Or you can join us for our Watch Party in the beautiful Designing Worlds studios in the Garden of Dreams, where we’ll be discussing our peep into the past – and our own Second Life memories.
In this episode we look back to 2010. It was billed by Linden Lab as the Year of Delight – and whether or not that was a true prediction will, we hope, emerge within the show. But here are some clues – two changes of CEO, massive lay-offs, viewer wars, rows at the SL7B … it all makes for a fascinating discussion with our resident historian, Marianne McCann.
And there are other treats in the shape of extracts from shows in 2010, including not just Second Life but visits to other grids like the Reaction Grid and the beautiful Heritage Key, as well as fascinating Second Life locations.
And there’s even a little fore-warning of the coming of mesh, with what was a very rare occurrence in those days – the appearance of a Linden on the show!
Again, many places in this show have vanished – but there are a few you can visit!
In today’s episode we’ll be helped by Marianne McCann, Second Life historian, who will share with us some of the features that arrived and frictions that enraged the residents of Second Life in those years, and by Wildstar Beaumont who has ransacked his photo archive for us!
Saffia talks Second Life History with Marianne McCann
And you’ll have a chance to see extracts from those early shows, including our very first visit to the Home and Garden Expo, a glimpse of the 2008 Relay for Life builds, our very first Babbage show … and much more!
Discussion deep underground in New Babbage
And we end with one of the most moving regions we have ever visited … and it’s still there!
Places to visit featured on today’s show: Most of these have gone, but you can still visit New Babbage (although you’d be wise NOT to explore any tunnels that run under Clockhaven) 1st World War Poetry Archive
Designing Worlds Christmas Ball (2016), photographed by Wildstar Beaumont
As we promised, here is a link to the second Babbage Tale we showed at our Watch Party in New Babbage … but first here is a special event for Designing Worlds fans ..
The Ball will be held in our special Designing Worlds Ballroom, created by Kayle Matzerath and available in his Garden of Dreams store. The Ball runs from 1PM till 4PM on Friday 16th December.There will be great music from DJ Elrik Merlin and DaveOSaurus, and a special appearance by the fabulous Raglan Shire Carollers – so don’t miss it!
The Raglan Shire Carollers, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont
And here is the promised second Babbage Tale!
What could Possibly Go Wrong in Piermont Landing?
Piermont Landing in Wheatstone Waterways, New Babbage, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont
Of course, in the past there have been problems when we visited New Babbage. There was that unpleasant business in the tunnels under the old Asylum. And, of course, there was that murder at the Burlesque – two murders, actually. And we shouldn’t forget our encounter with the Dark Mer in the waters off New Babbage. Or what happened when Elrik was mistaken for Sherlock Holmes. And, of course, most recently, how we were fortunately on hand to prevent the attempt to steal the New Babbage Christmas presents … admittedly it was a little unfortunate that we allowed the urchins to steal them instead …
But this time we are sure that nothing could possibly go wrong!
We’ll be visiting Mrs Breezy Carver Fabre as she prepares for one of her fabulous Balls in the gorgeous Piermont Landing. We’ll be exploring this great build and hearing some of the stories that lie behind it.
And, if we’re very lucky, perhaps we’ll be so fortunate as to see the fabulous Carver diamonds too!
Featuring Miss Breezy Carver, Edward Pearse, Mr Biggins and a mysterious nun. Plus, of course, that factory chimney!
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But this isn’t all!
On Sunday 18th December, we’re hosting the World Premiere of Episode 2 of Harland Quinn and the Omega Hax in the Designing Worlds studio. Watch this blog for more information!
And on Monday 19th December, we’ll have our final Designing Worlds show of the season, when we’ll be visiting a fabulous selection of winter places.
You won’t want to miss any of these!
Winterset Hollow, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont
Tonight we have a Babbage seasonal special – with not one but TWO of our special Babbage stories!
Join us at 2pm SLT today, Monday 12th December for Designing Worlds at our studio in Garden of Dreams in Second Life, or watch here on the web. We’ll be posting the first of these shows here on the blog today, and then the second on Friday 17th December, ahead of our annual Christmas Ball!
Miss Widdershins takes tea with Mr Mornington
In the first episode from early in 2012, Designing Worlds visits New Babbage – and what can possibly go wrong with that?
