New World Notes

Dual Universe Releases Huge Update With New First-Time User Experience

Dual Universe, the single-shard MMO that some experts say is the best candidate to become the Metaverse, just announced a huge expansion to their beta release, code-named Mercury. (Teaser above.) That includes a new first-time user experience, so this long weekend is a good time to give it a try, or a revisit.

"Take time to explore the possibilities listed in the intro of the game," Nouredine Abboud, CEO at Dual Universe publisher Novaquark, advises. "This is a game like no other so let’s play it like no other."

Abboud, a game industry veteran from Ubisoft, took over the CEO role from founder J.C. Baille last year. And while Dual Universe is still in beta and has a relatively small active userbase, he tells me the most important signs of engagement are there:

Furries, Meet the Tinies, a Thriving Second Life Community -- Here's a Fashion Blog Devoted to Their Smol Styles

Cajsa Lilliehook covers the best in virtual world screenshot art and digital painting

Fashion Dinkies: Demetria features a few items from S19B’s Shop and Hop event, adorable items made more adorable by her cute-as-a-button Black Fox tiny avatar.

For background,  the tinies are somewhat related to furries, only cuter and smaller, and and have been a thriving community in Second Life since someone figured out how to hack the system's avatar size restrictions to get things smol:

Kage Seraph was the first person to figure out the secret to making tiny avatars: by using an animation overrider and a custom animation set that folded the avatar's limbs in on themselves, and covering the resulting shape with prims, it was possible to make an avatar much smaller than normal slider adjustments would allow. 

Anyway, this outfit here is all upscale glam with a delightful pouf of a hat. She’s ready for tea with the Queen. 

• Dress: Elite Equestrian: 2D Magic, Yipes Stripes, EE at SL19B Shop & Hop Event Free gift (Thank you!)
• Shoes: Elite Equestrian: Dinky Victorian Boots 2D Black, EE at SL19B Shop & Hop Event (Thank you!)

For more cuteness, click here:

SLer Survey: Will You Upgrade Your Account to Premium Plus?

Note: For best results, take survey on a laptop/desktop!

Now that we've had a week to digest the new Premium Plus offering (details infograpic-ed below), here's a survey for the money question: Will you as an SL user actually upgrade?

This Screenshot Photographer Makes Her Second Life Travels Look Like Historical Paintings

Cajsa Lilliehook covers the best in virtual world screenshot art and digital painting

Slowness Resident is a Second Life traveler and luckily for us, she takes pictures along the way. Here is a picture of Dukedom, a sim that is much-loved by photographers. I can imagine Elliot Ness doing a stakeout here.  

For more of her travels, click here:

Metaverse Standards Which Don't Factor In Metaverse User Communities Aren't Worth Formulating - Update: Metaverse Pioneer Tony Parisi & MSF Host Neil Trevett Reply

Updates, 7/30:  Added feedback from Tony Parisi, who was metaversing before the Metaverse was cool, and Neil Trevett, VP of NVIDIA & President of the Khronos Group, the host of the Metaverse Standards Forum. Excerpts at the bottom of this post!

You may have noticed last week's announcement of the Metaverse Standards Forum, a consortium of companies and organizations anchored by Meta, Epic, and other industry leaders, proposing to create universal standards for metaverse platforms going forward:

The Metaverse Standards Forum aims to foster consensus-based cooperation between diverse SDOs and companies to define and align requirements and priorities for metaverse standards—accelerating their availability and reducing duplication of effort across the industry.

“The metaverse will bring together diverse technologies, requiring a constellation of interoperability standards, created and maintained by many standards organizations,” said Neil Trevett, Khronos president. “The Metaverse Standards Forum is a unique venue for coordination between standards organizations and industry, with a mission to foster the pragmatic and timely standardization that will be essential to an open and inclusive metaverse.”

