed skiing. The scoreboard on the western slope shows your best 3 runs, while the eastern slope scoreboard tracks up to 8 skiers at a time. There is a ski lift to the summit or take the cable car in the lower lodge to the ground for cross country skiing or ice skating over 6 regions.

Visit in Second Life

A Christmas Wish

Calas Galadhon Park celebrates its 13th SL winter with another immersive 2 region holiday build. Whether riding one of its well-loved sleigh tours through the snow-covered countryside, taking in the view from the balloon, exploring on foot or horseback, ice skating, attending a live music event at the Calas Christmas Pavilion or cuddling in one of its cozy cabins, you'll be sure to experience the magic and spirit of this special time of the year!

Visit in Second Life

The Rainy Cafe

Winter has arrived at The Rainy Cafe and turned the rain to snow. Come inside and experience the warmth of the cafe, filled with seasonal decorations and treats, or wander outside and enjoy the snow! The Rainy Cafe in Winter is the perfect place to spend time with old friends, to meet new friends, or to just slow down and enjoy the holidays.

Visit in Second Life

Pour Up Winery & Vineyard

Pour Up Winery & Vineyard offers many different kinds of high-quality wine. Visit and explore the winery and vineyard where you can enjoy wine tasting, help make wine, go horse-riding, ziplining or paint and sip. Sit back and enjoy the amazing scenery and great wine. This is a free self-serve role-play destination for the public.

Visit in Second Life

Old Town - Winterland

Travel to this serene and quiet winter village high in the mountains; a place of peace and relaxation. Ride a horse in the snow, ice skate, wander about, or dance on the Winter-Sky Esplanade. The hot air balloon tours the two region span of Winterland. Bungee jump, zipline, or jetskii. You'll find lots of winter activities and romance at this picturesque location.

Visit in Second Life

Winter Love Valley

Visit Winter Love Valley for all your winter joy and romance. Skate with your lover or friends, throw snowballs, go up the hill on ski lifts, and down with snowboards. Visit cuddle wood, and cute winter houses, or hang around with your friends and meet new ones at Winter Love Valley.

Visit in Second Life

We ended our show at the SL Christmas Expo where Santa Patch and his elves were setting up for their photo session!

There are so many more winter attractions on the Destination Guide this season with lots of activities and opportunities for you to spend some quality time with your virtual friends and family. We're doing our best to list them as fast as we can and trying to rotate as many as we can through the Editors' Picks and Featured Events categories. Don't forget to also check our Recently Added category to see all the latest additions to the Second Life Destination Guide!

Got a spot that you’d like listed in the Destination Guide? Make sure to drop us a note at editor@lindenlab.com or submit your spot via web form. Don’t forget to read more about the Destination Guide info, guidelines, and criteria for Editors’ Picks or the Destinations Floater in the viewer, to increase your chances of being featured in those coveted spots!

Connect with Second Life on Social Media:
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Flickr | Pinterest | Tumblr | Plurk | TikTok | Reddit | LinkedIn

To celebrate the winter holiday season, we are releasing new limited edition last names today!

The following winter-themed names are only available until January 5th:  
Snowflake
Kringle
Yule
Fruitcake
Ninnymuggins
Humbug
Hollyberry
Jinglepaw

These names for winter are seasonal and may come back around this time next year, for a limited time.

The following is a screenshot of the full list of current last names available:

We have been very pleased to see the response to our limited edition last names. We will continue to make additional updates to the available last name pool, so if these options aren’t for you, stay tuned for future updates. You can also suggest your favorite name on our suggestion form, most of the new names were chosen from there! 

For more information about the costs and how-tos involved in name changes, read the Changing your username FAQ. Click to change your name now!
 

This week we are shining a spotlight on Tzeitel Enchantment, the ambassador for "Power Up for Charge," the official fundraising arm of the Charge Syndrome Foundation in Second Life.

How did you first hear about Second Life?

I have been a member of Second Life since March 2007. I first heard about it from a story in the news and just had to log in to see what it was all about. I’ve never looked back, it’s been an amazing ride.

What gave you the idea to start running fundraisers for Charge Syndrome in SL?

A friend of mine first suggested I have a fundraiser for Charge Syndrome in late 2019, because I’m so passionate about the work of the foundation and such a strong advocate for my child who lives with Charge Syndrome. I am quite open about my child with Charge Syndrome, and the challenges he (and we) have faced in Second Life. I feel it’s important the stories of those with disabilities are told. So it was also important to me to not just raise funds for The Charge Syndrome Foundation, but to also build awareness about this rare disease that is not only the most complex condition a child can be born with, but is also the leading cause of deaf-blindness among other things.

I let it percolate a bit, knowing that it would be a huge task, because when you do something in Second Life you gotta go big!  As the idea percolated, Love Kats offered up a space for me to host the event. I found 12 amazing musicians to perform live, some content creators donated  for draws and I had a small cohesive team of folks that helped me plan all the details and make it happen. So on February 29, 2020 I hosted the first annual “Power Up! For Charge” fundraising event to celebrate Rare Diseases Day. The day was a huge success.

Tzeitel Enchantment getting her son ready for graduation

Do you build in SL, or collaborate with other Residents? Please describe your process for running these events and getting Residents engaged.

I am not a creator in Second Life, but since the inception of the Charge Syndrome Region, I’ve learned a lot about region design, terraforming etc. My creative head and principal designer is Suzen Juel (Juel Resistance) and she has taught me just about everything I know. While we have very different styles, we have a fun but messy process for creating the fun space we call Charge Syndrome, and it works really well for us. I am really open to collaboration, and allowing others to create fun spaces in the region. I think it is empowering for everyone involved and it helps to keep everything fresh. As we build, my charger inevitably interrupts and becomes part of the conversation. Almost everything we do is inspired by him and the joy and inspiration he creates by being simply the person that he is.  

Suzen Juel and Tzeitel Enchantment

In addition to Suzen, my core inworld team includes Dusty Caldera and Sana Lisbeth (Dreamsdesire Starfall). Tintin (Aborignal) has joined the creative team this time around and is really excited about the ice cave “experience” he has created as well as some other wonderful spots. We have also welcomed Cranston Yordstom, the creator and builder of the Charge Syndrome Railway. Additionally, Ing (ingwaz.thor) has joined the fold who is designing a fun space for the Tinies and Dinkies of Second Life. 

We are a welcoming and diverse group of people, and if anyone wants to be part of the growing community, I am always looking for help. It’s not just the design of the region, but we also need folks to help plan and implement our events, outreach and whatever else we can think of. 

 I am very grateful for everyone who has donated their time and talents to Charge Syndrome. Together, I believe, we are building an amazing and supportive community.

Power Up! For Charge Holiday Creators

Do you have any inworld events coming up?

I am hoping to have some holiday events this year. We currently have Nina Settner confirmed for December 4th. This will be a special event where she will be performing some more classical pieces. I am also in the planning stages for Sul’s big birthday bash in January. That’s my charger’s birthday, so we have to celebrate!  

Planning is also underway for the 3rd Annual “Power Up! For Charge” event for Rare Diseases Day. This has become a multi-day event during the last weekend in February, and is the cornerstone for all of our fundraising efforts for The Charge Syndrome Foundation. 

Your region just underwent a transformation for the winter months. Could you tell us about that process and if there are any things in particular that inspired or influenced the design?

Charge Syndrome is transformed about four times a year. It’s a fun but messy process. That usually starts with emptying and flattening the region so it’s like a blank canvas.  The base textures have all been hand drawn and created by Suzen Juel and from there we build upward and create the shape for the space. Suzen is very specific about the whole visual component so before we begin to lay anything down together we will decide on the sky, environment, and mood. It can take a while to do this part, but it’s a lot of fun as we experiment with all the lights trying to set the right vibe and tone. 

The themes we choose for each build are typically inspired by my son, who lives with Charge Syndrome. They tend to be playful and quirky and focus on light and texture. My charger lives with low vision so definition and light play a big role. My creative director, Suzen, is an artist so the region is never going to have a realistic look to it. Our trees have hearts or curlicues, our grass glows, and there is always something unexpected around the corner. 

I’m not sure where I got the idea for the railway for the winter theme this year, but it was embraced by the whole team. I’m so glad we went with it, and that I got the support of Cranston Yordstrom to design and build the whole system. I contacted him out of the blue and he hopped over immediately to start building. I was blown away by how he has embraced the project and the train is definitely a highlight for all of us.  

I also invited the Tiny and Dinkie community to the region this time around, and a space has been created just for them. In addition, we have customized dance and skating intans for them so they can enjoy all that Charge Syndrome has to offer. There is also a hot air balloon to enjoy, lots of spaces to find and explore and to take pictures.  Finally, we are in the final stages of creating an “experience” with the inclusion of a hidden, underwater cave system. This cool addition is being designed by Tintin (Ab0riginal), another new and wonderful addition to the team.  

My hope with each build is that people will be inspired to come and enjoy the space but will also  take a few minutes to read up our information boards about Charge Syndrome. Simply by accepting the teleport to the region, they have now heard of this disease, and I think that is a big step in beginning the education process. We want people to feel relaxed and happy in the space we’ve created. We want them to return again and again and bring their friends. Hopefully each step we take will help the community grow.

For people unfamiliar with Second Life, what is something you’d like them to know?

Second Life to me is really an extension of my first life. I have met some of my most favourite people in the world on the grid, and then have gone on to meet them in “real” life. I have laughed and cried with these folks, we have hugged and drank wine together.

Second Life brings together a diverse and amazing group of people. You can be whatever you want in the metaverse, you can explore your creative side, be an artist, singer, content creator. The exciting part of it is that you have a global community there to support you on your journey.  

Follow Tzeitel and learn more about Charge Syndrome at the following links:

Power Up! for Charge Destination: https://secondlife.com/destination/charge-syndrome
Power Up for Charge Flickr Group: https://www.flickr.com/groups/14758574@N23
Tzeitel Enchantment on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/41484783@N02
Tzeitel Enchantment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Tzeitel-Enchantment/100011509209478

Watch this Made in Second Life video about Power Up for Charge!

