Just got back from vacation! I had a lovely time. I also had some interesting stuff sent to me, which has piled up in the mailbox. So here’s a couple of interesting links.
- A new academic journal called Metaverse Creativity is getting going that seems to center on studies of things in Second Life.
The editors hope to attract a wide range of writing to Metaverse Creativity, including ideas about artificial-intelligence systems, landscaping, zoological and biological creations, and even virtual-world fashion design. Second Life’s relations to psychology, law, and technology are another focus. Plans for MC‘s first issue include a piece on how technological prostheses—beginning with the telescope—have altered human perceptions. Another article explains what neuroscience reveals about the benefits of the kinds of brain plasticity that simulation in virtual worlds can enhance, while a third edges up demurely on love in Second Life with a take on virtual-world adaptations of Korean romantic puppetry.
Avatars as Editors – PageView – The Chronicle of Higher Education.
- Remember that cool art game Freedom Bridge? Well, the developer has a new project: raising money to fund a trip across Asia, and he will develop games about the countries he visits.
If I can meet my kickstarter goal of $5000, phase 1 of my trip will commence. Starting in Korea, where I currently reside, I will fly to Vietnam, and explore Southeast Asia via land travel (bus, train, walking) over a period of 4-5 months: Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar.
I will then venture into China, and make my way towards the coast, where I will depart for Japan sometime in the Spring, in time for the planting season, where I will most likely spend some time volunteering on organic farms. I’m scheduling about 6 months for the whole trip…
If I can meet my $5000 kickstarter goal, that should cover most of my expenses through Southeast Asia, Japan and China. I would like to make at least two games for each country I visit, so we’re looking at probably 10-15 games. There’s no cookie-cutter mold for the games, though, so it will also depend on the size and scope of each individual game.
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It’s an interesting time to launch an academic journal based around Second Life, given that Linden Lab has been undergoing some pretty drastic changes of late (including the reemergence of founder Philip Rosedale, planned closing of the teen grid, and staggering staff cuts).
There should be plenty to write about.
I hope the lab comes out of this leaner and stronger. Second Life has always represented both the incredible potential and the very real pitfalls of user-generated content. If only for the bold and necessary step of allowing residents to produce, retain IP and profit from their own creations, SL earns its place as a pioneer in virtual world design.