Virtual vehicles for the metaverse
Things I’ve created either in the real world or the metaverse.
Fans of Terrabucks Coffee — the humorous SL parody of our favourite real life coffee shop chain — can now drink prim-based coffee in real life. Or if your avatar sports the black long-sleeve Abbotts Aerodrome shirt, you can now dress your real-world avatar the same way.
My new Cafe Press shop has all kinds of things you would want, and even some things that you wouldn’t want (wall clock, anyone?). All products are guaranteed to contain no plywood and have never been tested on penguins.
While the cybervirtuametaverse is down for repairs this morning, I thought I’d spend a little quality time in the blogosphere. It’s a little chilly in here. Did someone leave the window open again?
Since the release of the Terra Z, I have started on a couple of new projects, but I’ll get to those later. Let’s first take a look at what’s happening in skydiving.
Thanks to the scripting efforts of Effsey Nelson, I can now show a beta version of the Skydiving Top 10 page, where ten Second Life residents are revealed for the obsessive skydivers they are. I’m just astounded at the accuracy of people like Arex Koltai, who maintained an average distance of 0.6 meters in his last 100 jumps. Then look at Pilatus Masala, TheManKnownAsDaveP Crosley, and Shandon Uggla who each performed over 1000 jumps — and that’s just since March 10, when the database came online. Some performed as many jumps or more before that time. So we have some seriously dedicated and competitive skydivers. To them, I say this: For crying out loud, turn off the computer and get some fresh air or something.
While they’re out for a walk, let’s look at the evil schemes that I’m hatching in my top secret laboratory. I’m a little behind schedule, but I have started work on the new Stearman. It’s in the very early stages, so I expect it will be done in about 4 to 60 weeks.
Meanwhile, in a dank corner of the lab, I have constructed a new and improved vendor system, which should allow more people to earn a few extra L$. Like the last vendor system, people can sell skydiving gear or aircraft and earn L$ on each sale. The improvement is that the system can handle more vendors at once and is less likely to explode. Oh and it sells penguins too.
And finally, Abbotts Aerodrome has a new level with living/office spaces. It’s done in a pseudo-Japanese style with pine beams, shoji screens, and tatami. If anyone has any good suggestions for the large open space around the elevator, please drop me a line or leave a comment here.
It looks like the grid is back online! Pilatus, Dave, and Shandon, you can come back in now.
Some poeple ask me how I name my vehicles. It’s not easy, when real-life vehicle makers have taken all the most interesting names: animals, birds, precious stones, cities… even fish. So when I produce the next-generation vehicle for Second Life, thinking of a name can almost take longer than making the vehicle itself.
Consider this latest vehicle: It’s a scooter that hovers. Unfortunately, scooters are so popular in real life right now that pretty much every scooter name is already trademarked, and trademarks do apply even if your scooter is made with bits and bytes instead of nuts and bolts. In desperation, I turned to the friendly folks in IRC for suggestions.
Thanks, Sezmra, who suggested “Scoover” (it hovers, it scoots). Unfortunately, the name has been taken. A nod also to Gabe, who suggested “Hooter”, but I think I’ll pass on that one. Other suggestions include “Scootair” (already taken), “DiscHover” (annoyingly clever), “iScoot” (already taken), and “tScoot” (also taken).
In the end, I’ve decided that this whole naming thing is not worth the effort, and I’ll just not name it at all. It’s Z. Just Z. The Terra Z. Please don’t write to tell me that the letter Z is trademarked.
What’s the big deal about the Terra Z? Not only is it the most agile aircraft you will ever fly, but it can do something traditional SL vehicles can’t do. It can go with you through teleport.
Using an advanced technology developed under high security in a top-secret location in my living room, the Z is actually a wearable item. This means better control, easier sim border crossing, and it teleports with you.
The transition from walking to hovering takes only seconds, and you don’t even have to stop. Click the “REZ” button on the HUD attachment and a Z appears at your feet and automatically attaches to your avatar.
The Z isn’t quite finished yet. I have to work on the colour-changing script and touch up a couple of details. Expect it to hit the shops by the weekend.
Update: I’ll have this in the Flight Shop at Abbotts Aerodrome by Saturday morning.
After weeks of market research and longer weeks of development (I used 8 day weeks), I’m happy to announce that the leading supplier of aircraft in Second Life, Terra Aeronautics, is now entering the arena of real-world aircraft.
Our first product: the Terra Dart. The Dart is not only incredibly fuel-efficient, but it is also constructed from revolutionary fibre sheets, which keep fabrication costs extremely low. These fibre sheets can be “printed” from almost any conventional printer and recycled for later use.
Mosey on down to Abbotts Aerodrome and pick up a copy of the new TerraSport III parachute.
Be sure to mosey. Non-moseyers may not purchase this parachute.