Video Production by Draxtor Despres
“You’ve Got a Way” written and performed by Suzen Juel
RL videography by Rosie L.

We hope you enjoyed learning more about how Tzeitel channeled her passions into this stunning region that raises awareness for Charge Syndrome. Each of these weekly Spotlight posts will feature a different Resident to showcase the spectrum of experiences and personalities found in our virtual world. If you have created something inworld that you’re proud of, or have had a deeply meaningful experience that could brighten someone else’s day, please sign up! More info here: https://second.life/spotlight-signup

The 2021 Holiday Shop & Hop is almost here with 240+ participating merchants across 12 shopping regions, bringing you loads of festive fun! Every store will have at least a 20% discount on all items and a new and exclusive gift available for free!

The event formally opens to the public on Wednesday, December 8th at 9am PT - but who wants to wait when you can get early access! If you can’t contain your excitement, join the official Second Life Birthday group inworld to be granted immediate access.

Before you jump inworld, you can get a sneak peek at many of the items that will be available in the official Second Life Shop & Hop Flickr pool. And don’t forget to share photos of your haul after your shopping excursion!

To visit the 2021 Holiday Shop & Hop - start at any one of the Regions - but be sure to visit them all to see everything that's available. Happy shopping!  

If you’re looking for even more winter activities, make sure to check out our Winter Events blog post from last week to see what else we have in store for you this holiday season!
 

A complete list of all 240+ participating Shop & Hop Merchants in alphabetical order, and the direct slurls, is below:

Happy December! 

We will soon be adding an option to email notification preferences. Currently, you can choose to receive IMs in your email when you are not logged in to Second Life. There will now be an additional setting that controls whether you receive Group notices in email.

These settings are moving from the Viewer Preferences window to https://accounts.secondlife.com/change_email. A verified email address is still required for receiving these notifications.

We are rolling this change out in stages. If you change your settings, it may be up to two weeks before it takes effect.

The default for the new setting affecting Group notices will be OFF. If you wish to receive Group notices in email, you will need to visit the web page and opt in.

This change is motivated by feedback from our community as well as residents frequently marking Group Notice emails as spam.  We want emails to our residents to be as relevant and useful as possible! 

________________________________________________

When the full rollout of the change is complete on December 15, residents will have the option to opt-in or out of offline communication preferences separately for offline IMs and offline group notifications.  In the past if residents requested offline communication you would receive both IMs and group notifications when you were not inworld; with this change residents will not receive offline group notifications unless they explicitly ask for them.  They will still receive offline IMs if they subscribed to offline notifications before the change.  

The web page for opting in to receiving group notifications will go live on December 8, 2021 but some preference updates will not be applied until December 15.  If a resident does not explicitly sign up for offline group notifications before December 15 they will stop receiving them after that date.  Any preference changes made after December 15 will go into effect immediately.

If a resident has requested no offline communications the preference will not change.
 

December has begun and we have lots in store for you this holiday season, including our annual snowball fight, exclusive premium gift, swag for all, the magic of Winter Wonderland, SL Christmas Expo, and more!

WINTER WONDERLAND IS OPEN

Winter Wonderland

Discover an exciting snowy adventure in this winter attraction by Linden Lab. Enjoy some holiday gifts in the Village of Lights, then make your way to snowboarding, snowmobiling, ice-skating, or snowball fighting in the snowball fight arena. If you’re in the mood for something a bit quieter, take a breath-taking trip on the Ferris Wheel and catch incredible views of the twinkling lights and shimmery snow.

Visit in Second Life

Winter Wonderland is back in all its beautiful glory with interactive fun that you won’t want to miss! Start your adventure in the Village of Lights, then make your way to snowboarding, snowmobiling, ice-skating, and of course, the snowball fight arena. These activities are more fun with friends - so grab your besties and plan to spend a few hours catching everything that Winter Wonderland has to offer. If you’re in the mood for something a bit quieter after all that running around, take a breathtaking trip on the Ferris Wheel and catch incredible views of the twinkling lights and shimmery snow. (You may be prompted to opt in to the Winter Wonderland experience in order to participate in the activities - be sure to read and accept the experience.)

LINDEN & RESIDENT SNOWBALL FIGHT

Linden & Resident Snowball Fight

Get in the winter spirit for the most epic snowball fight in Second Life. Come with a group of friends and meet new people - either way, you're sure to have a blast as you toss snowballs at other Residents and even Lindens! The annual Snowball Fight event will be held on December 17th at 10am to 11am PT and another one at 2pm to 3pm PT.

Visit in Second Life

‘Tis the season for some snow-slinging shenanigans at the Winter Wonderland Snowball Fight Arena.

Get your warm clothes and throwing arms ready - it’s time for a Lindens and Residents snowball fight! This snowball showdown means you're free to pelt your fellow Second Life Residents and Lindens with a bevy of sparkling snowballs - launched fresh from the snow-arsenal available at the arena.

The battles take place on Friday, December 17th from 10am to 11am PT and then again from  2pm to 3pm PT. Spots are limited, so be sure to get there early to grab your free snow launching weaponry from the vendors around the arena. 

Mark your calendars, assemble your dream squad, and be there!

WINTER SWAGINATOR HUNT

Winter Swaginator Hunt

‘Tis the season to be jolly - and what could be more jolly than new gifts? From now through the end of December, Second Life will be giving away 4 exclusive Linden Bears for everyone! Pick up your HUD at the Meauxle Bureaux and make sure to complete the gift hunt in order by following the clues in the HUD and local chat. Happy hunting!

Visit in Second Life

The Swaginator is back with seasonal gifts for everyone! Pick up and attach your Swaginator HUD, and follow the clues in local chat to find each of the four exclusive Linden Bears, handcrafted for this special occasion!

NEW WINTER PREMIUM GIFT

Premium Gift Collection Spot 1

Premium members can grab the newest gift at this convenient kiosk, located in Unttan.

Visit in Second Life

Premium members - we have something special for you - a limited and exclusive Premium-Only gift that’s sure to delight and add a little extra holiday charm to your inworld adventures. Drop by one of the Premium Gift kiosks and take it for a whirl!

Included, you’ll find a Premium Member Token and Premium Member Token HUD, which are the keys to Premium Only snowball weapons at the Snowball Fight arena in Winter Wonderland. The HUD will give you access to some upgraded snow arsenal. Remember to attach your HUD at the arena to access and rez your snow-slinging artillery. 

Get your Premium Gift at one of the Premium Gift kiosks inworld - before they disappear!

THE 11TH ANNUAL SL CHRISTMAS EXPO TO BENEFIT THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY

11th Annual SL Christmas Expo

Visit the 11th Annual SL Christmas Expo, held December 3-14 in support of the American Cancer Society's fight against childhood cancer. This 14 region shopping extravaganza features 170+ Merchants, 3 Breedable Regions, and many holiday activities including Twirl & Whirl Hunt, Lights of Hope Decoration Contest, 100+ hours of live entertainment, and more! Linden Lab will reveal the next edition of the coveted Linden Home series at the Expo and provide a Limited Edition Christmas item and special surprises. For more info, visit: slchristmasexpo.com

Visit in Second Life

This year’s SL Christmas Expo is bursting with bright and merry delights - all for supporting the American Cancer Society and the fight against childhood cancer. From December 3rd through the 14th enjoy many holiday activities at the expo and donate for a good cause! 

Linden Lab has also joined in on the fun! Watch out for these Linden-themed activities at the expo:

• Vote (by donation to a special ACS Christmas Expo Kiosk) for your favorite decorated Linden Home at the annual Lights of Hope Home Decorating Contest. 
• Pose with Santa Patch and his Molelves! A very special opportunity to pose for a picture with our VP of Product Operations, Patch Linden, and his team of Molelves - on Friday, December 10th from 12pm to 3pm PT, in the main SL Christmas Expo region!
• New theme of Linden Homes will be revealed on Monday, December 6th -> watch this space! 
• A new Limited Edition Christmas Item -> Patch on a shelf, available here.

Head over to discover the magic of the holiday season and the joy of giving!

2021 HOLIDAY SHOP & HOP

The 2021 Holiday Shop & Hop returns on December 8th with 240+ participating Merchants across 12 regions. Your guide to the Shop & Hop, including early access, can be found here: https://second.life/2021HolidayShopHop 

WINTER ATTRACTIONS ON THE DESTINATION GUIDE

If you’re looking for even more winter activities, there’s already close to 100 wintery themed locations in the Winter Attractions category on the Destination Guide. We’re adding new regions daily, so if you have a spot you’d like to invite other Residents to explore, make sure to check out the submission guidelines and submit yours today!

Wishing a safe and happy holiday season to everyone in our virtual community!

Today we are shining a spotlight on Sirux Mahoney, the CEO of FANTASYLAND Estate since 2006 who is now venturing into an impressive NFT/Second Life crossover project called Universe v2.

How long have you been in Second Life and how did you first hear about it?

I have been in Second Life since 2006. Prior to that, I was in another 3D world and became quite popular, so much that I became its official partner for my region. My community kept on growing over the months and then one night, one of my good friends, who went missing for some days, reappeared and told us that she had been spending time in Second Life. She had lots of praise for Second Life and insisted that we should all try it out. While many of my community members felt enthusiastic about the idea, I was rather skeptical, though I have to admit that I Googled it to find out more. My concern was about leaving everything behind, especially my good friends, going back to square one in another world. I could see my community crumbling. I decided to stick around and watch how things developed. And things did develop. The inevitable happened. I witnessed an exodus of my community members to Second Life. And when my good friends started moving too, I realised that my initial concern was no longer valid. I entertained mixed thoughts in my mind over the next couple of days and then one day, as I was driving back home, I decided to take the plunge! The next thing I remember I was creating my account on Second Life and logging in to discover what the hype was all about. The rest is history. I found my way on Second Life and made it even bigger than in that other 3D world. I never went back!