Well, quite a lot – as Saffia and Elrik discover when Mr Merlin takes tea with a certain Dr Jekyll …
The aftermath of tea with Dr Jekyll
But not to worry, for Miss Widdershins and Mr Mornington are on the trail with the aid of a trusty (if somewhat reluctant) Mr Biggins (nb this is believed to be Mr Jebediah Biggins as his brother Odadiah has got himself mixed up with some very strange types, as can be seen in the series The Blackened Mirror!)
But all is not quite what it appears …
It’s a Christmas special with the addition of Mr Biggins, Mr Victor1st Mornington (as themselves) and Mr Da5id Abbot as Dr Jekyll. Plus some rather wonderful horses … Kalypso Whitesong, Betta Zapp. Dancer Inglewood and Chaerry Lastchance, trained by Miss H0neyheart Resident.
A Winter Journey in New Babbage!
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Then, immediately afterwards, we’ll be showing What could Possibly Go Wrong in Piermont Landing? from early in 2012.
Piermont Landing in Wheatstone Waterways, New Babbage
Of course, in the past there have been problems when we visited New Babbage. There was that unpleasant business in the tunnels under the old Asylum. And, of course, there was that murder at the Burlesque – two murders, actually. And we shouldn’t forget our encounter with the Dark Mer in the waters off New Babbage. Or what happened when Elrik was mistaken for Sherlock Holmes. And, of course, most recently, how we were fortunately on hand to prevent the attempt to steal the New Babbage Christmas presents … admittedly it was a little unfortunate that we allowed the urchins to steal them instead …
A View of New Babbage
But this time we are sure that nothing could possibly go wrong!
We’ll be visiting Mrs Breezy Carver Fabre as she prepares for one of her fabulous Balls in the gorgeous Piermont Landing. We’ll be exploring this great build and hearing some of the stories that lie behind it.
And, if we’re very lucky, perhaps we’ll be so fortunate as to see the fabulous Carver diamonds too!
Featuring Miss Breezy Carver, Edward Pearse, Mr Biggins and a mysterious nun. Plus, of course, that factory chimney!
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We’ll be posting a link here on the web to this second show on Friday 16th December – ahead of the Designing Worlds Christmas Ball, and all fans of the show are invited!
This December, Designing Worlds is planning three special seasonal episodes – looking back to the past, and also sharing some wonderful places you can visit this year. We’re starting all the way back in 2011, when Designing Worlds visited the small town of Pleasantville to see how they celebrate Christmas.
Consisting of three regions, with an elementary school and downtown area, Pleasantville is devoted to the then increasingly popular activity of family roleplay, a still active community that is important for many people. Saffia and Elrik talked to some of the children, their parents and teachers, shared in their Christmas activities, and found out why family roleplay is such a special thing in many people’s Second Lives.
We were joined by some of the residents of the town, adults and children, including Mindy Metaluna, Pleasantville owner and principal of the Hardknock Elementary School, Maisie Netizen – teacher and home-owner, the designer ßαßу Åηgεℓ Åυɤα and three of Pleasantville’s younger generation who showed Elrik some of the sights: Caitlyn Bayn, Randee Rose Bayn and Pinkie Denimore Benelli. And there were many others who give us a wonderfully warm welcome to Pleasantville – even if the weather was decidedly frosty!
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Sadly, it seems that Pleasantville and Hardknock Elementary School are no longer on the grid – if other people know of any other good family roleplay communities, please let us know!
Join us at 2pm SLT today, Monday 28th November, for Designing Worlds at our studio in Garden of Dreams or watch here on the web as we recall an amazing region from December 2013, created to demonstrate the potential and possibilities of sound in Second Life. And it’s a huge amount of fun too.
Usually one would go to the LEA (Linden Endowment for the Arts) sims to see the creations of Second Life’s best known (and sometimes newly discovered) artists. Many offered a high level of interactivity in their creations – some will offer sound as part of this.
But Of Sound Mind went further. It was an installation – more properly a series of installations – that referenced primarily sounds. It’s the creation of Lorin Tone and Friends (said friends including Glyph Graves, Madcow Cosmos, Inventor Alchemi, Mia Anais, Meriadne Merlin, P4ndor4 Quintessa, Marcus Parrott, Judi Newall, Chantal Harvey and Cube Republic). There was a wealth of different environments and sounds to explore – instruments to interact with … and, actually, some stunning things to see, ranging from a spooky cave to a giant musical castle in the air, from a Hindu temple with a wealth of musical instruments to an amazing total windsculpture by Glyph Graves.
