New World Notes

Weekend Machinima: Winter Poetry by Mr. Aeon

To make this machinima he calls "Metamorphosis", Spyvsspy Aeon translated a Portuguese poem into English, put the verses into beautifully rendered subtitles, then complemented them with sweeping, gorgeously rendered shots from famous virtual landscapes created AM Radio. Watch:

NWN in Japanese: 50人のセカンドライフアバターが、それぞれ総収入US$100,000以上を記録した、2009年度SL経済

今日（1月19日）リンデンは、2009年度版セカンドライフのバーチャルエコノミーに関して大ボリュームの経済ニュース要約を発表したが、マクロ経済学的なレポートの多くは、幅が広すぎて分かりづらい。例えば、ユーザー間の年間取引総額が5億6700万USドルに及ぶということは印象深いが、その数字をはっきり捉えることは難しい。

Linden Lab Acquires Avatars United, Social Network for MMO & Virtual Worlds - Facebook Connect Later This Year!

Linden Lab just announced the acquisition of Enemy Unknown, a Swedish company whose main asset is Avatars United, a social network for users of multiple virtual worlds. To create an account, you can use your Second Life name and password (I made one of my own in under a minute), or that of another world, such as Eve Online or World of Warcraft. Linden CEO Mark Kingdon says they will continue to support non-Second Life worlds on the network, writing, "[W]e're committed to keeping this ideal of a place where avatars from multiple worlds and games can come together." The move isn't a surprising one; last year, the Lindens rolled out a web-based dashboard with social network-ish functionality, and much more recently, new hire "conversation manager" Wallace Linden posted an essay on managing multiple Internet identities. This looks like a move on the Lindens' part to leverage the power of social networking for content sharing and community building on the web, without requiring the use of real name-based social networks.

However, this is just one part of the Lindens' social network strategy. There's a much more important one coming later in the year. Says M.:

How Many Multiple Identities Do You Manage Along With Your Avatar?

"[H]umanity," virtual world blogger Lauren Jones recently observed, "has become a multitasking parallel processor." She illustrates that point with this screen capture of her desktop, which must be seen to be believed. "Second Life was open where I was involved in a crazy discussion at Ahern infohub. I had Skype online and was talking on my headset to a family member. I had Facebook open, checking for messages. I was editing a picture to send to a friend by email. I had EVE Online running in the background, which I am currently exploring with a view to an upcoming blog. I had Publisher 2007 open as I did some work ready for next week. I had the BBC website open to check today's news. Away from this screen I had my laptop running as I (sort of) watched a DVD in the background. So at the exact same time, I was a cybernautical explorer, a family member, a social networker, an employee, a space pirate, a blogger and a film fan." However, she notes, "I also find it fascinating that as time goes on, I am more than ever realizing that I am the same person wherever I go." I wonder how generally true that is. In this era where extreme multitasking is possible, how many non-SL identities do you manage at the same time you're in Second Life, and how do they all influence each other?

The First Ten Years of Second Life: The Broek View

Just in time for his third year in Second Life, JeanRicard Broek has an epic, opinionated post covering many of the main highlights in the ten year history of Second Life, beginning as a twinkle in Philip Rosedale's eye back in 1999, when Linden Research was formed, all the way to recent days. Would love to see it arranged on some kind of sprawling, navigable timeline graphic. Image credit: Mr. Broek's SL profile (and a cool profile it is.)

Redd Columbia Makes Mundane Objects for the Metaverse, Then Blogs About Them Hilariously

Redd Columbia is a Second Life content creator who turns everyday objects into SL creations that take on a quirky wit, when they make the translation across realities. (A steering wheel for a pretend car! An airline pillow!) Basically, Redd's the Roz Chast of Second Life. And her blog where she shows off her wares make all this quirkier still.

Willow's Playlist: Tennessee Rock With Frets Nirvana, Second Life Guitar Hero

Exclusive to NWN, Willow Caldera covers SL's burgeoning live music scene

Some of the best music, particularly in the wide world of Second Life, comes one's way through word of mouth: a friend hears a tune, comes away impressed and, before the week is out, you're tapping your toes to the kind of upbeat Tennessee guitar that makes you wish you were sat round the bonfire with your oldest friends as the sun goes down, beer in one hand and a hog roast in the other. It's to Frets Nirvana's endless credit that he can create this kind of atmosphere through your speakers in a virtual world. It'll make you nostalgic for the good life, and you'll enjoy every moment. 

Video shot by kittie Serendipity featuring the song "Pipeline".

"[I started making music] When I was young, in my early teens," says Frets. "And I did it simply because I loved it, and it also gave me an identity, which all of us search for at that age. I would describe the music as fingerstyle guitar with a wide set of influences including blues, rock, pop, country and even jazz.  My music spans a wide spectrum. I would describe the shows as energetic and organic. Presently I do not use tracks and it is all acoustic with no electric instruments."

Chestnut's Choices 1/28 - 2/3: Apple iPad Discussion, Murder Mystery Game, All Day Live Music Fest & Much More!

Chestnut Rau’s weekly round-up of upcoming SL events…

New Toulouse is a lovely sim modeled after Old New Orleans.  As the residents are beginning to prepare for Mardi Gras they have discovered a terrible crime has been committed!  There has been a heinous murder and the gentle people of New Toulouse need your help to solve the mystery.  More information about the murder can be found in the local community newspaper, the Tattler. 

If you want to help solve the mystery of the murder of Albert Caput, you need to pick up a HUD and use it to find and solve the clues hidden around New Toulouse.  There are 20 clues in all and once you have collected them you can claim a prize.  Meet the residents of this wonderful roleplay community, explore the environs and participate in this engaging mystery any time during the month of February.    You begin your stint as a detective in Laveau Square.  In New Toulouse.  [SLurl teleport at this link]

Also after the break:  Discuss Gender Identity Exploration in Virtual Worlds,  Pajama Party at Gwampa's Dance Kamp, Learn How to Plan and Manage a Sim and much more

Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Establishes Licensing Agreement with Frank Lloyd Wright Virtual Museum in Second Life

This is excellent news -- according to Jon Brouchard of the Arch Network, the Frank Lloyd Wright Virtual Museum, which launched in Second Life last year to much enthusiasm, is now officially partnered licensed with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, which was established in 1940 by the great builder himself. (I just got confirmation of the arrangement from someone with the Foundation.) To my knowledge, this is by far the highest profile partnership licensing agreement between a world class architect and a Second Life presence. Visit the sim yourself, aptly called Usonia (named after FLW's vision for US architecture) -- [SLurl here]

Update, 2/4: Tomorrow (Feb 5th), there's going to be a building contest at the Frank Lloyd Wright Virtual Museum "to see who can create the most functional and appealing building within the parameters of the Usonian ideals of Frank Lloyd Wright." More details in New World Notes' events guide for this week.

Business, Research, Media and Development Partnerships With New World Notes Available!

I'd like to expand the coverage and reach of New World Notes by hiring more writers, adding more media channels, and more, so I'm looking for business partnerships -- that can include anything from media and editorial partnerships to commercial/academic/research/development projects, collaborations, and consultancies. (Fully disclosed here, of course.) New World Notes gets about 100-125,000 page views a month, currently has a Technorati Authority ranking of 627, and on PostRank Analytics, is the highest ranked general interest Second Life blog, and in the top ten of all virtual world blogs. Contact me in-world, "Hamlet Au", or e-mail hamlet at secondlife dot com.