Posted on

Server update breaks skydiving pods

Something in the latest Second Life simulator version seems to break my Terra Skydiving Pod. Specifically, when it lands, instead of returning to a ready state as it normally does, it goes into a loop. This affects anyone who operates a skydiving pod in a sim that has been updated to Linden Lab’s latest server version (1.24.2.95174). The pods work fine in older versions. You can see the simulator version by clicking Help > About Second Life, and reading the number after “Second Life Server”. Each region can run a different simulator version.

I am now working to see if I can change the pod to work around the server’s new… “feature”, but since I don’t know what is specifically causing the problem, it may take a while. Please keep an eye on this space. I’ll announce when a replacement is available. Sorry for any inconvenience.

UPDATE: Aug. 29, 2008: Get your free version 2.0 skydiving pod on the top floor of Abbotts Aerodrome! Look for the box in the Freefall Shop.

Posted on

White Knight 2 revealed

Today Sir Richard Branson and Burt Rutan unveiled the sleek and sexy White Knight 2: a twin-fuselage, four-engine jet designed to carry a spaceship to launch altitude. Created almost entirely from carbon fiber composite, the gleaming white hull is completely seamless with the words “My other ride is a spaceship” painted by the door.

White Knight Two

Links:

Posted on

Admiring the neighbour’s car

When I dropped in on my Bay City shop today, I was thrilled to see that someone had bought the plot of land next door. The buyer: legendary automobile artist, Ahkenatan Grommet. I couldn’t have hoped to have a better neighbour.

1929 Primout Phaeton by Ahkenatan Grommet

I met Ahkenatan in the Morris sandbox years ago in his first days in SL. Even as a total newbie, he had constructed a gorgeous roadster in exquisite detail. Now, years later, he puts everything he’s learned into what I can only describe as the best classic cars Second Life has ever seen. His in-world company, Primouth Motors, will have a shop next to mine in the “Bay City – Handa” region. Ahkenatan says he can’t begin construction immediately, but I’m sure his storefront will match the classic style that we associate with a Primouth car.

Link: Primouth Motors, Bay City

Posted on

Fly a blimp today

As promised, there is an Aerius blimp parked at the east landing pad on the Abbotts Aerodrome tower. It’s available for public flights, so walk up and hop in. You can start the autopiloted tour or pilot it yourself. Fly as far as you like, and as long as you like. When you’re done, it will wait five minutes before deleting itself.

Free demo of the Terra Aerius beta testing blimp at Abbotts Aerodrome

The final version of the Aerius blimp will likely be for sale by next weekend at the latest.

Posted on

Big news

What’s fifty-five meters long, twenty meters wide, and floats in the sky?

Aerius Blimp floating over the Abbotts Aerodrome tower

More later…