Gaming News - June 2004
San Francisco, CA (June 15, 2004) - Linden Labs today announced an
upgrade to their online game Second Life.
From Linden Labs:
Linden Lab, creator of acclaimed 3D online world Second Life, is announcing
today that Version 1.4 delivers a variety of new features enabling Residents to
more fully develop and personalize their identities and online experience
through sound and motion.
Version 1.4 features include:
. Custom Character Animations – For the first time, Second Life Residents
will be able to animate their avatars to do almost anything they can imagine.
Using an open .bvh file format supported by products like Curious Lab’s Poser®,
Residents can create and upload animation files to Second Life endowing their
avatars with distinctive “moods” and movements. And, in creating everything from
guitar-strumming rock stars to world-class swimmers, Second Life Residents are
discovering they can live out their wildest dreams in-world. To date, users have
developed realistic boxing matches, recreated action sequences from major movies
and put together elaborate dance routines. The most talented Animators will have
their hands full trading and selling their work – adding to an already robust
in-world economy.
· Theme music for everyone – Live streaming audio support allows
Residents to link to Internet audio sources broadcasting among other things,
live sportscasts, talk shows, DJ soundtracks direct from real world clubs to
Second Life clubs and even programmed soundtracks for one’s own property.
· Live Connections to the Real World - XML-RPC allows data and
commands to be sent back and forth between disparate systems over the internet.
In Second Life, this means computers outside of Second Life can communicate with
Resident-created objects and scripts in-world. Some applications for XML-RPC
include faster in-world blogging, the ability to send newsfeeds into Second Life
and the capacity for store owners to manage their inventory remotely.
· Profess Your Love - With the new Profile option, Second Life
couples can make their relationships official. Married and connected Residents
will be able to designate their partners on their profiles in-world where their
relationships will be visible to the rest of the community. Can’t be married in
real life? Try Second Life.
The unique addition of Resident Created Animations to the Second Life
feature set adds new dimension to the Second Life experience. “The one
thing I'm most looking forward to with custom animations is the ability to
really give avatars a distinctive character.” says Second Life Resident and
designer Chip Midnight. “People with the motivation and a bit of skill will be
able to really make themselves unique in the Second Life world. Imagine a
shuffling bitter old man, a swaggering drunk, a hip swinging tight-rope walking
supermodel…as the community matures with the tools and how best to
use them, I think we'll see them used to create genuine character.” Some
designers are already making over USD$1,000 monthly selling their virtual
clothes and goods in Second Life—with over 240,000 transactions taking place and
generating over US$200K in sales every month.
“My fantasy is to be Uma Thurman in Kill Bill” says Philip Rosedale, CEO and
founder of Linden Lab. “And now I can. I’d pay $10 for her yellow jumpsuit and
sword moves and I’m sure other people would too. Custom Animations are going to
liberate the world of Second Life in ways I’m sure I can’t imagine.”
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