The Designing Worlds Team was saddened to learn this week of the passing of Breezy Carver, for many years one of the leading lights of New Babbage. Breezy was a keen blogger, a stalwart supper of Relay for Life and, as the owner of Piermont Landing in Wheatstone Waterways, New Babbage, a leading hostess for wonderful Balls.
The Ballroom at Piermont Landing, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont
As a tribute to Breezy, this week we shall be showing the episode in which she appeared – the Theft of the Carver Diamonds, featuring not only Breezy and Edward Pearse but, of course, the indomitable Mr Biggins!
This week we have a real treat from the Archives for you – a story that goes all the way back to 2009, and the very first of our Tales from New Babbage!
We were in New Babbage to inspect some of the fascinating new engineering works deep beneath this most steampunk of cities and – as the people of Babbage say – What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
For we weren’t deterred by the fact that there are all sorts of strange legends and rumours about the oldest parts of the city … nor were we put off by the fact fact that this is, actually, our closest show to Halloween.
No, this would be a nice, calm, peaceful show.
Really.
Well, at all events, it will be a show unlike any other Designing Worlds, that we can promise you!
It’s based on a short story – The Trains Don’t Run Under Clockhaven by Aeolus Cleanslate (who appears as himself) – and it marks the first appearance of the redoubtable Mr Biggins (in his first persona; he’s had several). The story appears in the volume Tales Of New Babbage Volume One.
A strange story in New Babbage
Full Cast: Mr Aeolus Cleanslate Miss Saffia Widdershins Mr Elrik Merlin Miss Ceejay Writer and Mr Biggins
With thanks to PJ Trenton
So do join us for an early Halloween show at 2pm today!
Discussion deep underground in New Babbage
Next week we’ll be travelling around the grid to see some of the fabulous Halloween places that have been created by Second Life residents.
Today we have very exciting news. Recently, Designing Worlds have created a separate Archive site on Vimeo to make available what we think will eventually be over 40 of our old shows, most of which have been unavailable on any channel for some years.
Over the years, a great many things have changed or Designing Worlds. Well, WE’VE changed for one – originally for the first fourteen months of the show, we were MetaMakeover! Then, when our original producers and hosting channel SLCN became Treet TV, we became Designing Worlds. And our early shows appeared on the Treet TV channel, and were re-routed to our blogs using a service called Vopod – which eventually failed.
But when the main Treet channel also closed, many of our old videos disappeared. They were stored on a remote server and, over the years, retrieving them became a hideously complex process for the erstwhile Treet team, who had moved on to new and demanding projects. Over the last few years, though, we have managed to retrieve some of our favourite and most popular shows.
Now these shows are available again as we launch our new channel – Designing Worlds Archive on Vimeo.
30 shows have already been uploaded to the channel – the process is a little slow as we can only upload 5gb each week. So more will be coming!
Yes, it’s the time of year when Saffia and Elrik set out for an innocent visit to New Babbage and discover … what could possibly go wrong. Yes, it’s our Christmas Special – and it’s on the web for you to enjoy!
Miss Widdershins and Mr Merlin are visiting the steampunk city of New Babbage to learn all about the Urchins’ Christmas Ball, where Steam Santa will give presents to the Urchins, while the Boiler Elf adjudicates between those who have been good and bad.
Or at least, that is the plan …
But when Steam Santa disappears, Miss Widdershins and Mr Merlin find themselves caught up in a nefarious plot which they must resolve with the aid of Mr Mornington, the Assistant Maceholder of New Babbage, Miss Heinrichs, the Captain of the New Babbage Militia and, of course, the redoubtable (and hapless) Mr Biggins.
