1. This week sees the launch of two new gaming worlds. The first is Fallen Earth, a post-apocalyptic world, will cost you US$49.99 for the boxed or digital download versions plus a monthly US$14.99 fee (there are discounts for multi-month subscriptions).
The second is the fantasy MMO Aion. It too costs US$49.95 plus US$14.99 per month. Both require Windows XP or Vista, with no Mac OSX support. I know OSX is still only around 10% of the userbase, but in a burgeoning MMO marketplace, surely it’s a worthwhile proposition?
2. OpenSim continues to go from strength to strength – a post over at Maxping gives some reasons why. They also have a story on new enterprise virtual world solution, Amphisocial.
3. Ren Reynolds has a great piece over at Terra Nova on journalists not fact-checking stories on virtual environments.
4. Here’s some original music and machinima from Australian Second Life resident Shakti Cianci:
5. John Waugh at SLENZ has posted an insightful piece, wondering why New Zealand educators aren’t utilising virtual environments more widely in their practice.
6. For lovers of theatre, why not check out the Avatar Repertory Theater’s staging of 13 Objects: Studies in Servitude by Howard Barker:
Performances will be on Oct 20, 4pm SLT and October 21, 2pm SLT at Coventry University Sim. On October 21, 2009, more than 50 theater companies will stage readings and performances in celebration of the 21st anniversary of the founding of Howard Barker’s theater company, The Wrestling School. A.R.T.’s virtual theater will be another facet in the world wide celebration, from Mexico to Iceland, Australia to Cyprus, in five languages. Organizations participating include the Royal Shakespeare Company in London and the Skylight Theatre Company in Perth. A.R.T. will be performing “13 Objects: Studies in Servitude” by Howard Barker, live in Second Life, October 20th at 4 pm and October 21st at 2 pm SLT at the Coventry University sim. 13 Objects shows the secret lives of everyday objects, such as a cup and saucer, or a camera, to make intimate connections and inspire powerful feelings, with poetic language, provocative ideas and dark humor.
What're your thoughts on how Machinima might make the leap from virtual to real-world cinema? I know we had the HBO series (panned) focused on one Second Life avatar's story, and I reported the other day on film festivals going into the Metaverse — but what about the other way around?
Very intriguing.
Very intriguing.