My Spring Fan

Posted on: May 13, 2006

Suffugium: a place of refuge is also a place of kickass. Here's some reasons why:

  • Cohesive, collaborative group build—by the Squidsoft Collective
  • Cyberpunk "technoir"—a fave theme of mine, and to this day, ironically rare in SL
  • Really nice people showing me around—no substitute for this
  • Has a hotel. Not finished, but I love hotels.
  • Has a giraffe—that can "seat" four
  • Easy to take pictures and downsample 'em—so they look like bona fide screenshots outta one of Sierra or LucasArts's 90s point-and-click adventures. I've already showed proof!

I'll explain some of the above points in deeper detail. A month ago, I'd TPed into Suffugium, only to realize it wasn't yet open to the public. I have an internal "naive" philosophy which I adhere to: I'll only enter private regions at the permission of an Estate Owner or Estate Manager, and even then, if it's inevitably going to be shown to the community, I'd rather wait.

Stella Costello, that shy debonaire, told me this is where she had a recent profile picture taken. I came in, and she, Stella Trenchmouth [aka "The Other (Stella)"], Binne Ming, and Lex Neva were around.

First thing I noticed: ProleCars that patrol the streets themselves. They turn around corners, stop at intersections, giving a lot of life. I was also scanned in short order by a drone who dubbed me "Sub-Citizen Linden". Nearby was a hand-scanner that was all too happy to analyze the ghetto blaster in my grip.

And you know what the mark of a truely great location in Second Life is? It's when you can make up a fictional story detailing its background history AND live out some real memories with people, perhaps strangers-today-friends-tomorrow.

EXHIBIT A: Stella Trenchmouth has a ribbed straw in her mouth. A RIBBED STRAW! How freakin' rare is that? Most of the time, it's "just slap two hollow cylinders, maybe a sphere in the middle, and call it a day". Bah! After you've had a straw with ribs, you'll never look at a drinking utensil the same way again. If you question why this is relevant, what's a wall without a floor?

Bonus points: Stella has a store, Primpop, in the back of a liquor store in the freezer. Even moreso: she makes animations emulating illness! MY GOD THERE IS A MARKET FOR THIS KIND OF THING; SOMEDAY SOMEONE IS GOING TO WAKE UP AND REALIZE HOW EFFECTIVE THESE ARE FOR HEALTHCARE SIMULATIONS!

[Pp] Animations & Poses: Cautious head scratch (AO / gesture) / +m +c -t / no loop: $L75
[Pp] Animations & Poses: Harsh cough (AO / gesture) / +m +c -t / no loop: $L75
[Pp] Animations & Poses: Itchy nose (AO / gesture) / +m +c -t / no loop: $L75
[Pp] Animations & Poses: Sore neck (AO / gesture) / +m +c -t / no loop: $L75


Check that shiznit dump of prices out. I got one called "Dangling by hands" which works fab for my Cyber Witch attire. Stella has a blog too, c-c-check it out y0.

EXHIBIT B: Optical illusions leading to the edges. I don't even want to assume what kind of digital witchcraft this is. The usual generic way: most of the time if there's a road at the end of a region, it just cuts off, and uhhh what kind of fooked up dead end is that? No, it's not wrong, but it's not right either. BUT WHAT IS RIGHT IS *THIS* BECAUSE BUGS BUNNY *AND* ROGER RABBIT WOULD AGREE ON! Best seen in 3D.

There are several variations: road leading to the edge of forever, downed advanced aircraft blocking an entrance (hey what game have I seen that in? Reminds me of the ambulance from Deus Ex), and a "Bridge Out" warning.

EXHIBIT C: The SierraLucas factor. Meaning, I could take still photos from around this area, assemble them into "rooms" of a classic adventure game, and it'd work perfectly. It's not an easy thing to write about, but it's drop-dead elementary to experience.

Have a look at this filthy theatre from one of my faves, The Longest Journey and then look at Suffugium's own BIJOU cinema. Not competitively ('cuz that'd be naff), but harken your mind back to the golden age of science fiction and the meaty, satisfying tales of the rocketpack-filled pulps.

EXHIBIT D: Your own brand of soft drink. That's right, instead of ripping trademarks from Coca-Cola or PepsiCo, create your own brand. It'll show how unlazy you are, AND what a great texture artist, in the case of Kaeli Candour who made these and many other textures 'round the city, you can be. Dual blades!

EXHIBIT E: A revolving door named Dennis. WTH is with all these doors without names called "Object"? That's, like, dehumanizing. Personalize your doors, because they are gateways to greater learning. Dennis also only spins when you touch him nicely. he doesn't just keep rotating ad pukeum like revolving doors in SL tend to. One caveat: he only rotates clockwise.

EXHIBIT F: A giraffe fit for four. Piccie enclosed.

I left out a lot of things intentionally, like the big statue with breasts in the square, HoloBall, the woo-woo-woo! wall of the prison, a Lex Labs sign that flashes and looks like Sex Labs from time to time, crates floating in radioactive waste, and dumpsters. Ah, yes, dumpsters. Suggestion for improvement: they should be openable so someone like me can sleep in one.

Extra gemful: Aliasi Stonebender using some textures I made in her constructs, including the hotel. And the dolphin and jog anims by Chiri Tokugawa—cross those off my checklist in the avatar self-expression category!

You will feel good driving down these streets with a mashup of the Back Horn's "Yume No Hama" and Richie Hawtin's "The Tunnel" resounding out your speakers, orange sodium lights (soon to be even better with a certain future hardware lighting feature) reflecting off your mirrorshades, signed copy of the new Gibson-Stephenson novel in your backseat… The Future: it's what's for breakfast.

Well, what are you waiting for? Book your travel ticket to Suffugium in Second Life today!

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