To say nothing of New Babbage’s leading forensic scientist, an expert in tracking and a crowd of urchins …
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Credits
The Players:
Miss Saffia Widdershins
Mr Elrik Merlin
Miss Bookworm Heinrichs
Mr Victor Mornington
Mr Jedediah Biggins
The Boiler Elf
Miss Avariel Falcon
Miss Beryl Strifeclaw
Steam Santa
And the Urchins:
Tepic Harlequin
Jimmy Branagh
Candance
Aoife Lorefield
Lisa Fargazer
Robert
Leon
Wisp
Taylor Muggins
KrystalKid Nightfire
Written by: Miss Bookworm Heinrichs and Miss Saffia Widdershins
Videography by Mr Elrik Merlin and Miss Saffia Widdershins
Edited by Mr Elrik Merlin
Title Music by Associated Production Music
Incidental Music by Audioblocks
Executive Producer: Miss Saffia Widdershins
Directed by Miss Aisling Sinclair
Special thanks to:
Mr Mosseveno Tenk, Mr Mavromichali Szondi, Miss Honey Heart, Mr Terra Volitant and His Grace the Duke of Argylle & Earl of Primbroke, Mr Edward Pearse
And the Citizens (and Urchins) of New Babbage
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is the last episode in our current season. Designing Worlds will return in the New Year. Until then, we wish you all the Compliments of the Season!
Miss Widdershins and Mr Merlin are visiting the steampunk city of New Babbage to learn all about the Urchins’ Christmas Ball, where Steam Santa will give presents to the Urchins, while the Boiler Elf adjudicates between those who have been good and bad.
Or at least, that is the plan …
But when Steam Santa disappears, Miss Widdershins and Mr Merlin find themselves caught up in a nefarious plot which they must resolve with the aid of Mr Mornington, the Assistant Maceholder of New Babbage, Miss Heinrichs, the Captain of the New Babbage Militia and, of course, the redoubtable (and hapless) Mr Biggins.
To say nothing of New Babbage’s leading forensic scientist, an expert in tracking and a crowd of urchins …
The Players:
Miss Saffia Widdershins
Mr Elrik Merlin
Miss Bookworm Heinrichs
Mr Victor Mornington
Mr Jedediah Biggins
The Boiler Elf
Miss Avariel Falcon
Miss Beryl Strifeclaw
Steam Santa
And the Urchins:
Tepic Harlequin
Jimmy Branagh
Candance
Aoife Lorefield
Lisa Fargazer
Robert
Leon
Wisp
Taylor Muggins
KrystalKid Nightfire
Written by: Miss Bookworm Heinrichs and Miss Saffia Widdershins
Videography by Mr Elrik Merlin and Miss Saffia Widdershins
Edited by Mr Elrik Merlin
Title Music by Associated Production Music
Incidental Music by Audioblocks
Executive Producer: Miss Saffia Widdershins
Directed by Miss Aisling Sinclair
Special thanks to:
Mr Mosseveno Tenk, Mr Mavromichali Szondi, Miss Honey Heart, Mr Terra Volitant and His Grace the Duke of Argylle & Earl of Primbroke, Mr Edward Pearse
And the Citizens (and Urchins) of New Babbage
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is the last episode in our current season. Designing Worlds will return in the New Year. Until then, we wish you all the Compliments of the Season!
Designing Worlds Special – Murder in the Muirsheen Durkin
The latest episode of Designing Worlds, as we become involved in solving a Murder in the Muirsheen Durkin (a special episode set in New Babbage) is now on the web!
And, usually, it’s available in two formats – colour and monochrome.
We showed both to our initial audience back at the beginning of the year – and they were generally in favour of the special black and white edition … but there were some people who voted for the rich colour.
What do you think? Take a look – and share your views below the line!
THE PLOT
The Muisheen Durkin is, of course, the restuarant/bar in Brunel Hall, the large hotel thatis part of the business empire of Mr Victor Mornington, the Assistant Maceholder of New Babbage. So when his temporary Christmas barman, Mr Biggins, discovers a murder victim … then they are duty bound to hand over the prime suspect to Miss Bookworm Heinrichs, the head of the Militia.
