Join Designing Worlds for a special recording!

Designing Worlds studio

Join us at 2pm SLT today, Tuesday 14th May, for a special live recording of Designing Worlds at our studio in Garden of Dreams, as we are joined by Chantal Harvey, the weel-know machinamatographer and Tony Dyson, the designer who created R2D2, who will be joining us to talk about their fascinating new project – the Bobbekins – which utilises Second Life as a part of a wider project to create interactive electronic materials for children.

Bobbekins eBook

Chantal and Tony will be talking not only about their project (currently online as an Indiegogo project), but also about their work and careers.

And there will be the opportunity for our audience to ask them questions too!

As this is a recording of a show to be shown at a later date, we will be starting the filming at 1pm, and you will not be able to see all the inserts we will be discussing (although we will supply web addresses so the audience can take a look!).  But it will be a chance to find out more about Tony, Chantal and their fascinating project!

So do come and join in the recording at 1pm!

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Designing Worlds finds out about changes and exciting additions to Second Life from Linden Lab

Talking about Server Side Baking and Materials

Join us at 2pm SLT today, Monday 13th May, for the new episode of Designing Worlds at our studio in Garden of Dreams, as we are joined by Oz, Brooke, Troy and Nyx Linden to discuss the issues of Server Side Baking and materials.

If you’re wondering what these are and how they might affect your Second Life, this show should explain it.

But – as server side baking means earlier viewers will no longer work properly, it is essential that every user of Second Life should be prepared for the changes.

Nyx, Troy, Oz and Brooke Linden explain the changes coming

Server side baking is a whole new way of solving the problem of avatars (and system clothing) that fails to load properly, by moving this from the viewer side client to the server side. It will need significant changes to the client viewers (like Linden Lab’s own viewer, and also third party viewers like Firestorm and Exodus).  Nyx and Troy Linden will be talking about this and explaining what Second Life users should expect.

Katana, created by June Dion of Bare Rose, demonstrating materials

Then Oz and Brooke Linden will be explaining about materials, normal and specular maps, what this is and what it will mean for our Second Life experience. And there will be samples to see too – when Oz and Brooke took us to see the work in progress at Hippotopolis.  You can go there and check this out for yourselves but if you want to see the items properly displayed, you’ll need to download the special Materials Viewer (it doesn’t overwrite the main Linden Lab viewer).

A simple cube takes on depth and texture under changing light

Materials are going to mean a richer Second Life experience, and creators are going to be very excited about the possibilities, we suspect! But don’t take our word for it – come and watch the show at 2pm!

Or – if you can’t attend in person – tune in at 2pm SLT on Monday for the live show on http://treet.tv/live – or catch it later in the week on our shows page on the Treet.tv web site at http://treet.tv/shows/designingworlds – our very own version of the iPlayer!

Join us as we explore the effects of specular mapping

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Another look at Fantasy Faire 2013 with Designing Worlds

Now available on the web – our latest episode, the second of our two visits to the amazing Fantasy Faire.

Saffia talked to designers Kayle Matzerath and Marcus Inkpen about the regions that they created, while Elrik learned about the amazing Fantasy Faire radio (and its rather unusual studio) from Zander Greene, and then had an escorted tour of the famed (notorious?) Explorers’ Club (Oriental Branch) by Martini Discovalante.

Lotus Valley Dream, photograph by Wildstar Beaumont

And then there are more regions to explore before we said farewell to Fantasy Faire … for this year.

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What’s your favourite Designing Worlds show? Let us know what you’d like to see again!

Arcachon Harbour – would you like to see it again?

Do you have a favourite Designing Worlds show? Or even a favourite moment on one of our shows?

As we come up to our 200 episode (yes – that’s coming up very shortly!) we are planning a show of clips from our favourite shows … but what was YOUR favourite moment?

Will the dark secrets of Venexia be your choice?

Maybe it’s a moment from one of our Babbage shows …. maybe from one of the Fantasy Faires. Maybe its one of our encounters with the future in Insilico or Araxes.  Perhaps its one of our visits to an educational project – for example, the medical centre at Imperial College London, or the Mayo Clinic.

Do you want to see the brave Flying Tigers in the air? Photograph by Wildstar Beaumont

Perhaps it’s a historical reconstruction like 1920s Berlin or The Coeurs. Or it could be a visit to a different grid like Inworldz, Heritage Key or Cloud Party.  Or maybe just somewhere that is very lovely like Calas Galadhon or The Looking Glass.

Let us know by sending an email to designingworlds@gmail.com by Sunday 11th May, and let us know what YOU would like to see again.  Or add your thoughts in the comments here instead!

Perhaps you want to see the Terracotta Warriors in the Museum on Heritage Key!

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Designing Worlds at the Fantasy Faire Part II

Entertainment in Lumeneria, photograph by Wildstar Beaumont

Join us at 2pm SLT today, Monday 6th May, for the new episode of Designing Worlds at our studio in Garden of Dreams, as we pay a second visit to the Fantasy Faire regions (now sadly closed).

Lotus Valley Dream, photograph by Wildstar Beaumont

While Saffia talks to designers Kayle Matzerath and Marcus Inkpen about the regions that they created, Elrik will be learning about the amazing Fantasy Faire radio (and its rather unusual studio) from Zander Greene, and then will be given an escorted tour of the famed (notorious?) Explorers’ Club (Oriental Branch) by Martini Discovalante.

Fantasy Faire Radio, photograph by Wildstar Beaumont

And then there are more regions to explore before we say farewell to Fantasy Faire … for this year.

