Invading Invasion

The Adventure Box was starting to look sad sitting alone in the corner…so it was definitely time to sit inside of it again to enter a whole new adventure! 

We told the Adventure box to take us somewhere BIG and Interactive.

The Adventure Box rattled and shook with loud sounds and spat us out to a place called:

" INVASION " - A tribute to the Greenies Home at LEA23

 

HOW WAS IT FOR HIM?

Best descriptive adjectives: Large, Expansive, Jampacked

True veterans of this grid remember fondly the sims that used to be. Amongst them is usually Greenies, the wonderful out-of-this-world sim that shrunk you to the size of a mouse and pitted you against mischievous extraterrestrials. Here on LEA 23, Sniper Siemens was inspired to create a greenies 2.0, with improved graphics and fresh nooks and crannies to discover wonderful little secrets.  

Rumor has it that there is even an underground railroad, but that only the most intrepid of adventurers may find it.

On invasion, you can race different vehicles through a course:

 

Fly through the air clinging to a cannonball:

 

Admire and explore the nicely built house around you: 

Sit yourself in the middle of a movie scene (all from terrifying films!)

 

and many, many more little adventures that combine to make this place a must-visit.

HOW WAS IT FOR HER?

When we first entered the build Bodie was acting like a little kid in a candy store telling me to try this, try that and and and! I’m starting to recognize a pattern that while he’s jumping around, I need to take it slower to take it all in better. So at first I just bounced around with him to see all the hidden spots that he’s so good at finding and then went back alone to devour the details.

Even though the build is mainly prims and sculpties, it’s really awesome. I think what really impressed me the most is that it’s created by one woman alone and the amount of details and hidden messages it entails.

While most of it is fun like a cool Kart race track, riding a bike, playing games and discovering hidden passages, there are more serious elements to be found as well such as a whole tunnel of photographs of violence, torture, war and political and religious statements.

It’s really interesting to look around and to decipher Sniper Siemens’ message for us with this build!

RATINGS:

1st Impressions?

Kiana: I had my eyes wide open just like I did the first time I entered the Greenies’ home over 6 years ago. I was really excited to see what all was going to be there.

Bodie: I was pleasantly surprised to see a nice-looking giant build for once and I knew it would be a special experience once I saw the quality of the textures and builds.

Interactivity:

Kiana: Tons to do! So so much that you can really spend hours and hours doing stuff.

Bodie: A+ for interactivity here. At every turn there is something neat to do, with the adventurous avatar taken into consideration.

Visuals:

Kiana: I loved looking at things from a totally different perspective here with me being so tiny and everything around me being so huge.

Bodie: Very nice visuals.Time and consideration was clearly put into making this build, and this really shines when exploring the sim.

Suitable for?

Kiana: Anyone! Just wouldn’t recommend the tunnel with the disturbing pictures to sensitive people.

 

Bodie: Maybe this isn’t a romantic place, but it is a surefire hit with anyone you decide to take here. For those who grow bored with a sim that only has one overarching theme, this place offers several activities that are sure to keep you entertained for a long while as you poke behind every corner.

 

INTERVIEW!

Kiana asked the creator, Sniper Siemens a few questions:

Kiana:  What is the purpose of this place? What do you want people to walk away with?

Sniper Siemens: We older avatar had a great fortune. We could see the Greenies Home of Rezzable group. The purpose of this place is  to give a chance to let everyone know about the Greenies Home or at least a similar copy.

K: Why did you decide to do a Tribute to the Greenies?

SS: I decided to do a tribute to the Greenies home because it is one of the few sim that impressed me. It was a real shame to lose it

K: How long did it take for you to build it?

SS: I spent about a month of my time.

K:  It's on a LEA sim, how long is it open for?

SS: The sim will close June 20

K: What kind of feedback do you get from people? Many people must not remember the Greenies.

SS: Firstly the surprise , even those who had the good fortune to see the Greenies home

K: There are surprises all over place and some are hard to find! What would you say are the 'must-sees' on this sim?

SS: I have noticed that many people do not really turn the sim.

The purpose of showing that there are secret places to discover is encourage people to be curious.

K: Who are the 'Mascotte' characters? What is their story?

SS: I could not use the Greenies. I created my personal mascotte. As the greenies even my aliens are curious, messy and funny.