I didn't blog about it last week, because I was waiting to receive an answer to the questions I sent to their press contact:

Fantastic Photos from Second Life Rugby Games -- Yes, Second Life Has a Rugby League & Virtual Sports Photographers

Cajsa Lilliehook covers the best in virtual world screenshot art and digital painting

Stevo Kozlowski shoots Second Life rugby. Who knew Second Life rugby looked this real? It’s changed a lot since Miffyhoi Rosca, Hatchy Mills, and I went to a stadium in 2007. I am blown away by these action shots. Wow, wow, wow! But there’s more. He gives some color commentary for the three pics in the composite:

1. Bulldogs v Seagulls RD9 Jovi Jordan dots down after collecting a kick from Pj Havoc which iced the game for the Bulldogs.
2. Pirates v Pitbulls RD9 One of the Pitbulls best this year, Hynes Guerrero. The prop forward has run for over 1000 meters this season. Pictured here, slipping a ball to Chip Lemongrass who scored in their narrow victory over arch rivals the BayCity Pirates.
3. Tigers v Rhinos RD9 Rhinos lock forward Tolsen Piggins has been dangerous for his side this season. He's scored 5 tries and made 8 line breaks and 17 tackle busts. He was pivotal in the Rhinos win over the Tigers.

Stevo not only has play-by-play commentary like this, but includes links to all key fashion items in the image.

For more sports pics, click here:

Why Are We Not Having Conferences About the Metaverse on Actual Metaverse Platforms?

Reuters is having a free webinar tomorrow on the future of the Metaverse featuring several esteemed panelists, which you can register for here.

But wait a minute: If we're so excited about the Metaverse, why are we talking about it... on the web? Especially when there are a number of metaverse platforms on the market which could easily host a hundred or more attendees, with an overflow crowd who could watch it streamed on YouTube and Twitch. 

I put it to Reuters' event manager Pete Carkeek, who defends the use of webinars to talk about the Metaverse this way:

Powerful Second Life Screenshots Protesting the End of Roe v Wade from Whiskey Monday & Other Community Creators

Cajsa Lilliehook covers the best in virtual world screenshot art and digital painting

Second Life residents often stick to quotidian subjects, fashion, décor, and roleplay. At times, though, the events of the world break through and they respond with their art. On Friday, the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the right to abortion. The vast majority of Americans disapprove, but the Court is not accountable to anyone. Whiskey Monday’s “Futile Dissent” gets at that dilemma. The flowers make me think of masses of people out in the streets protesting with the certain knowledge that the Supreme Court does not care. 

For more responses to the Supreme Court decision, click here:

Angry Second Life Creator Offers Free "My Body My Choice" Tattoo to Feminist Avatars

Now available for free in Second Life thanks to Edyn Starlight -- an abortion rights avatar tattoo. Edyn writes:

I don't typically like to get political, not on the best or even the worst of days, but Roe vs. Wade being overturned is fucking ridiculous... In support of those affected by this, I'm releasing this tattoo as a free gift, and it will remain free forever. I'm not a US resident, but I have so many friends whom have been there for my entire life that are affected by this decision.

Click here to teleport to Edyn's mainstore in Hamamura to get a copy.

Are there other abortion rights events and content in Second Life -- especially those which benefit real life orgs and women/girls impacted by the end of Roe? Please post details in Comments, and I'll highlight some in another post.

By the way, I've also asked Linden Lab if the company plans to make any policy announcement around the gutting of Roe and the coming of anti-abortion laws throughout much of the US. Specifically:

Second Life's New Premium Plus Not Always a Good Deal -- But Could Be Made Better (Reader Comments of the Week)

Lots of good reader feedback around the just-announced Premium Plus offering for Second Life. According to  Luther Weymann, getting a Premium Plus in his specific scenario would not be a very good deal:

I have a free account.
I have a 2048 store in a private region for monthly rent.
I have product development that I upload textures at L$10 each.

Suppose I buy the $249/yr premium plus, move my 2048 store to the mainland, get the weekly stipend and sign-up bonus, and stop paying for texture upload. In that case, I spend about $100 a year for the premium. I already pay about $100 a year for the SL Market sales commission. So I would go from paying SL $100 a year to $200 a year, and I only gain more groups.

