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Atragon9

Trek in Second Life?

I see that a few people have touched on Second Life (SL) here in posts and I wanted to bring it up more formally. Second Life is a server-based virtual world where you control a full-body avatar and can do just about anything in the world. There is a presence of Starfleet (the Int'l ST Fan Club) there. It is is not officially sanctioned by the real life (RL) Starfleet group, but seems pretty robust with academy classes and RPG "ships." I am just now starting to poke around there myself and there seems to be a lot of Trek content (what a surprise, heh). It brings to mind the discussions some have had here about Star Trek Online, whcih sounds like taking SL and pre-fabricating ships and environments, but I have heard, from the STOL FAQ, that it is going to be mostly combat-based.

 

Anyway, back to SL. It doesn't seem to lend itself to our concept of simming since people in different rooms wouldn't be able to hear folks not next to them (i.e., it helps to pass the time, if you're not busy in a sim here, to "watch" what others are doing, for fun). Also, it will be pretty difficult to keep building new environments each week, if you have landing parties or new aliens, etc., etc. I think it could be fun for a shoreleave concept and have everyone together at once.

 

So, is anyone an active member of SL now? Do you want to start up a SL STSF Group, just so we can find each other when online?? I'll start it off by saying that I have created Atragon9 Oh as an SL avatar. Thanks.

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Ah, yeah. I was on Second Life for awhile, but in crowded areas, the game was very slow and laggy and often caused my computer to crash. Linden Labs, Second Life's creators aren't exactly known for their prompt technical support. (Usually they just tell you to wait until the server frees up, but with 30,000 people on line at the same time it doesn't happen). Even in my private land, it's slow as well. Paid alot of money for it, but also lagged on me as well. Linden Labs didn't bother to do a thing about it. That forced me to delete my account, and quit Second Life, even though I was pretty "well-off" there. I even had my own house and yacht and everything. :)

 

 

V That's me, lol.

 

Northern_Destiny1.jpg

 

closeup_runabout.jpg

 

Scion1.jpg

 

^ I just met her randomly. :)

 

But, you know what. Technical and support problems aside, Second Life is a pretty fun game. I met alot of very nice people there and made lots of friends. If enough of you guys are still playing, I'm willing to make a come back and at least meet with you guys there, if I can't go to Vegas. :) If STSF does start a SL group, please do let me know.

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Just to clarify, STSF is not looking to make a change, I was just curious if others had played around with SL (or other online avatar-based realities), especially with ST Online due to debut soon. It's always a good idea to keep our options open, but we don't want to do anything that could negatively impact the fun time and easy-going environment we have here. It's tough enough when Java forces an update, we aren't looking to make anyone load a lot of software (and possibly not have a computer able to handle it) just to play in our Forum. K-I-S-S and I'm the second "S"

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Just to clarify, STSF is not looking to make a change, I was just curious if others had played around with SL (or other online avatar-based realities), especially with ST Online due to debut soon. It's always a good idea to keep our options open, but we don't want to do anything that could negatively impact the fun time and easy-going environment we have here. It's tough enough when Java forces an update, we aren't looking to make anyone load a lot of software (and possibly not have a computer able to handle it) just to play in our Forum. K-I-S-S and I'm the second "S"

 

Just because you remember chiseling rocks for your instant messaging service, A9, doesn't mean you're schlemiel.

 

Anyway, I fooled around with SL for a few minutes, until I started getting nauseous for the same reason I can't play first person shooters. Kaneva, I couldn't even figure out the controls. IMVU was interesting for the few hours I banged around on it, but very limited as to what the avatars can do.

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A9 *is* a schlemiel. (And thanks - I would NEVer have known how to spell that! :)

 

I personally need to avoid SL... For these reasons: I have an extremely obsessive personality... For example, I started playing this dumb little game ten years ago, and here I am! Deeply embedded. Every other thing I do IRL is like this. Because of this... my plate is FULL. I have no more time, I have no more brain space. I have more interests already than Humans should be allowed, and one more little game, no matter how good, will be like that one last little wafur... my brain will explode. Kaboom.

 

I will not click it, Sam I Am.

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Just to clarify, STSF is not looking to make a change, I was just curious

 

Big sigh of relief! Wouldn't it be fun to start an STSF club on STOL? I wonder if they will allow clans?

 

But I don't think any virtual environment could possibly replace the text-based sim. I just don't think it would be possible to replicate.

Edited by Ens Dox Maturin

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Reading this thread, I gave SL a try and found, with my computer, the combination of slow performance and lag to be horrendous. Of course, I have quite a basic system, so that's not surprising; it can either handle the graphics or the information overload of the online community, but rarely both. A primary reason why the online gaming phenomenon is something that, barring a stroke of fortune in the form of a winning lotto ticket and a top of the line computer purchase, that will be beyond my reasonable reach.

 

As the concept of incorporating such as we do here with some virtual gaming world, it seems excessive, since you'd still be using chat as the primary basis of the game, and as A9 pointed out, creating the necessary "sets" would be time consuming (not to mention dollar consuming, if you have to actually lease land space, buy resources, etc.). Plus, without some sort of Administrator functionality, the game GMs would be without any ability to control the attendees or to create/modify the situation to a satisfactory level. I, for one, am glad that we're sticking with our format (though I sincerely wish that we could move to some different chat interface, JAVA is evil). Of course, if we have a programming prodigy in STSF with a lot of spare time, one could always create a usable interface for us to use. heh

 

As for Star Trek games being primarily combat based, that's also not surprising to me; if someone actually comes up with a quality Star Trek game that has more of the exploration/science/diplomacy than shooting (from ship or land), I'll probably faint upon hearing about it. Admittedly, it's a difficult thing to pull off, not to mention sell to a wider audience, but it can be done, I'm sure of it. STOL started out looking like it might finally cause me unconsciousness, but now, is turning into your standard kill things to level up MMOG, which to me, doesn't seem to fit in with the Trek universe. Ah well.

 

With all of that said, however, as an alternate meeting place, a virtual shoreleave like A9 stated or another way to get together and perhaps work on simming with some visual splash, such games could indeed be useful, and fun. Certainly it could be a good way to help STSFers bond away from plain chat in the rooms and IMs. That I could get behind... that is, if my computer cooperated.

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Big sigh of relief!

 

Hey there,

 

Well, that's what we're saying publicly anyway... :) Just kidding.

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I'm trying Second Life. Currently doing it from my laptop since I'm on vacation and while I don't lag at all...the graphics are well outta wack. My avatar is running around most of the time with wild bald spots and covered in random textures from *somewhere* else. So, apparently my avatar is on LSD.

 

SL has the ability to provide a simming enviroment. It may just take a leep of imagination. For a game currently played in a chat room and in your own head, it's sad to say that may be too hard for some.

 

I'm a little concurned at the seemingly myopic perspective on this though. Just cause maybe one sim might try this setting doesn't mean ALL the sims MUST change formats. For going boldly and exploring new worlds... some seem happy to sit in your well defined trenches. I think STSF is one of the few or only simming groups to sim in one and only one format. Even small groups usually have atleast one email sim.

 

Anyway, where I think SL could be great is in a promenade setting. Someone go in, build a starbase, and let people just relax, talk, sim, whatever is a virtual Trek setting. Throw up a few posters with links to STSF and see what happens.

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I have more interests already than Humans should be allowed, and one more little game, no matter how good, will be like that one last little wafur... my brain will explode. Kaboom.

 

I will not click it, Sam I Am.

 

LOL! Oh good, I'm not the only one. Just one more little game......:-P

 

Big sigh of relief! Wouldn't it be fun to start an STSF club on STOL? I wonder if they will allow clans?

 

That is a good question, and I would think that even if the answer is no, there will be some kind of clan presence in the MMO. However, I'm hoping that STOL does not cater primarily to the clans; these people do not rule the gaming world, and a game should not be corrupted due to one set of players as opposed to non clan gamers. (Yes, I have had a bad experience with clans - very opinionated as a result).

 

As for Star Trek games being primarily combat based, that's also not surprising to me; if someone actually comes up with a quality Star Trek game that has more of the exploration/science/diplomacy than shooting (from ship or land), I'll probably faint upon hearing about it. Admittedly, it's a difficult thing to pull off, not to mention sell to a wider audience, but it can be done, I'm sure of it. STOL started out looking like it might finally cause me unconsciousness, but now, is turning into your standard kill things to level up MMOG, which to me, doesn't seem to fit in with the Trek universe. Ah well.

 

With all of that said, however, as an alternate meeting place, a virtual shoreleave like A9 stated or another way to get together and perhaps work on simming with some visual splash, such games could indeed be useful, and fun. Certainly it could be a good way to help STSFers bond away from plain chat in the rooms and IMs. That I could get behind... that is, if my computer cooperated.

 

I don't mind combat based Trek games, but a combination of the two can be done - Elite Force 2 was/is a first person shooter and a prime example. There were combat missions. In between these missions, your avatar/character would research, explore the ship, and seek out specific people to speak, and a data padd was often employed to scan on missions and for the research missions.

 

I really enjoy interacting with others through the chat and IM's and don't mind that it isnt visual - my brain, imagination and reading skills all get a workout, and this is very important in today's "all visual" world.

 

I'm not slamming the idea: a visual/ virtual shoreleave or game would have advantages as well, and RPGers like us (specifically STSF) could/would adapt and make this work very well.

 

I'm a little concurned at the seemingly myopic perspective on this though. Just cause maybe one sim might try this setting doesn't mean ALL the sims MUST change formats. For going boldly and exploring new worlds... some seem happy to sit in your well defined trenches. I think STSF is one of the few or only simming groups to sim in one and only one format. Even small groups usually have atleast one email sim.

 

I enjoy the text based chat/sim - it is like reading a book, but you and others are part of the action. I do feel as if this is a great strength of STSF, very cool, and not to be "tossed out" (not saying this is the case, mind you - I did see the one "we are not making a change" post).

 

But, email based, or a virtual option such as Second Life - sure, why not? Virtually walking around in a RPG sim can be an option along with the text based, email, and what have you for future projects. Might not necessarily be for everyone though. However - I bet dollars to donuts that there are no virtual Cat options for Life, hmmph. :-D

 

Interesting topic this Second Life - I'll probably wander over there at some point.

Edited by Kansas_Jones

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However - I bet dollars to donuts that there are no virtual Cat options for Life, hmmph. :-D

 

 

Actually, it's one of the options for start up avatar, the "Furry". It looks maybe more like a fox but can be adjusted.

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Okay, been running around Second Life while on vacation and it's interesting. If you could find the right people with the skills and time you could build an interesting sim. Note, "sim" in SL jargon means an area of land or something. Found you need a good connection for it to run smoothly. My in-law's DSL was not quite up to a clean performance. Same laptop at home is working alot better on my DSL.

 

There is a Star Trek museum in SL with a TOS bridge replica. (There are also SG1 style stargates, which were pretty cool).

 

Like I mentioned before, it seems SL would be a good place for a promenade type setting and maybe to be used for recruiting simmers.

 

Oh, and it could also be used just to make character avatars.

 

SLKallah.jpg

Edited by Kallah Ramson

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Just to clarify, STSF is not looking to make a change, I was just curious if others had played around with SL (or other online avatar-based realities), especially with ST Online due to debut soon. It's always a good idea to keep our options open, but we don't want to do anything that could negatively impact the fun time and easy-going environment we have here. It's tough enough when Java forces an update, we aren't looking to make anyone load a lot of software (and possibly not have a computer able to handle it) just to play in our Forum. K-I-S-S and I'm the second "S"

 

Apologies for the necropost. Life gets in the way. I could get into the intricacies of all minutiae that pose problems as to whether or not it's feasible to sim in SL. Though I won't because there isn't enough alcohol in my house to make my head stop hurting for thinking that hard about it. So I'll just overview a few things that I'm aware of...

 

There are other 3D worlds out there. But when put into comparison with the flexibility to create content and actually do more than just text chat, SL seems to be the more comprehensive choice.

 

But if you're bored and want to check them out:

http://www.there.com

Http://www.activeworlds.com - http://www.outerworlds.com

http://www.worlds.com

http://www.multiverse.com (Personally speaking, I don't like this one at all.)

 

And a side note, if anyone needs help customizing an avie, or general SL questions just shoot me a PM here or an IM in SL. My SL name is the same here. Tyana Merosi. - Just don't ask me about scripting unless you want me to point you to the SL scripting forum or the LSL wiki. As for the Caitian/Cat, it's possible. Moving ears, tail, and all. :) I'm sure I could have gone into overkill and made it look better, but at 2 am when I did that I was just too damn lazy. Regardless, it's still possible without having to play a furry.

<-- See MB avatar. :)

 

Also you can have combat missions in SL using an RCS/Roleplay Combat Script. Some places sell them, there might still be one or two RPGs that give out free ones. Although I'm not aware of any currently. I know there used to be some. Maybe if someone has an older account they could look through if not for a/the script then maybe for a combat script that was free. - I'll take a look on my main avie and see what she has but no promises. Sadly there is a lot of crap in that inventory.

 

As for not meeting the requirements, SL will tell you when you try to install and/or run it. Always check the specs on all 3D worlds. The bottom 3/4 in that list don't carry as heavy requirements. Though the trade off is that they don't have as many advantages as SL. There.com isn't as bad with requirements when compared to SL. But it also has some steeper requirements for the system than those listed below it. (Although there is a way to bypass the hardware checker if you know that your system can run it, when it says it can't. - My old computer could run it and the hardware checker said it couldn't. I bypassed and things went fine.) But There is not as flexible nor as cheap when it comes to creating content.

 

The land issue still poses a problem in all those places. If I was even insane enough to attempt to try a sim in SL, I would check see what private sandboxes were around. Maybe see if some of the more social sandbox land owners would be willing to help. I wouldn't try it in a Linden run sandbox unless I was willing to put up with griefers, or willing to risk taking a ban for orbiting someone.

 

But whatever the decision might be; If I was faced with the decision then maybe I'd look into someone starting an STSF group in SL if not just for STSFers but maybe for recruiting. Cause once in a while... people do meander on the internets outside of SL. :lol: Worst case with an SL group is someone tries to sim in SL and uses a Sim named group IM as the chat room to 'hear through walls or over long distances' which seemed to be questionable at some point during this thread.

 

Okay, whatever your decisions are.. good luck.

Lurking is calling me back, gotta answer it. ^.^

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