VR and Latency: Carmack’s Thoughts
This post originally appeared over at our sister site Metaverse Health. John Carmack is a bit of an icon in gaming circles, and he's also one of the people that's supporting the Oculus VR consumer headset that's on the near horizon. I'd very stupidly assumed (having not read any biographical details on him until today) that he wasn't that deep into the coding / science of things like this. He's just posted a nice piece of work on the challenges of latency … Read More
Vale: ABC Island in Second Life
As I wrote a few weeks back, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's presence in Second Life is about to come to a close. The 22nd September sees the curtain fall, but not without some festivities prior. Particularly this Saturday 22nd September when the final party occurs. (Here's the SLURL to teleport to ABC Island) I've been an admin on the island (in name only - I've had no active involvement really) since 2008 and I've seen it evolve and grow over … Read More
Philip Rosedale spruiks new venture, talks down Second Life?
If you've followed the exploits of Linden Lab's former CEO and current Chairman over the past year or so, you'll know he's been off creating something new. The New York Times has run a profile on that venture, Coffee and Power. That venture seems interesting enough and leverages heavily the virtual currency model used for Second Life, in this case to purchase or receive payment for goods or services. It's very similar to a bunch of other services, though … Read More
SLACTIONS 2012: Call for Papers
Research conference on virtual worlds - Life, imagination, and work using metaverse platforms November 2012 http://www.slactions.org/ http://www.facebook.com/pages/SLACTIONS-Life-imagination-and-work-using-meta verse-platforms/242464792497177 http://twitter.com/slactions CALL FOR PAPERS The metaverse is emerging, through the increasing use of virtual world technologies that act as platforms for end-users to create, develop, and interact, … Read More
2013 Mental Health Symposium in Second Life
Some more great work from Virtual Ability, Inc, with this Saturday seeing a Mental Health Symposium. You can find out more on the Virtual Ability blog but here's the schedule: Will you Treat ME? Funding mental health care treatment - now and under the Affordable Health Care Act KEYNOTE PRESENTATION Presenter: Jayme Nelson, RN, MS (SL Avatar: Jayme Xaris) Saturday April 27, 2013 7-8 am PDT Sudden Violent Loss: Its Impact on Every Member of the Community Presenter: … Read More
Queensland Flood Relief in Second Life
Two years ago, a number of Second Life vendors got together to raise funds for the Victorian Bushfire victims. Thanks to another bunch of dedicated people, coordinated by Brisbane-based Kat Johnston, there are a range of things you can do to raise money for the Queensland Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal. It's all under the banner of Extend A Helping Hand (EAHH), and there's two large ways to make a difference: 1. Attend some of the great events planned, … Read More
Recent Stories
Virtual Ability Island: Big Week of Activities
Longstanding hub for health and community services information, Virtual Ability Island, has a big week of activities ahead that I wanted to give a plug to. First, the summary of the events: Virtual … [Read More...]
Bible-based Virtual World On The Way
Interesting little announcement / press release - mostly for some of the claims being made or assumptions on approaches of a range of other virtual worlds for children. I also find it fascinating that … [Read More...]
Linden Lab’s Amazon Bundling Bungling
Tateru Nino has a great piece on Linden Lab's announcement that they are selling Second Life bundled with packages of content. Read it for yourself - I don't think it's possible for me to agree more with … [Read More...]
Procrastination and Virtual Worlds as ‘Work’
I just wanted to briefly post a piece as I'm more than acutely aware that it's been well over a month since anything new has appeared here. It's definitely not due to a lack of interest in virtual worlds, … [Read More...]
Vale: ABC Island in Second Life
As I wrote a few weeks back, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's presence in Second Life is about to come to a close. The 22nd September sees the curtain fall, but not without some festivities prior. … [Read More...]
Mayo Clinic in Second Life
Looks like an interesting session of the non-profit commons in SL this Friday: This Friday, September 14th, Nonprofit Commons is happy to feature Brian Kaihoi (Svea Morane in SL), of the Mayo … [Read More...]
ReactionGrid retreats from OpenSim
Hypergrid Business has an interesting piece on the change in direction for ReactionGrid. We've followed them closely over the years (including our distinctly retro interview with CEO Kyle Gomboy back in … [Read More...]
The future of the Metaverse: If there has been a failure, it is ours
A great piece from www.botgirl.com on Linden Lab's recent moves: Fleep Tuque posted a fascinating essay yesterday with the provocative title, "Why Anyone Who Cares About the Metaverse Needs to Move … [Read More...]
Project to Improve Graphics Rendering in Second Life
Via Linden Lab One of the challenges that virtual world creators face is the trade-off between rich visual detail and geometric complexity. Ideally, by adding more and smaller faces to an object, … [Read More...]
ABC Island to Close in Second Life
It's not surprising but sad all the same: the wonderful community-driven project that is ABC Island in Second Life, is to close on the 22nd of September. The island has been a staple of the Australian … [Read More...]
The End of the Second Life Community Convention
A great piece from Fleep Tuque: You may have read the official announcement that AvaCon is not organizing a Second Life Community Convention this year. This post is not an official anything, it’s just … [Read More...]
Daden Unveil Oopal
Oopal (pronounced oo-pull) is Daden's latest offering: a web-based editor allowing you to place and edit objects in a 2D environment, which will then roll out to the 3D environment (currently OpenSim and … [Read More...]