Yikes. I imagine many SLers are in a situation like his. Speaking of product development, Dee has a very good idea of improving Premium Plus for content creators:

Top 5 Posts Last Week Including a New Pricing Plan for Second Life, Another Odd NFT Integration & Why We Need to Define the Metaverse Apart from Corporate Interests

• Visit A Second Life Sim Devoted To David Lynch
• Linden Lab Unveils $25/Month Second Life Subscription To Replace Eroding Revenue Of Virtual Land
• Today's SL Flickr Pic: Unique & Amazing Avatar Portraits By Sonic
• Core Metaverse Platform Adds NFT Option -- But Why? CEO Explains
• Tom Boellstorff: We Need To Define The Metaverse Before Moneyed Interests Define It For Us

Tomorrow: Visit a Second Life Sim Devoted to David Lynch, Attend an Immersive Extravaganza as a Character from His Works!

Click here to teleport to a place where the birds sing a pretty song, and there's always music in the air. That's right: There's a whole Second Life sim devoted to dream world genius David Lynch, and there's a grand 7 hour event happening there tomorrow starting at 2pm PT. (All the details here.)

"Lynchland is not about roleplay," group leader Myrdin Sommer tells me, "but we do like to dress up as characters from a Lynch movie; LynchLand is a cool place to indulge David Lynch's eccentric persona so to say! And as a dress code we ask this from our visitors at events, but it is certainly not mandatory." But if you had the chance to turn your avatar into a character from a Lynch movie or TV show, why would you not?

"And that goes for everything in LynchLand," says Sommer, "The Bang Bang bar, The little church, the Blue Velvet Diner, The Mulholland Drive-in Cinema or the Lost Highway Motel, where we even have a room specially for David, so he can stay over when he is in ' town." 

And you never know when Lynch will be in the neighborhood: He just made a visit the Metaverse just a couple years ago.

More on LynchLand next week, meantime, here's some images from the LynchLand group on Flickr. (Warning, not all of them are worksafe viewing, not even when it's the Log Lady.)

Fashion Friday: SL Style & Houseware Choices from Mrs. Sassypants

Cajsa Lilliehook covers the best in virtual world screenshot art and digital painting

I like warm, colorful kitchens like the one in Mrs. Sasypant's post Groove Is In the Heart in her blog Layers upon Layas. The name is a pun on her old avatar name Laya Felisimo, something I learned in her About page. Every blogger should have one. This kitchen is wonderful and I like everything. I decided to focus on the foundation pieces, the Mediterranean Kitchen pieces. They were for Happy Weekend, but they will be still be available at full price. 

• KOPFKINO – Mediterranean Kitchen – Counter blue LI:10 
• KOPFKINO – Mediterranean Kitchen – Her stool blue LI:1 
• KOPFKINO – Mediterranean Kitchen – His Stool blue LI:1 
• KOPFKINO – Mediterranean Kitchen – Shelf long blue LI:1 
• KOPFKINO – Mediterranean Kitchen – Wall Cabinet blue LI:4 
• KOPFKINO – Mediterranean Kitchen – Wine Island blue LI:4 

For a look at her fashion style, click here:

Linden Lab Unveils $25/Month Second Life Subscription to Replace Eroding Revenue of Virtual Land

As hinted at in a recent in-world Q&A, Linden Lab just announced Second Life's new "Premium Plus" subscription plan, with greatly enhanced content and features for $24.99/month or $249.99 a year -- see above, with a helpful compare/contrast with the existing Premium Plan. As my heated reader commentary suggests (some choice samples below), this new offering is sure to cause controversy. But it's a necessary move by the company, nudging players toward a sustainable revenue base built on user subscriptions, versus unsustainable sim tier. (Also reflected in the new event region offerings, high capacity sims designed for short term use.)

Or to put it another way on this day, which happens to be Second Life's official 19th birthday: If you want Second Life to be around and still active for SL30B, better consider getting Premium or Premium Plus.

