Category: Uncategorized

The Return Of The Lumiya Viewer – Coders Needed!

I’m reblogging this recent post by Daniel Voyager,with my own thoughts thrown in. I got excited when I saw Daniel’s post, since in my opinion Lumiya was the best mobile viewer of its time. I may actually go as far to say of  any time for that matter. Linden Lab are doing their best building their own viewer from the ground up, but it’s focussed mainly on new residents as an entry path, not for seasoned residents that might want to quickly log in to do some task or other.

This is a reverse engineering project to resurrect a much loved piece of software. If you have the skills and are interested in helping out, you can check out the GitHub Repo for more details. Click below for Daniel’s original post.

(Header image from internet search, no credit claimed)

While checking the Second Life Reddit posts over the weekend I came across this post named Restoring Lumiya Viewer to the public posted by Kaleaon who is the last member of Alina Lyvette staff. Kaleaon has not been in contact with Alina for nearly a decade. The plan is to open up the Lumiya Viewer […]

The Return Of The Lumiya Viewer 2026-2027

The Landlord you shouldn’t let on your land.

I’ve just finished reading a blog post by Merryjest StarchiId-Fairelander (merryjeststarchild) regarding some recent events surrounding the store Belle Epoque. I’m not going to repeat the entire blog post, you can read it here:

https://bywordofmaus.com/star-dispatch-1/

But a very short summary being that the owner of Lighthouse Real Estate,  Iandland.ansar,  evicted the owner of the store Belle Epoque from the land they had rented for over 10 years. The reason for it boils down to one word: Homophobia.

I suspect that by the time you finish reading the article linked above, if you have a store or public venue you manage, you’ll feel like adding this guy to the ban list.

Once the store had relocated, Belle Epoque released a gift item featuring the landlords homophobic comment as a slogan “Gang of Homos” (post header image)

Introducing –  the GANG OF HOMO CHALLENGE!

Put on your Gang of Homo tee, snap a pic, send it to the one who dropped the oh-so-charming comment, and send me a screenshot so we can laugh our homo little a**es off together!  Let’s turn shade into sparkle, babes! 

Jani La Belle (Janire Coba) owner of Belle Epoque.

You can get the Tee at the new mainstore location:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Jacksboro/128/193/37

Why is Second Life support slow right now? #StopPotato1

Some very bad people did a Very good job at convincing some good people to hand over their passwords and totally crushed the support team

Brad Oberwager

A resident gives out their password (the example given by Brad Oberwager was “potato1”), Linden Lab support spend 3 hours helping this resident get their account back. The next day the resident changes the password BACK to the COMPRIMISED PASSWORD.

That’s the kind of thing (level of stupidity) that LL support is having to deal with right now.

They have a backlog from March of tickets, caused by trying to make things easier for residents by allowing real-time payments, which resulted in a deluge of account takeovers and subsequent support requests.

Obviously not all the tickets are for account takeovers, there’s regular stuff too, but a load of them that arrived at once seem to be and the lab are working through it all methodically.

Maybe if a person that did that happens to read this, would they even realise the amount of wasted time they caused?

Can you imagine the needless frustration of Lab staff at the sheer stupidity of that resident? (To clarify no-one at Linden Lab called anyone stupid, that’s simply my opinion of someone that would do that.

Of course the Elephant in the room is: Why did the system allow the resident to re-use the weak password?

This is why the Lab issued their blog post about account security last week.

I just wanted to get this out there, because it was stuck in my head, stopping me thinking about what I’m meant to be focussing on tonight; the transition from Tillia to Thunes for payment processing in Second Life. That’ll have to wait until tomorrow now.

The hashtag #StopPotato1 was typed in the text chat of a Zoom call with the Lab by someone else, I’m not taking credit for it I just thought it perfectly summed up things, I just had to use it.

Paper People Prank – Evolution not Revolution, but a success?

On the 29th of March (not 1st of April) the list of creators involved in something called “Project Mesh Revolution” was revealed via a post on Flickr, it’s quite a list.

