I know this image looks unremarkable, but the beginnings of any creative endeavour always start this way. With a little trial and error — fitting pieces with other pieces to see of they fit in an interesting way. What you don’t see, however, is Reitsuki Kojima carefully modelling and crafting each individual component so that it’s just right. So that it fits his concept of the perfect hot air balloon.
The last time Rei and I collaborated on a vehicle, we produced the Terra-Kojima Starling: a two-seat ultralight that’s not only fun to fly, but ideal for exploring new parts of Second Life. You can pick up a friend and go sight-seeing in an aircraft that flies like a plane, but is extremely forgiving. It’s perfect for the novice pilot.
This time Rei and I have teamed up to produce a vehicle that has been popular since the very beginning of SL — the hot air balloon. Besides my own balloons, which I first made in late 2003, balloons have been a fixture in SL since the days of beta in 2002. “Oldbies” will remember the hot air balloon at the Welcome Area in Ahern, back when you could count the total number of sims on one hand. Then there was Hank Ramos’ balloon that became a tie-dyed icon in early SL skies. Garth Fairchang (of Fairlight Flight) also produced a good balloon back then.
For my part, and inspired by these precedents, I made my own attempt at a balloon as a newbie in 2003, and continued to innovate on my early designs until the Wind Rider, which I first released in 2006.
Now, three years later, I’m taking the next step by putting everything I’ve learned about vehicles and balloons into the next generation balloon in a collaborative effort with Reitsuki Kojima. Rei designs the balloon’s appearance, and I script its behaviour. Already I can see great improvements over the Wind Rider. This new balloon will have a more efficient script and HUD control, as well as offer owners more flexibility to allow friends to fly. If you own this one, you can let other group members fly it, or set it to allow anyone to take control. Other new features will soon follow, but I don’t think I want to be too specific at this point.
Over the coming weeks, I’ll keep posting updates on the balloon’s progress, as well as any other new vehicles in the works.