Raevyn Addams

^ I think you are correct, unless I missed an update too. It would be good if one day we DID get them all but it's not a problem if we don't. Just nice to have even some of them! Another nifty trick that I have been using for years is this; If you cannot find a close match on Marketplace, to set your Windlight settings as bright as you can and zoom your camera in to take a photograph of the wall/texture you wish you replicate. Then save it to your hard drive and edit it in a photoshop program (if you're that way inclined) OR just crop it to get a fairly even texture that measures 512 v 512. Then upload the picture, apply it to a wall you build, and use the edit tools (right-click > edit) to get the texture to align as best as you can. It won't be an exact match, and it's not technically stealing (and of course sharing it with others or trying to sell it regardless how much you tweak it isn't probably a great idea either just in case) but it's a way to get things looking more uniform if, like me, you get an eye-twitch from mismatched walls.

You know, I'm guilty of jumping on the bandwagon at the start when the first initial batch of homes were released. There were a lot of people disappointed then too (of course), and seeing so many empty houses around me made me question why there was a great rush by some to claim a house only to leave it empty. Then I stopped and realised, beyond the fact that it's personal choice (and yes, as Premium members we are all entitled to use our space how we wish so long as it abides by the ToS), that empty houses are also a good thing once you are actually in-world at ground level. The less there is to see, the less our computers have to struggle to render and process. I didn't realise that so many larger textures can have such an adverse effect in producing lag; I always blamed scripts or other avatars for that (though they also do create lag, the point is I never considered the textures did too but now I know better thanks to @Chic Aeon's advice). I'm currently learning about other aspects of optimisation too (thanks to @Penny Patton's blog) that I had no clue about in all my years in SL. While I'm pretty sure a lot of other people don't know or care about such things, how we decorate and what we rez has a flow-on effect on region performance for us and our neighbours as well. So it feels like a kind of balance has to be struck between; "Do I really need to be surrounded by anything just for the sake of it?", or "Do I want to have less lag slowing me down?" I'm okay with empty houses (or even people being in skyboxes above out-of-sight) if it means being able to freely move around the continent without rubber-banding/excess lag. While everyone wants a shiny new house, it won't mean much if we can't get out of them to explore the rest of the continent as intended.

Great! What is seen cannot be UNSEEN! *Mutters about how long it took to remember the spelling of Bellisseria, now mentally replaced with the spelling of Eye of Terminator Conan* Friend: "Oh, so where do you live?" Me: "Just above terminator Conan's hairline..." Friend: "...huh?" Me: "Belli-... Squishy-... Conan-... You know what, never mind. I live somewhere, okay!" 😎🤣

This train of thought is why I'm wary about the campers, though initially I was excited for them (and still kind of am). But since the announcement I've seen people casting judgement about what they don't want to see... and it's not even here yet. Personally I'd like a trailer park, but of course it's not the kind of thing that fits into the "pretty" that is Bellisseria. And in its own way that's actually good too, because to have anything grungy would be visually jarring. But it also saddens me in way for pretty much the same reason; I have friends who were keen to take a camper. Now they're not. Their fear is they'd probably be kicked out anyway for going against convention (not ToS), and with confusion over maturity rating I'm already predicting fights will break out at some point the minute someone has the gall to rez a broken pink flamingo right next to the broken down pick up and roadkill roasting over the bonfire of broken kitchen chairs... *… can already hear the banjos ...* 🤠

Yes, apparently so. And gone in 3 seconds, a new record! Source: So there you go. 😐

Knows them feels.

I thought this was already released? I hope you're right. This was the one I wanted as I watched it being built, but chances are if and when it is I will likely be 💤💤💤.

But on a serious note, I'm not sure I agree with your OP. I agree that love is important, and a necessary function in generally short supply in our current state of affairs as a planet as a whole. The world just feels a lot meaner than it did many years ago. But to say love is the solution is too broad and misrepresentational. Repeating cycles isn't ideal, but it's how we learn. Toddlers stumble many times before they learn to stand up and walk, and then run, and grow. And not every problem can be solved by compassion. I have no love for mass murderers or harmers of the defenseless. You cannot stop a bomb by hugging it, or freely extending love to those who would harm you. A lack of love doesn't equal hate. It doesn't perpetuate itself. It just doesn't exist. Love can be blind. Love itself perpetuates acts of cruelty; the term 'crime of passion' springs to mind. I'd argue logic over love, but even logic has it's misgivings. Yes, we need to be kinder to each other. We need to show compassion. We need to care. Hallmark sentiments won't solve the world's problems; if only it were that easy. 😔

Our time zones probably won't align, but I just wanted to welcome you and wish you all the best, and hope you get to make friends soon. There is a lot to learn, but there's also a lot of people willing to help answer questions too, so don't be afraid to ask. Most of all, don't forget to have fun (which can sometimes get overlooked when you're trying to process new things). Enjoy your Second Life!