Project Mesh Revolution - Creator Reveal

I’m now wondering how many of them are still glad they joined in on the prank. Since it would seem that not all of them read the application form thoroughly.

I spoke to a couple of fellow bloggers before the release, who had varying opinions:

I can’t help but think it’s an April fools joke.

With another having the counter view

If it’s an elaborate April fool they’re gonna lose a lot of customers

I had my suspicions though, which I voiced in the discussion with one of the bloggers:

Seems I wasn’t totally off the mark

So at Midnight SLT on April Fools day, the group notice goes out and everyone piles into the various stores to get their free bodies, heads and apparel. I would guess some were laughing and some were crying when they unpacked their haul.

What actually got released was basically a pair of paper doll avatars, which have been around for years, just with changeable outfits and apparel from the listed creators. This is a key difference, the avatar genre has evolved to include easy modification, with this set of bodies.

There seemed to be a divide in opinion as to whether this was a totally upsetting letdown or an amusing prank that they were cute(ish) dolls.

Reading the group chat on the day, you’d have thought this was a totally new concept and Salt Peppermint was a genius for coming up with it, but it’s not. Paper doll avatars have been around for quite some time. Some examples would be those made by Paper Friends, whose store parcel was claimed in 2014 and a range of paper avatars by MOoh!.

The PMR avatars however do bring easy customisation back to Second Life, akin to the early 2000s when people made perfectly acceptable avatars for the time on the default system body using clothing layers, now known as Bakes-on-Mesh (BoM) layers.

Writing this a week after the release, the interest in these avatars doesn’t seem to have slowed down, based on the activity in the dedicated Discord server and the amount of search results now showing on Markerplace.

There was a claim made on Facebook that new users had signed up specifically because of these avatars availability. While anything that brings new residents into SL is good, when I asked Linden Lab if there were stats that support this claim, I was told: “We’ve seen a slight up-tick in returning residents”. I’d say that’s still a positive.

You can get these bodies on the Marketplace:

https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/PMR-Cardboard-body-head-CARDY-by-SP/27028090 – Female Body

https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/PMR-Cardboard-body-head-CARDO-by-SP/27028089 – Male Body

Store Owner Eject Bans customer over AI Character actions.

I mentioned in passing in my last post that a friend of mine had been ejected and banned from a store group (and from store region) because of a misbehaving bot. This post isn’t about any flaws in the AI Characters that Linden Lab are trialling, it’s in Alpha testing. You’d expect glitches, but perhaps not such consequences. This is about the reaction of the merchant in question.

I thought I would try to contact the store owner on my friends behalf (with her consent) and try to find out what happened from the store owners perspective. So I sent a notecard:

Hello (Store Owner)

I'm a member of the Second Life Blogger Network and I'm researching into the recent AI Characters currently on test, and believe you recently had an incident where you had to eject+ban a bot from your store group. The bot avatar was named (redacted from post for account holder privacy). I'm wondering if you can tell me what happened from your perspective? Do you have any conversation logs? I don't know if you are aware, but the bots were logging themselves in and out without their owners interaction or knowledge. The account owners have had to change the accounts passwords to stop it it doing so. I'd be grateful for any insight you have, because bot owners currently have no way of knowing what their bots have said to anyone, there's no available logs.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Ava

I’m not entirely sure what I was expecting, but it  certainly wasn’t what I got:


[12:54:47] Store Owner: Ava hello, where how do you know may I ask please, since you are not in my group but telling me : and believe you recently had an incident where you had to eject+ban a bot from your store group. The bot avatar was named (redacted from post for account holder privacy). I'm wondering if you can tell me what happened from your perspective?
[12:55:27] Store Owner: and even if I had, for what should I share any interaction info with someone I do not know?
[12:58:16] Ava Bloodrose: I'm aware because I know the account holder, who was surprised to find themselves ejected being unaware of the bots actions. Why is to share the circumstances with my contact at the Lab to try and work out how incidents like this have happened.
[12:58:51] Ava Bloodrose: and probably blog about it
[12:59:36] Store Owner: why do this people need bots and then say they unaware?
[13:00:25] Store Owner: anyway the bot was typing me stupid things and I muted and ejected both owner and bot
[13:05:05] Ava Bloodrose: People have been trying them out just out of curiosity. The bots are controlled by a web interface, which basically has an on/off button and that's it, you interact with the bot by IM msg. The problem is the AI behind it can't tell the difference between an IM and group chat. So the bot receives a message from the group, and replies with it's nonesnse to everyone. Banning and ejecting the bot was obviously the sensible thing to do. But why the owner as well, I believe she has tried to contact you to talk about it.
[13:11:00] Store Owner: Ava listen please, I am obliged to protect everyone in my group and myself. Since the owner was that girl and I didn't know her intentions, what I did was the right thing. I'm sorry, I don't trust anyone in this regard and unfortunately I'm prejudiced against people who buy boots. Why would an ordinary SL citizen need a boat? but I do not wan't to argue about my thoughts ofc
[13:11:25] Store Owner: If you allow me please I have to be in RL for a while
[13:34:31] Ava Bloodrose: Yes, I understand you had to protect your group from the misbehaving bot. Thankyou for your time.

Hostile is the politest description I can come up with for this person, although it certainly wasn’t the first word that came to mind.

As is clear the store owner has no concept or awareness of what’s currently going on at the Lab and is highly suspicious, bordering on paranoid. It would have been a waste of time to try and explain. Obviously, as I said to them, banning the bot was the thing to do. Although perhaps contacting the declared owner (on the bots profile) might have been the more rational response than banning them as well.

As for “knowing her intentions” a glance at their profile would clearly show they weren’t a troublemaker, being a DJ (therefore a reputation to protect) and is a member of several long-established communities such as CDS (Confederation of Democratic Simulators) and Non-profit Commons in their Groups list, as well as a number of educational ones.

What stood out most for me though was this section of the conversation:

I don’t trust anyone in this regard and unfortunately I’m prejudiced against people who buy boots. Why would an ordinary SL citizen need a boat”

(I wasn’t inclined to correct their obvious typos for this post.)

My intent had been as I stated to them; try and get some information about what had happened and maybe some logs to share with the AI Character Alpha development team, to diagnose and prevent such incidents in the future. Getting my friend un-bannned from their favourite store would have been a bonus too.

This sadly demonstrates the lack of knowledge amongst certain sections of the community, believing that bots only have negative uses (thank you Bonnie Bots for that,readers may want to read the article by SLHamlet on this) and that all bots had to be paid for (SmartBots).

I am so very tempted to name the store and owner, but that would just cause needless drama. What I will say however is that it’s not a store I’ve ever mentioned or credited on this blog. Of course if the Lab would like names, I’d be happy to provide them, the owner of the bot has already submitted a support ticket.

As icing on the metaphorical cake..it seems I’m now banned from joining the store group too.

Summary creators roundtable with LL – By Salt Peppermint.

Salt Peppermint (aka Salt Perry apparently) is the owner of the Salt & Pepper clothing brand.

The below document was shared a little earlier today(approximately 9am SLT). It’s a summary of a Merchant/Creators Zoom call with Linden Lab that happened on Monday 16th, I was not present. The accompanying message when first dropped said it could be shared. I’ve made no changes. It’s as it was at the time of being shared.

—Document Start—

1. Marketplace Challenges and Improvements

  • Delivery Issues:
    • Significant delays in item delivery have been reported, especially during high-traffic times (e.g., holidays).
    • These delays often result in duplicate purchases, leading to customer frustration. Creators have to handle customer support, reducing trust in the system.
  • Search and User Interface (UI):
    • The implementation of ElasticSearch caused issues with item discoverability, requiring creators to adapt keywords and descriptions to maintain visibility.
    • Visual changes to the Marketplace layout, such as repositioning related items, negatively affected usability and sales.
  • Feature Requests:
    • Bulk upload options for demos and related items.
    • A better redelivery system that prevents duplicate purchases automatically, similar to the CasperVend system.
    • Improvements to mobile responsiveness, which is currently under development but remains incomplete.
  • Resource Allocation for the Marketplace:
    • Linden Lab explained that the Marketplace is maintained by a small team and does not always receive consistent engineering support.
    • Creators suggested redistributing resources from less critical areas to prioritize fixing Marketplace issues.