You are already well known for FANTASYLAND Estate, a virtual real estate provider in Second Life and you have been very active in this market since 2006. What got you interested in it? Tell us more about your business and how you got started in virtual real estate.

When I joined Second Life and connected again with my friends from the other 3D world, where we mostly spent time chatting, we found out that Second Life had so much more to offer. Instead of just meeting up and chatting, we started to explore, visit places, shop around and get engaged in various activities all over Second Life. We quickly noticed the business potential of Second Life and while some of my friends became designers, builders, and scripters among other things, I decided to try my luck at the real estate business as the common thing we all spent money on was land! That's how FANTASYLAND Estate was born. I was lucky that my business jump-started as all my friends started to rent from me and kept on recommending their friends. The orders came pouring in and FANTASYLAND Estate kept on expanding to become what it is today, thanks to the dedication and customer care shown by our team over those 15 years. I take this opportunity to thank all my staff members, and all my tenants for trusting us and making us what we are today. And last but not least, all the wonderful people at Linden Research, Inc., for working with me and providing me with the support needed.

Outside of your real estate endeavours, what are some of your favorite things to do or places to visit in Second Life?

Honestly, I would love to find more time out of my busy schedule to be able to enjoy what Second Life has to offer. When I do have some free time though, which happens very rarely, I log on to an anonymous account to meet up with friends and go around freely and unnoticed! Apart from my real estate business, I have been actively involved for a long period of time with breeding horses on Second Life. Actually, I still have a large collection and do it from time to time. I love horses, and I am fascinated by the uncertainty and reasoning involved in the breeding mechanics.

We hear that you have a brand new project debuting this week -- Universe v2 - Rise of the Robots. This appears to be an NFT project that has a unique Second Life component. Can you explain a bit about this project, which I understand has an elaborate backstory about the robots. Can you tell us a bit about the story - and how will this work for people who want to check it out and potentially participate?

Oh yeah I love the storyline of our new project, Universe v2:

'The Law of Conservation of Mass states that matter can neither be created nor destroyed, although it may be rearranged in space and the entities associated with it may be changed in form.

End of 2021. This is what actually happened. During a cataclysm, the universe got rearranged. The sun remained but the planets {that we know} disappeared, and two new planets were formed: Onerion and Zerotia. But what happened to the living entities? Well, they changed in form! Onerion and Zerotia are inhabited by different colonies of robots, each one having unique characteristics that are passed on through fusion. Onerion and Zerotia move along different elliptical orbits around the sun and every three months, they concurrently become aligned with the sun causing a cosmic tunnel to open up in space, linking the two planets. What happens next? Well, some things never change: Onerions and Zerotians travel along the tunnel, waging war against each other in the New Universe. Universe v2, Rise of the Robots.'

The ‘Universe v2’ NFT collection consists of 9,998 robots (4,999 Onerions and 4,999 Zerotians) minted on the Solana network, each robot with a unique combination of attributes. We are launching our whitelist registration on 4th Dec at 12.00pm UTC, limited to 1,500 slots with max 4 NFTs per slot, which gives registrants access to our PreSale Round 1 mint at only SOL1.35 (roughly USD285). Presale Round 1 mint will start once all whitelist slots are taken, followed by PreSale Round 2 mint, limited to 3,000 NFTs at SOL1.35 still. The last minting stage will be Public Minting at SOL2.50. The Second Life component of the project is that we are giving away the corresponding 3D Models of the NFTs on Second Life to those who mint during PreSale.

As with any NFT project, early minting is crucial. If you are new to the NFT world, basically early minting an NFT is similar to you buying at wholesale, getting the distribution rights to a product direct from the ‘manufacturer’ and then deciding to keep it, use it or even onsell it at a higher price. I would therefore recommend anyone interested to book a whitelist spot on our website as soon as registration opens on 4th Dec. For the records, we have seen NFTs getting resold at USD $170,000 just one month later while the minting price was less than USD $20.

While full information, including the Road Map and FAQ, about the Universe v2 project is available on our website, it is indispensable to anyone interested to join our Discord server as this is where we actually keep in touch with all our members, providing regular and important updates.

Second Life 3D Model

Is this your first NFT project? What made you interested in entering into this space?

Yes, this is my maiden NFT project. What got me interested in the first place was the hype. However, since the beginning, I felt that there was something just not right about them. I didn't like the idea of people buying an NFT to keep as a collection piece or immediately reselling it for a profit. I wanted to make something different. And that's what the Universe v2 NFT collection is all about! A Universe v2 NFT is not just an NFT which you keep or try to onsell for a profit straightaway. It is a living piece of technology which you can use for your enjoyment while even earning rewards, which also evolves, making its worth soar for you to show off or eventually onsell for an unbelievable profit! Our road map has it all planned out to make this happen. We have invested a lot in this project and have big hopes. For these to come to fruition, we rely on our community to trust us as we work together to make this project enjoyable and rewarding all along for everyone, and achieve its full potential. We plan to build a Universe v2 Legacy, together with our members!

Second Life 3D Model

While this sounds really cool, we know that not everybody may be a fan of NFTs -- and/or there may be some hesitation or confusion about them. Can people participate in Second Life without the NFTs - or is that something you are considering for the future?

Indeed you are right. While the NFT market is very promising, it is a niche market and fairly new too. On top of that, we have a limited number of 9,998 NFTs which means that they won't be available for everyone. The limited supply is actually an intrinsic feature of any NFT collection, contributing to make the floor price of the collection soar above the original release price (the minting price) and actually reach astronomical values in some cases, as I pointed out earlier. With that in mind, we understand that some people, without the NFTs, would love to have one of our robots and participate in our MMORPG further down our road map. We shall definitely give it due consideration and look into ways of properly integrating new components in the future, making the project progress further. This is perfectly in line with the last point mentioned in the road map on our website.

Universe v2 NFT Robot (left) - Second Life 3D Model (right)

It seems like this has the potential to introduce Second Life to entirely new audiences. How are you planning to help connect your new NFT consumers directly to Second Life -- and potentially explore more of the virtual world beyond claiming their robots?

Yes, we could be among the first, if not the first, projects to be giving away corresponding 3D models of the NFTs right off the bat! Since my team is actively involved in Second Life on a daily basis, it provides us with the ideal platform to do that. Our 3D Artist team did an awesome job delivering the quality we aspire for. We understood from the beginning that this endeavour would entail getting Second Life introduced to new audiences and we got our team prepared for that. We have a link on our website for our community members to register for a Second Life account and log on to visit us on the Universe v2 region, where they can see the 3D robots being made and even meet and greet them! We know this experience can be a bit tricky for first-time users. We have a specific channel on our Discord server dedicated to providing the initial help to our members regarding registration and logging on for the first time. And once in-world, we have our team to guide them and cater for their orientation. We believe this process will become easier once we have Second Life Residents join us in this project, make new friends in the community and contribute towards helping them not only with the Universe v2 project on Second Life, but also with discovering the immense outreach of Second Life.

Universe v2 NFT Robot (left) - Second Life 3D Model (right)

This is all pretty exciting -- are there other new projects that can we expect from you in the future, too?

We do have two more projects planned. The first one, which is actually already in the works, is related to the NFT metaverse though it won't be an NFT collection as such. The second is the development of a mobile app which will link people worldwide and make it much easier for them to communicate and cooperate while playing a popular augmented reality (AR) mobile game, thus allowing them to progress faster in the game.

Where can people learn more about your work? Please share links to your sites and social media accounts.

While our website provides all information about Universe v2, our Discord server is where we actually make important announcements, provide regular updates, hold discussions, answer questions and work together with our community members towards our common goal. We would say it is indispensable to anyone interested in the project to join our Discord.

Website: https://universev2.com 
Discord: https://discord.gg/universev2 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Universe_v2 
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/people/universev2 
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGhxlI0SLzIiACgbLzUqGxQ 

View the Universe v2 Official Trailer, shot in Second Life, video production by Vrutega.

We hope you enjoyed learning more about Sirux and his impressive new project. Each of these weekly Spotlight posts will feature a different Resident to showcase the spectrum of experiences and personalities found in our virtual world. If you have created something inworld that you’re proud of, or have had a deeply meaningful experience that could brighten someone else’s day, please sign up! More info here: https://second.life/spotlight-signup 
 

This week we are placing a Spotlight on Angel Manor, a palatial estate adorned in some of the most impressive architecture we've ever seen. The Duke (Kaya Angel, Owner & Builder) and Duchess (Kezzy Forwzy, Co-founder & General Manager) of Angel Manor have proven to be a powerhouse duo in terms of creativity and event management.

How long have each of you been in Second Life?

Kaya: Well, I first came into Second Life to see what this new virtual world was all about when it first went live. I was fascinated by what Philip Rosedale had said about this new world and his vision for it, and I was specifically interested to see what the proposed freedoms were in a {world composed of user-generated content}. At the very start, I wanted to see if people would explore the ideas of new social groups and societies that tested new ideas about how people could work together: if they would build environments and create businesses, or if people would just copy and replicate the real world as we know it. It was perhaps too early right at the start, it was such a new concept that it took us all a long time to understand what potential existed here. It wasn't until a few years later I really found my feet on the platform and created a new avatar who had a mission to create and build a community. So in one form or another I've been in Second Life from its birth and watched it change and grow into the world it is today.

Kezzy: I've been here just over 14 years now. A {physical world} friend had an avatar and had told me all about this online world where you can meet people from across the globe and enjoy amazing live music. I was really intrigued; I was already an online gamer and an active member of several community forums as well as running some myself, so I thought I would make an account. I was fascinated by the premise of being able to socialise in real time with people across the world, and at that time several {regions} had sprung up in likeness to where I lived in {the physical world} which really made me curious. I logged in, followed my friend to some live music venues and I was instantly hooked. I met Kaya within a week of logging in and the rest, as they say, is history!