I wouldn't even remember all that! I think it would be easier to just spell Bellisseria (but every time I write it on the forums I get panicky and have to double check because people take it VERY seriously, almost like you're insulting a beloved family member, so I really hope I spelled it right this time!) 🤣

^ This. Now I'm not an old soul like many of the previous posters before me. Mesh came about pretty much just as I arrived in SL, so I remember the teething pains and the complaints from people who didn't want to have to "upgrade", or at least, didn't want to have to let go of prims for mesh alternatives. Back then as a noob I attended building classes, but for the most part I learned as I needed to; when a situation called for it I'd try to erect walls or create basic furnishings right there in real time on the spot. Granted, my texturing skills left a lot to be desired. I sold things here or there. I didn't take it seriously. I dabbled more than anything as I solved my own problems, but then I came into the game late and had no real desire to jump aboard the mesh train. I'm kicking myself for it now. Fast forward a few years and mesh is now common place. On the marketplace mesh certainly seems to dominate prim alternatives in some areas (though not completely). It is a lot harder to just create things in real time, but not impossible. I still do, and I'm still at the same building sandbox I was when I first started. I still attend classes here or there because there is so much to learn, and in a way it feels like if I don't I'll get left behind again. Personally I do feel a lot more pressure when building prims and converting to mesh, not because of any in-world judgement, but because it's NOT done in Blender. The baked shadows and textures lend a degree of detail I can't compete with in in-world mesh construction. But this also means I have to get creative in finding solutions. That's not totally a bad thing, but in its own way its equally as frustrating. It almost feels like the bar has been raised; great for consumers (and yes, I am also one) but the demand seems to be for greater detail and lower land impact, not really something we had to worry about too much with LI heavy prims back in the day or at least I don't remember the demand being similar to what it is now. We were just happy to have things, even if it was 200 prims! Technology is always moving forward and SL is no exception, but it does feel to me that unless you're willing to really commit and learn to use an external program you're really not going to compete as well as you possibly could. I guess that's business. But I don't think I'll ever stop building in-world purely because it's easy, or at least convenient. I don't have to be alone (unless I choose to be 'unavailable/busy'), I can get immediate feedback, and I don't have to worry about transferring files; I just upload and I'm done. Plus it's just simply relaxing. There's something to be said for the act of creating something out of nothing, and truly creative types will always find an outlet one way or another.

Definitely! I've met some amazing people in here that I've come to know in the real world, and developed friendships across continents that wouldn't have been possible otherwise, I doubt we would have ever crossed paths without SL. I've learned a few skills with various programs; not enough to do much with, but it's certainly opened my eyes to creative outlets I hadn't considered before. I've also been able to experience motherhood even in pixel fashion, something I will never get to experience in real life. So there's been a lot of positives. Like most things, I think it's a matter of perspective. If you're not looking for the good you're probably not necessarily going to see it much less appreciate it.

Exactly how I remember it! When I remember it! 😆

Thanks for that! That's actually pretty interesting. I know it can't exactly predict the future, but it's still good to see how things were done and possibly offer some (like me) a general idea of what kinds of things we could look forward to. I asked a few of my friends who've been around since the stone age and they couldn't remember. Thanks again!

Because merely saying thanks isn't enough, I had to go and make it all creepy. But the sentiment is still there! Thank you all you clever, creative, and probably stressed-out Moles and Lindens (and anyone else working behind the scenes without official status). Your hard work is much appreciated, much loved, and much in demand - probably the highest compliment of all. Keep doing what you're doing. SL feels more like a home now than it has in many, many years, thanks to you. 👏💗🌏

Slightly off topic but still vaguely relevant; to those who were around when last names were able to be chosen, how did it work? Were you given a list of surnames alphabetically to select from a drop down menu on your dashboard/account? Would you roughly estimate hundreds of names available or maybe much less? I know this is probably splitting hairs really, but I'm really just curious. In all my years on the grid I haven't come across too many similar surnames (only on occasion that for whatever reason 'stood out'). Are we likely to see a sudden influx of accounts with the same 50 surnames or are the options more varied, meaning, are they a mix of themes and ethnicities or just... random words? After the mixed reception regarding cost, I imagine paying for a surname that's generally bland won't thrill some either. Can anyone shed a little light at all to educate inquiring minds, please? (And thank you)