2. Documentation, Tools, and Education

  • PBR (Physically Based Rendering):
    • PBR was a highly anticipated update, but its introduction revealed gaps in creator understanding due to inadequate documentation and tutorials.
    • Second Life’s unique implementation of PBR deviates from standard workflows, adding complexity for creators.
  • Lack of Centralized Resources:
    • Creators emphasized the need for a centralized hub of reliable information, such as a “Creator Corner,” hosting:
      • Tutorials on new features like PBR.
      • Best practices for creating optimized content.
      • Guidance on minimizing lag and improving performance.
    • Miscommunication and misinformation within the creator community exacerbate confusion.
  • Community Collaboration:
    • Creators proposed partnering with Linden Lab to co-produce tutorial videos and guides.
    • They suggested engaging prominent community figures (bloggers, experienced creators) to develop and distribute accurate content.
    • Linden Lab indicated a willingness to collaborate and explore these partnerships, including leveraging contractors.

3. Communication and Feedback Loops

  • Customer Support:
    • Merchants expressed frustration over the lack of direct communication channels for high-priority issues.
    • Response times for support tickets can take up to 11 days, which is considered too long for merchants.
  • Bug Prioritization:
    • Creators called for better prioritization of bugs affecting critical systems like the viewer and Marketplace.
    • There’s a need for clearer workflows to help creators identify whether issues are caused by bugs or user error.
  • Engaging Experienced Creators:
    • A tiered communication system was suggested, where experienced, high-earning creators could have direct contact with Linden Lab for urgent matters.
    • This would also allow for feedback on critical updates and enable creators to serve as intermediaries for their communities.

4. Broader Platform Goals and Marketing

  • Economic Overview:
    • Linden Lab highlighted that Second Life creators have earned $1.4 billion collectively, which exceeds the revenue shared with creators by platforms like Roblox.
    • This statistic underscores the platform’s commitment to supporting its creator economy, despite limitations in resources.
  • Marketing Plans:
    • Linden Lab is preparing to launch new marketing initiatives in 2024 to attract new and returning users.
    • Creators were invited to contribute ideas, such as leveraging customer lists or campaigns to revive interest in Second Life.
  • Accessibility and Retention:
    • The platform needs to become more accessible to new users, addressing barriers like technical complexity and outdated hardware requirements.
    • Simplifying the onboarding process for both users and new creators was identified as a priority.

5. Acknowledgments and Shared Goals

  • Platform Challenges:
    • Linden Lab acknowledged Second Life’s challenges as a longstanding platform with aging systems. For example, Marketplace and chat functionalities were built before modern equivalents existed (e.g., Discord).
    • The company admitted resource constraints and sought input from creators on prioritizing fixes and features.
  • Collaboration Focus:
    • Both parties emphasized a shared goal: improving Second Life for the benefit of creators, users, and Linden Lab.
    • Linden Lab expressed gratitude for creators’ contributions, stating that the platform’s success is intertwined with their efforts.

This meeting represented an important step toward addressing long-standing issues and improving transparency. It highlighted the need for collaboration between Linden Lab and the creator community to ensure Second Life remains a thriving virtual world. Generally it sparked more hope in creators, more motivation and an overall positive mindset.

—Document End—

I found it an interesting read.

Original Google Docs file which may contain changes made since publishing this post beyond my control.

If you’re a Merchant and not in the “Creators Supporting Creators” Discord server (where the invites were sent), you can apply here.

You have been ejected..

Today I received one of those uncomfortable messages in my email:

“You have been ejected from..”

I always feel sad when I get one of these,though thankfully they’re rare. I can’t complain though, it was totally justified,if anything I’d have expected it sooner.

I did enjoy my time being part of the staff team at this particular inworld venue, but I hadn’t been able to put in the required time to stay on the staff.