![Linden Lab trademarks a new product or service … or something [updated]](http://www.metaversejournal.com/images/2012/06/Linden-Lab-trademarks-a-new-product-or-service-…-or-something-updated-150x150.jpg)
Linden Lab registers new trademark
The ever-vigilant Tateru Nino has a great piece on a new trademark registered by Linden Lab. Sounds like the casual gaming approach is about to come to the fore at Linden Lab. Whether this translates … [Read More...]
Euclideon pops its head above the parapet
In August last year I posted the last of a few articles on promising new graphics technology called Unlimited Detail. As I posted there, the team were going to ground to work on getting the technology … [Read More...]
From the wider metaverse
Machinima Expo 2012: submissions open
Pooky Amsterdam has tapped me about this, and I’m happy to slip-in this post for her. This year marks the 5th annual Machinima Expo, a three day virtual machinima festival which bridges … [Read More...]
iED Summit Europe 2011: Get Beyond Virtual Worlds | Rezzable
Via Scoop.it - Metaverse News Rezzable notes from immersive education summit in Madrid November 2011. Via rezzable.com … [Read More...]
LED mounted in a contact lens: virtual / AR displays
A fascinating video on mounting an LED in a contact lens. In the virtual worlds speher, the applications are obvious and appealing to say the least. Have a watch for yourself, but here's the video maker's … [Read More...]
Thoughts on the serious games scene in Singapore
The third annual Serious Games Conference was held last in week in Singapore and it was a real pleasure to speak at the event. The event was well attended by a variety of speakers and industry representatives … [Read More...]
CAT UDC Blog: Second Life to vAcamedia: The Future of Virtual Worlds for Distance Learning
Beginning around 2005 Colleges and Universities around the country became increasingly interested in the learning opportunities offered by the 3d Virtual World Second Life. Colleges and Universities around … [Read More...]
Podcast: “What Games Mean (And How They Mean It)”
Games are increasingly seen as a way to address human needs, from the intimate work of maintaining social relationships to the pragmatic benefits of games for learning, health, and social change. If we … [Read More...]
Eve Online FanFest panel accused of mocking suicidal player
CCP has launched an investigation after an Eve Online panel at its FanFest convention was accused of mocking a suicidal player. Eve Online player Kestrel wrote to CCP and Eurogamer today to complain … [Read More...]
Robots as simulation tools: great summary of progress
Today I stumbled across this great bunch of photos on the National Geographic site, showing a range of advanced robotics projects underway (some of which I’ve covered here before, including the one pictured). Have … [Read More...]
WonderSchool streams world to a tablet – Hypergrid Business
Open Wonderland — an open source, Java-based alternative to OpenSim — is now available on a tablet. According to WonderSchool, a subsidiary of Germany’s THINSIA, clients can now access the platform … [Read More...]
Game companies raise $1.54B in 2011
Game fundings destroyed the record book for fundings this year as 145 companies raised more than $1.540 billion in 2011, not counting initial public offerings.In 2011, games took center stage. Game investment … [Read More...]
EVE Online offers lessons for the financial crisis
Uh-oh! Another big bank is the subject of a depositor run amid charges its chairman has run off with customers' money. Thankfully, this scandal is only taking place in Eve Online, a space-age virtual reality … [Read More...]
A good year
I’ve been reflecting back on how 2011 has been for Second Life. I didn’t make any predictions for the year, but on reflection, I believe it was a good year for Second Life. Perhaps the best year for … [Read More...]
How Disney’s Club Penguin Became the Biggest Social Network for Kids
Via Scoop.it - Clinical Simulation With more than 150 million profiles, Club Penguin might be the biggest social network for kids ever.Via mashable.com … [Read More...]
The Secret World: A Review
FunCom's new MMORPG The Secret World is a universe full of magic, deception, and darkness. You play as a member of one of three secret societies - the Illuminati, the Templars, or the Dragon. Regardless … [Read More...]
Office Zombie Simulator in Flash via Unity | AlmostLogical.com
With the Unity 3.5 developer preview being made available to the public yesterday, I set out to try the new Unity to Flash exporter.Via blog.almostlogical.com … [Read More...]
Massively’s MMO predictions for 2012
2010 will be the year to change it all! No wait, I mean 2011 will be the year to change it all! Darnit. OK, 2012, help us! You're our only hope.While picking stocks or guessing baseball playoff scores … [Read More...]
The University of Western Australia in Second Life: Audience Participation Events: UWA Centenary 3D Art & MachinimUWA V
Running through the end of July are Audience Participation Events for the UWA Centenary 3D Art Challenge, with 90 artworks from around the globe and MachinimUWA V: Seek Wisdom, with a sublime collection … [Read More...]
Academic Research Paper on OpenSim Community
Robin Teigland, Paul Di Gangi, and Zeynep Yetis recently finished an academic paper based on their research of the OpenSim Community. Below is the abstract. If you have any questions about their research, … [Read More...]
This is how an augmented-reality Love Plus date feels like
One of the new functions in upcoming 3DS love-sim New Love Plus is something called Dokodemo Date, or Date Anywhere.This augmented-reality (AR) feature takes a photo of your physical surroundings with … [Read More...]
Yordie Sands: My Wonderful Fantasy – 2011
It's that time of year where a lot of people look back on the year that was. Over the coming week we'll be featuring retrospectives from other blogs, whether they are a broad look back at a virtual world … [Read More...]
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