Reborn Xperience Second Life in Style

Lo Lo Goes Fishing Loco...

2009-05-31T00:16:00.065+01:00

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It was a spur of the moment when Caroline and I thought of relaunching Lake Lo Lo as an ideal 7Seas fishing destination. Just the perfect time to officially release our LnN custom sets to the public, which were first given away during Alice Xue's rezday at Dragon Beach as a dry run.

It was a nervous start (as it always is for me anyways hahaha) having no idea how the public's reception would be like. So far, I thought they were quite pleased with the neko couple, which convinced me to make more of them bug-eyed cuties. But nothing beats Sindy Bracken's sexy nekos though!

Go Jump In The Lake!
Lo Lo Style...

Lo Lo had been absent in the fishing circuit for quite some time now, though fishing was pretty much available throughout the whole year. This weekend's tournament is the first for Lo Lo in 2009! Grey Nacht, iPala estate owner and manager, arrived to give us some support (many thanks chap!) with his super-large electro magnetic fishing gear in tow!

Grey's huge electro-magnet seems to attract more than just fishies. As the picture shows, he's surrounded by hot legs! Well apart from that long haired AVi in the background - that's Twisted Streeter hehehe. It seems Grey's sex-appeal hasn't totally greyed out on him yet winks!

At least 26 7Seas fishers came to Lo Lo's 2009 relaunch tourney. It was a quite a strong show of force from some of the community's die-hard fishing enthusiasts. The only fisher missing though is Lizzy who had been kidnapped by RL aliens in the past couple of days! o.O nanu nanu

We still have to convince Lisa and Drei to join us, and how can we forget Ellynore and Sammie? Dang! All of them have 7S fishing rods but are so lazy to fish hehehe. Maybe they are just too afraid to get sunburn, from all that summer weather we've been getting over the weekend? Use sunscreen gals, hotdammit! Besides getting a little tan shouldn't hurt! hahaha

Smooth Sailing and Fishing
No crashes... just sunburn!

Lag meter levels were stable, with no glitches and hitches recorded during the event. It was so unfortunate that Zolo Boyoma's rod was somehow acting up; her rod wouldn't autocast. Good thing that her knight-in-shining-armour, Sir Olive Pickles was there to save the day! Other than that, all went quite well.

Now where can my Princess Lizzy Mornington be on such a romantic moment like this? grumbles

7seas royal couple! Now if that doesn't make you feel in love, I don't know what else will! Aren't they lovely together? Hugz!

Adding a Lo Lo Golden Ticket was probably a good idea to keep those who aren't able to land their names on the score boards to fish. If you have not a clue on what I'm talking about here, think Willie Wonka (less the oompa-loompas of course hahaha). The prize for catching a coupon would be one Bulk Bait Bucket (redeemable upon surrendering the stub). Unfortunately, someone has yet to claim a single coupon. They are still out there, so just keep on trying!

Alright, I know! But having Ferrero Rocher is better than having some golden glow worms staring at you from the bucket, isn't it? hahahaha. mmmmm Ferrero.... yummy! Have you caught one today?

Glamour is Synonymous to Lo Lo

Indeed it must be summer as fishers donned their best outdoor outfits! Blyxa Darling, probably the best dressed fisher of the day catches the first custom: a Buttercup Nets A Fish. Call it a coincidence but I swear with all that black hair, green eyes and a net hanging around her waist; she is the human avi version of Buttercup!

SadieMae Jameson in an all A/X purple sexy outfit (try figuring that one out hahaha) catches fish with utmost finesse and poise. Somehow she reminds me of Alice Xue! Also check out her popular dragons at Dragon Beach, an innovator (and inventor) for multi-purpose customs.

People power! Lo Lo's 7Seas fishing relaunch was a success thanks to all who graced the event with their participation.

With the impressive attendance in this year's first tournament in Lo Lo, the probability of having impromptu contests (perhaps) on a bi-weekly basis is high.

The sun always shines for 7Seas Fishing, as the growing number of fishers is evident of its ever rising popularity among SL residents. With so many fisher folks to go around with, having conflicting schedules between two or three venues shouldn't pose a problem. Besides the sim has limits in handling multiple avis with various scripted attachments (including the rods) working all at the same time.

And the envelope goes to...
... drum roll please...

60 minute contests are usually quick, and to those who are on 7th-6th place it just isn't enough! hahaha With names going on and off the top 5 spots in an hour of endless casting and reeling, it will always be a battle between the lucky, the not so lucky and the very lucky peeps!

The top 5 players are:
1st: peppermintanne Diesel (and who said diesels never win over petrols?);
2nd: Blyxa Darling (must be her fancy rod or Buttercup netting extras);
3rd: ruzz3 Alcott (triplet fishing perhaps, or the phrase "all caught"?);
4th: NeoQueen Serenity (being a queen definitely has its perks!)
5th: Trixi Barbosa (being an early bird has its own tricks!)

Prizes were pegged at 600 (1st), 400 (2nd), 300 (3rd), 200 (4th) and 150 shiny lindens for 5th place... and in the spirit of Lo Lo tradition, random surprises to those who stayed after the contest. smiles

Oist! Caroline, wanna run away with the loot? hahaha. Many thanks to Ms. Apollo for her generous prizes!

What next for Lo Lo?

With Caroline Apollo releasing her own customs soon and LnN adding more to their sets, we may have just put Lo Lo back in the virtual fishing map. Lizzy is yet to surprise us with her own versions, and I am sure she has heaps hidden in her closet!

Hopefully this would be start of something more routine. In the mean time, this is where I go and say... let's keep fishing and building!

Tournament aftemath... stating the obvious on what's on these people's minds?

Okay! Okay before people get any crazy ideas what this picture is all about, Caroline has a new puppy! A cute and fluffy Great Dane! Congrats on your new and lovely Scooby Doo! hehehe

As for me? Well I'm just missing mah Lizzy-babes! sighs

Roll call, in order of arrival
Luckie Mendicant, Adena Benavente, Jefst Jolles, Trixi Barbosa, jodie0903 Palmer, Emo Biedermann, Davethenurse Petrovic, SadieMae Jameson, Twisted Streeter, Laura Polke, Zinbaco Kattun, billyjean Silvercloud, oopsie Oppewall, Jocelyn Finesmith, Davethenurse Petrovic, Grey Nacht, peppermintanne Diesel, pit Sharple, Caliba Sassower, Zolo Boyoma, Billybob Taggart, Fazed Lewinter, Georg Osterham, Sossa Heron, Georg Osterham, Dallas Russell, NeoQueen Serenity, Each Silversmith, Blyxa Darling, Aniri Tinkel, ruzz3 Alcott, Neon Jameson, MastersBabySlave Broome, Penni Praga

LnN's First EVER Customs Are Here!

2009-05-16T00:29:00.006+01:00

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Building our first ever fish-able customs took a long wait, and I am sure glad that I have breached the creative barrier. Deciding how to build our own versions turned out to be quite laborious. But with reference to some of the customs available to us in the fishing community, opting for the "cute and easy-to-build types" was the best choice to get us going.

The now classic Powerpuff Girls character inspired me to go anime-style. Builds from LnN are not for sale and will only be available to catch for FREE for a limited time only. (L-R) Bubbles Luvs Octi, Blossom Lures A Piranha, and Buttercup Nets A Clown make up the first batch.

A handful of creators behind some of the most popular customs have cemented their reputation as being one of the best custom builders around. It would indeed be quite a challenge to create something as interesting and innovative as the ones currently being offered to the community. Now that the level of expectations for custom building is high, bringing out variations at par with the accustomed standards would definitely have to be a work of art.

The gist so far: Vintage battleships and pirate ships are associated with Migizi North; Daemian Ember renowned for his preference for all-prim-customs, builds amazing modern battleships; Mialissa Masala for her limited edition fed jellies and crab cakes while fellow SugarRush entrepreneur Skinny Paine has popularised building block (aka lego) inspired-customs; Amara Twilight (with no relation to vampires whatsoever hehehe) is synonymous to exotic and sometimes erotic mermaids; Dragonfishes are Alice Xue's turf, Resisupo chipmunks are a mainstay in the Magic of Oz; and the list goes on with veteran builders like Rails Bailey (Van Deimen's Land-Shimano), Grey Nacht (iPala), Shelly Macci (The Pig and Whistle), Sindy Bracken (Original LOLRus and Neko Characters), Oasis, Aruba, Alien Isles, naniSL, katat0nik, Takeli-li among many others make up the ever growing roster of 7Seas celebrity builders.

The second batch of PPG customs: Buttercup Is A Tease, Bubbles Drops A Fishie, and Blossom's Bag of Fishies, adds a bit of emotion with poofer texture effects overhead.

Bug-eyed Cuties
Reviving the Powerpuff Girls (PPG) phenomena...

Going for anime-style made it easier for us to build customs and the PPGs were just the perfect models. The designs on our sets evolved to a more personalised/all-original version with Liz and I modeling our customs on ourselves.

Go bag yourself an SUR! LnN's Karaoke Queen and King and the Tulips For Two Lips customs will start a series of caricature versions featuring SL personalities.

Earlier versions were unorthodoxical by interpretation with customs depicting a bit of Britishness. The Good ole English Muffin (stylised in the form of a cupcake thanks to Alice Xue's craving for it) was the first to be crafted followed by the humble Fish n' Chips (with mayo). Variations of the two customs soon followed with the addition of the Scottish Haddock and Chips (with tartare sauce), the Naughty Fish n' Chips (Page3.com inspired - well it's a UK thing hahaha), the Blueberry Oz (Australian) Muffin; and of course a meal is never complete without something to help the food run down smoothly: NapsieCola (Coke inspired) with Lizzy-ade.

Nothing compares to traditional fish and chips freshly served at your local shop. Customs celebrating a bit of Britishness and the Commonwealth.

Let The Fishing Begin...
Exclusive to Lo Lo

You can catch these customs at the marvelous Lake Lo Lo, and many thanks to Caroline Apollo for giving these customs a home! Catch rates are currently 20-30% higher than the suggested percentage, which makes collecting a tad more pleasant. So enjoy the customs as much as we enjoyed crafting them for you!

Catnapped Neko shows the continuously evolving look of LnN customs.

The sets are also "housed" in an unannounced/undisclosed location, so don't be surprised if you do suddenly catch one out of the blue! I also carry a CPG with me whenever and wherever I fish, unless the area owners prohibits any form of squatting (hahaha).

We will try to bring out at least two sets (usually three customs in a set) each month, just keep an eye for any announcements. In the meantime, get those rods fully baited and let's all go fishing for more customs!

Daemian Ember: The King of Pure Prim Building

2009-04-24T09:14:00.062+01:00

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Fishing at Sugar Rush's Developers Dock with Grey Nacht led me to discover an extraordinary custom crafted by 7Seas veteran Daemian Ember; the SUR Aircraft Carrier. It was definitely an eye catcher as it was the biggest custom I have seen so far.

Formerly located at the WickedlySinful sim, DE originally offered his customs on global mode (caught at random regardless of rarity) making the whole set much easier to complete. But despite them being an easy catch, Daemian Ember did not fail to make them as popular as the other mainstream collectibles. The quality they posses will even pass the eye of the most fussiest of all 7S custom-collectors.

Perhaps a version 2 will see the aircraft carrier with miniature fighter jets; and the battleship with firing cannons. With Daemian's preference for detail and realism, who knows?

The SUR Aircraft Carrier (top) and the SUR Battleship (below) were part of Daemian's original set. Both customs average 1.5 metres (in the SL virtual metric system) making them the biggest and the longest customs ever built for the 7Seas Fishing Community as yet.

For those who are very particular with detail, one will know of the hard work that has been poured and spent into each of DE's customs - all of which are built with dimension, precision and proportion.

Battle of The Great Subs!
The cold war continues...

Recalling how I marveled at the sight of a non-7Seas swimming pet for the first time (during one of Jackpot Fall's fishing tournaments), DE gave us a glimpse to one of his upcoming submarines way before 7Seas opened the floodgates to custom building. I guess that says a lot on how passionate Daemian is about his custom builds; then again I'm sure all custom-builders are!

A sight which both the Whitehouse and the Kremlin would dread. Perhaps the first and only modern day submarine customs available to the 7Seas fishing community.

The American Ohio Class Submarine (above) seems to square it off underwater with the Soviet Red October Submarine (below) in this mock-up battle of DE's UltraRare custom collection. Still living up to the battleship and aircraft carrier's reputation for being all-prim-builds, the submarines give new meaning to the phrase "a deadly catch".

Adding More To The Man-O-War Portfolio
The US Navy's Landing Craft Air-Cushion (LCAC)

After having been in sabbatical for several months, Daemian Ember returns to us in true-form with the release of his long anticipated LCAC. Having seen how he built it from scratch (which was how I was inspired to do my customs mostly on prims rather than sculpties), it's amazing to see its final outcome - from just being a jumble of raw prims a couple of weeks back to something close to the real thing.