It’s one of those cases where you think you can go back to it anytime, until the choice is taken out of your hands.

Header image credit: cartoonstock.com

SciFi Expo 2022 Applications are open

The Scifi Expo 2022 has applications open for Exhibitors(Merchants), Performers and Bloggers. 

The SciFi Expo will run from 14th October to 23rd October, 2022 fundraising for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and The American Cancer Society.

The 2022 SciFi Expo: Voyage Through The Stars

Returning for a third year in a row, the SciFi Expo helps in bringing together scifi designers, roleplayers, performers, and supporters from all across the virtual world of Second Life®, to benefit Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and the American Cancer Society.

The journey continues! Voyage Through the Stars, on board of The Nexus, a mobile space station and one of the crowning jewels of the United Earth Council fleet, as it continues its journey of exploring the vast uncharted reaches of interstellar space.

You can read the full Press Release HERE for more information.

Exhibitor Registration Info: https://www.scifiexpo.org/exhibit-info 
Events Registration Info: https://www.scifiexpo.org/events-info
Blogger Application Info: https://www.scifiexpo.org/blogger-info

Exhibitor & Event registrations close 10th October 6pm BST/10am SLT. Blogger resgistrations close on 1st October 6pm BST/10am SLT. 

(The SciFi Expo should not be confused with the ‘Sci-Fi Con’ event. Both events raise money for cancer research, but are organised by different groups of people.)

Featured on the SecondLife Community Blog on 26th July 2022

Helix Closes (again)

This morning I woke up to find an announcement in the new Helix Discord server saying that it wasn’t closing…

I wanted to inform everyone the status of the sim and Helix overall. We want to thank everyone who enjoyed Helix and wanted to relive some of that. I want to say that we appreciate the support! With that being said, the sim itself is not going anywhere, however after evaluating the overall situation of the sim and other consideration, we are doing a sim revamp/retheme. As such, the sim will temporarily be restricted until we are finished.Renters have been refunded and are being given time to collect their items.

Thank you all and stay tuned.

Honestly I’m not surprised, considering the owner couldn’t be bothered to turn up on opening day.

Why I’m censoring the name I’m not entirely sure

Combined with the abruptness of the closure of Helix City, I knew this would come sooner or later. The fact he’s using past tense (enjoyed instead of enjoy) suggests rather strongly that whatever comes next won’t be anything like what we have now. Along with the fact we were all ejected from the land group:

[3:34] : You have been ejected from ‘|Helix|’

You wouldn’t do that for a remodel, unless you didn’t want or expect people to return after you’d finished. The message may say that the sim isn’t going anywhere,but whatever happens next this is still an end.

It is an end to roleplay stories that people have spent time and effort creating, perpetuating them during a location move and then adapting to a change of Lore (which wasn’t really needed and just made things confusing). To be rejected and abandoned overnight on a whim, is just..well I’ll let you draw your own conclusions.

 

Hooker Holdup

Inspired by an excerpt from The Blade Between by Sam J. Miller.

Transcribed from the reading by Draxtor, prior to the Second Life Book Club on 14th April 2021.

“In 20 years the railroad will arrive from New York City, heading north for Albany for Canada. Its path perfectly plotted to cut off Hudson’s North Bay crippling the city’s shipping trade, start it’s slow decline to irrelevance. 40 years after that, Hudson will have become the East Coast largest centre for prostitution. Diamond Street whorehouses so notorious they will have to change the name of the streets of Columbia after the governor personally census form of state troopers to bust up the brothels that local authorities have coddled and patronized and exploited for information for decades.”

So I thought it would be fun to put together a cliche prostitute look for that episode of the Book Club.

Book Club Video link: https://youtu.be/DBXpLJjbFVs

Turns out the quote was one of the readings as well, you can hear it at timestamp: 33.38

Of course some location shots were a must, but wouldn’t be complete with an arresting officer too! Which is why it’s taken so long to get around to publishing this, I needed to find one that would let me go afterwards!

Credits: