Second Life events happening during August 2014


August 2014 event listings

Also happening

Exciting events happening before the end of 2014

Do you know of anything else happening in Second Life/OpenSim during August 2014/rest of 2014 ? Please let me know via comments below!

Thank you.

Skill Gaming Policy delayed until 1st September 2014


Today Linden Lab announced a new date for the new Skill Gaming policy which will come into effect on 1st September 2014. The reason for the delay is due to the number of applications received and the lab needs more time to process them. Apparently FAQs will be updated to reflect the new date and more information about new Skill Gaming policy can be found in the links below.

The blog announcement…

As we recently blogged, we have a new policy for Skill Gaming in Second Life. In short, skill games that offer Linden Dollar payouts will be allowed in Second Life, but each game, its creator, its operator, and the region on which it’s operated must be approved by Linden Lab.

Today, we are changing the date that the changes described in our previous blog post go into effect. Instead of starting on August 1, the updated Skill Gaming Policy will go into effect on September 1, 2014. The original blog post and the FAQs will also be updated to reflect this new deadline.

Since our original announcement, we’ve received many applications from Second Life users who want to become approved skill game creators and operators. By moving the date back, we’ll be able to process a larger number of applications and also offer creators more time to make necessary changes to their games.

If you would like to apply to become an approved skill games creator and/or operator, you can do so through Echosign.

The changes were due to come into effect from Friday 1st August 2014, as previously announced by the lab.

Private Estates drops below 19, 000 regions in Second Life


According to Tyche Shepherd’s New SL Sims in past week thread on the SLUniverse Forums (27th July), Private Estates in Second Life dropped below the 19, 000 regions mark for the first time since 15th June 2008. The total number of Main Grid regions dropped under the 26, 000 mark last week and the decline continues it seems on a weekly basis.

The Net Private Estate losses for the year to date stands at 286 regions so far which is a 1.5% loss.

As of 27th July 2014

  • 25, 980 Total Main Grid regions
  • 18, 988 Private Estates
  • 6, 992 Linden Owned

On 5th January 2014

  • 26, 227 Total Main Grid regions
  • 19, 241 Private Estates
  • 6, 986 Linden Owned

For more stats, visit the Second Life Grid Survey.

OSGrid 7th birthday starts today at 10am PDT


OSG7B
OSG7B First Preview

OSGrid will be celebrating its 7th birthday this weekend over at the OSG7B regions with live DJ performances and much more. The OSG7B birthday celebrations start this morning from 10am PDT through until Sunday afternoon. The events will be held on the Event Plaza region on OSgrid too.

Everyone is welcome to attend to celebrate 7 amazing years of OSGrid. Come and enjoy the birthday celebrations!

OSG7BW
Come and have a look around the amazing builds!

Hypergrid Locations

  • OSG7BW > hg.osgrid.org:80:OSG7BW
  • OSG7BN > hg.osgrid.org:80:OSG7BN
  • OSG7BE > hg.osgrid.org:80:OSG7BE
  • Event Plaza > hg.osgrid.org:80:event plaza.

Music Schedule

Saturday 26th Schedule

  • 10am PDT: DJ Foxx Bode
  • 11am PDT: Bolt Dominica
  • 12pm PDT: Joaquin Gustav
  • 1pm PDT: Sonya Jevette
  • 2pm PDT: DJ SheriffDawn Summers

Sunday 27th Schedule

  • 10am PDT: DJ LadyJo Martin
  • 11am PDT: DJ planned
  • 1pm PDT: DJ Jazzy Chatterbox
  • 2pm PDT: Casias Falta
  • 3pmPDT : Truelie Ellen

The OSG7B Regions

OSG7B
OSG7B
OSG7BN
OSG7BN
OSG7BW
OSG7BW

For the latest OSG7B events, visit the OSG7B Celebration Planning and Schedules Forum page.

 

 

 

Linden Lab releases newer press release about the next generation platform


Linden Lab released a newer press release on Friday 11th July 2014 via Press Releases page about the next generation platform. The press release is confirmation really bringing together all the key points about the new platform.

A beta is expected to be launched in 2015 with the final version expected in 2016 if all goes according to plan. It’s been confirmed that there will be alpha and beta phrases next year so that’s going to be very exciting indeed. 2015 is only 6 months away for a possible first look and i’m sure the lab will keep us posted on the progress in the coming months.

Here is the Full Press Release

Linden Lab has confirmed that it is developing the next generation virtual world that will be in the spirit of Second Life, an open world where users have incredible power to create anything they can imagine and content creators are king. With 2015 targeted for a beta, the new virtual world will go far beyond what is possible with Second Life, and Linden Lab is actively hiring to help with this ambitious project.

“Second Life is the most successful user-created virtual world ever,” said Ebbe Altberg, Linden Lab CEO. “Eleven years after first opening, it continues to thrive with more than a petabyte of 3D content created by users, a strong economy of user-to-user transactions in which tens of millions of dollars are paid out to creators every year, and an active community that spans the globe. There is a massive opportunity ahead to carry on the spirit of Second Life while leveraging the significant technological advancements that have occurred since its creation, and no company is better positioned to create this than we are.”

Second Life today is better than ever. It’s not going away, and Linden Lab will continue to improve it. Even once the new virtual world opens to users, Second Life will run in parallel with it, and current Second Life users will be able to continue to enjoy the virtual world they love today while they explore all that the next-generation has to offer.

“It’s thanks to the Second Life community that our virtual world today is without question the best there is, and after 11 years we certainly have no intention of abandoning our users nor the virtual world they continually fill with their astounding creativity,” said Altberg. “Second Life has a long future ahead of it, and in addition to improvements and new developments we’re working on specifically for Second Life, some of the work we do for the next-generation project may also benefit Second Life.”

Linden Lab’s priority in building the next-generation virtual world is to create an incredible experience and enable stunningly high-quality creativity that’s easily accessible across multiple platforms. In order to not constrain development toward those goals, complete backward compatibility with everything created over Second Life’s 11-year history has not been set as an absolute requirement from the outset. However, Linden Lab does plan to make certain essential elements transportable for existing Second Life users, including users’ Linden Dollar balances, identities, and social connections. It’s likely that more modern content from Second Life, such as meshes, will also be transferrable to the new platform, but the specific details of compatibility will be addressed as development progresses.

“This is an incredibly exciting time for Linden Lab,” continued Altberg. “With more than a decade of unique experience and unmatched success in this space, we’re creating a new platform that will be a revolutionary step forward, going well beyond Second Life as the next major step toward fulfilling the promise of virtual worlds that Second Life users understand so well. We’re seeking more world-class talent to join us in building this future and encourage everyone interested and qualified to apply.”

What would you like to see in the next generation platform (SL2.0) ? 

RFL of SL 2014: Relay Weekend stats


RFL 2014 regions
RFL 2014 regions

The closing stages are now underway of RFL of SL Relay Weekend 2014 and here are the final counts for this weekend. In 10 years of Relay in Second Life 11,594 avatars have walked 215, 366, 720 meters.  These are incredible numbers and it’s really worth celebrating this major success. It’s been a great weekend and it’s been one of the best yet. The regions have been full and it’s fantastic to see there is huge support for Relay Weekend in Second Life.

Wrap Up Party

It’s been confirmed that the annual Wrap Up Party event for RFL of SL 2014 season will be held on Sunday 31st August 2014. More updates in the coming weeks!

New Record

Relay For Life of Second Life 2014 broke the fundraising record with the current total being $406,104 so far.

Updated 2014 Stats

  • Avatars: 1, 365
  • Laps: 2, 672
  • Distance: 23, 653, 977 meters
  • Minutes: 133, 600
  • Course Length: 8, 853 meters

More interesting stats thanks to Dwen Dooley

  • Over 3000 people in the rosters on over 190 teams
  • 400 separate donations on the convio
  • Rezzed 9000 regular kiosks. Rezzed 13000 vendors. In the vendors there were 24000 products.
  • 280 random riot vendors, 1100 raffles, and sold 16800 raffle tickets.
  • Rezzed 26249 fundraising tools in total, and that does not include the luiminaria. 5200 luminaria lit on this track.
  • Since Wrap Up last August 2013 there have been 150,000 donations to RFL of SL fundraising tools
  • Rezzed 400 gotya vendors 
  • Dual team kiosks –  2059 of them
  • 623,000 lindens in dual team kiosks

Historical Stats for Relay for Life of Second Life

Relay Weekend Closing Ceremony 2014
Relay Weekend Closing Ceremony 2014
Relay Weekend Closing Ceremony 2014
Relay Weekend Closing Ceremony 2014

More snapshot of Relay Weekend 2014 can be found on my SL Flickr stream.

RFL of SL 2014: Relay Weekend – Ceremonies Schedule, Music Schedule and Event Laps Schedule with Themes


Ceremonies Schedule

Saturday 19th July 2014

  • Opening Ceremony10 am SLT – The fun-filled weekend begins! Join us at the Ceremonies Stage on the 4 Activities regions. If full, the ceremony will be broadcast in every region along the track!
  • CELEBRATE11 am SLT – The first lap of Relay weekend begins with the CELEBRATE ceremony – the honor walk for Survivors and Caregivers. Please line the track and help our Survivors celebrate their victory over cancer, and to recognize the Caregivers that have given care to cancer patients. This lap and time is reserved expressly for these heroes.
  • REMEMBER9pm SLT – the Luminaria Ceremony – a solemn reflection with readings and inspirational music; sims are darkened in remembrance of those and their loved ones who have lost their battles to cancer, who are still battling it, or who have fought it in the past; As the sims darken, the luminaria bags that line the track glow to remind us all to remember. All are invited to participate in this lap but we ask that you please walk the track in silence.

Sunday 20th July 2014

  • FIGHT BACK – 6am SLT– Pick up your specially made FIGHT BACK ARMY CAP and Fight Back Flags – available at the Relay Stations, and join us as we make our fight back pledges to save a life this year -your own, a friends, a family member, or someone you don’t even know yet. Together we all can FIGHT BACK against cancer.
  • Closing Ceremony10am SLT – Come to close out our amazing weekend with this closing tribute to what we’ve accomplished and how we will, as ONE big Relay For Life of Second Life team, continue to Fight Back and keep our Hope alive. This Ceremony takes place at the center state in the Activities Regions but will also be broadcast throughout all of the sims.

Stage Entry SLURLS

Music Schedule

Saturday 19th July 2014

2PM Bluesman Ed Saunders – DJ – STAGE 1
DJ Painthorse Graysmark – DJ – STAGE 2
Lightening Productions – Shinedown Tribute Band – STAGE 3

3PM Bluesman Ed Saunders – DJ – STAGE 1
DJ Painthorse Graysmark – DJ – STAGE 2
Mer of Avilion – WATER – STAGE 3

4PM Lycen – DJ – STAGE 1
Eliz Watanabe – STAGE 2
DJ Rock and Roll – STAGE 3

5PM Hada Shadowhawk – STAGE 1
Scarletta Roux – STAGE 2
DJ Rock and Roll – STAGE 3

6PM Hada Shadowhawk – STAGE 1
Duncan Bagley – STAGE 2
Creative AppleTOR – STAGE 3

7PM DJ Hawksby – STAGE 1
Grace Loudon – STAGE 2
Creative AppleTOR – STAGE 3

8pm DJ Hawksby – STAGE 1
Lycen – LIVE – STAGE 2
Catalysis – STAGE 3

9PM LUMINARIA CEREMONY

10PM Corvan Nansen – STAGE 1
Brea Skytower – STAGE 2

11PM Corvan Nansen – STAGE 1
Brea Skytower – STAGE 2

12AM (Dia) Diaphoni Galicia – STAGE 1
DJ Rock and Roll – STAGE 2

Sunday 20th July 2014

1AM Cowgirl – STAGE 1
DJ Rock and Roll – STAGE 2

2AM Cowgirl – STAGE 1
Mij Marksman – STAGE 2
Blake Hambleton – STAGE 3

3AM Mij Marksman – STAGE 2
Blake Hambleton – STAGE 3

4AM Holocluck Henly – STAGE 1
Mij Marksman – STAGE 2
Blake Hambleton – STAGE 3

6AM FIGHT BACK CEREMONY

7AM (Bells) Belladonna Ravinelli – STAGE 1
Grace McDunnough – STAGE 2

8AM John (johannes 1977) – STAGE 1

9AM John (johannes 1977) – STAGE 1
Hada Shadowhawk – STAGE 2

Event Laps Schedule with Themes!

10am – Opening Ceremony
11am – CELEBRATE – Survivor/Caregiver Lap
12:30pm – Teams on the Track

….And the Themed Laps Begin!
2pm – CRAZY HAT – wear the craziest hat you can find!
3pm – CARTOON CHARACTER/ANIME – become that cartoon character of your dreams!
4pm – BLACK AND WHITE – wear only black and white during this lap!
5pm – SCIFI/FANTASY – represent the Sci-Fi or Fantasy character that you wish to be!
6pm – PIRATES – arrgghhh mateys, pull out your eye patches, pirate hats, scarves and more!
7pm – BALD IS BEAUTIFUL – and so it is… let’s honor those that have gone bald for the cause or due to treatment and remove that hair!
8pm – PURPLE! – what is our favorite color? Yep! You got it…Purple from head to toe!