Daemian Ember does his finishing touches to the new LCAC custom in 1:5 scale. Top inset: A perspective of the LCAC; Lower inset: An actual photo of the military hovercraft.

The LCAC dons the spinning propeller trademark with a twist: water sprays from the amphibious craft's 4-bladed R345 propellers. The Rare U.S. Navy LCAC custom is indeed a perfect addition to Daemian Ember's amazing collection.

The Sloop-Of-War
DE goes vintage battleships!

Custom styles which were originally Migizi North's forté had caught up with Daemian Ember's creativity. The SuperUltraRare Sloop of War is the latest in DE's custom offering. With the ability to fire multiple cannons (thanks to a collaboration with Migizi North himself), you can't help but get reminded of those ghostly pirate ships that started people collecting these amazing wearable ship "pets".

Quels sont vos ordres mon capitaine? The Battle of the Atlantic can now be re-enacted with Migizi's own battleships. Let the fireworks begin!

With Daemian getting a hold of the "exploding cannon" script, perhaps a v2.0 of previous builds will see them upgraded with working cannons? The Sloop-of-War may be a glimpse on how future releases in the DE collection would be like. Even the shoulder cannon had been upgraded to a v2.0, replacing the older static version.

A New Custom In The Works?

Rumour of a fishing trawler is close to being released with just two "parts" needed for its completion. I guess the whole idea for this vessel is to "hoard" all the fishies we can get in the waters eh? (hehehe)

It never is hard to complete DE sets as catch rates are affixed to be higher than the standard percentage. The regulated number of customs would leave you enough time to try and complete other customs.

DE collaborations with RA Fishing are now available to catch at the Fairy Cove, along with Daemian's personal custom builds. Perhaps those who know him well would agree that he is more than just a builder... he's one heck of an innovator.

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7Seas 1st Fishiversary!

2009-03-16T16:42:00.156Z

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On March 15, 7Seas Fishing celebrated its First Year Anniversary! That's one whole year of fostering fishing addicts like me! hahaha 7Seas may still be seen as the new kid on the block in the virtual fishing biz, but the success it has enjoyed in the past 12 months is paramount! Going head to head with established virtual fishing games in Second Life was one brave move the Thorne and the Shikamis of 7Seas had demonstrated.

But what exactly had made 7Seas Fishing so popular compared to others? What made it such a big hit after its launching exactly a year ago? I guess the secret to its unparalleled success lies within the charm and appeal it holds towards the masses. That's people power at work for you!

I waaaaaant cake! Official party favours were freely being served throughout the event. In fact they still continue to flow at Flotsam Beach, the official 7Seas Fishing Head Quarters.

What probably makes it so appealing is the low cost sale of its gear and equipment. A 100 piece bait bucket would only cost you L$30, while the recently introduced 600 bait bulk bucket (the golden big boy!) costs L$150 BUT with 100 extra baits added as an incentive.

The constant reinvention of 7Seas Fishing may have been the key in rallying support from fellow patrons. With updates and upgrades released on a regular basis, and the evolution of the 7Seas official gear becoming more user-friendly than ever before; it's no surprise why virtual fishing has continuously been exciting for all of us.

The professional rod (currently on version 3.2 for L$350 a pop) having been made modifiable and available with an invisible option, encouraged builders to create an endless collection of various custom fishing rods exclusive only to 7Seas. No two people can be seen fishing with the same rod anymore... heck, you don't even have to fish holding one at all.

We can now go fishing without the rods, while enjoying a mug of virtual cuppa and even go dancing in 7Seas-enabled clubs. Lizzy and I having hot chocolate with the usual Risisupo chipmunks and otters for breakfast at the Magic of Oz sim.

Pimp My Fish!

It is no doubt that the popularity of today's Custom Builds added to the success of 7Seas Fishing. Offering the official Developer's Kit as open source was probably the best move Seven Shikami (the big man himself) had done for us in the fishing community; encouraging ordinary fishers aspire to become custom builders themselves. From just a handful of builders since the OpenSeas Developer's Kit was released to the public, we now have a huge roster of talented artists offering to us some of their brilliant and innovative creations.

"Not another custom fish?... Aaaaaaaaaaarrghhhhh! I can't help it! I want them aaaaaaaaaall!"

What a splendid idea to bring out that creative cloud in all of us... /me bows to the 7Seas honchos ... now the addiction will never end. I start to feel sorry for those fellow fishers who LIKE ME resembles that nutty squirrel from the CGI hit-movie: Ice Age, feeling the need to get all those acorns (though in our case it's the custom fish). hahaha

A sim-wide congregation of some of the best Custom builders in 7Seas. No need to teleport from one simulator to another just to catch your favourite custom fish. Staying stationary in one area can get you all of them.

Sugar Rush (left) and Amara Twilight~Dolma Dollinger's fishing spot (right) are just two of the many other fishing areas in Osmium.

It's Party Time! Get Those Rods Out!

Still broken-hearted for missing out on the only opportunity to win any of these sought after 7Seas Ducks...

Cyber Duck supposedly won at Twilight Fishing's Fishiversary contest;
School of Ducks from Aruba Beach Club;
Pirate Duck offered only at Sugar Rush;
and the the bounty prize Ninja Duck at Ruthenium (an island north of Osmium the official 7Seas Fishiversary venue)...

Anybody out there willing to let go of theirs? I'm going to be very generous! Promise! hahaha the sound of a very desperate man!

... I thought that being part of 7Seas last hurrah would help me forget "my loss"! hehehe have mercy people!

Many well-known custom builders were present with CPGs in tow, as Seven Shikami gave us a spin with some of his choice hits. I wasn't so sure if it was my internet connection that was messing up, but I really thought I heard Alvin the Chipmunk taking over the DJing from Seven. hahaha just kidding

It was very clear that everybody was having a super-great time as more fishers were joining us before the start of the main event. With those trademark puns from our dear friend Grey Nacht (the light of 7Seas Social chat... just mention the word.. COFFEE and he comes to life! hahaha), and those never ending gestures from our fellow fishers, how can the fun and the good times end?

With an album of Gorillaz in full view, Seven Shikami showed us his other talent as people endlessly wave their rods high in the air... in the hope to catch that elusive Ninja Duck.

Even with my rod targeting (yep told ya the new rods are high tech) the LOLCat for the bounty prize, I still wasn't able to get my pixelated hands on that duck! sighs... But nevertheless it was such a joy to see Jen Shikami and Meissa Thorne boogie-that-woogie. woot!

Somehow, I have noticed something different with Jen from the last time I saw her at Flotsam Beach. She seemed to have gained a bit in size, and only later did I found out that she is actually expecting a baby in real life! Congratulations Jen! No wonder she just sat down on that custom prize giver the whole time. Must have been leg cramps. /me winks

Well for a moment there, I thought she was just tasked by 7S to guard that box filled with Ninja Ducks, as Meissa showed us some of her groovy moves... /me whispers: and elf ears? gasp! /me sticks his tongue out

Oh by the way, where was 7Seas Sass the whole time?

Jen Shikami with her cute belly and Meissa with those pretty ears! Glad to see the 7Seas honchos join us in the celebration... and doh! that dude behind Meissa has a lot of ducks! No wonder I haven't been catching any... grrrrrr.

Arigato Gozaimasu, 7Seas-san.

... and now for our very special guest, Keiko Takamura (applause please)...

The first time I have heard her sing, I swear I thought it was Lisa Loeb! Though in fairness Keiko is a very good singer in her own right. I really enjoyed her songs, a few covers and a couple of her original compositions. It's amazing to listen and watch live performances in-world, though this was the only second time I had been to one in a year.

The 7Seas peeps know how to throw one heck of a fantastic party eh?

The very talented Keiko Takamura serenades and rocks us at the same time with her cool music. Now I think she had just made one more fan in me.

When The Dust Start To Settle...

With a lot (and I really mean a LOT!) of fishes to sort out after the Fishiversary, I'm most certain to find some new and interesting customs to add in my list of favourite creators. I was quite pleased that some customs were easy to collect: Dolma Dollinger's Fishiversary sea snakes in particular could be completed in half a day, as well as Amara Twilight's Mermaids and Sugar Rush's St. Patrick's Day LE (limited edition) customs.

Pirate Cove's relabeled customs would be a bit of a challenge to complete, since I would have to collect everything all over again hahaha. I wonder if the original ones I got from the Migizi North Treasure Hunt at PC would still be available to catch?

The customs from Alien Isles and RA Fishing had caught my attention, and both have already been added to my faves-list. I have tried to avoid Aruba and Celeste Cazenove's customs in the past, not because they aren't nice to collect (well in fact they are amazing) but because there would be a lot to catch before I could make a complete a set! hahaha With a habit of first completing 5 volumes before considering it to be a SET, it would take me ages! That's FIVE TIMES THE EFFORT compared to the average Joe out there!

But thanks to the Fishiversary, having a glimpse on how amazing Aruba and Celeste's creations are, I have got to get them all! You can say that I'm toast... waaaaaaaaaaahhhh /me cries

With the limited time I have in-world nowadays, it's a wonder how I would be able to catch up with my collection. Maybe trade-up via 7Seas SocialChat? I guess we would have to just wait and see to find that out.

The party may be over, but the sorting-out part has just begun. Sifting through the piles of catches won't be easy... but surely it will be interesting and fun.

In the mean time, I want my DUCKIES! /me cries!

Who Is Lizzy Mornington?

2009-03-09T08:57:00.167Z

They say that in every success of a man is a shadow of a woman...

... Lizzy Mornington an epitome of everything that is great and good in my life, is never a shadow. She is the lighthouse that helps guide me through all of life's stormy endeavours. A reliable beacon that constantly lights up a safe passage when darkness seem to cloud up logical reasoning and good judgment. She is a ton of morning stars that shines brightly in the horizon, as if Aphrodite herself had sprinkled the heavens with golden stardust.

... yes she is that beautiful... and yes she is absolutely awesome.

Hanging out at my condo in Hale Hakuna right after the wedding. We spent hours laughing and taking the mickey out of each other. Good times that still continues to this day, never a dull moment with Liz.

It's exactly a year today when I first met her at a common-friend's nuptial ceremony. An event which brought together some of the brightest and the most sophisticated people in Second Life. Who would have thought that on that very same day I would get acquainted with someone so amazing and true, that her simple "hello" had made my world stand still? (now I know what Renée Zellweger meant by that!)

Was it fate that brought us together, or serendipity perhaps? For whatever reason, I'm just grateful that I had crossed paths with such a remarkable person.

366 days in a roller coaster.
Yep 2008 was a leap year.

You are always unsure what awaits you on a roller coaster until you go through a lift hill. Despite all the anxiety and the uncertainty that comes along with the ride... with all the twists and the dizzy turns... those hair raising loop-the-loops... you end up realising that the journey ain't too bad at all. You would simply just want to go through the same experience all over again... and again... and again, reliving every single moment once more.

House warming at Royal Tropical with Liz and best mates Lisa and Drei, the special peeps who has been part of our roller coaster ride.

That's how Liz and I are the whole time we're together, a roller coaster ride. Not in the sense of having a lot of those ups and downs that couples usually have in a relationship, but more of the adventure and fun side of things. With her around, there is no way you would ever feel down and low...

There is no love where there is no trust.

I can't remember a time when we totally disagreed with each other. I believe that trust and respect always played a huge role in keeping things pleasant for the both of us. With so much pretensions going around in Second Life, not to mention how easy it is to create alternative avatars (alts); the absolute surrender of trust to your other half is the golden ticket to a long and lasting relationship... be it virtual, in real life or both.

By the power of Greyskull! Lizzy and I do a She-Ra and He-Man skit on our second day together in SL. We had ventured across the grid both enjoying the things we love doing most and everything just got exciting from there.

Yeah, it was a truly amazing year for us. Even if I had a chance to go back in time and switch everything back to default, I would go through the same experiences all over again, relive every single moment and not change a thing... BUT ONLY with the assurance that Liz would be there by my side. I would not want things to be in any other way, everything is awesome just the way it is.

For countless times, she has done great things aplenty to which I will surely remember for the rest of my life. How much she believes in me and the way she inspires me can move mountains, and trust me when I tell you this. If it does ever sound that she has done something so good that it goes well beyond Second Life, then... you are absolutely right!

Hanging out in Barcola at one of our Pay-It-Forward moments. The peak of our SL careers as self-proclaimed in-world NGO. The good times baby, yeah the great old times!

Some may think it sounds too ludicrous to say all these things for something you only get to experience in a virtual universe. Phantasmal as it may sound, but the impact of how much effort Liz has poured into every special occasion, on every given opportunity goes right through my heart. Uncanny yet unparalleled... Surreal, but fine.

Organising my first rezday which turned out to be even more grandeur than any of my past RL birthdays is just the tip of the iceberg. How she pulled that one off is what truly makes her an amazing woman.

The little surprises she leaves for me; the love notes which I get without fail when I log-in; messages she leaves on our Nokia answering machine; the personally crafted v-cards (which inspired me to create my own version of v-cards for her); the offline messages and e-mails which bridges SL over to our RL... and so much more!

I can go on and on counting all the lovely ways she can come up with just to nourish this special relationship we have for each other. The bottom line is, she has done more than enough to tell the whole world how important this is for her... for me... and for us.

She is very brilliant in transforming her feelings into action, while I am more expressive with words. I guess that's where we compliment each other, she is after all my superwoman... my better half!

Yes, she does complete me.
A day without her is definitely a day without sunshine!

On occasions when time difference and unholy working hours robs me of the only SL spare time I have got, being alone in-world feels like a lost cause. Utterly and bitterly lost I may say, it's simply just losing the whole plot. I guess everything is comparable to a daily dose of honey and lemon tea. Once you have tried them together, having one without the other is never the same.

They say that LDRs never work, but that was before the introduction of Second Life. The oceans between us did not seem to pose a problem at all. Thank heavens for modern technology and of course constant communication.

There is absolutely no one in the universe who can make me feel as special the way Lizzy does. In spite of having 10,496.09 miles and an incredible time difference between us (+9 hrs GMT), it always seems that she's just right there sitting in front of you as we talk the night away. It only is a shame though that both our RL work have taken some much needed attention, since both of our professions are directly (or indirectly) affected by the current financial turmoil.

Nevertheless, we always find a way to work around things, isn't that right babes?

She loves me... she loves me not... she loves me!
But of course she does!

With a very special occasion just looming in the horizon, you're just left amazed on how fast time really flies. Sometimes it does feel like we have spent a whole lifetime together. Getting ever more familiar with each other, and most of the time even words aren't needed to express how we feel.

Sitting in one corner sharing sweet nothings can be enough to uplift the spirits. Just mere presence alone can spark some magic. With the assurance that in spite of being clueless on what tomorrow may bring, everything is going to be alright.

Look into my eyes and tell me what you see? One of those special moments where music simply does all the talking.

... there is no substitute...
there can be only one Lizzy Mornington.

In the whole 12 months that had passed since, I carry with me memories that will always see me smiling. The whole Second Life experience has been a truly amazing journey, thanks to you. With everything in RL so chaotic at the moment (work and family related), it is comforting to know that you are still here with me.

Your patience... your thoughtfulness... your understanding is incomparable. With our 1st year anniversary just around the corner, the thought of going beyond what others deem to be improbable is good enough reason to celebrate 366 days of pure heavenly bliss.

Lizzy, you are such a keeper, and only a fool would want to let you go. Any man, be it in RL or SL would be very lucky to have you. As much as I tell myself that Lady Luck has eluded me for such a long time, you had finally broken that jinx.

I am both hopeful and optimistic the future would indeed be brighter for us both. It's a fact of life that everything surely gets tougher when you are about to cross that line: like in a marathon; deadlines at work; final exams at uni; roasting the perfect Christmas turkey; child labour; the last glass of Long Island iced tea; the final stage of your job interview; resignation letters; moving out of home on your own; mortgage payments; contest finals; engagement proposals; well just about almost everything. But with perseverance, confidence and the motivation to carry on; all that and a heaps of T.L.C. , nothing is be impossible.

A year down... and many more years to go.

Now tell me, how hard can it be if you have a good co-pilot for a companion in every journey? Better yet if your co-pilot is your bestest-best friend!

Thanks babes! It was the greatest adventure ever! Now the next question is, are you ready for the next one? Why not start another expedition by climbing that higher mountain over there. hahaha

Back to the question, Who is Lizzy Mornington? Well she's the love of my life... and I love her to bits!

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Change Is Sometimes Good...

2009-03-02T10:19:00.110Z

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... and it can save you some prims too! (laughter)

Revamping Unit 10 was not an easy task as the need to shed at least 300+ prims would mean a major change in the layout (yep, I went over... again, sighs hehehe). Something had to give way and sadly my Ferrari shrine would be the first to go! Liz knew how much that would break my heart, although trying to see things in a different perspective may have helped things go down smoothly.

The need for a conservatory was put into question...

Though letting go of the garden would seem like the recession had taken over our Second Life (hee hee hee). I for one (even in RL) refuse to buckle-down to the bloody crunch, so the conservatory definitely stays. I would just have to find a way on how to trim down on prim-consumption without having to compromise style and design. Though I must admit, looking for that silver lining in the horizon was not as easy as it was before.

Moving the pond to the east wing (in place of the Ferrari shrine) may have done the trick, as things started to look good from there. In fact it even made me wonder why I have not thought about doing this in the first place. The indoor fish pond looks absolutely fantastic the second time around!

The pond expanded to about 60% more to which if ever it were in real life, would be good for the fish /me smirks. It's a rule of thumb to give a gallon of water (3.8 litres) as allowance for every inch of fish, now that's a bit of fish trivia for you (hahaha, is it obvious that I am trying so hard just to convince myself here?). But yeah the new pond does look good, doesn't it?

Caroline Apollo did tell me once that the Ferrari shrine looked somewhat "odd" being situated next to a garden 30 metres above ground level (chuckles). My argument then was that it's a Ferrari, and that alone overrules logical reasoning and even religion (hahaha)! Besides, Liz loved the shrine! /me hears Caroline say "yeah right turkey butt"... hahaha

The "re-org" left us with more breathing space with the mobility to move around freely. I am claustrophobic IRL, so having done the first layout in such a crampy and small space was indeed very ironic. Defense mechanism perhaps?

Now Liz and I know how God may have felt on a Friday, for we too were both pleased by the new look.

Trimming the flowering plants and giving them some room to breathe (in other words removing redundant or similar plants hehehe) had helped in taking back the much needed prims.

Less is sometimes the best.

Gladly things didn't turn out to be as stressful as I thought it would. Stress from RL work was just too much for me already, and why the heck would I want to take that with me to Second Life? /me screams "aaaarrrghh!"

Even the bedroom was given a little make-over. Adding two 1-prim corner posts in exchange for the old photo album, throw-pillows, fur rugs and two potted plants may have given back at least 19-prims. A good move I may say, considering the textured-columns looks a lot better in taking over those bare bedroom corners (see above and the old layout here).

The dining area, which is the most restless part of the property was also not spared. But just like many re-organisations before, changing the layout always proved to make things look better. I am sure with the shower cubicle now out of the kitchen (yeah don't tell me I know, so please no laughing!) and the breakfast nook looking good in its place, everything seems to be a bit more settled down.

Hrrmmmm? Now that I think about it, maybe Liz actually meant "I told you so" when she said "I really love what you've done with the condo babes?" o.O eeeeeep!

So there you have it folks, sometimes it really is good to move away from our comfort zones. Though one thing that surely wouldn't change is Liz and I. But for everything else (no I wasn't going to say "there's Mastercard" silly!) change is sometimes good.

After all, wasn't it Sheryl Crow who sang "A change would do you good..."?

Which now reminds me, putting on a fresh new pair of Spiderman underpants would perhaps do me some good? One week straight of doing "side A" and "side B" seems to be taking its toll on the wedgie, whaddayatink? hahahaha

Yeah I know how much you love that song too, so go on... and sing with me... hahaha
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The Twilight Zone: Mermaid Salvages

2009-03-01T21:48:00.102Z

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Nope, I'm not going to talk about those classic horror flicks from the 60s (the unforgettable Nightmare at 20,000 Feet is the reason why traveling by plane freaks me out hahaha), that's a different "twilight". I am actually referring to Amara Twilight, the creator behind 7Seas community's famous mermaids. Like Migizi North, her custom catches are as popular as the official 7Seas fishes. The mermaids are fantastically textured with most variants having their own specially-scripted effects. Obviously crafted with passion and a lot of hard work, she made sure her mermaids are easy to collect.

Amara's Salvage-craftable sets: the high-tech (TC) MerMech Cybermaid and the ghoulish (TC) MerGhost DeceasedMaid. Oh did I mention that these beauties also "talk".. yep folks, non-stop wit!

Amara is a strong advocate for building customs with a (reasonably) high percentage catch rate. Which means completing the whole TC set would not be as hard unlike other builds. But mind you most of her mermaids are Rated-R, something most of us should be excited about! wooot!

(TC) MerMech CyberMaid
Who ever said water and electronics don't mix?

It is Amara's attempt to produce her first ever "assemblable" salvages, but with a touch of her trademark textures and effects. The MerMech is a mechanical/cyborg mermaid that records your casts, catches and misses.

The % catch-rate for each salvage varies depending on which area you are fishing. Just like some of the mainstream custom builders in the community, Amara's CPGs are found in various popular fishing venues.

Each salvage, as seen in the pictures below are so carefully crafted that the details and rendering of each part reflects the the creator's desire for perfection. The salvages themselves are considered works of art, surely your whole Twilight Creation collection would not be complete without them.

Creations speaking for themselves: the very presentable Blueprint, Salvage: Android Spare Parts, Salvage: Hydro-Electric Tail Segment, Salvage: Central Mercore, Salvage: Silicon Jellyfish Implants (my favourite hahaha)

The MerMech's blueprint alone goes way beyond traditional methods: a pageantry of lines and dimensions that shows how talented the very meek (but sometimes fiery) Amara Twilight is. It is something done with vector-layouted precision, the stuff you normally would see in actual architectural and engineering blueprints (ahem... something in which I am actually very good at hehehe). And that's just the blueprints we're talking about; think of what the other salvage parts would be like?

(TC) MerGhost DeceasedMaid
Just pushing the envelope further...

The latest salvage-based production of Twilight Creations pushed the boundaries of custom-salvage building even further. Having been given the opportunity for a first look prior to its release, I was struck in awe. Amara described her next creation like it was something that came out of a fantasy book. It would require a lot of super-hard work just to bring that one out.

Admittedly I thought it could never be done, well at least for the meantime... until she rezzed all the items in front of me making my jaw drop... literally!

Not that I would ever doubt her ability to produce amazing creations, no... it's not like that at all. It simply just sounded so incredible at first, as no one has ever attempted to produce anything in that caliber ever before... until now!

Taking us to the mystical world of Arcanum, Amara Twilight's amazing set of salvages; the Blueprint: Magical Scroll of Binding, UltraRare Salvage: Magical Brew, Uncommon Salvage: Arcane Ritual Altar, Rare Salvage: Enchanted Chains, Uncommon Salvage: Mermaid Tombstone... simply marvelous!

True to what was discussed during our first-look preview, the blueprint has special effects not featured on previous releases (both 7Seas and other customs). The Magical Scroll of Binding is truly an amazing piece: the mystical arcane symbols would go brighter and more prominent as salvages are infused into the scroll (blueprint). Blueprints have never been this complex and innovative since Migizi North's Haunted Galleon AVi.

Interactive Menus and HUDs
Customising things to the dot!

Thanks to the 7Seas bigwigs for offering us with their open-sourced paraphernalia, customs are now created with so much added features. Gone are the days of having to just stop your fish from swimming, or turning off its bubbles. We now have full control of our pets with cool commands that goes well beyond the sterotypical "sit, roll and play dead".

A picture of things to come as menus evolved further since Migizi North first introduced to us a "fire cannon" feature with his customs. Most prize catches are now menu-driven: some infused with music, while others give out the occasional banter. That makes you wonder what other cool tricks our dear beloved builders have under their sleeves, eh?

Amara Twilight's famous mermaids can be caught at SkyBeam Tradewaters, 7Seas fishing area is courtesy of Tamsin Ireton.

... stay tuned for more!

My SL Foundations... My Rock...

2009-02-28T11:20:00.008Z

It's been over a year now since being reborn in Second Life (SL), yesterday just seemed like a breeze. Although my addiction to Second Life has somehow stabilised to fascination (hee hee hee), I still can't help but log-in on every available occasion. Maybe not as often as I have been in the past year (thanks to intervening RL matters) but nevertheless still as thrilled as the time I first discovered SL.

Circumstantial factors have yanked me back into the chaotic world we all call "real life" (some actually call it reak life hahaha), like a wormhole spawned from an imploding supernova. It was never easy at first as I turn cold-turkey from the relapses of having to miss out on something (and someone) I really love sighs... Like an addict needing an immediate fix.

Those who may not understand SL would ask:
Why all the fuss?

Nothing to it really... you can say it is similar to other web-based social-networking websites that a lot of people also get hooked into: We have Facebook, Multiply, Friendster, Bebo, Yahoo Social (e-Groups, Answers, Messenger), MSN, Twitter as well as various on-line gaming sites that attract a lot of hard-core gamers who are into role-play. The list can go on, with new ones coming out every now and then.

Does that mean SL is a Doppelgänger of sorts? Well not quite if you ask me, but in fact a combination of them all. Second Life is an all-in-one: social networking, role play gaming, shopping, building/crafting/designing, clubbing, fund-raising, exhibits etc. It simply mirrors the activities people actually do in real life.

A New Generation in Online Interaction

We have come a long way since Yahoo popularised the notorious chat rooms. I'm sure every one of us had fallen victim to the Yahoo chat addiction, one way or the other. Now here comes the new kid on the block, Second Life. It goes beyond the norm, as one can see an actual virtual representation of the person they are talking to on-line. Emoticons and smileys are now things left to the web's Jurrasic era.

Interaction is now expressed in movements and gestures leaving little to imagination, rather than the old and traditional static text. Finally, individuals can now mimic real-life activities on-line... the stuff that would have been considered as science fiction a few years back.

Celebrating The Friendship

What probably keeps residents to religiously "bundy-in" to their virtual lives are the people behind the AVs (avatars), as one surely would never have survived in SL without them... a well known fact for I would have been one of them.

Looking back evokes a wonderful feel-good sensation in my chest. I would never have lasted this long without these wonderful folks. It may just seem like a virtual game to some, but the thought of acceptance and the trust developing between two people is as important as how things would actually be in real life. The driving force that binds individuals together as the "you and me" evolves into a "we".

My Foundations...
A Tribute To Friendship Through The Wires.

Recalling the very first people I have met takes me back to the days of yore. Being naive and utterly lost at the start of my virtual journey had left me as a drifter. That may be quite embarrassing for someone my age hahaha. But thanks to these people who had helped me put all the pieces together, a "no-one for a nobody" has become a "somebody for someone" in Second Life.

So here I raise a flute of my virtual champas as I give tribute to the foundations that have helped mould N71 Aeon to the avatar he is today. Helping me stand strong on my pixel toes, as I reach for the stars. They are truly Corinthian Doric columns that hold together the Parthenon! /me smiles

Now meet the people behind the Aeon!

Keeley Huet
(February 10, 2008)

Virtually lost and without a clue on what to do next, my noobish behaviour of yelling out for help had me cross paths with Keely Huet. Being obviously desperate to erase that Haraguy image in me (hahaha), Keely kindly responded when others have blatantly ignored me (probably for being a rude shouting noob? lol). I have gone a long way as a noob since she showed me the importance of the "search button", giving truth to her words that "Search is your friend." She recommended The Block and that was where I took off in my relentless quest to redo N71 completely.

Apart from being the first virtual mate I have in Second Life, she's also a very artistic, nature-loving Brit and I'm very honoured to have her as a friend. The occasional IM and "howareyous" are always a joy. Even to this day, recalling to having met her for the first time at Bonifacio is as vivid as the event just happening a day before.

Obviously a fashionista and one that would heavily invest in an exquisite wardrobe collection, she's the right person to ask advice for that perfect makeover.

Coleen Cuttita
(February 10, 2008)

Another Brit I've met on my second day in SL, she's one I would consider to be adventurous. How often would you be given a flying carpet tour around a whole sim. Rarely do I allow a woman to take over the wheel in RL (hahahaha just kidding), but it's wonderful to be driven around for a change. First meeting her in Abranimations main shop in search of my first groovy (and daft) dance animations, we immediately cliqued.

The adventure didn't stop there though as she brought me into the world of Pirates, as well as awakening that dormant James Dean persona hiding inside me (okay, okay! Too deep for you? I meant rebel)! Just remembering how we used to argue a lot about colour preference is hilarious, and I am sure she too would laugh at the thought of it as well. People who really know me would say I am more into dark earthly colours, while she prefers things to be lighter and brighter; a stark contrast obviously. hahaha But those little spats don't usually last long as real friends won't have misunderstandings carrying over to the next day.

Also very artistic and has an exceptional business sense, she's one friend that you wouldn't dare forget! I call her the Dame of Bare Rose as she had introduced me to one of the most interesting and practical shopping places in Second Life. Japanese Anime and Manga anyone? woot!

Laci Snowdrop
(February 18, 2008)

The one responsible for giving me such a fabulous home. For some strange reason, she actually had doubted my gender thinking I was a woman in real life! hahahaha! Letting her hear my voice was the only way I could convince her I was 100% alpha Cro-Magnon (or could it ever be just a clever ploy? hehehe) She's very lovely even in real life, and is trustworthy as a friend!

When this lady falls in love with someone, it's something that goes well beyond reason. She strongly believes that true love does exists in SL, and nothing can be more truer than that (smiles). Aside from being a property manager for Royal Tropical, she's also a model who's face has graced some of Second Life's popular fashion magazines.

I have been great friends with her eversince. She's someone who surely wont mind me crashing into her house, raid the fridge and help myself for last night's leftover meals hahaha! She's such a darling, and she knows that I would be there for her if ever she does need a shoulder to cry on. But please Laci, bring your own tissues okay! Just kidding hun!

Caroline Apollo

(February 27, 2008)

Finally meeting the woman behind the creation of Caroline's Jewelry was a very exciting moment. Getting to see her for the first time was also inspiring as I have nothing but praise and admiration for all builders in SL. The brainstorming sessions for some of her upcoming projects is something I always look forward to. She has this knack on getting to stimulate a creative cloud when she is at work, and somehow the spillover influences the people around her.

Her creations are unique as a fingerprint, with a signature design that makes her collection stand out! Innovation and constant reinvention may be the key to her success, being a perfectionist is also another. Her love for experimentation demonstrates her brilliance in the art of building and crafting.

Her taste in virtual photography is outstanding as you will see in her photoblog. She is a great fan of contemporary virtual art as she has introduced me to quite a few galleries and sims host to such events.

But not all is serious for Caroline all the time. Like most of us, she has got some crazy moments! hahaha No one has ever wrestled me down to the ground after a rib crunching suplex followed up by a pile drive!

Wholly responsible for our 7Seas Fishing addiction, she never fails to share to her friends the joys of having a Second Life. As being one of the original and pioneering residents, it is no doubt that she knows how to constantly keep things exciting. Being host to various parties, gatherings and the swankiest of all events at her sim is just but icing on the cake, as Lo Lo has always been a favourite venue for events.

A very thoughtful friend as she is always there to assist us without fail. With some common friends in tow, I am certain that the fun and excitement in all our SL adventures will continue for as long as Second Life will have her around.

Sammie Benoir
(February 28, 2008)

Yeah I know, the hair so quit staring! hahaha Actually Sammie won't be seen with the same hair and outfit the following day, and at times with no outfit at all (hahaha, she blames it to an SL glitch, woot!) The ultimate dressing up doll with 1001 gimicks tucked under her sleeve, but if she is wearing something sleeveless then they must be hidden somewhere else. hahaha If not for floating name tags, I can guarantee you will never know it is her!

I first met Sam on her RL birthday in Miramare hanging out with the brickies. She loves to listen to voice chat and could actually replace Oprah Winfrey or Ellen DeGeneres as talkshow host for being abreast with all the latest SL gossip hahahaha. Getting her bored would mean big trouble... and I mean B-I-G! hehehe, so be kind and do keep her entertained at all times!

You can say she is Lizzy's little sister and having them together is like mixing amonium nitate and water: they explode and can create irreversible damage in Second Life! hoooots! Loved by many and very fun to be with, real life had suddenly taken her away from us. sighs Sammie-baby you are sorely missed!

LisaHot Juran
(February 29, 2008)

A ghosting LHJ: when someone logs off but leave their avatars visible even when offline; Lisa left her AV ghosting in-world in Miramare, a spectacular and rare occurance.

I knew Lisa would have a great influence in me the moment I first saw her in Miramare. Rezzed with a golden heart, she has helped countless of new residents (and that includes me) to settle down quickly in Second Life. She is one true believer of Pay-It-Forward, having been a recipient of a good deed when she too was a noob. One of the founding members of the SexyHot Bitches (SHB), she has helped establish one of SL's most popular groups.

Giving me my first ever HUD tool, the Mysti Tool for protection only shows how much she cares for her friends. Her mentorship goes beyond prim building, as I have learned a lot of other skills from her.

She is a strong advocate in bringing back the glory days of the old Nova Albion, one of the first virtual continents in Second Life. One who believes in order and a woman who is always on the go, you will never have idle moments around this lass from the U.S. northwest!

She helped relaunch hydrofoil racing in SL and was able to form an impressive roster of pilots. Winning Oceanica's 2008 season, as well as being a major player to a host of other crossover tournaments clearly shows how this woman is synomymous to the catchphrase: The need for speed!

Dreiheit Dragonash

(March 6 , 2008)

Her name which means trinity in German (though very American IRL), may see her as cool and as elusive as the character of the same name in the movie The Matrix! hehehe Obviously a well traveled individual with the capability to mesmerizing everyone with her intellect, conversations with her may take you to the farthest corners of the globe. Her stories of global escapades reminds you that there is more to life than just work.

We talk of the same lingo when it comes to deadlines, and the problems we both have for over-expectations at work is simply uncanny. Seemingly full of zest for life, her bubbliness is so contagious that she makes you forget all your worries - well until the time she logs off and you start having them all over again hahahaha

She is the super-quick-drying-glue that binds the friendship together, and carries with her a breeze of fresh air wherever she goes. Though not in-world as often as she wants to (or as we want her to be), every opportunity we have with her is a moment worth remembering. Meeting her for the first time was a "sure-eye-opener" /me chuckles and is something I can never ever forget hahaha She and a "friend" (look above /me winks) had given this noob (meaning me hehehe) a taste of what Second Life can really be like, a mastercard moment... priceless! but it's not what you think you perves! hahaha

Just The Start of Something Big(ger)...

The list can go on forever though I would have to cut it short to a time when the noobish N71 was christened to finally be a bona fide resident in Second Life. I have met a lot of fantastic people along the way and some have still remained great friends with me.

I may have reached a milestone upon getting acquainted with one of the most amazing and inspiring people to meet in SL. On March 9, Lizzy Mornington also one of the founding members of the SHB came to be a big part of my life. It would be safe to say that in both SL and RL, she served as my anchor, my beacon and my companion in all my journeys across the Second Life grid. For once I no longer have to be "emotionally" alone anymore. She is an el capitana who constantly steers the ship to dirección correcta when things would seem to go astray.

Who would have thought that a quiet Aussie lass seated next to me during a common-friend's wedding would actually be the start of something big? Left to right: Lizzy Mornington, N71 Aeon, Sammie Benoir and Karmmann Ghia endured a lagfest as nuptial back-benchers.

Of course the rest goes down in history as most of us know by now. Someone in this group photo may have caught the bride's bouquet and got hitched herself... Vegas style baby! (laughter) Being naive made me miss obvious signs that those simple glances meant something after all! /me winks

But for whatever reason, I know all would be revealed on a special feature blog. Shouldn't spill everything in here, should I? hehehe Just saving the best for last, I guess?

The Show Must Go On...

Perhaps 2009 is the beginning of Book Two in our SL adventures. The start of the new year may not quite have been what most of us had in mind. But hey, whoever said that with all the bleakness and gloom surrounding the economic-world nowadays, the fun and the partying should end? As far as I am concerned, we only have just begun. With such great and wonderful mates with us in all our virtual journeys, how can we go wrong?

Looking back again a year before, with the thought of not having to meet any of the friends I have today is unsettling. I think I would not have stayed this long if not for all the fantastic moments I have spent with them. There are times when silence does set in between two friends, which should not be the cause for any wrinkles. As I believe (and surely a lot of us here too as well) that the best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch swing with, never say a word, then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation that you ever had.

Conquering Migizi's Salvage Customs

2009-02-28T11:16:00.200Z

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My long wait is over! I finally caught up with the "not-fer-yer-average-mama's-boy" salvage set from Migizi's Custom Catch collection. Probably one of the few who first came out with alternate salvage catches outside the official (7S) label, Migizi North gave us one of the most sought after custom fishing rods:

The Nautilus and Squid Rod.

Despite of having to catch only three salvages, the blue print being designated as an SUR was as elusive as trying to catch a glimpse of a Coelacanth in the open seas. The fishing rod variant is a spin-off combining Migizi's separate Nautilus and Squid customs, both available to catch from any of his popular CPGs (Custom Prize Givers) around the 7S fishing community. Similar variants of the Nautilus and Squid from other builders and creators have soon followed.

The completion of my salvage set took me quite a long and patient wait, before I finally got the chance to claim the much coveted fishing rod. Having to complete 5 sets before redeeming any bounty is never an easy task.

On why I have to complete 5 (five) sets of the same fishes, customs and salvages would be discussed at another time (winks).

Migizi North has added two more unique fishing rods to his collection: the Ice Fishing Bone Jig Rod and the Migizi's Skull & Bones 5 Rod Holder, both of which can be freely caught on MN/CPG (Migizi North-Custom Prize Giver) enabled waters. If you're not the patient type, you can purchase them directly from any of his on-site vendors. For those who are interested in hosting an MN/CPG, just contact Migizi for more details.

Inset photo: the assembled Nautilus and Squid fishing rod. Clockwise from left to right: SuperUltraRare Blueprint: Nautilus Fishing Rod, UltraRare Salvage: Squid, UltraRare Salvage: Spool of Ectoplasmic String, UltraRare Salvage: Nautilus.

Migizi's Haunted Galleon Avatar

The first non-human avatar shape offered as a fishable prize. It would also be known as the benchmark that started the AVi-giveaway trend. With 6 (six) salvages required to catch and complete, this quest would be more of a "jump in the lake" than a "walk in the park" (laughs out loud).

Most salvage parts are not that hard to come by particularly the Red Medallion which is the easiest to catch, while the Blueprint (the first animated BP ever to be crafted) and the Captured Male Spirit both being SuperUltraRare (SUR) are the very hardest! Did I already mentioned "very"? hehehehe

Unlike the Nautilus and Squid fishing rod, the avatar is no transfer making trading for the assembled custom impossible. The unused or unactivated salvages however can still be given away freely. As an added feature, the Haunted Galleon avatar is combat ready and can fire its cannons on active role play.

Inset: Spanish Galleon aka Haunted Galleon AVi Clockwise from left to right: Salvage: Red Medallion, Salvage: Blue Medallion, Blueprint: Haunted Galleon AVi, Salvage: Captain Ahab Fish 2, Salvage: Captured Female Spirit, Salvage: Captured Male Spirit.

Want a piece of the action? Then come visit Migizi North's Haunted Pirate Island at Beek Zuiden Zee. A friendly word of advice as the fishing area is located in a role-play pirate battle sim, pirate gear or mermaid/mermen outfits are a must. There are free garments available at the vendor area BUT please do mind yourself for any "surprises". hahaha pirates you're dealing with, don't forget that!

Combine and Activate

Putting together salvage catches for an assembled custom is not complicated at all. On a free-rezz area, just drag the salvages to the ground... click the items one at a time... and wait for the blueprint to respond and deliver your assembled item.

Waiting for a "confirmation" from the blueprint "whispering" that the item was loaded successfully is important, so do take your time.

On a rez-restricted area, you can hold the salvages on your hand or attach them to any available part of your body (meaning parts not having any attachments) and click them one at a time for the blueprint to load them up.

Take note that there are a lot of other salvage sets out there just waiting to get discovered. It's just a matter of who's builds or what custom set to catch first.

Apart from these Migizi variants, creations from Amara Twilight, Sugar Rush and Pala are quite interesting to catch and fun to collect as well.

More talk about that very soon... keep looking up for this blog.
Adios mi amigo!

Understanding 7Seas Custom Catches

2009-02-28T11:15:00.145Z

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The "unauthorised" sale of Custom Catches (CCs) has been the source of so much controversy within the 7Seas Community. For the benefit of the doubt, others (especially the new fishers) may have been clueless about courtesy/protocol on how virtual novelties are to be distributed and circulated in Second Life. There were some instances where Custom Catches were deliberately being sold without prior consent from its creators, upsetting the latter. To make matters worse, others have even listed them up for sale in trading sites such as XStreetSL.com and even in popular auction sites like eBay.

Guard It As If Your Life Depended On It

Creators would spend a lot of man-hours in the conceptualisation and "building" of Custom Catches. Just trying to come up with a brilliant idea can be brain draining, especially if the inspiration and the motivation isn't there. We must try to understand how the creative-process behind a Custom Catch works. I'm definitely sure they don't appear with just a click of the mouse, albeit not even overnight. A lot of hard work, tired-sleepy eyes and headaches would be part of an investment that builders would have to focus onto a single custom.

The Pirate who started it all. Migizi North was perhaps the first builder to create custom catches outside the 7S label. His "exploding" ships pushed the boundaries on how custom variants are to be made. Migizi's Haunted Pirate Island can be found in Beek Zuiden Zee. Inset photo is one of his sought after SURs, the Flying Dutchman.

What Do CC Builders Get Out Of It?
... they must be getting a lot?!...

You would be surprised... (if I am not mistaken) about 4L$ for every standard bait bucket. That is IF you do ever purchase your bait or gear at their vendors. So basically, they do get a small commission not for being Custom Catch builders but for simply having a 7Seas gear-vendor set-up at their fishing spot.

Why do they build customs then?
It's probably just being creative as an artists, not to mention the joy of creating stuff (... and I'm not only talking about Jen Shikami or Meissa Thorn here /me winks) . Perhaps seeing fishers and collectors very pleased with their work is what drives them to carry-on building for more. For whatever reason, there is surely an act of selflessness and thoughtfulness in every creation they make in their CPGS (Custom Prize Giver Servers).

The only way for a return of investment.
Some creators have put up their own personal vendors for those who wish to purchase their creations without having to fish customs out of a server (those that are not patient enough to wait for a specific CC catch). It's probably one of the few ways they can generate some income (about 75-300L$ per item) for their hard work to which, in my opinion isn't that much: About a fraction of what we actually spend on virtual clothes and accessories or the equivalent of a bulk-bait in some cases.

Builders don't earn that much for offering collectors and enthusiast FREE customs, but we can support them by purchasing bait from their 7S vendors and by showing a little bit of "linden love" in their tip jars. Every little helps and goes a long way!

Custom Builders may get a big break through special requests for a unique customised item. Creators would be glad to offer their services for a minimal fee, and mostly are guaranteed to be a one-of-a-kind item. They are really amazing as Lizzy-babes got me a few for my rezday as a present. Sweeeeeeet!

Why Am I Not Allowed To Re-Sell...
... paid for the bait and fished it myself, isn't the catch considered mine?...

While it is true that anything we catch is ours, there may be some limit to what we can actually do with them, apart from wearing as ornamental pets. Majority of the catches being offered are no-copy/no-modify/free-transfer giving us the option to offer them as gifts or for the really hard-to-get ones (SuperUltraRare in particular), trade them with fellow 7Seas collectors for an equivalent item in rarity...

Trading and giving them away is just about what we can do with the items we catch. Selling them however has its conditions and limitations. While some creators do specify that the unauthorised sale of their creations are prohibited, other builders do offer their personalised vendors with a percentage of the profit going out as a commission to a patron.

A few established creator-owned vendors are quite popular in the 7Seas Community; creations by Migizi North (pirate ships and unique CCs) and Amara Twilight (animated mermaid variations) can be found in other fishing areas apart from their own. While Custom Catches from Nya Raymaker (Grumbles the cat and "Neptune's Orchestra"), R&L Wharf (Snoopy variants), Sugar Rush (crabcakes, fed jellyfish, teacups etc) and Celeste Cazenove among the many others, offer their creations from vendors located on-site.

Custom Catch vendors by Migizi North (located at Rails Bailey's Van Deimen's Land), Mialissa Masala and Skinny Paigne (Sugar Rush), and Amara Twilight (Twilight Creations) are just one of the many you will find around the 7Seas circuit. Most custom creators would gladly be willing to set up their vendors to other fishing areas. Those interested, just IM the CC builder for more details!

Basically, the bait we use is officially for catching 7Seas fishes and stuff. Custom Catches are being offered FOR FREE as a plus/incentive to fishers patronising their fishing area. One may say they are gifts for habitués, others would see them as an attraction to keep the venue interesting enough for frequenters.

There may be a way to get a return-of-investment for all the baits you consume while fishing. You may simply exchange your CCs for bait to those who are willing to trade. I'm sure that is acceptable, going around the idea of customs being openly tradeable.

Why can't I sell what I catch?
Out of respect and courtesy, most especially if you are in direct competition with the CCs creator. It is worse when the sellers intentionally offer customs below the suggested retail price (SRP). "Give to Caesar what is for Caesar", as the saying goes. After all the builders and creators are the reason (apart from the latest official releases from 7Seas) why fishing has been exciting lately for enthusiasts and collectors like us.

Reselling without proper consent...
... helps kill the desire for the creators to produce more customs!

It may even start a trend for catches to be made as no transfer rendering them untradeable, eventually taking off the fun in the fishing. Trading in my opinion is one major factor why we have gained so many friends from fishing: think the desire to Interact.

Official 7Seas catches are admittedly exciting enough for us already... But try to imagine a virtual fishing world without these Custom Catch variants? I shudder at the thought of it, it's like having my cuppa without any sugar... horrible... bleaughhhhh ack!

With more talented 7Seas fishers joining the existing roster of CC builders, a lot of fishing areas are now home to multiple CPGS (Custom Prize Giver Servers) from popular mainstream creators.

For fishing venue owners who don't have time to make their own customs, CPGS can now be rented on a weekly, monthly or quarterly basis. The popular ones have proven to be very effective in attracting sim-traffic as well as luring die-hard fish mongers into sims. Pictured above from BlaksleeWorld Beach are rentable custom servers from Migizi North, Alice Xue and Amara Twilight (please IM them for particlulars), and I am sure there are others more!

I'm not violating any IPR rules, just re-selling.
True, not re-creating or copying the work is not a violation of any Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) policy.

Comparable to buying a music CD or a DVD movie: To which we may be able to convert music into digital format (mp3, aac etc) or movies into mp4 or mpeg (plus any other similar formats) provided we only use them for our personal portable devices (PSP, iPod, mobile phones, digital players etc).

We may have the option to "convert" media but NOT NECESSARILY the rights to distribute or re-sell for profit. Unless of course we have acquired the permission or consent from its copyright owners. The unlawful sale and distribution violates anti-piracy laws, and you surely wouldn't want record labels and distributing companies breathing behind your neck, would you? (laughter)

The same can be said for all virtual items in Second Life, and in this case the various Custom Catches offered FREELY to be caught in 7Seas Fishing enabled areas. Catching these customs gives us ownership for the virtual item BUT does not give ownership for the copyright of the item. We may be allowed to trade the items or give them away for as long as we do not profit through selling without the consent of the copyright owner.

No, you don't have to register your copyright to have a copyright.

Be smart and be aware! Why spend for customs sourced outside of Second Life when you can get them for free? A lot of fisher-folks in-world give-away their duplicate catches to those who wish to "adopt" them? Have you ever heard of a FREE fish-giver? (pictured: auction listing and bidding accounts are non-existent, photo for illustration purposes only)

How different is it from reselling a book I recently bought?
A very good topic which was discussed in 7Seas Social Chat. While the thought of that is very true, in comparison there may be a difference. Publishers have been paid for the books being sold in book shops. What we do with the book after purchase: give it away, resell it, burn it or make paper airplanes with it, wouldn't affect the profit of the publisher.

However, the unauthorise sale of someone else's creation in Second Life would always mean profit loss for any creator/builder/owner, which may have negative RL implications as mentioned in the article below.

PLEASE READ THIS: very interesting and relevant: http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2008/10/dutch-court-imposes-real-world-punishment-for-virtual-theft.ars

A Smörgåsbord of sorts. FREE doesn't necessarily mean we are allowed to do as we wish with the customs we catch. Take for example a free promotional CD single, free as it is but the redistribution and the sale, in analogue or digital form, whether for profit or not is stricly prohibited. I guess this is why they print "NOT FOR RESALE" on its sleeve, don't you agree? winks

Disclaimer: Before anybody here violently reacts and report me to the SL Police for "piracy", and to the creators of the above mentioned customs for "theft", these vendor boxes are for illustration purposes only and are not actual vendors.

Seriously though, if you do want a copy for storing your precious customs, just IM me. As long as you don't USE the bloody boxes as click-able vendors. lololol

To make it simple:
.

Buying a CC from one of the official vendors at retail price and resell it, assuming it's quid pro quo, meaning sell only the same quantities you have bought may be acceptable. Trading up your FREE catches or simply giving them away as gifts is commonly acceptable. Putting up a FREE Custom Catch/fish giver in your fishing area, property or shop is very much accepted.

Selling the Custom Catches of others in your vendors and/or shops "without proper or prior consent from the creator/builder" is unacceptable.

Custom Catches as well as 7Seas fishes and stuff can be freely given away via FREE FISH dispensers. You can also help sponsor your favourite fishing area's tournament by giving donations where kiosks are available. (iPala featured in the picture)

7Seas Fishing As A Community

Although the 7Seas creators guild wouldn't be as harsh and severe when talking about being protective of their work, respecting their creations and giving professional courtesy (with much consideration to the efforts they have poured into their customs) would avoid us all the unsolicited drama. With so much RL drama going on in our lives, why bring some more to Second Life? lololol

Just thinking of the keywords mentioned here:
Respect, professional courtesy, generosity, understanding, consideration, support, friendship... we could go on forever citing all the good virtues we can get out of the 7Seas Community, but the bottom line is 7Seas Fishing has become one big happy family to most of us if not all. Since its inception to Second Life almost a year ago, I am not surprised that it has evolved to be one of the most popular in-world games to date and why more and more people get hooked into it. It simply is FUN and I haven't started talking about the social chat yet, have I? hahaha To readers who havent tried 7Seas Fishing yet, oh boy you are missing a lot mate!

Custom Catches may not necessarily be the only reason to what makes a fishing venue attractive. Let us not forget the picturesque views of some of SL's well built-up areas. Amara Twilight's fishing spot, courtesy of Tasmin Ireton is located at the arcadian Skybeam Tradewaters.

It's but normal for a family to have the occasional quarrels, squabbles and drama. A little hair pulling here and there and face scratching is normal (growling and snarling included...) I guess hahaha. But one thing is certain, 7Seas Fishing is one heck of a family that doesn't believe in contraception as we will grow bigger, better and brighter (and as I have observed in social chat, even more hornier hahaha JK) in the months to come! whoopie!

Remembering The Brave

2009-02-26T09:46:00.062Z

February 22, 2009 is Australia's National Day of Mourning. Remembering the victims of the fire storms that ravaged towns and villages in the state of Victoria. This day also commemorates the brave men and women who have fought a seemingly endless battle to control the blaze.

Particularly those recognised are the firefighters who have risked their own lives to save the many. Modern day heroes who have selflessly performed their duties in safeguarding the lives and property of communities they have sworn to protect. In the true spirit of Australia, locals became good Samaritans - united and unselfishly offered help to anyone in need.

Pictures speak louder than words. A series of snapshots showing the devastating effects of the bush fires as well as the ongoing battle in trying to control the disaster. I'm sure even the hardest of hearts would be moved after viewing the slideshow. In this link, BBC reports about the tragedy on text, audio and video.

At least 210 have perished and sadly that number may be expected to rise further as forensics have yet to officially announce their findings. It has been the worse wildfire catastrophe for 26 years since the Ash-Wednesday fires in 1983 when 75 people have died and more than 3,000 homes destroyed in the southern states of Victoria and South Australia.

Our Help Is Still Needed
The fires may now seem to be under control but the good people of Victoria still needs our help. Scores have lost everything they own and some are even left with nothing more than the clothes they wear.

As Australian PM Kevin Ruud said in his speech to the National Day of Mourning ceremony: "We have lost mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, the tiniest of children, family, friends and neighbours. No words can provide solace for grief so personal. But simply know this: you who suffer are not alone."

Indeed let us show our brothers and sisters in Australia that they are never alone, and that we too are also here for them in their greatest time of need. Aussies have always been too quick to respond and offer help to any international crisis situation. I personally feel that now is the time for us to show them our appreciation and how much we care.

We have donation kiosks around Second Life and an official appeal from Linden Labs had recently been announced. If you are not comfortable donating in-world, you can always visit the official Australian Red Cross or the British Red Cross websites and avoid all the drama that has been discussed in the SL forums. Also please be aware of scammers who wish nothing more but to prey on our generous donations, so please donate wisely... and generously.

Big thanks to all who wishes to help. If you feel you cannot donate cash or anything in kind, offer a prayer regardless of what faith or religion you believe in. Let's pray that our Victorian friends quickly get back on track, and an end to all their grief and suffering.

---

Relatives concerned about family members in the affected areas can contact the Australian Red Cross 24-hour helpline on (0061) 393283716 or, from the UK, the British Red Cross international tracing and message service on 0845 053 2004.

It's My Rezday: Looking Back

2009-02-25T22:49:00.063Z

If some people see Friday the 13th as a creepy, freaky and unlucky day of the month, then make mine different! It may have been an unusual day to celebrate a Rezday (Second Life's equivalent of a birthday - derived from the word "rez" which means to bring out or to bring forth virtual objects in Second Life) but nothing had stop these wonderful folks from making one heck of an awesome party! I have to admit though, having been unprepared and totally clueless of the whole event freaked me out... like totally dude! (try saying that ala Crush... chuckles).

Who would have thought a rezday would feel as fantastic as an RL birthday. It must be the people behind the celebration that makes it so wonderful... (choco cake, cake hat and printed balloons from Sugar Rush... glossy balloons from my Lizzy-babes... yay!)

I have to thank Lizzy as well as point all my fingers (and toes) to her for being responsible for everything. When she plans a party expect nothing less than awesome, inspiring and amazing. I have seen her in action when she organised Lisa and Drei's rezday late last year, in what I consider a remarkable one-woman show! When Lizzy multi-task, she's a Macintosh at work (laughter).

First time she pulled it off, Lizzy organising Lisa and Drei's first rezday as Caroline brought back her plot in Miramare to its former glory.

Here's an important tip:

When a loved-one have taken themselves off the map (or you can't seem to locate them anywhere even when they are online), expect trouble (hahaha). But somehow that day I have given everything the benefit of the doubt, ignoring obvious signs that something was amiss. Call me a "simple person" but the "abdominal dilemma" I was having at that time (psssst, it's too embarrassing to mention hahaha, just ask Lizzy-babes) distracted me, thanks to a post-workout drink I had a few hours earlier (you wouldn't want to be near me, I tell you hahaha). Thankfully enough, I was able to return after about 45 minutes of my "brb" IM (more of a be-back-later than a be-right-back if you think about it).

Was it payback time when I did a similar thing for Lizzy's rezday? I should probably think so! Lizzy and I "boogie-woogie" at Lo Lo with her long list of friends on her rezday, where else would we be?

The Teleport

The moment she IM'd "Are you ready?" scared the living daylights out of me. My tummy ache sort of moved up to my chest and it nearly gave me a heart attack (lol). I knew I was going to be buttered toast (/me bites his fingers)... and I am sure Lizzy knew I was going to kill her "arftah" hahaha!

It wasn't much of a surprise that I was teleported to Lo Lo, Caroline Apollo's sim has always been the perfect venue to celebrate parties, lag free and the ambiance very idyllic.

Exactly a year ago as a noob making Lo Lo my home. Freebie-dude in his most daft moment! Oh come on! I am sure we all went through this phase in our SL lives hahaha...

I was star struck the moment I teleported to Lo Lo surrounded by very familiar faces! I just couldn't believe my eyes seeing the 7Seas Creators Guild (just coined that one up, as tribute to the very talented Custom Catch creators to ever grace 7Seas Fishing) bigwigs there as well as most of the SexyHot Bitches roster. On top of that, what are the odds of having 5 Custom Catch (CC) servers at the same time while listening to Radio Radio's Vertigo Paris choice hits?

Shock and Awe

I have to shamefully admit, I was short of saying anything at all during the party... literally speechless. Not that I wasn't enjoying myself or nor was I not enthusiastic enough to be that chatty person people know of, it's just the effect of being genuinely surprised! Though the sad thing for being numbed by that jack-in-the-box was forgetting to cast my 7Seas Fishing rod. I wasted a hell-lot of opportunities to complete my custom catches from my favourite CC creators! grumbles... bah... humbug... @$%&*#!

Surprise! Good thing I didn't teleport naked, hahaha. And guess who came at my party? (apart from our bestmate Ellynor Lisle, she's always present!) You wouldn't believe your eyes, and that's just for starters!

Do surprise me like that again in RL and I promise you I would freak out just the same hahaha! Don't get me wrong I do love surprises, but if they ever go off my charts, I freeze... literally, and it takes a while to thaw the shock away off from me (as some of you may already know by now lolol). But just to let our good mates know that this dude was so delighted to see everyone there! "Ecstatic" would be an understatement.

Hey Mum look what I got! Don't know what to give away as gifts on special occasions? Try custom made CCs. Most builders would offer their services for a reasonable amount of lindens. Featured are CCs from (clockwise) Grey Nacht, Migizi North, Amara Twilight and Alice Xue... awesome aren't they? Lucky me!

It was just what I needed after a stressful pre-weekend day at work (well I believe we all have been having these sort of days since the start of 2009), more like coming out feeling fresh after spending a bit of time at my local gym's aroma therapy and steam room... man, what a feeling that was!

The glamorous Caroline Apollo, owner of Lo Lo and Caroline Jewelry made it possible for all our Rezdays (Lisa, Drei, Lizzy's and mine) to be held at her place. A truly fantastic mate! hugssss...

My BIG Thanks To You All

... to all the 7S Creator's Guild (no mention of names to refrain from putting any pressure on these wonderful friends to attend everyone's rezday... just to be fair, you know who you peeps are... /me smiles), the SBH peeps and everyone (with special mention to Ellynor Lisle for being in all 3 in spite of having to stay up waaaaaay past her bedtime lol) who came to "our" rezday parties (you got it right, that's in plural form folks) and of course most especially to my Lizzy-babes for all the effort she has poured into this event, and for giving me something amazing that will surely last me for time immemorial. Luvs =^o.o^= mew

Isn't she lovely? She never cease to amaze me, and she never forgets an occasion be it my RL or SL birthdays. What a pleasant surprise this one was, just what I needed after a long absence in SL. 9th of February, my actual rezday.

I just can't help but wonder if I truly am worthy to deserve something as grand as this? Rest assured, my heart never forgets!

Je t'aime tellement Lizzy... pour toujours

Fulda Gap: The Underground And Much More...

2009-02-02T17:02:00.087Z

.
The new Fulda underground can indeed be quite a challenge, especially for the novice explorer. With a vast network of corridors (with most leading to a dead end), finding your way around won't be easy! For those who are very familiar with the place may find it to be just the perfect spot for ambushes.

Being a lot bigger than last year's version (about treble in size), it features a labyrinth of illusions and traps. Troops who encounter it for the first time would enter uncharted territory. Well not if you have a detailed map of course! (sniggers) I am sure everyone would enjoy surveying every aspect of this fantastic new feature, and I'll bet my bottom linden on that.

First time in. Lizzy Mornington and N71 Aeon (En) explore the underground canals, and ended up discovering la chambre forte!

Fulda Gap's Side Quest
Solving the vault's combination...

First time together in combat this year, Lizzy and En had familiarised themselves with the canals, an added feature in Fulda Gap's constantly changing landscape. Not a lot of us are also aware that an underground vault exists, totally different from the bank vault located at the town centre. Both vaults have a digital (combination) lock for which any of us may try at cracking its code. It shows a series of patterns and numerical sequences which I'm sure must be arranged in order.

There may be a reason why Omega Concern have placed two vaults in Fulda Gap. Introducing a side quest (- quite popular in most console role play games) may indeed be a good way to past time, while a player waits for another to join the game.

There might be the need for a bit of IQ to help you decipher the code. Even the mathematically-inclined Liz was so challenged by it, she decided to give it a go. As we have tried it several times ourselves (in which we both were unsuccessful with), cracking the code wont be a walk in the park. It surely would be worth the effort as a very reliable source revealed that rewards "might" be given out to whoever unlocks any of the vaults first.

Interesting enough for you already? Then what the heck are you waiting for... XD

What's behind door number one? Dare to take the challenge? If you do find that little "needle hidden in the haystack", don't hesitate to proudly announce it in FG group chat! That would be awesome, and oh... don't forget to tell April too! hehehe

Testing The OCS Server
And how fast and smart it really is!...
... said as an "exclamation" and not a "question", just for the record!

With the new OCS viewer getting more and more popular within the OCS community (for being able to disable features that give players an unfair-advantage in combat), and the OCS HUD being the most sophisticated combat Heads Up Display available to date... one can't help but focus their next attention on the OCS server.

So we gave it a go! (ahem... but of course with permission!)
The only remaining disadvantage we can get from an opponent who wishes nothing more but to cheat you off for your points, is the use of Radar HUDs. Yep we have heaps of them in Second Life, from the most cheap but straight-forward ones to the most virtually-tech advance types. April did firmly specify that the use of such devices in Fulda Gap is not tolerated. A number of players have been banned for flaunting that rule, and it would be a shame if any of us would be joining the dunce list. (... and not the dean's list hahaha...)

Just because no formal announcement has been made of anyone actually getting banned doesn't mean that it hasn't already happened? Well you would be surprised! OCS folks are just pros in handling situations like these. They'd rather keep it between themselves and the parties involved to avoid further embarrassment... like I've said, they are professionals, believe me I know. /me sticks his tongue out

"Ignorance of the law excuses no-one"

It does not mean that the absence of a sign board stating the rules would allow us to be FREE to do as we wish. Even in real life combat, all troops must abide by the articles of war and with it are the rules of engagement. The same goes in Fulda as with any other combat simulators in Second Life. Basically, it boils down to conscience, common sense and good karma.