Reader feedback below:

Cajsa's Choices: Favorite Photos from Second Life's 19th Birthday Bash

Cajsa Lilliehook covers the best in virtual world screenshot art and digital painting

I thought after a week of celebrating Second Life’s 19th birthday, it was time to look at the pictures being tagged on Flickr with "sl19b". And wow! This pic from Kiva is amazing. Someone get her a job at NASA. This is such a powerful picture. This is exciting! [Click here to visit the location yourself] 

For more from SL1919B, click here:

Today's SL Flickr Pic: Unique & Amazing Avatar Portraits by Sonic

Cajsa Lilliehook covers the best in virtual world screenshot art and digital painting

Sonic is such a great Second Life artist, I page past her pictures, assuming I have featured her before, because how could I not? But then I wondered and Googled and now I am making up for my oversight. Now, her photostream is dangerous because you could fall in and never come out. It has that kind of creative energy. Take “Enlightenment is the unfolding of divinity within.” for example. It’ s not just the makeup, the flowers, the eyes, or the pose, it’s all of them together. Her work is the perfect example of synergy, of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts. 

For more synergistic creations, click here:

Get Early Access to Second Life's Hair Fair to Benefit Wigs for Kids!

Second Life's famed annual Hair Fair to benefit RL charity Wigs for Kids is unfurling this weekend, and empresario Sasy Scarborough is offering 5 (five) New World Notes readers special early access to the event. Here's how:

Coming Soon to Second Life: "Premium Plus" Subscriptions Offering Free Texture Uploads, Expanded Land Tier/Group Limits, Much More. Watch Here!

Starting at around 24.00, Linden Lab's VP of Product, known in-world as Patch Linden, teased out a new Second Life product offering coming (hopefully) on SL's 19 anniversary of June 23: Premium Plus.

Offerings for the monthly subscription include:

• Texture upload fees eliminated
• Land tier expanded to 2048 square meters
• Up to 140 groups
• L$3000 sign-up bonus, L$650 regular stipend
• Special support phone line
• Group creation fees reduced from L$100 to L$10

All yours with a special introductory offer of $24.99, then moving to $29.99/month or $249/year. A pretty solid offer for core content creators, who end up paying quite a lot to Linden Lab.

Gorgeous Aurelia has a good comparison explainer here, with an infographic to boot. The full interview with Saffia Widdershins includes some interesting tidbits beyond that, including:

Today's SL Flickr Pick: Great Western Roleplay Photos from Rafael Correia

Cajsa Lilliehook covers the best in virtual world screenshot art and digital painting

Rafael Correia shoots amazing black and white photos, mostly of wildlife and landscapes. However, I can’t resist the man and his horse photos. I used to ride the Linden Road on horseback for hours. He is riding much more scenic routes. 

For more horse pictures, click here:

Core Metaverse Platform Adds NFT Option -- But Why? CEO Explains

Core, the upcoming Unreal-based, Epic-backed, user-generated game development platform, just announced (somewhat unexpectedly) that it's adding NFT integration to its platform:

Today we’re excited to announce Core is expanding to include blockchain technology, starting by integrating with the largest crypto wallet, MetaMask, and the largest NFT marketplace, OpenSea, for a first-of-its-kind API that enables creators to make full metaverse experiences based on their NFT collections.

I say "somewhat unexpectedly" because key funder Epic CEO Tim Sweeney isn't exactly a fan of NFTs, and since the crypto crash, the already tiny NFT market has gotten even tinier. So why even bother?

"We understand not everyone is interested in NFTs and that is why it's not a requirement to connect a wallet or engage with NFT content on Core,” CEO Frederic Descamps, CEO of Core developer of Manticore Games, tells me in response. 

However, he goes on, many third party developers are interested in adding NFTs to their own metaverse experiences in Core:

Expanding My History of Second Life from 2003 With a "Best Of" Archive

"People can't tell how far back this blog goes!", was some very helpful advice a friend recently offered, and so I'm slowly expanding my archive of posts tracking the history of Second Life and the Metaverse in general starting from 2003 (when I was still with Linden Lab) up until now. (If you're on desktop, they're available on the right column.)

That includes classics like "Fighting the Front" from 2007 (above), "Impeachable Offense" from 2005, and, of course, 2003's "The War of the Jessie Wall". Adding more years soon!