Do either of you have a background in design, and what drew you to creating things in a virtual world?

Kaya: I do have a background in design, as my full time job is as an event designer. I specialise in lighting and set design currently for large corporate events, but my background is based in theatre and concerts. It's often strange how much Second Life replicates my real life work! Doing technical design in RL has really helped in Second Life as a key part of my design role is to understand how people are affected by different environments, such as how light, space and sound influence the experience people have. Here at Angel Manor we really try to ensure we create a very real immersive world, which we often describe as “hyper reality” in that it's just a little exaggerated, but very much based on the world we are used to. This means there are rules such as items can't be floating, and even though we don't have the laws of physics it should feel as if they do. So structures must look like they would stand under their own weight and we don't want the estate to feel like a film set in that every door should lead to a real room and every window should have a view both inside and out. But Second Life has also helped me so much in my professional career as I now use the 3D modelling skills I gained from Second Life in other 3D programs to create the designs to showcase to clients as proposals. So it’s very much been a two way learning of which I'm very thankful for.

Kezzy: I am not a designer at all! Kaya is absolutely the design genius in this partnership, although I enjoy the design process throughout. I deal with the logistics side - running the estate in terms of the day-to-day management and organising live events and private bookings. However, our strengths feed off each other, which is why I think we make such a great team. For me, I get great joy from bringing our talents together to create spectacular events and seasonal treats that will inspire and motivate all Residents of Second Life to live their best lives by joining us in our world. When we bring together our skills and create a magical event or a new build that has people talking about it for weeks and months, that is the biggest draw for me.

Angel Manor is such an immaculate and huge place. How long did it take to build, and how would you describe your artistic vision?

Kaya: It's hard to put a time on how long it has taken to build as there are always updates and upgrades taking place. The best time scale I can give is to say that based on past experience, a full {region} here takes about two months to complete and a homestead about two weeks. But as I say, it’s always changing. The artistic vision is to ensure there is always something new to find, either because you did not find something on your first visit or something new has been added. Our vision is very much created by the influence of people who live and visit here. We always listen to the Residents who call Angel Manor their home and are open to new ideas they would like to see here. We get wonderful comments and take note of what people like and what areas may not get much use. This is how Angel Manor has been shaped over the years.

Kezzy: We also consistently hold ourselves to the highest standard of events that we can. We pride ourselves in delivering unique and exciting events whether that is by allowing the use of the venue for charity, cultural and large scale events or our own live music events. We've been really fortunate to have some of the very best in Second Life talent grace our stages over the past 14 years, and I think that all comes back to what we have created.

How would you describe the architectural style, and what are some things that inspired it?

Kaya: Starting as a 1930's ballroom, it has become more regal and palace-like over the years as that is what people seem to enjoy the most. The best way to describe the style is that it's based around a mix of English and French architecture from the golden era, but as this is Second Life we also like to add a mix of Disney magic, a touch of Phantom of the Opera and not forgetting the most recent influences of Downton Abbey! Just like the grand estates that are still around today, we act as the modern day custodians, here to keep the estate running and to keep it serving the community as best as we can while also ensuring all the roofs remain leak free and no aging stone work falls endangering visitors!

Kezzy: I think the biggest inspiration we have is being driven by the power Second Life gives us to create this very real feeling, very immersive world that allows Second Life Residents to come and experience whatever it is that they want it to be. We best describe the Angel Manor as themed as a modern day aristocratic palace that aims to create an environment that allows our visitors, Residents and staff to experience a standard of life and culture that encourages, inspires and motivates us to live our best lives in both worlds. It is not a traditional roleplay location, but a place people can come as their true avatar self and act as they would if they were visiting or living in an old aristocratic estate.

What have been some of your favorite events that have taken place at Angel Manor? Anything coming up that you’d like to share?

Kaya: When it comes to events I think we are best known for the stage production we add to the live music events. We work to support artists that perform on our main ballroom stage by providing changing lights and sets that visually support the artist. The reason for this was not just because this is my real life background, but because we wanted people to feel they are at a very real show. Often with live music it can be easy for people to arrive and listen and enjoy the performance, but they will be either camming around to see who else is there or maybe deep in chat with other friends while listening to the performance. We really want people to be not just listening but watching the performance. The visual aspect of our shows should also help convey the emotion of the song being performed to enhance the overall experience. The other events that stand out are the large themed events we do which are normally based around holidays. We have created large Halloween events such as a masquerade ball, and enjoyed Easter with {a nod to} Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, complete with chocolate river and waterfall to get the perfect mix!

Kezzy: We have been really lucky to showcase the best artistic talent across Second Life, be that in art, music and culture. We have two live music events across our various venues every week but I think my favourite events are also the Grand Balls we put on twice a year at Easter and Halloween. These are custom built, themed events that we have so much fun brainstorming and designing together. The most recent ball was the Enchanted Ballroom, themed as if we had sneaked all of our guests into the ballroom from Beauty and the Beast! This summer we celebrated our 14th anniversary with a grand "Celebration of the Arts" festival, with live music spanning across a whole weekend. We invited musicians who had performed on our very first stage right up to musicians who are relatively new to the Second Life music scene, and we were delighted that the {regions} were full for the entire weekend. This festive season sees the return of our annual Christmas Market, built in the Estate Gardens that will feature market stalls from some of SL's finest designers as well as a full calendar of live music events so we would encourage everyone to wrap up warm and join us for some festive cheer through December.

Do you consider Angel Manor to be finished, or do any parts get remodeled after a certain amount of time?

Kaya: Angel Manor is never finished as I just love building too much! There is always something that can be improved or made fresh. We never want the place to feel dated in SL terms. There are always new techniques or new mesh that improves on the design, but most of all we want anyone who lives or visits here to always find something new. Also, from a business point of view, the homes here are on a continuous cycle of updates to ensure we always offer the grandest of regal living.

Kezzy: I call it tinkering! It's not unusual for me to log in and find Kaya trying something new, or rebuilding a wing, or excitedly showing me the inspiration behind a new idea. Part of the magic is seeing what we will come up with next to add to the estate. It's forever evolving to meet the needs and desires of the Residents and visitors but also our own needs and desires as well.

What are some of the day to day tasks of managing such a large estate?

Kaya: When it comes to day to day tasks I know Kezzy is always out looking for new performers to bring to the our stages, while I do the rounds of the estate tending to the grounds and buildings. It's not uncommon that a Resident may have had a car crash into a bush, or maybe a horse has broken free and is roaming the estate. There may be the odd golf or tennis ball that has been hit off course. Some of the largest tasks are dealing with all the season changes, as the estate has wonderful summers and golden falls and not forgetting very cold and snowy winters. Ensuring the estate feels alive and is always changing is a key part to my day to day tasks.

Kezzy: I love how incredibly varied each of my SL days are! I like to check in with any residents that are online, and see what they are up to or if they need any help. I encourage them all to run social events within the estate which fosters a great sense of community, something that we are very proud of here. If we have a show or an event that day, I will be prepping notices and promotional material and checking in with the event organiser, musician or their manager to make sure everything is going ahead. Otherwise, I'll be checking the calendar for the weekly events, answering notecards and IMs with inquiries about the estate and the store and booking the next month's worth of shows. Each day is completely different, I never know who I will come across when walking around the estate, and I love that. The diversity and breadth of our visitors never fails to amaze and inspire me.

For more information on Angel Manor, follow them here:
Website - www.angelmanor.org
Facebook - www.facebook.com/angelmanor
Flickr - https://www.flickr.com/groups/angelmanor/
YouTube - www.youtube.com/user/ThePurpleRoseTheatre
Instagram - www.instagram.com/angelmanor
Twitter - www.twitter.com/angelmanor
Teleports - angelmanor.org/visit-us

We hope you enjoyed learning more about Angel Manor. Each of these weekly Spotlight posts will feature a different Resident to showcase the spectrum of experiences and personalities found in our virtual world. If you have created something inworld that you’re proud of, or have had a deeply meaningful experience that could brighten someone else’s day, please sign up! More info here: https://second.life/spotlight-signup

Hello, and Happy Monday!

Today we’re excited to announce that we’ve updated the look of our inworld and web-side Search feature to bring it more in line with the look and feel of our viewer and the direction that that rest of our web properties will be going (see the new Join page, and the new secondlife.com landing page - they’re excellent). 
 

New Search home page in the viewer.

Our goal was to clean up the interface and provide a more streamlined and user friendly Search feature that maintained all the functionality that we’ve all come to expect and rely upon. Helpful tool tips will guide you in getting the most functionality out of your searches, and will update as we add more options for more sophisticated searches.
 

Search options are detailed in the search bar tool tip.

Once you’ve begun your search, you’ll find that all the familiar options are still available so that you can refine your search for Places, People, Events, Groups, Land to Buy or Rent, Classifieds, etc. We have not changed the algorithm that our Search feature uses in any way. We have simply tried to present the information in a more pleasing and useful manner.
 

All your favorite functions are easy to find.

All searches can be filtered by the convenient maturity dropdowns.

We’re extremely excited to be rolling this out today in time for all of our Holiday searching. We hope that you’ll enjoy the new look and feel just as much as we do, and we look forward to unveiling a host of new features for Search to go along with this facelift in the new year! Happy Searching!

Pictured: Ashemi Remarkable

We're halfway through November and the Winter Attractions category is already filling up with beautiful snow-covered destinations for you to explore. I'll make sure to highlight them throughout the month of December. Today I'm highlighting some newer photogenic destinations that are not winter-related.

Ashemi Remarkable

Ashemi returns with a highly detailed urban landscape. Mixing the past with the present and offering something of interest to those who love to explore. Get lost in the streets and alleyways or hop onto a train to admire the neon reflections that dance upon the sea. Visit the cave that sits underneath the city or simply let your mind wander as you meditate in some of the many beauty spots in and around the region. Parts of the old city can still be seen but also boasts a more modern sleek look with its club and high-class restaurant. Tucked away are many strange and bizarre surprises to make your visit an entertaining one. Welcome to Ashemi and enjoy your stay!

Visit in Second Life

Whitechapel

Whitechapel is a Victorian-themed destination perfect for fantasy role-playing.

Visit in Second Life

Soul2Soul Highlands

Enchanting Scottish Isle inspired by the landscape of the Inner Hebrides islands basking off the Western coast of Scotland and the charming Isle of Skye. Take a peaceful stroll and atmospheric photos at this exquisite acclaimed region. Design by Minnie Atlass. Add your images to their Flickr group: flickr.com/groups/3985845@N25

Visit in Second Life

Finnygook Cove

Frogmore Presents: Finnygook Cove at Mousehole! Inspired by the tales of Smuggler Silas Finn of Cornwall, Finnygook Cove is a land once bursting with the harvest of fish by day, and silks and brandy by night. Now just a memory of forgotten days, the ghost of Silas Finn returns after 200 years roaming the old port village, making a visit to the few souls still about.

Visit in Second Life

Skrunda-3 Reimagined

Welcome to Skrunda-3, the latest iteration of the abandoned Latvian town. Decaying docks, old apartments, trams and trains, a dusty gallery, and much more, come and see for yourself. A must-see for Second Life photographers!

Visit in Second Life

Wild Branch Brewing Co

Nestled in a secluded area of Riverbook, scattered with lush shrubbery and green foliage, the Wild Branch Brewing Co. is a first of its kind craft beer brewery experience in Second Life. Immerse yourself in rustic tranquility with luxury amenities for the perfect nature getaway. It's your time to be adventurous, be secluded, be daring, be free - this retreat lets you do all of that and more.

Visit in Second Life

Coven of Crows

Coven of Crows is a place between worlds, ruled by crows and magical souls. This is both a place of storied journeys and a community space to gather and connect. There is an undercurrent of the mystical, a world beyond this one where crows have taken over a long-forgotten magical land. Add your images to their Flickr group: flickr.com/groups/covenofcrows

Visit in Second Life

The Crow City

The Crow City invites you to travel, discover and explore. Enable advanced lighting, shared environment, and media to fully appreciate this immersive experience. Take a few minutes of your time to come and walk around, rest or just have fun. In any case, don't forget to take your camera and leave them a souvenir of your visit in their Flickr group: flickr.com/groups/14737635@N21

Visit in Second Life

Don't forget to check our Recently Added category to see all the latest additions to the Second Life Destination Guide!

Got a spot that you’d like listed in the Destination Guide? Make sure to drop us a note at editor@lindenlab.com or submit your spot via web form. Don’t forget to read more about the Destination Guide info, guidelines and criteria for Editors’ Picks or the Destinations Floater in the viewer, to increase your chances of being featured in those coveted spots!

Connect with Second Life on Social Media:
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Flickr | Pinterest | Tumblr | Plurk | TikTok | Reddit | LinkedIn

This week we are shining a spotlight on Aufwie Mysterious, whose cathartic experiences performing live music in SL have helped him grow as an artist and encouraged him to positively impact others with his songs.

How long have you been in Second Life and how did you first hear about it?
I've been a Resident in Second Life since 2010 and I remember hearing about it on the telly as they were talking about these new virtual worlds and how you were able to do almost anything you wanted, such as meeting new people, learning new things, attending art venues and so on. The idea of having the chance to create an alter ego caught my attention as I struggled with depression and PTSD from an early age. It was then that Second Life became the perfect place for me to learn how to socialize again and be who I wanted to be without being judged or exposed. Since then Second Life has played a very important role in my development and it became a safe place for me. Eventually this alter ego merged with my real self and became a virtual representation of what I am. 

How did music come into your life, and what instruments do you play?
Music has always been there for me, I can't remember a moment in my life in which I wasn't surrounded by it. My father was a professional drummer, my mother an amateur singer, and in such a tiny house like the one in which I spent my very early years with them, my crib, the drumset, and the many recordings my father had (big fan of David Bowie, Pink Floyd, Supertramp, Genesis, The Police and Elton John) it was pretty difficult to not to feel involved in that world. So I started playing drums at the age of 4; I loved to play and sing, just like Phil Collins from Genesis. It wasn't until about 2006 that I discovered all these punk rock and indie rock bands such as The Libertines, The Smiths, Sex Pistols or Green Day (to name a few) that completely blew my mind to bits and I felt the need to get my hands on a guitar and make songs. So my father got me this low, low, low budget generic stratocaster that, for me, was the most marvelous thing I had ever held in my hands and there it all began. I was already playing drums and doing live shows with a band when I was 12 but I wanted to become a frontman, so I kept drumming while taking guitar and singing lessons and it wasn't until I was 18 that I formed a band called Love Paranoia (you can still find some songs on spotify) with which I finally got to experience what I means to be in front of a band, staring at a crowd in the eye and speaking your heart out to them. And I loved it. Since then, I've dedicated my life to music completely. Today I play drums, guitar, bass, synths, ukulele and whatever instrument I can get my hands on for my homonym project called ''AUFWIE''. My professional life now consists of doing live shows in Second Life, writing and releasing my own music, and also producing music for other artists as well.

When did you start performing live in Second Life, and what regions can people visit to hear you play?
The truth is that since my early days in Second Life, I would be busking around the grid, literally anywhere I could open my mic and sing. I always loved to use music as a way to cheer people up, to distract them from their busy lives for a moment, so that's what I did for nearly 8 years; Just log in and hop from one place to another singing my heart out for the few that would listen. It wasn't until this whole Covid pandemic started that I realized it could become something bigger. Some friends encouraged me to start doing live shows properly, and before I could realize what was going on, I was performing once a week for 50 people, more or less. I never really thought of myself as someone special or particularly skillful, but I guess people liked it! Nowadays I'm performing three to four days a week, in almost every venue in Second Life, and I really couldn't be happier about it. Every time I log in to perform, it doesn't matter how awful my day or my week has been; the very moment that I plug my stream in, everything feels better instantly. Some venues I regularly perform at are Seaside Lounge, After Dark on Idle Rogue, and The Grand Strand.

How would you describe your music, and who are some of the musicians who have influenced your style?
I don't think I can properly describe my music when it comes to style. I think it doesn't follow any particular style or genre, it's more about what I feel like writing and composing at the moment inspiration hits. If I were to make a list of the artists that have influenced me I could do an everlasting list, just 'cause I'm so profoundly in love with music that every single witted song in the world makes me want to create. As I mentioned before, the UK progressive rock scene was of great importance 'cause that's what my father would listen to all the time. Besides that, I remember going to my best friend's house and her sister (the embodiment of punk rock in my eyes back then) would lock us inside her room and make us listen to The Clash, Sex Pistols, Green Day, The Libertines, Arctic Monkeys... All those bands were exactly what I needed, even though I didn't know that I did! Later in high school, I got to share time with the weirdest kids (just like me) and we would listen to absolutely everything, from reggae to industrial metal and whatever comes in between. So today, I'm a mixture of a hundred different artists who paved the way for me, and my music and I are ever changing. 

Tell us about some of the other Residents in SL that inspire you and whose work you admire.
Skye Galaxy. Probably the most professional Second Life music performer. This bloke cracked the code and made me realize it was possible to be a pro musician here. First time I got to one of his shows I understood what it meant to take Second Life as a job when it comes to live music. It just made me rethink my shows, my setlists, everything. Besides him, there are dozens of great artists that I love to hear in Second Life, let me mention Rara Destiny, Sol (Puppi OwO) and J. Doe to name a few. They're all amazingly talented and beautiful singers, and it's always wonderful to share the stage with them. Also shout out to my mate Dj Noizy (noizyzapp) for his pure hard work and commitment. I don't think there's a more professional DJ in the whole grid. 

Where can people follow you to know more about your next releases and shows? Please share links to your sites and social media accounts.
Spotify: aufwie | Spotify 
Instagram: @aufwie_ | Instagram
Youtube: aufwie - YouTube
Twitch: @aufwie_ | Twitch

We hope you enjoyed learning more about Aufwie. Each of these weekly Spotlight posts will feature a different Resident to showcase the spectrum of experiences and personalities found in our virtual world. If you have created something inworld that you’re proud of, or have had a deeply meaningful experience that could brighten someone else’s day, please sign up! More info here: https://second.life/spotlight-signup

Pictured: Peak Lounge

This week I wanted to highlight the newly populated Popular Places category. If you are looking to socialize and make friends check out the most popular social places in Second Life according to our data! This category will only showcase places that are amongst the top most visited social places in SL and are newcomer-friendly -> so there are no scripted newbie kickers, payment info restrictions, or adult ratings. Teleport now and make some friends!

The following are just 5 of the clubs listed, see the rest in the Popular Places category, which will be updated every month!

Peak Lounge

Peak Lounge was established in 2014. They have been providing a fun and relaxed place for Residents that enjoy music and dancing. Peace, love, and music is their motto! There are live DJs from all over the world playing a variety of music from different genres. Come by and make new friends!

Visit in Second Life

Exhale Dance Club

EXHALE Dance Club features live mix DJs 24/7 from all around the world. There's a variety of music genres include EDM, trap, hip hop, electro, techno, house and trance. EXHALE provides music shows and special themed events including DJ battles. These DJs bring everyone together for the love of music and the social experience.

Visit in Second Life

Muddy's Music Cafe

Muddy's Music Cafe is the place in SL where everyone knows your name. Find friends, fun, family and an old dog named Muddy at this long-lasting and popular club. Grab the little yellow Muddy's cab and head on over.

Visit in Second Life

Big Daddy's Rock Club

Good Music, good times. Bringing music to Second Life for over a decade.

Visit in Second Life

FogBound Blues

Looking for a club where you can hear the blues and nothing but the blues? FogBound Blues is a hangout with friendly people, knowledgeable DJs, and some of SL's finest blues music performers.

Visit in Second Life

If you're looking for some quiet exploration time, the Winter Attractions category is already filling up with snow-covered destinations for you to explore. Don't forget to also check our Recently Added category to see all the latest additions to the Second Life Destination Guide!

Got a spot that you’d like listed in the Destination Guide? Make sure to drop us a note at editor@lindenlab.com or submit your spot via web form. Don’t forget to read more about the Destination Guide info, guidelines and criteria for Editors’ Picks or the Destinations Floater in the viewer, to increase your chances of being featured in those coveted spots!

Connect with Second Life on Social Media:
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Flickr | Pinterest | Tumblr | Plurk | TikTok | Reddit | LinkedIn

This week we are shining a spotlight on Vrutega, a new Resident who is already creating visually striking and memorable machinima. 

How long have you been in Second Life and how did you first hear about it?
I have been on Second Life for a little over a year. I first found out about Second Life in 2020 through friends who are Second Life Residents. One day my friends were video streaming a Second Life party that they were hosting. I was drawn to the realism that their party showcased, from the party decor down to the house they were all gathered in. At that moment I realized Second Life is a great social platform, and has the ability to bring people from all around the world together in digital spaces. During the beginning phases of COVID-19, a lot of people lost that basic human component of socialization and connecting with people.

Second Life provided me with an opportunity to reclaim some of that human connection on a digital platform. With the help of my friends, my transition into Second Life was easy. Within a week I created my first avatar, and was up and running in no time. From the very beginning I was enamored with the Second Life world, and got involved with everything the platform had to offer from live music events, visiting art exhibits, and shopping. It wasn’t until February 2021 that I realized that I could create storytelling video content on Second Life. I studied all types of machinima video genres and artists, and became inspired by all of the talented Residents and creators around the grid.

Every aspect of the machinima you create in Second Life is very professional, from the editing to the voiceovers. Do you have a background in video production and editing?
Yes, I have a professional background in video production and editing. My experience in video production stems from my professional work in commercials, advertisements, and short films. Realism and continuity are important to me. I treat every aspect of my machinima projects like I would treat a film industry installment/project. From sourcing actors, music, props and backdrops, hashing out project logistics is very similar to the industry work I do on a weekly basis.

The benefit of working on Second Life is that I have everything a producer could need at my fingertips. With everything being digitally available on the Marketplace to inworld stores, the sourcing process is expedited considerably. And with the availability of Second Life social media, finding actors, set designers and collaborating creators has never been easier. 

What kind of software do you use to capture and edit your videos?
I use a wide variety of post production software for my machinima projects. However I primarily edit my videos using Adobe Premiere Pro, and Adobe After Effects. I use OBS Studio to record my machinima, and capture my footage using various Second Life Viewers.

Tell us about some of the other creators in SL that inspire you, or whose work you admire.
I am inspired by a wide variety of Second Life Residents, artists and other content creators from all around the world. The person who inspires me the most in the machinima world is my dear friend and Second Life Resident Sere Vene. Sere is the artistic catalyst who pushed me to take Second Life machinima seriously. Sere’s phenomenal Second Life machinima projects made me rethink how important storytelling is, and how I should implement storytelling in each machinima I produce. Sere is a true artist, and her creativity and attention to detail knows no boundaries. I am truly honored to now work alongside her in my studio and call her my friend.

Without my small team of friends and family, there is no Vrutega. I attribute a lot of my growth and success as an artist to them. Lilith Lamia is like a mother figure to me. Lilith has industry roots in photography and cinema, and has consistently reminded me to pay attention to detail when it comes to framing and posing subjects in a scene. Spartin Parx is a creator who pushes me to think outside the box when it comes to filming a project. Just when I think I’ve perfected something in a project, Spartin often gives me that “Aha” moment that enables me to make amendments to a scene. Professional {region} builders and set designers like Agnes Whittle and Lemony Nova have inspired me to make every inch of space in a scene count. These two have helped me build the beautiful landscapes and worlds that you see in my machinimas. 

What can we expect from you in the future? Are there any interesting projects you are currently working on?
I am always looking for inspiration in music, movies, television, and other pop culture references from all around the world. One of my future machinima projects will be a Pokemon-inspired video, which should excite a lot of fans of the beloved Nintendo franchise. And like all of my machinimas, this project will be done in collaboration with other Second Life Residents and content creators. 

I’m a firm believer in supporting Second Life artists and the content they create. I often find myself face to face with content creators from all types of background experiences. From seasoned video veterans to new content creators, I make it my mission to support, build and uplift those that I surround myself with. Second Life is proof that drive, determination, and raw talent can thrive in any environment when it’s nurtured.

The future of Second Life machinima is bright. Every day I see more emerging machinima creators and Second Life Residents utilizing video in their everyday lives. Machinima makers like Lipe Hax, Any Bergan, and Kelie Ladys are all promising beacons of hope and inspiration within the machinima world. Their creative machinimas have been enjoyed by thousands of Residents all over the world, and have paved the way for the next generation of machinima creators. With the introduction of independent film companies like Film Threat, Second Life is now on the threshold of bringing in film industry influences that can reshape the way we think about machinima.

Where can people see examples of your work?
People can find my work on Flickr. I can also be found on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Check out one of Vrutega’s latest videos, a carnival themed thriller that takes place in a mysterious small town. The location is Cirque du Mystere, an interactive MadPea event.

We hope you enjoyed learning about Vrutega’s experiences creating machinima in Second Life. Any budding machinima artists out there? You never know until you try!

Each of these weekly posts will feature a different Resident to showcase the spectrum of experiences and personalities found in our virtual world. If you have created something inworld that you’re proud of, or have had a deeply meaningful experience that could brighten someone else’s day, please sign up! More info here: https://second.life/spotlight-signup 
 

Pictured: A Thousand Words

Halloween is over and the Destination Guide is already getting flooded with amazing Winter destinations. I'll highlight those closer to December. Today I thought I'd feature some important events going on and also some fun role-play destinations. Don't forget to check our Recently Added category to see all the latest additions to the Second Life Destination Guide!

A Thousand Words

“A Thousand Words” is a collaborative Second Life photography project dedicated to expression through creative imagery. For their inaugural exhibition, Second Life Residents created photographs inspired by renowned poet Pablo Neruda’s “Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair.” Enable advanced lighting, shared environment, and media to fully appreciate this immersive experience. This exhibit is open from November 1st to 21st.

Visit in Second Life

Filthy Fluno’s Return to SL at the Janus Gallery

Filthy Fluno is a Second Life Art legend! His shows made waves in the SL art community and RL alike. After 10 years away from the grid, he is back with a whole new body of work, and the same level of zeal he was known for 10 years ago, and he's bringing it to The Janus Gallery! The exhibit opens on November 6th at 1pm SLT with a party and closes on January 5th. More info at sinfulretreat.com/filthy-fluno

Visit in Second Life

The Brittle Epoch by Bryn Oh

A young girl named Flutter begins a new journey in The Brittle Epoch, which is part two of "Hand" by Bryn Oh. For more info, visit brynoh.blogspot.com

Visit in Second Life

15th Annual SL Veterans Tribute

The 15th Annual SL Veterans Tribute is a way to honor and pay tribute to Veterans around the world. You can walk around the sights and memorials, add the names of your loved ones to the wall, or sit in a reflective spot and relax. The goal of the Tribute is to provide a non-political, content-filled destination in Second Life where Residents can visit to provide remembrance and honor to those who have served in the Armed Services. This memorial will be open until November 15th.

Visit in Second Life

Diwali Event

S9 Events runs different events every three months and currently, they are hosting the Diwali Event! Are you an RP region or clothing designer? Come and join this 5-week event which ends on November 14th. Booth rentals have started already, so come and pick out the perfect location.

Visit in Second Life

Escapades Adventures

Escapades Adventures is a selection of free-to-play quests to enjoy on your own or with friends. With adventures ranging from searching for Crystal Skulls, to hunting ghosts and rescuing Eggs from a Dragon. Each quest rewarding players with a momentum of their adventure. The aim was to give Second Life users fun experiences that are simple, casual, and fun. New Quests will be added over time!

Visit in Second Life

Le Petit Cafe

At Le Petit Cafe you will find a bit of an old world inspired French charm atmosphere, right in the heart of nowhere! There is a cozy hang-out inside, and outside a rainy storm, and thunder under the parasols. Add your images to their Flickr group: flickr.com/groups/14809155@N23

Visit in Second Life

Omerta City

Explore the hidden treasures and mysteries this city contains. Turn on media for authentic piano for a romantic night out.

Visit in Second Life

Reckless Roleplay

A city full of fun and mischief, flashy lights and parties all week. Who is your friend and who is your foe? Test your strength and will to survive on these streets. This roleplay is very fun and interactive. Join for one of the best roleplay experiences!

Visit in Second Life

Las Almas - Crime Urban RP

The cold war in Las Almas is heating up. The gangs that pump the city's veins with blood and money prepare to cut each other down-- while the sheriff & deputies attempt to prevent outright slaughter. The real games in Las Almas aren't in casinos. The stakes are much higher. Join the Mob, Bratva, Mafia, Yakuza, Cartel, MC, and more in fighting for control of the great American 'City of Sin.'

Visit in Second Life

Sinful City - Urban RP

Sinful City is an urban role-play destination based in a modern-day city setting. Get rewarded for your sins or join the police force in an effort to clean up the streets. Features the RP Combat system from Don Sosa and the monthly purge contest with a L$24k purse!

Visit in Second Life

Got a spot that you’d like listed in the Destination Guide? Make sure to drop us a note at editor@lindenlab.com or submit your spot via web form. Don’t forget to read more about the Destination Guide info, guidelines, and criteria for Editors’ Picks or the Destinations Floater in the viewer, to increase your chances of being featured in those coveted spots!

Connect with Second Life on Social Media:
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Flickr | Pinterest | Tumblr | Plurk | TikTok | Reddit | LinkedIn

Second Life can be hard to categorize, but at its core, it is a celebration of creativity. Today we are shining a spotlight on Bryn Oh to kick off a new series of SL creator featurettes. Many Residents are familiar with her work, as she is one of the most talented virtual artists of our time and has spent more than a decade creating art in the virtual world of Second Life.

The Brittle Epoch by Bryn Oh

What first brought you to Second Life?
I discovered Second Life after reading an article about a person who purchased a condominium in a virtual world for $200,000 USD. A bit like an NFT that you could go into and inhabit, I suppose. Anyway, I had to go see this building and made a Second Life account. I hadn’t really been in multi-user environments much before so it really amazed me to meet people from around the world in real time. I was actually so enthralled that I forgot to even look for the condominium.

What was your first project in Second Life - and is it still accessible?
My first project was a bit strange. One day, as I was exploring, I accidentally created a prim box on the ground. I discovered that I could edit it and played {with it} for a while before logging out. When I returned the following day the box was still there, which gave me an epiphany of sorts. I realized that anything I made could have duration in the virtual space and that I could change the space itself. The ground we stood upon was supplied by Linden Lab but the world itself was created by its users, a type of MUD, MOO or LambdaMOO. I began to build steampunk insects daily and while doing this a couple Residents would come to watch me create each day. After what seemed a long time they told me that they really loved all my steampunk insects, but could I perhaps take some back into my inventory because I was filling up their land. I then realized that I was actually building in someone’s backyard and that people lived in all the houses around me and they, very generously, let me build dozens of robotic insects. I then went to build on an IBM sandbox and met many artists creating there. The person who built beside me on the sandbox really impressed me with an elaborate train he was creating. His name was AM Radio and he was quite popular at the time.

Hand by Bryn Oh

You’ve been pretty prolific in SL over the years -- are any of your past projects still open to visitors?
Most of my work is in my inventory but I have three regions of my artwork that can be visited. There is a gateway region called Bryn Oh where I keep my work Hand. It will stay there for years as it is part of a course on the art of Bryn Oh being taught at York University and needs to remain there for the students. A second region called Immersivist has another work called The Singularity of Kumiko on it currently, but that region will rotate my large scale artwork from my inventory every six months or so. My main region is called Immersiva and it is where my new work The Brittle Epoch is. The Brittle Epoch is actually connected to Hand and Singularity of Kumiko so it’s good to visit them for that reason too.

Brittle Epoch Oil Painting by Bryn Oh

How have your inworld creations evolved over the years?
Before I came to Second Life I was an artist and oil painter. In art school at OCAD we would study various art styles, schools, and movements, looking at art as it evolved through human history. From cave paintings to modern art. Through this lens I see Second Life, or specifically the persistent virtual space, as a new art medium. When I created paintings I would essentially create a snapshot in time; a 2D moment where I would try to capture the viewer's attention and immerse them using various techniques like colour theory and composition, as well as creating narrative within my imagery.

However, immersion is very fragile and if, say, a baby cries or your phone rings while looking at a painting in a gallery, your attention wanes and the immersion is broken. Suppose we now look at cinema. You have a seat, the lights go dark, and the large screen blocks out your peripheral vision to reduce any distractions. They then turn the sound up high so that you are dominated by your senses. They want your vision to be dominated exclusively by their narrative. Of course, the glowing red EXIT sign always reminds you that you are not “in” the movie but rather “watching” a movie, keeping you from being fully immersed. 

There is a narrative and each scene has its own composition. But with cinema you are a passive observer to the story. You do not interact with, but remain separate from the medium. Once the movie ends you can restart it, but the narrative is fixed as well as the camera movement. If you see a drawer in a room you can’t stop and open it. The experience is fixed and will never change regardless of how many times you watch it.

The goal for an immersive artist, or an Immersivist, is to eliminate as many barriers as you can. My inworld creations in the virtual space have evolved where I look at our medium as a unique and very powerful immersive tool for creating the style of art I am interested in. I want to create art where you are not a passive observer but an active participant in an open ended artwork where you are not led around as in cinema but instead you have the freedom to interact with the environment as you wish to. And when you combine that with VR it is a very powerful immersive medium. Virtual art may be written about in history books one day and these may be the first stumbling steps to a new movement in art not unlike the Cubists, Surrealists, Minimalists and so on.

Perhaps a movement may begin where the artists are called the Immersivists and the movement is born and thrives within the virtual space.

Brittle Epoch Model in ZBrush

Tell us about some of the other creators in SL that inspire you.
When I first came to Second Life I was impressed by the creativity of an artist named Starax / Lightwaves and then later, as I mentioned, I enjoyed the work of AM Radio. I also came across the work of Glyph Graves and Selavy Oh who both were creating compelling art that often treated the virtual space as its own medium for art as opposed to mimicking real life. Though I think my favorite was the Petrovsky Flux that was built by Blotto Epsilon and Cutea Benelli. It was a steampunk creation that would slowly build itself in modules of hallways and rooms into a form a bit like a giant tree. It built itself randomly growing up into the sky and then at a certain point it collapsed to pieces only to begin anew. To be honest though, there are many artists whose work I enjoy.

Bronze Sculptures by Bryn Oh

What keeps you coming back to SL?
I am endlessly fascinated by Second Life’s potential as an art medium. Not really sure how to explain but it is very unique as a medium. So the Immersivist artist often creates within a different environment than traditional art is experienced, and thus focuses on different goals. The role of art varies depending on location, for example, in a museum or gallery we are kept separate from the art and often can feel the gaze of security guards on us as we experience the artwork. We are not just separate from the art but greatly encouraged to be so. The art often is placed for the viewer to observe but not interact with, and it is housed in a structure designed to protect the art from both people and the elements such as rain or snow. The art is created and then shaped by the necessities of its own real world environment and needs. When you see the Mona Lisa in the Louvre there is often a crowd surrounding it, and of necessity people must move on to keep the flow of traffic through the gallery space. So, our experience with art is often bound and shaped by the realities of the real world and we shape opinions and feelings based on elements outside the artwork itself.

I design immersive virtual exploratory spaces with the mindset that it is a unique medium free of many constraints. I want to determine what makes it unique over other forms of art. I don’t want to mimic the way art is shown in real life as it is not necessary to do so in a virtual space, and as such I can redefine how the viewer interacts with my art. There need not be gravity nor chairs nor roofs, walls, etc. unless the viewer needs these familiar sights to feel immersed. The viewer is an active participant in the story rather than a passive observer. They have the freedom to explore in an open-ended space in whichever way they choose. I think of immersive artwork itself as a whole rather than individual pieces or components. When I make a sculpture of a ballet dancer in the environment, I don’t see it as a standalone artwork but rather a component of the entire environment. Within my work the visitor is often challenged with tasks. They are not handed the artwork to look at but rather they inhabit it and must put in effort to experience it. The more effort they put in the more they get back, and it is my feeling that someone who works to achieve something in my art will feel a deeper connection to it. This can be in the form of climbing difficult towers in an almost gamified way, to simply looking under beds or in drawers to find hidden notes. The visitor solves problems, detects hidden elements, and explores layers. They become experts in the current work, which in itself is connected to earlier works and upcoming works, creating layers upon layers of understanding and expertise, and these visitors have earned it.

Each viewer interacts with the artwork in their own fashion which often does not mirror the experience of visitors around them. It is shared but unique to each person. In contrast to a crowd seeing the Mona Lisa and walking away with the same {physical} experience as the others around them, the visitor to a virtual space has a unique experience all to themselves and explores at their own pace. Some stay hours and some stay weeks, and in some cases their interactions can influence the outcome of the artwork. It is experiential, interactive and highly immersive. The goal is for people to forget the real world for a time and live within another place that I have created.

Standby by Bryn Oh

Tell us about your most recent work and what impression you hope it makes upon visitors.
My new artwork, The Brittle Epoch, is the second part in a trilogy. The trilogy itself sits within a narrative of dozens of other creations spanning over a decade. The first part, which is pretty important to know, is called Hand. It is also important to be familiar with Standby, a work created for IBM in 2009 or so. The Singularity of Kumiko is referenced in the Brittle Epoch as well. My art in Second Life is one long narrative artwork told through large scale builds, similar to chapters, that can take years to make. The Brittle Epoch took about eight months to create: writing the story, the sound, scripting, building models in Zbrush, and texturing everything within the artwork. And I would like to thank the Ontario Arts Council who have supplied me with four grants to support the creation of these three works and more.

The Singularity of Kumiko by Bryn Oh

My artistic focus is on how contemporary society is affected by technology, ranging between human/machine and machine/machine relationships. Often we believe technology opens channels for people to interact and engage socially. However, the opposite can occur where people become isolated within their own personal bubble. They are separate and witnessing the world from a distance, an online entity with brittle popularity. My work expresses a yearning for meaningful connections within our new technological realm. I build virtual reality environments that explore the juxtapositions between human emotion and machine sentience, but I also want to challenge and create debate through the introduction of various concepts in my work. In the Brittle Epoch we follow children whose perception of our world is blurred between fantasy and fiction, where moral concepts are not black and white but grey and indistinct, much like a winter storm.

The Brittle Epoch

Follow Bryn Oh on her various social platforms to learn more about her work. 
Blog - http://brynoh.blogspot.com
Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/brynoh 
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/BrynOhh 
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bryn_oh 
Flickr - https://www.flickr.com/photos/bryn_oh 
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/c/BrynOh

We hope you enjoyed learning about Bryn Oh’s experiences creating art in Second Life. Each weekly post will feature a different Resident to showcase the spectrum of experiences and personalities found in our virtual world. If you have created something inworld that you’re proud of, or have had a deeply meaningful experience that could brighten someone else’s day, please sign up! More info here: https://second.life/spotlight-signup

Change is in the air...can you feel it? Halloween is over and Winter is fast approaching! People all across Second Life are gearing up to celebrate the holiday season with a wide range of events and activities including our annual Holiday Shop & Hop, which will be held December 8th, 2021 through January 2nd, 2022.

Applications are now open for Creators and Merchants who might want to participate in this year’s event, which will feature multiple shopping regions and tons of festive fun! 
 
We are looking for Merchants willing to offer a discount on their items (at least 20% off) and provide a new non-exclusive gift to shoppers.
 
If this sounds like something you would be interested in, please fill out this form as soon as possible and no later than Monday, November 8th. We will contact you soon after that date if your application is accepted.
 
Happy Holidays!

Pictured: Whitby - Birth of Dracula

This may be the final weekend you are able to visit some of the amazing spooky locations in the Haunted category on the Destination Guide. I have featured many throughout the month and Tara Linden and I also went through a couple of haunted experiences in today's Lab Gab.  

Here are destinations that I haven't featured in a highlights blog post yet this year. A lot of these are closing right after Halloween, so visit soon. The remaining ones will stay in the Haunted category until they close. Happy Halloween!

Whitby - Birth of Dracula

Whitby is a real seaside town and port, in the northeast of England. It was here in 1890 that Bram Stoker was inspired to write his novel Dracula. The Town is now also famous for its Steampunk weekend once a year when it is overrun by the weird and wonderful. This build by Hera (zee9) is based far more on the FF Coppola Movie than the book and is nothing much at all like reality. It also has a very strong Lovecraftian feel and is sort of English Innsmouth. Visit this destination in 1880s, Victorian, Vampire, and Steampunk apparel. Enjoy and Happy Halloween!

Visit in Second Life

The Scarlett Hotel

Welcome to DRD's first immersive game/hunt: The Scarlett Hotel! Its numerous deaths and disappearances over the years have made this hotel infamous for its hauntings. Many ghostly sightings, paranormal encounters, and mysterious sounds and music have plagued the hotel since its opening. Will you be brave enough to visit? More info at: deathrowdesignsres.wixsite.com/website/the-scarlett-hotel-hunt

Visit in Second Life

What's Lost Spirits

Come explore a region of lost dreams, an ongoing project based on a series of vivid nightmares. For more information, visit www.whatslostspirits.com

Visit in Second Life

MadPea's Cirque du Mystère

Ladies and gentlemen, step right up for the greatest show in town. Or, perhaps the evilest show in town? MadPea's Cirque du Mystère is like nothing you’ve seen before. You’ll experience puzzles that will test your mind and sanity. And, become part of acts so daring, so death-defying, you’ll remember them throughout your lifetime. If you survive, you'll be awarded 16 prizes from top SL designers and earn new achievements! This event runs from October 20th to November 30th.

Visit in Second Life

Uri Jefferson's FREAKSHOW & Bayou

Come one, come all! Step right up and enter the twisted world of Uri Jefferson's FREAKSHOW! They have living breathing freaks of nature, oddities of mankind, the weird, the creepy, the downright scary, the FREAKS! Welcome to the 7th Annual Halloween event, now more than doubled in size! Beyond the Freakshow itself lies Desolation Bayou, home to Massacre Manor and The Asylum, and much more!

Visit in Second Life

Hushed

Hushed is an after-dark adventure at Dreamz Farm. It is a Fall Halloween Fair featuring themed amusement park rides, Minecart haunted house experience, trick-or-treating, barnyard pumpkin picking, cabin escape-room experience, horseback riding, Beyou Farmers Market, haunted sweets, hot air balloon ride, and much more!

Visit in Second Life

Second Pride Glitter & Gore 2021

Second Pride's Glitter & Gore runs from 10/22-10/31. All proceeds will be donated to The Ali Forney Center, a non-profit providing shelter and healthcare to homeless LGBTQ youth in NYC. With 10 days of live performances from DJs, Singers, Dancers, and Media Artists, this is an event to bring everyone together for a scary good time on their Hellscape stage and dance floor.

Visit in Second Life

Seasons Change at Peaceful Dreams

Let the darkness of Seasons Change envelop you as the ghosts of passed souls wander through the spooky ancient lands and guide you through the haunted fairgrounds. Embrace your fear if you dare and follow the path to where the criminally insane are housed with ghostly voices trailing after you and if you're fast you will avoid the walking dead that lurk in the shadows. Share some special heart-racing moments with that special someone at the hidden dancing area or cuddle with them while you share some scary secrets. Brace yourself to be freaked out by the unnerving sounds and sights of Seasons Change this Halloween. It is definitely worth a visit to get your scare on and your heart pounding!

Visit in Second Life

Bay City's Halloween Hay Maze

Bay City's fairgrounds have gone spooky, with a hay bale maze full of creeps. Can you make it through -- or will you be dinner for the ghouls and creeps? Come try your luck in Bay City's Halloween Hay Maze! It's a-MAZE-ing fun for all!

Visit in Second Life

RFL Spooky Strides Event & Park

Multiple exciting events, Hollywood actors, musical performances, a theme park, and a full haunted region are the trait of this year's Spooky Strides RFL/STRIDES/ACS benefit. The event will run from October 22nd to 31st.

Visit in Second Life

An older bonus destination that's not in the Haunted category, but can be just as haunting to those that get trapped there!

The Cornfield

For many years, the Cornfield was a region of mythological status. A region where naughty avatars were sent to think about what they had done. Rumor had it that the Cornfield was a vast starlit field, cut off from the rest of the world. It was thought to be a harmless tale told around moonlit campfires. Until now...

Visit in Second Life

Don't forget to check our Recently Added category to see all the latest additions to the Second Life Destination Guide!

Got a spot that you’d like listed in the Destination Guide? Make sure to drop us a note at editor@lindenlab.com or submit your spot via web form. Don’t forget to read more about the Destination Guide info, guidelines and criteria for Editors’ Picks or the Destinations Floater in the viewer, to increase your chances of being featured in those coveted spots!

Connect with Second Life on Social Media:
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Flickr | Pinterest | Tumblr | Plurk | TikTok | Reddit | LinkedIn

Hello Residents!

Just a friendly reminder during cyber security awareness month about the security measures you can take to protect your avatar, your land, and everything in your inventory!

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Even if hackers guess your password, they won't be able to access your personal info or move money if you have MFA. More info on MFA - or just get started in setting it up.

Verified Emails: If your account is compromised, there are steps to reclaim it. But we need a verified email address to help do that. To see if your email address is confirmed, go to your Account -> Change Email page, and look for the √ Verified next to your email address.

Password Security:  Please practice safe password habits:

• Don’t share your passwords with anyone!
• Keep your password unique and special to Second Life. Reusing the same password across different platforms or websites makes your account vulnerable if one of those sites suffer a data breach. 
• Choose a secure password with upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, spaces, and symbols, and avoid common dictionary words or phrases.
• No Linden will ever ask for your password. Likewise, there is never a reason for you to enter your password to unlock an item, receive a discount, or anything else.
• Use only the official Second Life Viewer, or a Third Party Viewer from the Third Party Viewer Directory. If the viewer does not allow you to log directly into your account for any reason, the viewer is NOT secure.
• You can read more about keeping your information secure on the wiki at Linden Lab Official: Password Protection

Unleash the costume of your dreams for a chance to win L$25K!

The Official Second Life Halloween Costume Contest is open for submissions from now until Thursday, October 28th at 8AM PDT.

Costumes will be judged on creativity and originality. Show us a look that will turn heads! (180°, preferably.)

Need some spooky inspo? Check out:

• The Haunted category of the Destination Guide
• Our official Flickr pool to scope out the competition
• The Halloween Shop and Hop, with almost 300 vendors offering free gifts, discounts and bone-chilling clothes and accessories

The winner will be announced next Friday, so go on witch your bad self!

Click here to enter and for the official rules and guidelines. 

***

UPDATE OCTOBER 29th! - Congratulations to BoudoirMaquillage for winning the 2021 Halloween Costume Contest with an outfit that she created herself!

Enjoy next level watch parties in SL with the new Film Threat virtual cinema experience!

“We’re amazed at how Linden Lab was able to bring the spirit of Film Threat to life in this virtual space and thrilled that we’ll be able to conduct screenings and other special events in a whole new way,” says Chris Gore, founder of Film Threat. “It’s our hope to grow this venue and events to engage with Film Threat and indie film fans around the world.” Film Threat is the leading independent film news and review site, offering the scoop on the latest releases as well as curated picks from past decades.

Inspired by theaters and film festivals from the physical world, this two-story virtual cinema venue offers a unique and immersive way to experience movies. The space was first revealed back in July for Kickstarter backers of Gore’s upcoming Attack of the Doc documentary as part of an exclusive sneak peek. This region offers food trucks, sleek cafes, and modern lounges to house insightful discussions amongst Residents. Additionally, Film Threat-branded exclusive collectible merchandise can be found at booths throughout the venue.

Once a month, Gore will host virtual panels with leading filmmakers, actors, and Film Threat critics. The first upcoming event is on October 28th from 11AM to 2PM PT. Featuring Corona Zombies, this maniacal zombie exploitation gets a contemporary update. The Film Threat founder will be joined by co-producer Bill Butler, and cast members Cody Renee Cameron, Alex Skuby, and Robin Sydney.

The next two events scheduled will feature Insert Coin (11/18) and I am Santa Claus (12/16). There will also be collectible and exclusive film-specific virtual merchandise for each event. Mark your calendars, who knows what you’ll discover through the power of film?

Video Production Credits:
Draxtor Despres
 

Film Threat

Film Threat is now in Second Life! Join your friends and meet with other film lovers from around the world in the official Film Threat venue -- your ticket to virtual cinema screenings, fan meetups, and more! The founder of Film Threat, Chris Gore, will host virtual panels with leading filmmakers, actors, and Film Threat critics. The next upcoming event is on Thursday, December 16th from 11AM to 2PM PT. Featuring "I Am Santa Claus" a documentary that follows five real-bearded professional Santa Clauses!

Visit in Second Life

Chris Gore will also be on Lab Gab later today at 9am PT, Watch it live on YouTube, Facebook, or Twitter!