9pm – REMEMBER – this is our Luminaria Ceremony Lap, a time to remember those that are no longer among us. We darken the regions, and walk quietly with glow of the luminarias to guide our way as we listen to the Luminaria Ceremony Dedications

10pm – MOST COLORFUL – how many colors can you wear?!?
11pm – 10TH ANNIVERSARY – ONE TEAM! Listen to the Planning Committee as they entertain us through the hour!
12AM/Midnight – PJ PARTY – put your jammies on … but DO NOT go to bed!

JULY 20th – RELAY CONTINUES
1am – HOPPY BALL BOUNCE WITH US – let’s bounce bounce bounce around the track! Find your hoppy balls in the Relay Info Stations!
2am – SIXTIES (60’s) – it’s groovy dude! Tie-dye and mini-skirts! Peace baby!
3am – BEACH PARTY – beach party beach party there on the track… but be sure to wear sunscreen!
4am – KIDS and CHILDREN – dress up as a kid, become a toddleedoo, shrink your avi… let’s play!
5am – HEROES EVERY DAY AND SUPER – we all have those we consider heroes…who is yours? Superman, parents, doctors, Batman, WonderWoman, etc!

6am – FIGHT BACK – it’s time to make that pledge…what will YOU do to fight back against CANCER? Listen in to the special ceremony!

7am – INTERNATIONAL, CELEBRATE YOUR NATION! – wave your flag, dress up in your colors, show us your costumes!
8am – COFFEE AND DONUTS IT’S BREAKFAST TIME! – good morning… we all need that shot of caffeine to keep us on the track…just a bit longer!
9am – FORMAL HOUR – time to put on your finest gowns and suits and walk the track in those dress shoes.. we are almost there!

10am – CLOSING CEREMONY – head over to the Activities Regions and tune in to the stream!

11am – VICTORY LAP – It is time to walk the track once more… meet the Relay Committee… Celebrate YOUR Relay!

12:30pm – RAFFLE DRAWS – be sure to buy your tickets before this time!

1pm – SILENT AUCTIONs end – did you place the winning bid?

Continue to walk the track, visit the campsites, the designer builds, the mega event campsites, the museum, etc.

 

RFL of SL 2014: Relay Weekend opens today at 10am SLT


Ten years of Relay Weekend
Ten years of Relay Weekend

The tenth annual Relay Weekend in Second Life opens to the public at 10am SLT today over at the 40+ “RFL” regions. Relay Weekend takes place from Saturday 19th July to Sunday 30th July 2014.

It’s the largest fundraising event in the virtual worlds. This is the 40+ sim event that features all of our teams, as we walk together for 24 hours around the track. Cancer never sleeps…and so for one night each year, we refuse to sleep, to show our commitment to the fight against cancer.

Great work so far

So far this year the RFL of SL volunteers, builders and the main organises of the event have worked so hard to fund raise and support RFL of SL. Good luck to all those taking part in this year’s annual Relay Weekend and lets hope new records will be broken.

RFL of SL 2014 Welcome Center
RFL of SL 2014 Welcome Center

New 2014 Media Partners 

This year there are new media partners who have teamed up with Relay For Life of Second Life and who will help to broadcast the Relay message across the grid. Great news!

  • T1 Radio and Aview
  • The Gorean Whip
  • SL Live Radio
  • The Best of SL Magazine
  • Krypton Radio
Welcome Center with the Relay track up ahead
Welcome Center with the Relay track up ahead

Music Schedule

July 19th, 2014

2PM Bluesman Ed Saunders – DJ – STAGE 1
DJ Painthorse Graysmark – DJ – STAGE 2
Lightening Productions – Shinedown Tribute Band – STAGE 3

3PM Bluesman Ed Saunders – DJ – STAGE 1
DJ Painthorse Graysmark – DJ – STAGE 2
Mer of Avilion – WATER – STAGE 3

4PM Lycen – DJ – STAGE 1
Eliz Watanabe – STAGE 2
DJ Rock and Roll – STAGE 3

5PM Hada Shadowhawk – STAGE 1
Scarletta Roux – STAGE 2
DJ Rock and Roll – STAGE 3

6PM Hada Shadowhawk – STAGE 1
Duncan Bagley – STAGE 2
Creative AppleTOR – STAGE 3