But has Mr Mornington’s pet rabbit Thumper turned vorpal? Or is there another explanation? Can Miss Widdershins and Mr Merlin help to solve the mystery, or will they just complicate things further? Fortunately, there’s a formidable forensics expert they can turn to …
Miss Bookworm Heinrichs, Head of the New Babbage Militia – Bookworm Heinrichs
Mr Victor Mornington, Assistant Maceholder of New Babbage – Victor1st Mornington
Mr Biggins -Logan Ellsmere
Mr Pecksniff – Lasairfion Silverstar
Miss Widdershins – Saffia Widdershins
Mr Merlin – Elrik Merlin
Mr Tim – Alpha Actor
Dr Avariel Falcon, Forensic Specialist – Avariel Falcon
Thumper – Himself
With thanks to Mavromichaeli Szondi and the Citizens of New Babbage
Written by Saffia Widdershins
Machinimatography & Editiing by Elrik Merlin & Saffia Widdershins
Produced by Saffia Widdershins
Directed by Aisling Sinclair
Title Music by Unique Tracks
Incidental Music by Audioblocks
MURDER AT THE MUIRSHEEN DIRKIN was a DESIGNING WORLDS production
Copyright MMXVII
And if you’re wondering where we are … we’re working on a very special season to celebrate our tenth anniversary! More news coming soon!
The Muisheen Durkin is, of course, the restuarant/bar in Brunel Hall, the large hotel thatis part of the business empire of Mr Victor Mornington, the Assistant Maceholder of New Babbage. So when his temporary Christmas barman, Mr Biggins, discovers a murder victim … then they are duty bound to hand over the prime suspect to Miss Bookworm Heinrichs, the head of the Militia.
But has Mr Mornington’s pet rabbit Thumper turned vorpal? Or is there another explanation? Can Miss Widdershins and Mr Merlin help to solve the mystery, or will they just complicate things further? Fortunately, there’s a formidable forensics expert they can turn to …
Christmas with the Urchins in New Babbage, photographed by Miss Bookworm Heinrichs
The latest episode of Designing Worlds – our Christmas Special in New Babbage– is now on the web!
This year’s Christmas show takes a slightly different format. Well-known Babbage personalities – and Mr Merlin and Miss Widdershins, of course! – will be telling two Christmas stories about the Babbage urchins at Christmas time. One is How the Urchins Stole Christmas, and the second is a sequel to what is probably the best loved New Babbage show, The Miracle of the Bells – which of course, contains the dreaded Book That Must Not Be Named.
And of course, there’s Mr Biggins (as you’ve never seen him before)!
Christmas with the Urchins in New Babbage, photographed by Miss Bookworm Heinrichs
Then there’s a very special Christmas song (composed by MacKnight Culdesac) to finish the show – all about the Steam Santa’s somewhat dour companion, the Boiler Elf.
Christmas with the Urchins in New Babbage, photographed by Miss Bookworm Heinrichs
Christmas with the Urchins in New Babbage, photographed by Miss Bookworm Heinrichs
This year’s Christmas show takes a slightly different format. Well-known Babbage personalities – and Mr Merlin and Miss Widdershins, of course! – will be telling two Christmas stories about the Babbage urchins at Christmas time. You could say that one is How the Urchins Stole Christmas, and the second is a sequel to what is probably the best loved New Babbage show, The Miracle of the Bells – which of course, contains the dreaded Book That Must Not Be Named.
And then there’s a very special Christmas song (composed by MacKnight Culdesac) to finish the show – all about the Steam Santa’s somewhat dour companion, the Boiler Elf.
Christmas with the Urchins in New Babbage, photographed by Miss Bookworm Heinrichs
In addition – you are invited to the Designing Worlds Christmas Ball – on Thursday 22nd April from 1 – 4pm. Elrik Merlin will be spinning the tunes, and there will be gifts from some of our favourite creators under the Christmas Tree!
The latest episode of Designing Worlds –the last show of the season and a retrospective of some of our favourite episodes over the last few seasons – is now on the web.
We recorded this show at the beautiful Designing Worlds cafe at the Second Life 13th Birthday Celebrations (created for us by Eliza Wierwight), and our team of Aisling Sinclair, Wildstar Beaumont and, of course, Saffia and Elrik, chose some of their personal highlights.
And we have a special slideshow of images from a very special event, chosen by Wildstar Beaumont, and never shown before!
Filming at the Designing Worlds Cafe at SL13B, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont
Will your favourite episodes be among the ones we’ve chosen? Watch the show and find out!
Designing Worlds 