We explore as many of these as we can fit into the show, talking to Lorin Tone and some of the creators such as Glyph Graves, emSynth, and Meriadne Merlin.
Sadly, Of Sound Mind (and the LEA too) have passed into Second Life history. But the LEA has been replaced by the excellent SLEA (Second Life Endowment for the Arts), which is always worth a visit to discover what is new and exciting in the virtual arts.
Join us at 2pm SLT today, Monday 14th November, for Designing Worlds at our studio in Garden of Dreams or watch here on the web as we recall the time when we sailed the seas (and drank in the taverns) with the magnificent pirates of the Trade Winds.
In this show from March 2014, we talk to some of the pirates and boat-builders active in the Trade Winds, including Blithe Binder, Kirsten Blackheart, MizLucie Winterwolf, Karnac Binder, GM Nikolaidis, Evvva Viper, Amber Murfin, Flops, Paddy SaltyDog Goldsworthy and tessa Vespucciano, and are entertained by the fantastic Deelah Halostar.
We learn about the pirates, the Trade Winds, the history of pirates in the Caribbean, the wonderful craft they sail in – and we get to take part in a battle too!
Trade Winds – photograph by Wildstar Beaumont
Join us at 2pm for a really exciting and colourful show! It’s one you won’t want to miss!
Sadly, the Trade Winds no longer exists as a destination, but there are other pirate destinations in Second Life, which you can find in search. Be aware that many are adult regions.
Join us at 2pm SLT today, Monday 7th November, for Designing Worlds at our studio in Garden of Dreams or watch here on the web as we set out to explore a primeval landscape and confront creatures from the far distant past.
Yes, today is a revisit to our dinosaur show from December 2013, and we will be exploring a world given over to these amazing creatures and talking to their creator, Wanders Nowhere, who gives us a tour of the landscape and of the fantastic avatars he had created..
But the construction of these creatures wasn’t the only remarkable thing about them – as we discovered when we explored the potential of the fantastic HUD that drove them.
One of the dinosaurs on Fort Nowhere
So … do join us at 2pm as we visit Fort Nowhere and learn more about a very special corner of the Second Life grid. This is definitely one to share with the kids!
And in a couple of weeks, Designing Worlds will be visiting Wanders’ latest amazing build – Dracula’s Castle!
This October, Designing Worlds is showing a special season of Halloween episodes – with two new episodes for the end of the month! Our second episode is an October 2012 show, when we visited the darkly beautiful region of Venexia for a really gorgeous Halloween show special.
Venexia is an adult roleplay sim with a vampire theme. It’s set in a time when La Serenissima, the beautiful Venice that inspired this region, was at the height of its power and, some would suggest, its decadence. This stunningly lovely region, created by Baal Zobel and Kora Zenovka, certainly promises both power and decadence, and the enthusiastic patrons have evolved a rich and complex roleplay, befitting the surroundings.
The canals of Venexia
Visitors can join in or, if they wish to remain out of character, can simply visit (although we’d recommend you adapt a suitable costume to allow you to discreetly blend with your surroundings).
In the company of the Contessa Seabreeze (who is, under another name, an old friend of the show!), Nena Easterwood and Amberlyssa Marie Bauerhoff, we explore some of the beautiful locations and discuss some of the roles and traditions that are practised in Venexia.
Vampire Ball in Venexia
All this – and a Vampire Ball to attend; very appropriate for Halloween!
View of Innsmouth, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont
This October, Designing Worlds is planning a special season of Halloween episodes – with two new shows for the end of the month! We’re going to start with an October 2014 show, when we visited one of the moodiest and most sinister regions on the grid — the town of Innsmouth.
Innsmouth is a fascinating region – based on the horror stories of HP Lovecraft (whom many call the most influential horror writer of the 20th century), it has plenty of mysterious and hidden places to explore – all in the tradition of Lovecraft’s mysterious New England coastal towns. It was also, of course, an important location in Season 1 of The Blackened Mirror (as we shall learn).
Innsmouth, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont
But in 2014, Innsmouth was in danger of being lost. A campaign began to save this wonderful region by its supporters, led by Arik Metzger, who – together with Terra Volitant – joined us on the show.
This is one of the very few shows not to feature Saffia, whose typist was suffering from a badly sprained knee. So you will see Elrik and Aisling Sinclair exploring the spooky town!
Designing Worlds 