Tom Boellstorff: We Need to Define the Metaverse Before Moneyed Interests Define It For Us

Really good essay from Tom Boellstorff, a professor at UC Irvine and a longtime researcher of virtual worlds. While the definition of the Metaverse might seem, well, academic, Tom points out how corporate and moneyed interests are already trying to define it to conveniently suit their own interests:

For instance, many pundits define the metaverse as based on blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies. But many existing virtual worlds use means other than blockchain for confirming ownership of digital assets. Many use national currencies like the U.S. dollar, or metaverse currencies pegged to a national currency.

Another such rhetorical move appears when [Meta communications head Nick] Clegg uses an image of a building with a foundation and two floors to argue not only that interoperability will be part of “the foundations of the building” but that it’s “the common theme across these floors.”

But Clegg’s warning that “without a significant degree of interoperability baked into each floor, the metaverse will become fragmented” ignores how interoperability isn’t prototypical for the metaverse. In many cases, fragmentation is desirable. I might not want the same identity in two different virtual worlds, or on Facebook and an online game.

Much more here. I am in fierce agreement with this point. (See my own take on Clegg's Metaverse vision statement.) In my view, Tom's take is yet another reason for adhering to a definition that's as close as feasibly possible to the one from Snow Crash:

There's Not Enough Computing Power in the World for a Fully Sentient, Independent AI (Reader Opinion of the Week)

Smart thoughts from reader and tech exec veteran Luther Weymann, reflecting on the questions of AI sentience brought up by a recent Washington Post story on the Google developer who believes the company's chat bot has already achieved it:

Artificial intelligence programs running on machines use databases on computer systems to receive instruction for action and sound. These databases can deliver information from dedicated databases. Still, more likely for more human-like interaction, the data comes from many types of databases into a central repository and then to the machine.

The ability to have anything even approaching what we socially call “sentient AI” will require mainframe processing and a massive database repository at the ready. Conventional servers process about 300 million operations a second. To truly power AI into a world where the AI machine will be really human-like is going to take mainframe power into the 300 billion operations a second capacity. Mainframe databases, when appropriately distributed, can meet that challenge.

But now comes the exciting part:

Top 5 Posts: Inside VRChat's YouTube Ecosystem, Virtual Real Estate Backlash & My Upcoming Metaverse Book!

• Quintin Smith: Questions ROBLOX Still Hasn't Answered About Its Platform
• Throwback Thursday: The First Backlash Against Metaverse Real Estate
• There's Well Over 10 Million Subscribers To VRChat Content On YouTube!
• NEWS: My Next Book, Why The Metaverse Matters, Is Coming Out For Second Life's 20th Anniversary!
• Is It Fair To Analyze Blockchain-Based Metaverse Platforms Based On Their User Numbers, Not Potential?

Events: SeraPride Opens Tomorrow, SL19B Music Fest Continues With Legendary Performers Like Skye Galaxy & Frogg Marlowe

Second Life events abound today and this weekend. Starting tomorrow at 11:30am PT, New World Notes' media partner Seraphim opens their fun and fabulous SeraPride extravaganza gala to support a seriously important real world cause:

SeraPride is their annual one day fundraising event. Last year the event raised well over $3000 USD. Hoping to raise even more this year, the festivities will start on June 18th at 11:30am PT and throughout the day there will be DJs, a Drag Race, SeraPride Idol, Raffles, Giveaways, and more! All proceeds will benefit Rainbow Railroad, a small Canadian based organization that helps LGBTQI+ people threatened for their lives to relocate to a safe place. 

[Click here to teleport into Serapride]

And as Casja just blogged, SL's official 19th anniversary party started yesterday. That means it's pretty much my 18th year of grousing that the birthday is pinned to the world's commercial opening, when I think it should be tied to the moment when the first closed beta user created the first content in Second Life.

Anyway! SL19B includes a massive music fest, featuring many legendary live music performers who've been singing in SL for years. That includes breakout star Skye Galaxy and -- holy crap -- blues singer Frogg Marlowe, who I first wrote about in 2005, jamming with fellow stalwart Jaycatt Nico.

Check out the whole music fest calendar here.