I think we're all aiming for that, which is partially the problem. All the house jumping makes it harder for those people who still can't get in, to get in. Yes, I know it comes down to luck, timing, persistence, hope, karmic points, planets aligning, miracles, etc etc. I'm not without commonsense or empathy. I do have a house, but like many I'm looking for a better location. So I've been trying the autorefresh trick for the last 3 days, primarily because releases happen when I am asleep (and it's 2 am even as I type this). Nada. And I feel bad when I see not only are others able to score places apparently quite easily, but more-so for the fact there are others who haven't even had one house yet. To me all this house jumping, while it is our right, is starting to feel like a case of "rubbing salt in the wound". To that end I'm seriously contemplating just giving up my house and waiting a few months to let someone else who doesn't yet have a house hopefully nab it. There's no guarantees and one house won't make a change in the grand scheme of things, but I've already experienced Bellisseria since the initial release. I was lucky to get my place just before they all sold out. If I hadn't gotten out of bed early that day I'd be sitting on the sidelines waiting too. I have 2 other alts that are premium that don't have houses either, but just feels greedy to take when so many want. I don't know. There's so much negativity sometimes, just want to inject a little good in the world. As they say, be the change, right? Probably right. Would be damn near impossible taking individual pics for all the thousands of homes individually going up (not impossible, just time consuming). I'd not want that job XD Yeah, this has been the last few days. I shouldn't complain, really. There are others who aren't seeing anything either, like you. Luck of the draw I guess? 🤔

Just the same house boat. I don't know if its the same but the same picture and the same 'sold out' message, if that helps?

I just posted this at the SSP thread, but since it's been mentioned several times here too figured I'd add it here too. A traditional house and houseboat (likely the same house and boat that others are seeing) are still doing the rounds (as in, showing up every now and then) so I'm thinking perhaps they may be glitched. They were still showing as available as of 5 mins ago Australian Time, but also display the 'Sold out, try another model' message. So perhaps they will be repaired when the new batch is released. Soon (™)

Just as a point of interest I've been watching for new releases and many times today (Australian time) the same houseboat and one traditional house keeps showing up but gives "The theme and house selection you have chosen is temporarily sold out. Please select another combination and then try again" message. So if anyone is really keen hang in there, if that's a glitch both may be available soon(™)!

Anyone else find the irony of bringing a dead topic about health back to life amusing or is it just me? Probably just me. But to keep it going... My close friends and I have often discussed this; the whole real life health and second life health thing. Many people in SL admit to having restrictive health issues (or appear on face value to demonstrate symptoms of such) which is why they turn to SL in the first place. Maybe they can't walk, can't get outside and socialize, can't meet new people, can't whatever... I also think that while people come to SL as a means of escaping these issues, many run the risk of exacerbating said ailments or creating new ones by the amount of time invested just sat at a computer "living" online. Absolutely SL can be addicting if people allow it to be. It can play havoc on one's body and mind sitting around staring at a screen for hours at a time. And a lot of people over-invest in their virtual avatars to the point the line between worlds can and does blur. But like anything there has to be a balance. It's not healthy to take anything to extremes (not even eating chocolate, which sucks, because that's probably the only thing I love more than wasting my nights in front of the keyboard on SL). Making people feel bad about their life choices (or raising old topics back from the dead) isn't usually productive but that's why it's called freedom of choice. If you want to extol the virtues of a healthy life; go for it. If you want to waste your RL in your virtual life, do that too. The only person that's really effected by all of this is you.

And this. We see it all the time; in world, in RP, in the forums... Since it's hard to define what SL is to someone who has no idea, it's hard to explain and hard to sell; especially when dealing with potential gamers (who expect a quick tutorial then jump right into the thick of the action), and the non-gamers alike. People LOVE to ignore; it's what the majority are good at. Unless it's really relevant to us we just don't care. So even if things were theoretically perfect both on the website and in world, it's still not going to be enough for everyone. But the way it is now needs work, call it updating, unification, simplification, mode of delivery, whatever. I personally didn't even know that university existed and if asked now couldn't even tell you where it is. That's not ease of access. That's a problem.

I agree with this. When I first joined I spent a majority of my time at NCI Kuula (New Citizens Incorporated) which was basically a place where a lot of noobs hung out and asked questions to the few established Residents that sat with us. There were signs EVERYWHERE, many adverts for free and very dated stuff, a few maps, a photo booth, a slow balloon ride over part of a region, and a sandbox across the road. I sat there every day playing hangman watching people come and go and learning the basics that way. I didn't even really know the website existed beyond the initial registration/log in process and didn't know about the forums either. Everything I learned was done on the fly and usually by accident. That's no way to keep people in world. I think it's lazy to assume 'if you build it, they will come'. As stated, not everyone has a great imagination or attention span. The more you give people to read, the more they will ignore. The more videos they have to watch, the more they will skip. If there's too much information before they even get in world they just won't bother; they'll be overwhelmed. It's the same experience with a lot of RP regions I've visited over the years; if there's too much lore to have to get through just to get my foot in the door, guess what, I'm not sticking around. So there needs to be some kind of balance between what information is given on the website and how much is given (and HOW it's given) in world. Ease of access is also another issue. Sometimes it can be hard to find information right now as a resident who has been here many years. But I agree that the learning island is just... too much, and doesn't cover a lot of aspects that are relevant today. There's so much to learn and while no one is expected to grasp it all in one sitting, getting access to the right information in general still feels like it's lagging behind. 😟