For those who aren't aware that the "basics" can be found in the official Omega Concern website: click here

It pays to be a "soldado honorável" when people would get to know you as an officer and a gentleman (not that you would end up looking exactly like a young Richard Gere... /me laughs), even if you are in a virtual environment. Nothing feels greater than earning the respect and friendship of a fellow player, don't you agree?

How did the test go?
Amazing!... as it was almost instantly that April was able to pinpoint and identify exactly when and what type of scripts were being used, which still leaves her a bit of more time to observe you in amusement (hahaha). Like I have said, the Gods of Olympus are "always" watching (online and offline, the servers never sleeps lol)... and with a Smart OCS Server working in our favour, how else could things go wrong?

Oh and a friendly reminder (something I am sure most of us already know by now), Radar HUDs and Sim Scanners launch probes in the air (for radars to do their scanning work), and in which the server also quickly picks up. Need I say more? You know what I'm talking about... winks hehehe

It is good to always have a combat-buddy with you at all times. Watching each others back promotes camaraderie, and helps us build more bridges that we would build walls.

Still haven't found the underground yet?
Alright, in the picture above: one of us is facing one entrance, and the other is standing a few clicks to its left. Another hint would be that one of them (entrances) is actually seen in the picture! Come on give it a try! You will surely feel proud once you have found it, honest! winks

Too Much Military Police
Where is all the fun?...

I have been told by some players that there may be too much policing in Fulda, compared to any other combat sims in Second Life. I beg to differ as one who has tried other venues in the past. Protocols have recently been introduced into Fulda Gap to help ensure that the game stays within the fair-play boundaries, as what a true role play sim should be.

As common knowledge would tell us: Only crooks or people who know they have done something wrong, would run at the sight of authorities. If you know you've done nothing wrong, then why fret? Unless you really have got something to hide. loud laughter

It simply is just amusing (if I may borrow April's words for a moment lol) to see some players who teleport out of the sim the moment April or any of the Game Managers (GMs) show up at Fulda. I mean, don't you think that would be the perfect time to show off your panache and impress the top honchos? Come on, convince yourself that they are just there to watch. hehehe, oh man I am soooo bad.. really! hahaha

With a lot of players getting "murdered" (even with the protection from a row of houses) stiff measures had to be introduced in Fulda, amid unfair combat practices from snipers who shoot through walls at the opposite side of the sim. No where near being plausible and realistic, isn't it?

There is always an underlying reason (and lessons even) why Omega Concern have to put their foot down on the matter. I have to admit, Fulda Gap had been in a bit of a muddle during the last quarter of 2008. Hungry "points/level-driven" players who would rather breach the barrier of "acceptable behaviour" than play fair in combat have prompted the GMs to bring up these policies, dramatically changing the way OCS combat should be played in the estate. The measures were absolutely necessary to inject new blood in the game, as veteran players have been put-off by the inconsideration brought about by these young bloods (or alts in my opinion hahaha).

The absence of policing have resulted in some combat sims closing down due to griefing, harassment and vandalism by some of its players. While some venues are inferior in ensuring a spontaneous and cheat-free game, others end up being nothing more but a Half-Life spin-off in SL. Though in fairness, I still have yet to try the new Keirman of the Brazilian OCS group. We just might have another OCS haven in the making here. smiles

Pushing The Envelope Further
... batteries not included...

The people behind Fulda Gap have laboured tirelessly to bring to its patrons a role play that is nothing short of being plausible and convincing. With all that has been accomplished so far, more improvements are still being carried out, as I have mentioned of more surprises awaiting the loyal OCS disciple (Judas Iscariot included haha).

Who doesn't have night vision at this age of 21st century warfare? For the sake of realism, we just might be having one of these added to the OCS armory... among many other things!

The mention of night vision being possible in Fulda Gap and the ongoing improvements to add weather factors affecting the way we play is simply incredible! Think: fog, rain or even snow!... anything is possible right? (ugh, just the mention of snow gave me a headache, having had too much of it in the past week in RL hahaha).

The idea of including weather would make combat exciting and a bit more arduous.

Well of course these are all still "beta" and are currently being tested by the GMs, with the exception for the night vision which might be released soon! And I was hoping that the night vision would come in "x-ray" vision as well. Do I have to tell you why? hahaha... /me waves at his Lizzy-babes! Who luvs ya babe?

Fulda Gap: The Rescue

2009-01-31T22:57:00.156Z

EUFOR RECALL: The Sequel

An American UH-60 Black Hawk chopper flies above the cold North Atlantic ocean. On board is a EUFOR officer keen on returning to Fulda, twelve (12) days after EUFOR's massive pull-out from Eichenzell (amid a KV virus outbreak). The chartered American chopper took off at RAF Lakenheath, a former US Air Force facility in the United Kingdom which reopened recently in support for American troops in the NATO-led military action in Germany.

Braving the North Atlantic skies, EUFOR troops back on a special mission to Fulda.

It has been over a week since the last time EUFOR Central Command (ECC) had made contact with officer En Aeon, back when the bombings in Eichenzell began. First time since Operation: The Only Solution which forced the evacuation of troops (based in Heaney Air Force Base) out of Fulda, a previous order to send non-European personnel back to their home country has been revoked. All troops are to re-establish military presence in the German city to counter reports of an increased number of people moving in and around Eichenzell in the dead of night.

EUFOR Central Command (ECC) suspects N.E.B. (New Eastern Bloc) taking advantage of a signed truce, to establish their position in taking over the desserted German town. A directive to block all human traffic around Eichenzell is to be enforced ASAP. Unaware to the ECC of the horrors (resulting from the KV Virus outbreak) that would greet its forces.

12th of January, 2009: 0730 hrs
Saving EUFOR Troop En Aeon...

The sound of a chopper hovering nearby aroused the troop from an inconvenient slumber as he struggles to gain consciousness. He feels his feet are soaked in water but does not seem to know the reason why. Dazed with his eyes tightly shut, he attempts to make sense on what was going on around him.

"I hear thunder... it's getting louder... (grunts) I'm wet! Has it rained down on me?... who put out the lights?" (moans)

Taking off his gas-mask, exposing his face to the morning sun: "It's getting warm, I can feel it on my face... is it the sun?... Have I fallen asleep?!..."

"Arghh! the light!... it blinds!..." Still confused and seemingly exhausted, he rests his head on damp soil. "Where am I?... Where is this place?... Am I dead? I can't be dead!... I just can't die... not now... not yet..."

"Who's there?... Who are you?..." He sees a faint silhouette of a person, and tries to reach for his rifle in which he struggles.

"Anybody out there?... Arghh! my eyes... too bright... help!..." He hardly recalls what exactly had happened before, but his instincts tell him he must survive.

He gets flashbacks and the last thing he now remembers was being chased down by creatures in the dark. "Stop right there!... Befördern Sie nicht… mich sagte Anschlag!... Please stop... or I'll... I'll... unghhh"

Standing next to him is a familiar face he thought he would never see again. Lizzy Mornington came back to rescue her man. Her instincts convinced her to jump ship when the AWACS that would take her back to Australia went for a logistical stop-over at the RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, England. Intuition made her believe that something was not right, and that she must find her way back to Fulda immediately.

While putting together a plan to rescue En, a new memorandum from EUFOR Command Central (ECC) was released, authorizing the re-deployment of EUFOR troops back to Fulda. It would be in response to a suspected N.E.B. (New Eastern Bloc) troop build-up in Eichenzell.

This would be the moment Lizzy was waiting for: a free-ticket back to no-man's-land.

An angel of the morning. Just in the nick of time, Lizzy saves En from untimely death who was severely suffering from hypothermia, dehydration and starvation.

The last time she and En were together was at the infirmary, before her sudden departure back to Australia. Her heart sank at the poorly sight of her man, beaten down by nature.

Like a scene from the La Pieta, Lizzy cradles a semi-conscious En as troops drop down from a UH-60 Black Hawk chopper: part of a redeployment effort of EUFOR troops to Fulda.

"Everything is going to be alright hun... it's all going to be okay..." Lizzy tries to comfort and reassure En as she cautiously look in the woods that surround them, aware of the abomination that may be lurking in the shadows.

10th of January, 2009: 1910 hrs
More than 48 hours EARLIER...

... as gunfire proved to be unsuccessful in holding back the advancing mutants, En leaps instinctively off a bridge behind the patrol outpost. It was the only way out as he was being swamped by a multitude of these ghastly creatures.

He screams as he came crashing down the cold seawater, as howls and growls echo above him. The water breaks his fall as he scrambles himself to safety, disturbing a herd of deer in the process. He struggles to keep himself afloat with all the attached military gear dragging him down the deep water.

A close call. En leaps off a bridge before an overwhelming crowd of mutants, bent on ravaging the lone EUFOR soldier.

10th of January, 2009: 1925 hrs
In an inlet just outside Eichenzell...

Shocked and exhausted, En swims safely to shore. The company of wildlife seems to give him a sense of security, as the calmness of these wild animals would mean the absence of savages in the area. Nature starts to take over as the bitter-cold breeze smother him... he feels very tired... dazed and ostensibly confused.

Tired and exhausted, En could barely move or more so react at the curious nipping of marine life, least notice the presence of a prying wild fox.

With dawn taking over the night sky, a full moon still beaming above him... he lays motionless... staring blindly into space. He feels very cold, shivering not because of fright or fear but of hypothermia that seems to blister the warmth away from his very core... he now feels very-very tired.

"Must not sleep... must stay awake... cold... bitter cold..." he mutters to himself as random thoughts besets him.

"Lizzy... you there?... Where are you?... Why did you leave me?", a feeling of abandonment takes over this once brave soldier as anger, frustration and even despair conquers him. Disoriented, he seems to blame everybody for what has happened to him... he blames God... he blames himself.

"What the bloody hell are you looking at!...", swearing at the sight of a taunting full moon. "Leave me alone... just leave me alone... leave me... alone... " he whispers as he sinks into sloom.

"Hey babes, you there?... Lizzy... Lizzy... please... come and help... me... save me..."

OCS Viewer Update: Icing On The Cake

2009-01-30T03:28:00.047Z

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As mentioned in my previous blog, an update for the official OCS viewer is due to be out soon. Surprisingly, the update was released much sooner than expected! Yes folks, the much anticipated "patch" is here! Say bye-bye-bye to your "psychic" opponents who always seem to know exactly where you are! chuckles.

Some players have found a way around the absence of the radar-like "mini-map" by using the "main-map" as an alternative. Though not as convenient as having a permanent "beacon" on the corner of your screen, the main map can be quite useful as if having a "satellite navigator" at hand. Having to pause for a while for some location-hints have proven to be as effective as having the actual mini-map on. But as we will all know by now, those days are definitely OVER!

A ghost town? No troops? Not quite! The new OCS viewer disables the built-in-map's radar system, showing only an aerial topographical shot of the sim.

Say goodbye to all those psychic "playahs" (laughter) who seem to have the supernatural powers to shadow your every move hehehe. No more wall shooters... no more "x-ray visions"... and to those who love having immortality HUDs and shields, radars and bootleg OCS gear, no more room for you in the new Fulda Gap. Virtual combat has never been this fair... this exciting and this awesome as ever before.

As I attempt to be one of those psychics in FG (off-the game of course: chuckles), I foresee a day when more and more players would be encouraged to go head-to-head with top OCS gamers in Fulda Gap. Then again you need not be a psychic to know that. hehehe

My hat's off to all the Omega Concern people behind this remarkable OCS viewer!

A Secret Playground

Has any of you discovered that secret location in Fulda Gap yet? Just when you thought that everything we see in the new FG are the only things we would have to be contented with, here comes another interesting feature. Truly, there is actually a lot more in Fulda than meets the pixel eye! But getting there isn't as easy as you think, as a lot of that "thinking-out-of-the-box" may have to apply here: sentido común.

Okay! okay here are some tips for those unaware of this secret garden of delights (but they would have to be in a riddle):

a. The sun will shine and i hope you won't mind, me saying "Here's Johnny" on a street not aligned...

b. Rub that magic lamp and wish one song for me, singing "A whole new world" to a claustrophobic place to be...

Keep your eyes peeled. This labyrinth is an ambush haven. You'll never know what awaits around a corner.

Indeed it is a whole (or should I say a "hole" hahaha) new world as it would not be easy chasing (or be chased by) an opponent in a network of narrow tunnels, in which to the inexperience combatant may just end up a dead-end. I have seen a lot of pockets for ambushes, making this maze a perfect venue for CQC or Close Quarters Combat.

I am already hearing a lot of us here saying: "Where in the world have I placed that bloody crowbar?" hahaha

A dose of the Dual Sig Sauer P229 Handgun might just be helpful in tight situations like these as well. Time to test these babies! woot! woot!

