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I’m still here!

The busy holiday season is finally over. Well, alright it was over a couple of weeks ago. I suppose it was some kind of holiday hangover that kept me from being productive in Second Life. My “to do” list isn’t growing any shorter, so it’s time I started making things again.

First off, I released a minor fix to the Terra SPEED flight boost attachment. That’s the HUD attachment that works a lot like the Terra WARP, but has an on-screen button panel.

Second, today I finish the Terra Taxi. It’s kind of a novelty thing, since point-to-point teleporting renders taxis obsolete. But… should you ever have the urge to drive around picking up fares, now you can!

The Terra Taxi is available for L$200 only at Cubey Terra Aircraft in Abbotts (click here).

Next up: adding HUD attachments to my other aircraft.

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Terra Talon

The Terra Talon is a compact jet with combat capabilities. With combat off, Talon is easy-to-manage and stable. With combat on, it’s agile and deadly.

Terra Talon is available at Abbotts Aerodrome (click here)

Terra Talon is the first Cubey Terra aircraft to include a heads-up display (HUD) attachment! This instrument panel includes:
* Speed indicator
* Altimeter
* Throttle
* Artificial horizon
* Buttons for landing gear, canopy, smoke, combat, and eject.

Features:

* Terra Combat System. Engage in combat with any other vehicle that uses the TERRA COMBAT SYSTEM. Works in no-build zones, too.

* Lift and maneuverability vary with speed.

* Customizable tail decal. Customize it with any texture in your inventory.

* Smoke trail for stunt flying.

* Seats 2 avatars.

* Changes colour — choose from several preset colours or specify your own by RGB code.

* Change keyboard controls: choose between first-person shooter key setup and standard flight sim key setup.

* Can taxi on the ground (steers like a ground vehicle when not flying).

* Ejection seat… plane vanishes after you bail out.

* Engine sounds.

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Grid downtime update: Talon and new HUD

The grid’s down for the latest (and hopefully greatest) patch, which — according to the release notes — further improves the texture loading. Hopefully, this means the end of lag storms when I turn the camera in the wrong direction.

So what does one do when the grid and the forums are closed for maintenance? Well maybe I’ll give you an update on all that’s happening in the world of Cubey Terra.

This weekend, I managed to get in some solid development time on the new Terra Talon jet. One of the Talon’s key features is a HUD-attachment control panel, which I’ve never done before. The interesting thing about a heads-up display is that it’s part object-building and part UI design. While it’s tempting to simply follow a Windows-style interface simply for its universal familiarity, that’s really not what my vehicles are all about.

Instead, this HUD is all about replicating dials, chunky buttons, and indicator lights. It has to have the clunky, tactile, and slightly inefficient feel of metal and plastic. Controls need to make that satisfying “click” when you switch something on. I’ll post snapshots of it later on, when the grid’s back.

In terms of timeline, I’m not to far from the finish line. Given several hours or so of tweaks and polishing, I think I’ll be able to maybe declare it mostly pretty much almost close to what I’d sort of admit to being virtually done. And you can hold me to that.

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New skydiving altimeter HUD

Keep your eye on your altitude, even in mouselook. The Terra Skydiving Altimeter is a HUD attachment, so that it appears on your screen at all times. With the clickable buttons, you have an easy way to set the auto-deploy altimeter and manually open the chute.

The analog altitude indicator is easy-to-tread, and includes an inset digital readout for accuracy. Indicator lights show you when your altimeter is armed and when you’re in freefall. To open your chute, just click the big, red button.

NOTE: Some features of this altimeter will only be available if you wear a Terra Sport Chute 2.1 or later at the same time.

Features:

* Permissions: (no copy)
[ ] Modify, [ ] Copy, [X] Resell/Give Away

* Easy-to-read analog altitude indicator shows altitude over ground level. The long needle indicates hundreds of meters, the short needle indicates thousands.

* Inset digital readout shows precise altitude. The digital display is built with a retro feel: watch the numbers spin around.

* Auto-deploy altimeter readout. Use the plus/minus button to adjust the altitude. Click a digit to select how much to increase/decrease.

* ARMED indicator light shows when the altimeter is armed. Click it to arm or disarm.

* Freefall and canopy indicator/button. Lights up red in freefall. Lights up green when your parachute opens. Click it to open the chute manually.

* Help button. Click it for instructions.

Only L$55, only at Abbotts Aerodrome.

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Terra Sport Chute 2

The Terra Sport Chute 2 is the safest and easiest parachute in Second Life. Just strap it on and click it for a menu of options. If you forget to set your auto-deploy altimeter — no problem! Just press Page Up while in freefall to pull the ripcord and glide safely to the ground.

Features:

* NEW IN VERSION 2: The canopy now stows itself *inside* the pack instead of just turning invisible. No more accidental clicks on an invisible canopy!

* NEW IN VERSION 2: Harness is adjustable to 5 preset sizes, plus 1 user-saved size.

* Click the pack for the menu. Also allows chat commands, if that’s what you prefer.

* Changes color. Click the parachute, choose Edit Colors, and choose a color.

* Set the auto-deploy altimeter to open the chute at any altitude you choose.

* Heads-up display shows altitude, speed, and auto-deploy status.

* The parachute is modifyable, so you can edit the pack and canopy to any color you want.

* Permissions:
[X] Modify, [ ] Copy, [X] Resell/Give Away

Available for L$100 at my shiny new shop in Abbotts, at the Aerodrome Skydiving Shop, or from the web shops — SL Exchange and SecondServer.

UPDATE: Now also available in the Camo Gear Kit, which includes a special camouflague-themed selection of items.