TWO VIEWS OF VERSU (Updated)
In her Second Life incarnation, Versu Richelieu is a seasoned builder, creator of Rue d'Alliez*, a shopping district of European charm, with cobblestone streets and old world architecture. In her real world form, starting this Thursday morning, you'll find her in a glass box in New York City on the corner of 39th Street and 5th Avenue, confined entirely from the outside world, with only Second Life and the Internet as a lifeline to the outside world. And that's where she'll be for the next 72 hours, building. Building what? No one knows. You could always visit her in-world, to find out, or view either variation of Versu from the video stream that will document her process, both from SL and NYC-- or just swing by mid-town Manhattan, to get a material glimpse.
This exercise in reality-bending is the brainchild of Reuben Tapioca of Millions of Us (a sponsor of this blog), created to promote Intel's new Core Duo processor. When he sent me word of this, he also hinted at a coming flurry of mainstream media around both versions of Versu, including a metaverse-based visit from a well-known late night television host. For now, however, Reuben sends along the main details, after the break.
Two versions of Versu
"On Wednesday the 11th," Reuben e-mails me, "she will be arriving in New York... She'll be participating in several media events (broadcast mainly). The next morning, she'll be entering a window on the corner of 39th and 5th Avenue which has been transformed to look like the inside of a fully wired, tricked-out house, where she'll spend 72 hours building live in Second Life. Her avatar looks just like her in real life... the build will be shown live on a huge screen in front of the store and her progress will be streamed live on the Internet via live real life and Second Life video.
"Additionally, she'll be using SL and the Net to get everything she needs to live for those 72 hours. She will have full time security of course, and has requested 5 pounds of Gummy Bears to assist her in the Herculean task."
More updates on the Millions of Us blog and here, especially as the live stream of Versu in both worlds begins Thursday.
Update, 4:42pm: Added processor info, corrected the real world address, and at Versu's request, updated her biographical info.
*Update 2, 7:28pm: Days away from her metaverse stunt, Versu sends along a clarification, and an enticing screenshot:
"While yes, I did build the original Rue d'Alliez, I believe they have updated the build several months ago, so I can't take any credit for what is currently standing on the sim. Perhaps best just to mention my own sim, 'Deep' (underwater sim with shopping, sea monsters and a surprise or two) which will have a grand opening in a couple of weeks along with our sister sim, 'Darkside'."
She grins. "At the moment, that is the only thing in world I can speak to with a modicum of intelligence."
Versu is an amazing builder and it's going to be amazing to see what she is up to!
Posted by: C.C. Chapman | Monday, October 09, 2006 at 01:25 PM
I work not far from there. I'll have to drop by and say hi.
Posted by: rikomatic | Monday, October 09, 2006 at 09:23 PM
This is very intriguing, indeed!
Congratulations to Versu...and now I'm curious about what it is she is working on for her 72 hour stint. I'm also pleased to see that I'm not alone in fuelling long gaming/programming stints with gummi bears...my other weapon of choice is Skittles ;)
Posted by: Tomas_Hausdorff | Monday, October 09, 2006 at 10:10 PM
Tomas- I am with you on the skittles, man!! but after a pound of them I get a little green around the gills. Gummi Bears are for the LONG HAUL!!
Posted by: Versu | Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 05:02 AM
is there a slurl for this?
also, is versu building everything using the in-world editor, or is she using an external 3d software, like 3ds or blender, or possibly sketchup, perhaps?
Posted by: jackline | Wednesday, October 11, 2006 at 11:41 PM
The sim this is being done on is set hidden/invite only, that's to keep the lag and greifers down I suppose. The webpage with the video streams on it (nyclivewindow.com) lists the person to contact for access.
Posted by: Elle Pollack | Thursday, October 12, 2006 at 11:16 PM
Thanks for noting that, Elle. Jackline (and anyone else), send an IM to Rodica Millionsofus to gain access to SL Versu.
Posted by: Hamlet Au | Thursday, October 12, 2006 at 11:30 PM
She has a feature vlog... www.rocketboom.com
Here is the link to watch her www.nyclivewindow.com
I too, like Jackie am curious about how she is building things. Anyone know what program she uses?
Posted by: paolo | Friday, October 13, 2006 at 09:54 AM
Good catch, Paolo!
Posted by: Hamlet Au | Friday, October 13, 2006 at 02:04 PM