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Linden Lab

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Blog Entries posted by Linden Lab

  1. Linden Lab
    Search is a vital element in Second Life that enables you to find interesting people, places, events, items for sale, and other things to make your inworld experience more fun, collaborative, and meaningful. It has been a while since we last updated you on search and that’s because we’ve chosen to take a big leap forward versus smaller, incremental improvements. We believe that new search is a vast improvement over current search both in terms of usability and relevance. But we’re not the only ones who think that. We conducted a quiet test with a savvy group of Residents who preferred new search results over 75% of the time compared with current search results.

    Now it’s time for you to test it out. Today, we have released a Search Project Viewer, that works on the main grid. Here are a few things that you’ll notice right away:
    Better Search Results User Interface: It’s not just prettier (we had to say it), but it’s also much more usable. Our new search engine considers Second Life specific data, such as how many people are at an event versus web-based data, so search results are more relevant and less subject to spam. And, now search results are compiled on a single scrollable page instead of several pages that require multiple clicks to see. You can even view multiple search results at one time by expanding results! Delivers More Relevant Results: The new search engine also serves more relevant results than the current search technology, based on four rounds of double-blind testing. And, we’ll always continue to test and tweak the results to ensure that you find what you’re looking for. To Buy or Rent? That is the Question.: The land sales category has been revamped, separating sales and rentals and giving you better options to limit your search by price range and land size. Now, it’s much easier to find that perfect place to settle in Second Life. Find Out What’s Happening Now: You can also search Events by either the exact start time or ”happening now,”  but might have started earlier. That way, you can quickly find out what’s happening in Second Life right now. Search Results Are Saved: Many of you have shared with us how you use search to discover your world and shop, and how you want your search results saved. We’ve all had this experience. We search for something, find an interesting event or place to go shopping, and then want to go back to our search results and find another place to go--but they are gone. When using the new Search, results are saved for 15 minutes so that you can easily go back and explore other options. Take a look at this video and see for yourself.

    For those who want more details, the Search Project Viewer FAQ explains the test process and the search terms that landowners will need to use when listing their land for sale or rent.

    One of the first questions many will have is, “Will new search work in Viewer 1.23 and Third-Party Viewers?”  New search will soon be available to you in the official SL Viewer and we will not be implementing it for the 1.23 Viewer. To be clear, you can still use the 1.23 Viewer, but search functionality will be impaired once new search is released into general availability, after the test period. (We cannot speak to which Third-Party Viewers will adopt the new search technology.) All of our development efforts are focused on making SL Viewer with Basic and Advanced modes exceptional for all Residents--new and seasoned.

    So, test out new search using the Search Project Viewer that makes finding cool people, places, and things in Second Life easier than ever before.
  2. Linden Lab
    Today, we released the latest version of the SL Viewer into general availability with Voice included in Basic mode. All that new users have to do is click on a simple microphone button--a well-understood symbol for voice/sound. For those seasoned Residents, the microphone button is where the Speak button is in Advanced mode.

    Look for more improvements to the SL Viewer coming soon. In the meantime, download the latest SL Viewer and give Basic mode a try.

    Helpful Links
        •    Download SL Viewer with Basic and Advanced:
        ◦    Windows  |  Mac  |  Linux
        •    SL Viewer Release Notes
        •    Feedback Forum on SL Viewer Basic Mode
        •    Twitter hashtag #slviewer
  3. Linden Lab
    Some recent issues with our billing system have caused some accounts to become delinquent and that has prevented those users from logging in to Second Life. We apologize to those who have been affected and for any inconvenience that this has caused.

    If you have had problems with our billing system, such as difficulty adding or updating your payment info or you are unable to login to Second Life, then we’re here to help.

    The best way to quickly get your billing issues resolved is to call our Billing Support team who is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And, we’ve just created several new toll free numbers as an added convenience for our international customers.

    Call Our Support Team to Resolve Your Billing Issues
    Toll-Free (US/Canada): 800.294.1067
    Long-Distance (US/Canada: 703.286.6277

    Local Toll-Free numbers:
    France: 0805.101.490 Germany: 0800.664.5510 Japan: 0066.33.132.830 Portugal: 800.814.450 Spain: 800.300.560 UK: 0800.048.4646 Please press option 3 to get to Billing Support.  

    Or, if you would rather, you can always create a Support case and we’ll get to it as soon as possible.

    Thanks for your patience as we work through these issues. We’re looking forward to helping you get everything sorted out and seeing you back inworld.
  5. Linden Lab
    1. What is a Simboard?
    A Simboard is a mix snowboarding, skateboarding, and hoverboarding, with a sci-fi twist. The FS model lets you customize nearly anything on it, with engine settings to change physics as you see fit. The CS Simboard is designed specially for SimBall, a sci-fi game concept of a high contact sport on Simboards with weapons. Thus “CS” model, or the Combat Simboard. The rules are simple. Grab the ball and score it for your team! Avoid opponents weapons and pegs. The game strategy comes from board types, and mixing board types to work together.

    2. How can someone get started to play?

    There is a free basic CS board available at Vetox HQ or at many affiliate vendors near public arena's around Second Life. These allow anyone to play in the arenas. Paid-for boards will have special powers and/or weapons depending on the type bought.


    3. Are there advanced tricks that one can do once they get comfortable on a Simboard?

    Yes. Simboards have an open control system. This means you can mix any set of keys, up to about four at once, and get a result that changes how the board reacts. Typically the best way to think of it is that holding the E or C keys (Page up and Page down) will change the primary control which are WSAD to a new actions. Turning left or right becomes spins or rolls for example. These effects are instant and only active while holding the E or C keys down, which allows for fast action and reactions. There are also weapons, or powers, in the CS model that are active only during an arena game. By pressing Page up and Page down at the same time. These weapons are usually AOE (area of effect.) And anyone nearby will be affected.


    4. What locations do you recommend for the best simboarding?

    For Simball, there are new arenas that pop up every week. There are too many to keep track of at the moment! However, there is a list of recent games at this global log here. Note that this feed may soon change over to our website at www.Vetox.biz. Also, some locations can be found on all arena servers in the pop-out community panel. Currently SIA is one of the top arena's ran by SLTV in the Japanese community, run by mato Jetcity. There are also the JBall tournaments. There is also a small example arena located above the Vetox HQ store. There is a Simball Network panel located there as well. The Vetox HQ is at this location. I do not own a Sim – rather, we let the community build arenas as they see fit on land they own – another reason to own land?)  – and then network their games to the global log. Soon there will be a list of top used arenas which we will feed back to all game servers inworld. Visit Vetox Outpost inworld here.
  6. Linden Lab
    1. Neo-Realms Fishing is one of the very first games in SL! Yet, it remains quite popular. What inspired you to develop the game originally?

    I joined Second Life in 2004 because it sounded like a cool place to create games without having to do a lot of the complex graphics coding that would be required on any other platform. I was an avid fisher in other MMORPGs at the time, and my friends and I thought that Second Life needed a fishing game too! It turned out Second Life was in fact a great place to make games, and after a few months of development the first version of the fishing game was up in December 2004!

    2. How has it changed over the years?

    In 2004, fishing started as a game where players packed together in a sim while their rods talked to a local buoy that ran the game, but over the past 7 years, Neo-Realms Fishing has evolved with 5 major updates into a global fishing system. Nowadays fishers can participate in daily global tournaments and minigames at any fishing location on the grid, enjoy a personalized fishing page on our web servers where they can track their real-time rod stats and catches, join fishing leagues and more!

    One thing that has not changed over the years is the awesome community surrounding the game. We still have many fishers that were here near the beginning. It is our community of wonderful fishers that really keeps fishing going!

    3. How many types of fish are there to catch? Any secret or rare types of fish?

    There are 5 different categories of fish to catch, plus quest items. In all there are about 450+ fish and other items to catch, plus custom fish that the community has created and distribute at their own fishing locations. In addition to fish and quest pieces we have fishing charms that grant xp to your rods, reward points that can be traded in for prizes like arcade tickets, and XP crystals that have the chance of triggering global double XP days for all locations.

    There are several super rare fish that only spawn at certain times, or are only
    available if other fish are not available. Our highest tier of fish, the Super Epics, are only available with special Super Bait that has to be won or earned via quests and rewards.

    We also have a fishing quest where the reward is a "Spawnometer" that tells you if some of our rare fish are available or not.

    4. How does one get on the “leaderboard” to show off their accomplishments?

    To make it on the leaderboard, all one has to do is place in an official Neo-Realms tournament. Official tournaments are global tournaments run at a certain time every week with guaranteed prize money. We have run over 10,300 official tournaments since fishing started!

    We also track lots of individual achievements on our Hall of Fame page, where super rare catches, highest rod scores and the latest daily best catches and minigame scores can be found.

    For fishers who are more team-oriented, we also run the Neo-Realms Team Fishing League. Players compete in 2v2 matches over the course of a season, with prizes going to the league victors. Our past team leaderboards are available at tfl.neorealms.net

    Other ways of showing off their accomplishments in-world include Achievement Hats, which display fishing badges earned by completing achievements.

    5. Explain the “Gold Camps” concept and how other locations can participate.

    Gold camps are a premium service that expand the features of the standard fishing camp. With Gold Camps, we offer a higher commission rate on sales (25%) as well as our popular mini-games with a ton of daily prizes for the winners provided by Neo-Realms. These minigames include Crabbing, Depth Charger, FishGolf, Simwide Small/Medium/Best Catch, and our newest minigame: Clamming!

    Gold camps are also entered into a twice-daily drawing for XP Happy Hours which grant double XP bonuses for catches to their sim for an hour.  Gold owners are also eligible to host Global Fishing Tournaments based in their sim, which acts as a central hub for all fishers to register and receive prizes during the competition.

    Our Gold Camps are a great way to draw traffic to an area with contests and prizes run by Neo-Realms that take place around the clock.


    Thanks for reading, and if you have any questions about Neo-Realms Fishing please contact Sweegy Manilow or visit our website at fish.neorealms.com.  Visit Neo-Realms inworld here.
  9. Linden Lab
    We interrupt this month’s bevy of doom and gloom Halloween themed destinations for some bright and light destinations - but don’t get scared - we’ll return with more delightfully dark treats next week. So stay tuned!
    This week, the Second Life Destination Guide Highlights leads off with an inworld stroll to help raise Breast Cancer awareness. The event starts Sunday morning, at 9 AM PST - so set your clocks.
    There’s also an intimate and atmospheric art gallery, some wild music venues, and a chance for you to party your way through Burn2 on the open pixel-playa!
    And for those of you (like us!) who just can’t get enough trick or treat fun, peruse a shop filled with Halloween and autumn decorations or traverse an island spawned from darkest nightmare. We couldn’t help but include a little seasonal fun.
    Hoping to get your cool spot in the Destination Guide? Share it.
    See what other people are up to on the Official Second Life Flickr Page.
     
    Making Strides Walk
    Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is the official breast cancer charity of the American Cancer Society. The Making Strides Walk is an annual event in honor of breast cancer awareness and fundraising. Join the very first Strides Walk on October 26th as everyone makes strides to promote awareness, honor caregivers and survivors and remember those lost. For more information, visit www.makingstridessl.org.
    Visit in Second Life  
    Petit Chat Art Gallery
    Underneath a southern French garden soothed by a concert of cicadas stands a dark and peaceful art gallery. The artist, Trinity Yazimoto, gives an ode to the beauty of Second Life. Come see her she gives her whimsical view of both Second Life and life in general. After the visit, why not follow the ladder to a superb garden landscaped by Trixxie Nitely?
    Visit in Second Life  
    Burn2
    A festival of fire, art and community in Second Life, Burn2 is the virtual world version of the real life Burning Man community festival. Burn2 is a unique culture which seeks to create social environments that are unmediated by commercial sponsorships, transactions, or advertising.
    Visit in Second Life  
    SoulForge Electronica
    SoulForge Electronica was built by and for lovers of electronic music to present artists from all areas of the genre. Their artist-created mixes are unmistakable and helped to shape the world of sound in Second Life. It is also place for new DJ’s to achieve in private parties and open stages. Come explore the 10 clubs and three open stages of SoulForge.
    Visit in Second Life  
    Halloween at Snuggles
    Come to Halloween at Snuggles to find everything, from spooky Halloween stuff to cute Autumn decorations. With over two sims to wander through, your sure to find just what your looking for.
    Visit in Second Life  
    Mystic Haunted Island
    Enter if you dare! Ghost, ghouls, zombies, spiders, pirates and more await in Mystic Haunted Island, hidden amongst mist and tombstones. Float a boat along the river, be sure to set your environment to region default to see the blood river at its best and bloodiest. Wander through and enjoy, if you think you'll survive...
    Visit in Second Life
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