And – by the way – the total now raised by Fantasy Faire stands at over US$36,000 – in Lindens, that’s over 9,500,000.

So – come and join us at 2pm.

Crimson Fields, photograph by Wildstar Beaumont

Or – if you can’t attend in person – tune in at 2pm SLT on Monday for the live show on http://treet.tv/live – or catch it later in the week on our shows page on the Treet.tv web site at http://treet.tv/shows/designingworlds – our very own version of the iPlayer!

There’s also a special short story competition sponsored by Prim Perfect and the Fantasy Faire team – you can find out all the details here.

Evensong Woods, photograph by Wildstar Beaumont

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See Designing Worlds at the Fantasy Faire (Part 1)

Now available on the web – our latest episode, the first of two visits we’ll be paying to the amazing Fantasy Faire.

We visit the amazing Fantasy Faire (a visit filmed before the Faire actually opened) and talk to Zander Greene and Elicio Ember (the creator of the beautiful Titans’ Hollow as we explore some of the fascinating regions in the quiet days before they filled with eager visitors, and learn about the work and ideas that led to their creation.

Lumenaria, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

At the time of writing, the amount raised by the Faire stands at more than 8,800,000 Lindens – more than US$35,600 or nearly £23,000. And all that raised in a virtual world.

Lotus Valley Dream, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

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Designing Worlds’ new season starts – with a visit to Fantasy Faire

Fairelands Junction – photograph by Wildstar Beaumont

Join us at 2pm SLT today, Monday 29th April, for the start of an exciting new season for the opening episode of Designing Worlds at our studio in Garden of Dreams.

Fairelands Junction – photograph by Wildstar Beaumont

We’ll be visiting the amazing Fantasy Faire (a visit filmed before the Faire actually opened) and talking to Zander Greene and Elicio Ember (the creator of the amazing Tiitans’ Hollow as we explore some of the fascinating regions in the quiet days before they filled with eager visitors, and learn about the work and ideas that led to their creation.

Titans’ Hollow – photograph by Wildstar Beaumont

And we’ll be learning something about the Hunt too.  Remember – although the first part finishes with the Faire, you’ll be able to carry on with the second part of the Hunt from May 1st – May 19th.

So – come and join us at 2pm.

The Valley of Ish’Nar – where the second part of the Hunt occurs – photograph by Wildstar Beaumont

Or – if you can’t attend in person – tune in at 2pm SLT on Monday for the live show on http://treet.tv/live – or catch it later in the week on our shows page on the Treet.tv web site at http://treet.tv/shows/designingworlds – our very own version of the iPlayer!

There’s also a special short story competition sponsored by Prim Perfect and the Fantasy Faire team – you can find out all the details here.

Magnificat – photograph by Wildstar Beaumont

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Designing Worlds celebrates the launch of Second Life’s 10th Birthday Community Celebration!

Now available on the web – our latest episode, as we celebrate the launch of SL10B Community Celebration – the event that will take place this June, drawing together Second Life residents from all over the grid with the theme of Looking Forward, Looking Back.

And that’s what we do on this show too, as we look back at some of the builds that were created for SL7B, SL8B and SL9B – and then talk to Diana Renoir, Marianne McCann and Honour McMillan about plans for this year’s event.

SL10B-CC

Remember, you can find out more at the following locations:

Web-site: http://slcommunitycelebration.com/
Blog: http://slcommunitycelebration.com/blog/
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/groups/slcommunitycelebration/
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/YUyZkm
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SLBCommunity

And here are the key dates again:

April 15	Volunteer/Performance, Exhibitor Applications open
May 20	Volunteer/Performance, Exhibitor Applications close
May 27	Sims open to builders
June 16	Grand Opening
June 23	Official Birthday
June 23	Final day of performances
June 29	Sims close to the public
July 1	All builds to be dismantled – sims go offline

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Watch Designing Worlds for news of a very special event in Second Life!

Join us at 2pm SLT today, Monday 18th March, for our new episode of Designing Worlds at our studio in Garden of Dreams.

In this closing episode of the season, the Designing Worlds team looks back at the past and forward to the future … and makes a very special announcement about a major forthcoming event in the Second Life calendar. With guests Diana Renoir, Marianne McCann and Honour McMillan.

So – come and join us at 2pm.

Or – if you can’t attend in person – tune in at 2pm SLT on Monday for the live show on two special streams: http://bit.ly/102mcbe or http://youtu.be/POfi8sOZzvg (it will go live at 2pm SLT) – or catch it later in the week on our shows page on the Treet.tv web site at http://treet.tv/shows/designingworlds – our very own version of the iPlayer!

P.S. Designing Worlds is taking its spring break – but we’ll be back at the end of April with some fantastic shows that will include Fantasy Faire, the Home and Garden Expo, Relay for Life weekend and … Something Else.

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Designing Worlds explores the beautiful park estate of Calas Galadhon

Now available on the web – our latest episode, as we return to the beautiful park estate of Calas Galadhon.

Calas Galadhon is a famously beautiful eleven-region park estate that has recently undergone a period of renovation and refurbishment. We visited once before, back in 2011, but in case there are any viewers who haven’t seen every episode… we fill in the background to the estate before setting off to explore some stunningly beautiful regions! Last time, we focused on the northern sims – this time we turn our attention to the south, we explore—on foot and by water—some of the most beautiful regions in Second Life with Tymus Tenk, one of the owners of the park (with Truck Meredith).

Calas Galadhon, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

It’s one of our most beautiful shows ever – make sure you don’t miss it!

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