7PM DJ Hawksby – STAGE 1
Grace Loudon – STAGE 2
Creative AppleTOR – STAGE 3

8pm DJ Hawksby – STAGE 1
Lycen – LIVE – STAGE 2
Catalysis – STAGE 3

9PM LUMINARIA CEREMONY

10PM Corvan Nansen – STAGE 1
Brea Skytower – STAGE 2

11PM Corvan Nansen – STAGE 1
Brea Skytower – STAGE 2

12AM (Dia) Diaphoni Galicia – STAGE 1
DJ Rock and Roll – STAGE 2

July 20th, 2014

1AM Cowgirl – STAGE 1
DJ Rock and Roll – STAGE 2

2AM Cowgirl – STAGE 1
Mij Marksman – STAGE 2
Blake Hambleton – STAGE 3

3AM Mij Marksman – STAGE 2
Blake Hambleton – STAGE 3

4AM Holocluck Henly – STAGE 1
Mij Marksman – STAGE 2
Blake Hambleton – STAGE 3

6AM FIGHT BACK CEREMONY

7AM (Bells) Belladonna Ravinelli – STAGE 1
Grace McDunnough – STAGE 2

8AM John (johannes 1977) – STAGE 1

9AM John (johannes 1977) – STAGE 1
Hada Shadowhawk – STAGE 2

Let’s RELAY!

Google+ ends real name policy – good news for the Second Life community and OpenSim communities


Google+ communities I've joined
Google+ communities I’ve joined since 2011

This week Google+ ended it’s real name policy after 3 years which is excellent news for the Second Life community and OpenSim communities. During the past 3 years Google prevented people using fake names on Google+ when signing up. In recent years there have been reports of Second Life resident Google+ accounts flagged up and suspended. Hopefully that won’t happen anymore with this new policy change and I think it’s a good move forward in the right direction.

This is the official announcement made on the official Google+ page.

When we launched Google+ over three years ago, we had a lot of restrictions on what name you could use on your profile. This helped create a community made up of real people, but it also excluded a number of people who wanted to be part of it without using their real names. 

Over the years, as Google+ grew and its community became established, we steadily opened up this policy, from allowing +Page owners to use any name of their choosing to letting YouTube users bring their usernames into Google+. Today, we are taking the last step: there are no more restrictions on what name you can use. 

We know you’ve been calling for this change for a while. We know that our names policy has been unclear, and this has led to some unnecessarily difficult experiences for some of our users. For this we apologize, and we hope that today’s change is a step toward making Google+ the welcoming and inclusive place that we want it to be. Thank you for expressing your opinions so passionately, and thanks for continuing to make Google+ the thoughtful community that it is.

I agree this is certainly good news for virtual worlds users in general and virtual businesses that would like a strong presence on Google+. I think in the coming months and years the Google+ communities (shown above) will grow and become more active.

Yay!

Linden Lab updates section 2.3 on Terms of Service


It’s almost been one year (August 2013) since Linden Lab updated section 2.3 of their Terms of Service and today the lab have updated it regarding user content in Second Life. This small change is a positive step moving forward I think and please see below for the new updated TOS highlighted in blue.

New Section 2.3 as of 16th July 2014

Except as otherwise described in any Additional Terms (such as a contest’s official rules) which will govern the submission of your User Content, you hereby grant to Linden Lab, and you agree to grant to Linden Lab, the non-exclusive, unrestricted, unconditional, unlimited, worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual, and cost-free right and license to use, copy, record, distribute, reproduce, disclose, modify, display, publicly perform, transmit, publish, broadcast, translate, make derivative works of, and sell, re-sell or sublicense (through multiple levels)(with respect to Second Life, Inworld or otherwise on the Service as permitted by you through your interactions with the Service), and otherwise exploit in any manner whatsoever, all or any portion of your User Content (and derivative works thereof), for any purpose whatsoever in all formats, on or through any media, software, formula, or medium now known or hereafter developed, and with any technology or devices now known or hereafter developed, and to advertise, market, and promote the same. You agree that the license includes the right to copy, analyze and use any of your Content as Linden Lab may deem necessary or desirable for purposes of debugging, testing, or providing support or development services in connection with the Service and future improvements to the Service. The license granted in this Section 2.3 is referred to as the “Service Content License.” 

For the full Terms of Service for Second Life, see here.

Terms of Service updated
Terms of Service updated

The next time you log into Second Life, you will have to agree to the updated Terms of Service (section 2.3).