#simulated places

Basilique now offers continuous 30-minute guided tours

This weekend I launched guided tours of the Basilique region. The thirty minute tours run continuously – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – and cover every major sight at Basilique, complete with historical references, stories behind past residents and locations, and other interesting references to what visitors can do at Basilique. Julietford, one of my scripted agents (bots), delivers the tours.

M…

Ambient Sound in Second Life

Ambient sound is an integral part of experiencing simulated environments, not only because it significantly adds to a feeling of immersiveness, but many people are in Second Life without their music turned on. Silence makes a place feel dead, unless of course that is what you’re going for (like a moon landscape).

I was surprised to read NWN’s post: Why Second Life Has So Little Ambient Soundscapes

A model for categorising virtual places in Second Life

Standing on the Map of the World

Since first joining Second Life nearly (gasp!) 8 years ago, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about, and designing, virtual places. These places have ranged from the micro-level of a particular room within a building, to the meso-level consisting of multiple buildings and public spaces within a region. I’ve yet to venture into the macro-level(which I define to be…