I have also been hearing about a "vault" somewhere in Fulda, which I still have to find out for myself! Something with a secret combination was also being talked about within the OCS-FG community. Now that adds more excitement to the game's role play, don't you think? What exactly is inside it? More questions.. more riddles!

What The Heck Is A Laser Designator?

Ever wonder what that Laser Designator (LD) in our Sig-556 actually does? In my first few days in Fulda, I was able to try this motha-for-all-seasons feature in our ever-so-reliable Sig 556. I called it the "Hail Mary" as it activates a barrage of artillery from the sky. It lasts a good ten seconds (or even more), capable of eliminating a group of bogeys in the field with just one shot (yep, the holy grail!). It still should be active in Fulda though theoretically, a certain object (albeit also in a certain angle and time) must be specifically targeted. The stuff that involves a lot of "jargon-mathematics".

Eeeeep... x2 + y3 multiplied by z2 divided by the square root of 0.765 multiplied by the distance of 56 meters equals.... oh ugh my head hurts.... hahaha

However, it is also possible to try it out on a public sand-box which does not have a "no-push" restriction. Just make sure there is no sign that prohibits the use of any weapons. You will definitely be left in awe with this spectacular feature... totally a sub-freezing level in the coolness gadget meter! Promise!

Three heads are better than two! Pushing the stakes higher as the Sig-556 plays a vital role in supporting teamwork on the battlefield, with the pilot, gunner and designator coordinating each others' actions.

There is another reason why we have LDs featured in our Sigs. Think of the AH-Apache Longbow's APKWS Rockets... Ever wondered why they aren't laser activated from the chopper like its killer-Hellfire counterpart? That is where the Sig-556 LD steps in! OCS is pushing teamwork in FG further by encouraging coordination between team-mates situated in the air to the ones down below. Another step forward in eliminating individualism among players in Fulda.

A scene of things to come! Ground troops guiding the AH-64D Apache Longbow for bogeys. Communication and coordination will be a major factor in winning against opposing forces.

But before we go jumping off our seats, ripping our shirts off and flexing those biceps (well the ladies can stop after the ripping of shirts and forget the biceps... we'll be fine with that hahaha) giving out a loud "grrrrrrrr haarrrrrrr"... bare in mind that these things are currently in the works and are still being tested by our friends at the Omega Concern. Believe me they have heaps and truckloads lined up for all the zealous OCS maniacs like me! hahaha...

STOP! Hummer Time!
da-da-da-dum... ta-dum... di-dum... should touch this!

While the vehicle production of big name companies around the world has been hit by recession, The Omega Concern is optimistic that the pending release of a new DOZOR/HUMMER ( High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle aka HMMWV or Humvee) would just beat that! A leaked photo by insiders (shhh don't tell April!) have seen the manufacture of an improved and updated version of the military vehicle. Rumour of another version installed with a top mounted .50 caliber machine gun is also in the works. Looks like the good times are about to roll in Fulda Gap!

I want one! ... or four for that matter! Just another amazing installment for us OCS kids! 2009 looks bright after all!

Well folks, that is just the tip of the iceberg as I have been told that there are a lot more surprises waiting for us in the couple of months (if not weeks) to come. Finally, no more reason to whine about cheats and all the good reasons for Olympus to have a break from baby-sitting us kids.

Don't you just love a happy ending?

The Omega Concern: Muscle Behind OCS

2009-01-27T02:49:00.042Z

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One cannot truly say they have had the ultimate virtual combat experience until they have actually lived the Fulda Gap role play in SL. It has been my inspiration for some of the (fictional) short stories featured in my blog. It has also been a benchmark for other combat simulators in Second Life. Fulda Gap is synonymous to the OCS combat system, the most popular combat system to date with more and more combat enthusiasts jumping into the bandwagon. OCS is one of the many combat systems available in Second Life, though OCS seems to be the most preferred choice among serious players due to a lot of its amazing factors and features.

Entering Fulda Gap: After joining the Fulda Gap group, make sure you have at least one official OCS weapon and an official uniform. The MARPAT (featured in picture) is available at the Omega Concern shop. Nothing beats a good camouflage and gear in virtual combat survival.

OCS is "probably" the only combat system with an online record that keeps track of your progress in rankings. It is simply saying: The more you "hit" (better than saying "kill" in my opinion lol) the more points you get. And the more points you get, the higher level you reach.

Think of Level 1 as being a new recruit-cum-trainee and whoever reaches the top rank would be seen as Fulda Gap's five-star general. There is no limit on how much points you keep, it is infinite as the game never ends.

OCS Creame dela Creame! The Top 10 combatants! Dare to be on top?

Why bother with the points and rankings?

Simple, the higher your ranking is, the more accurate and deadly your aim will be. Which would make it possible for you to get a hit with just one shot: the Holy Grail in OCS combat. Much like in real life war, the longer one stays in the battlefield the more skillful and knowledgeable the troops becomes. Think war veteran... your style and technique would evolve with you as you get to know the weapons and the simulator (sim) better.

The online OCS Player Standings will also reflect your last "hit" as well as the weapon last used. This would give you more than enough hints that the OCS server does keep track of any OCS activity when the official OCS HUD is worn (well it is compulsory that you wear it to make OCS work hahaha). So cheats (yes kids they are everywhere) who use illegal and bootleg weapons and/or troops who are keen on "rezzing" out scripted prims from their inventory, beware the Gods of Olympus are watching! (laughter)

The New Fulda Gap 2009 from afar. Last year we were given an urban and rural combat setting. This year were going on woodland warfare were camouflage would play a crucial role in a troop's survival.

Fulda Gap is simulated in a Class5-high-performance sim with its own dedicated server and albeit even its own exclusive system which helps keep the game spontaneous and lag-free. At the start of the year, April Heaney who is the brainchild and pioneer of the OCS combat system has rebuilt Fulda Gap with an all-new environment. This would give new players the same leverage as the established veterans in getting to know the new Fulda better.

Whatcha fancy mate? Urban combat or jungle warfare? The new Fulda Gap sim: you don't have to teleport to another sim to have a different setting, when you can have them both in one go! And the next big question is: Will you be the hunter or the hunted? Go figure that one out!

With an established reference point for role play present in the game, supplemented with a player's own mini-biography or story (reasons for being in Fulda Gap) makes the game even more appealing and exciting: adding more depth and character to the avatar.

Normally a new player would start as a Partisan (neutral troop), and you can chose which side you would want to belong to: EUFOR (European Union Forces) or the N.E.B. (New Eastern Bloc) - after submitting your role play profile to April Heaney.

Starting as Partisans not so long ago, Lizzy Mornington, N71 Aeon and Ellynore Lisle now fight under the EUFOR banner.Who would be next to join the two main factions?

The Official OCS Viewer

Leaping forward in keeping the promise for a real combat experience, April has helped develop the first ever OCS Viewer in Second Life. It is custom built to rid the game of its little gremlins: the common cheat features which are built-in the standard viewer. Mind you, this is a Linden Labs viewer so any fear of "undesirables" being installed in your PC would simply be ridiculous.

There is nothing more exciting than playing combat in a pitch-dark environment, radically changing the way we play virtual combat. It gives new meaning to the phrase "bloody adrenaline rush".

The benefits of having to use the official OCS viewer means no more bloody "mini maps" and overriding of default environment settings. That means night combat would be done at night as the way it really should be. The Ctrl-Shift-Y (or N) features are disabled as well as the Advance Menu from activating the "Admin Status".

If that is not enough to tickle your combat fancy, name tags that usually give away your exact location (with that obvious placard floating above your head), even if standing too-close behind walls have also been disabled. Technically speaking, no one should know exactly where you are... or wont they? Excited already aren't you? hahaha

The OCS viewer was basically a year and a half in the making, but it was surely worth the wait! I imagine more updates for the viewer soon as the level of game play would be raised.

The Omega Concern: One Stop Armory

Discovering Fulda Gap was only by chance as Ellynore Lisle who was also a Wilder Skies pilot like me at that time (yep she was so good at it I would not last a minute in the sky! hahaha) had Eichenzell featured on her "profile picks" (did I just admit there that I snoop on someone else's profile? Oooops!). A simple innocent question about Eichenzell brought us both to Omega Concern. The first sight of Omega's glowing dome struck me with awe... much more upon seeing all the amazing weapons on display!

The rendering and the presentation of each weapon was non like no other. It was love at first sight for me with these babies and they have just converted me from originally being a pacifist to a die-hard combatant! yeehaw!

You will never end up more confused than I was the first time I tried choosing for my first weapon. With so many on offer, it would be hard to decide which one to get!... you would simply want them all!

Elly was so cool enough to patiently explain to me everything what is to know about FG. I have to admit, it was information overload as she tried to immerse me with all the technical details on "the hows, the whos and the what" in Fulda Gap within just 10 minutes (laughter)! Not to mention that I spent most of the time asking the same questions over and over again (pssst.. and I think this was the first time I irked her off... lol).

My First True Weapon

Forget all your freebie weapons, they do not compare **** to these babies! The details and resemblance to the real McCoy is uncanny. Among the many choices on offer, I took the Sig-556 Assault Rifle. Apart from a built-in grenade launcher, the features and gizmos that come along with it commands its asking price. And in spite of it being the most expensive rifle in the Omega arsenal, it still remains the most popular weapon of choice among the OCS zealots.

For more details about this weapon: http://sl.theomegaconcern.com/manuals/34-ocs/83-sig-556-assault-rifle-with-gl-5010-manual

Apart from the Sig, I would recommend for beginners to also get the M67 Fragmentation Grenade and the M16A2/ M21 Mine Pack. These would be sufficient enough to help you "last longer" in combat but does not guarantee that you would be invincible. Weapons only becomes effective when the user uses common sense and a lot of guts when playing in the field. Just make sure you throw your grenades far away from where you are, and avoid stepping on your own mines! hahaha

Hitting Hard While Charging Less

I have also discovered that the XM-109 Sniper Rifle can be a powerful weapon in spite of it costing less than the Sig. Its function is straightforward: aim... shoot... and kill. It can hit a mark even at great distance making it one of the most feared weapons in the OCS armory. Combatants with higher levels in ranking make this rifle their preferred weapon of choice.

For more details about this weapon: http://sl.theomegaconcern.com/manuals/34-ocs/84-xm-109-25mm-sniper-rifle-manual

The Big Mommas

They are the first thing that will catch your eye upon entering the Omega Concern. The only three vehicles that can be used in Fulda Gap:

The Dozor Utility Vehicle, the M1A1 Abrams Battle Tank, and the AH-64D Apache Longbow

Please bear in mind that other types of vehicles and crafts (apart from the ones mentioned above) are not allowed to be used in Fulda. Believe me, you would not want the Game Managers (GMs) breathing behind your neck! hahaha You will surely get more than just a slap on the wrist... really!

All vehicles blow up when hit beyond its damage limits. So drive or fly them with care! These vehicles are HUD or Menu driven.

The Apache Longbow is by far the most sophisticated aircraft in Second Life... BAR NONE! Nothing comes close to this eagle as being the most interactive attack craft, consistent with role play. Missiles fire away from hardpoints (weapon stations) and actually show them getting depleted, unlike missiles mounted on other crafts that remain static.

Flying this bird can be quite a challenge especially with the OCS HUD on. A crash will cost you your life so flying with care is advised.

Getting this chopper (or helo if you are an airman) is worth the investment. I am very certain that April's creation had sent ripples across the crafting of virtual helicopters in Second Life. Expect a lot of changes on the way SL helicopters are made, and at least owning the first one ever created should give you enough prestige to last until the next best thing arrives.

Thanks (and kisses) a million to my Lizzy-babes for giving me one as a present and of course to April for finally bringing this one out of the hanger... making me the first ever to own one! Good things happen to those who patiently wait. wehey!

Oh my goodness mate... don't just look at it, get one!

To Join or Not To Join? Is that a question?

There isn't a good enough reason not to visit Fulda Gap. The membership is now free, the Official HUD cost just 1L$ and neither do you have to pay for the Official OCS Viewer. Initially, you don't have to own weapons to enter the sim. But do be advised that if another troop gets a visual, you just might end up getting shot! hehehe

Don't fancy being a soldier but want to still be part of the role play? Apply to become part of the Civilian Faction, but please be neutral and non-partisan unless you wish to become an outlaw! Now that's another story!

For more details about the Omega Concern and Fulda Gap: http://sl.theomegaconcern.com/fuldagap

Things to comply to before entering the barrier: 1) wear your group tag 2) wear your OCS HUD 3) use the official OCS viewer 4) be nice and play fair 5) don't bloody cheat, well not that you can with new safeguards installed.. but if you do, see you in your third life hahaha

The Omega Concern main shop, where all combat dreams come true... less the Blue Fairy of course! http://slurl.com/secondlife/The%20Omega%20Concern/195/37/24