K: I think I found a real life picture of you on the wall. Are you an artist in real life too?

SS: No I am a computer engineer in real life. Second Life is my little artistic side.

K: The build is mainly positive with a lot of fun things to try and do. However, there are some serious elements that make the visitors think as well. Why did you add the pictures of war, death and terrorism on there? What is your message?

SS: At the end of the corridor there is an alien who asks himself  "Who is the alien? Who is the human?" This is a provocation to the human race.
 

There is another provocative detail in the great room. A picture … Do you notice it ?  ehehehe

K: Anything you'd like to say to the readers?

SS: I would say to continue to believe in second life. Often I hear that second life is over.

I have seen so many people still work to create beautiful projects and I believe that this world still has a lot to say.

 

Hopping into Mediamorphosis

This is our awesome and mysterious vehicle called The Adventure Box. The way it works is that you go and take your positions inside of it and then tell the Box in three words what you would like to see. Then the Box chooses a Destination for the Adventure based on those words.

We chose three words: Fun, Artistic and Engaging, turned some levers, pushed a few buttons and held on to each other tightly.

The Adventure Box rattled and shook with loud sounds and spat us out to a place called:

Mediamorphosis

(MUST have streaming video allowed to properly experience)

Step into a mind melting experience and surround

yourself with sound, video and light! 

Created by Thoth Jantzen, this magical
installation is a mysterious place

of contrasts that appeals to all your senses. 

With six separate areas to see, you will leave feeling amazed. 

Enable media settings for a truly trippy time!

Instructions on landing: 

1. Walk forward into a star tunnel

2. Make sure ALL media is on

3. Click teleporter pad

4. Follow the arrows to your destiny

(make SURE music and video is playing by now)

 

5. Sit in the cocoon. tap escape twice

6. Turn up volume, sit back and enjoy

 

 

HOW WAS IT FOR HIM?

(Mediamorphosis through Bodie's eyes)



Best descriptive adjectives: trippy, groovy, meditative, delicious for the brain.

 

Mediamorphosis has more than meets the eye. It is a classic example of a sim that you might otherwise teleport off of if you have not taken the time to explore its nooks and crannies. Thoth Jantzen, the creator, uses video textures and music to sync up an experience across all visible surfaces that will make your brain throb happily. If you are a fan of music, psychedelic or meditative visual experiences, this is well worth a hop.

 

The sim itself is interesting, but the main event is in the viewing cocoons. Sit in them, take a deep breath, turn up your volume, and hit escape twice.

If you have time afterwards, make sure to pay a visit to the Hopper cafe. If you are a fan of art history you will recognize the scene immediately. Make sure to try the coffee -  no word yet on the secret ingredient, but it has a hell of a kick. The music continues as long as you want to hear it, with each track accompanied by a video on the glass windows of the diner.

 

HOW WAS IT FOR HER?
(Mediamorphosis through Kiana's eyes)

When I first entered this sim, I wasn’t sure what to expect at all. All that there was on the starting area is a white sphere and a door with space texture and pretty particles. I grabbed Bodie’s hand and let him drag me through the door. Entering the trippy tunnel behind it both dizzied and dazzled me.

As I walked through the tunnel I was curious to see where it would take me and I was a bit disappointed to see a little diner with glowing figures inside. Bodie was jumping around all excited looking for things but I kind of just shrugged and thought “oh well” let’s see if there’s more.

There actually is a CLEAR sign telling you to turn on your media and instructions on how to make the most of the experience but I must admit that I was too busy trying to get inside the ‘Hopper’ -diner to even look at those. Bodie was all in awe telling me to turn my media on and as soon as I did that, this bizarre music started..

“ I am a HAL 9000 computer. I became operational at the H.A.L.

plant in Urbana, Illinois on the 12th of January 1992.

My instructor was Mr. Langley, and he taught me to sing a song.

If you'd like to hear it I can sing it for you.

Yes, I'd like to hear it, HAL. Sing it for me.

It's called "Daisy."

I started to see strange patterns moving around to the beat and Bodie was already teleporting me to see things closer.. I was ignoring that though as I spotted really fascinating poems on the walls of the Diner and needed to give them a closer look.

I don’t know who this poem is by but its simplicity touched me. It's called Lost.

          Peace is something strange to me

a thing I’ll never find.

So I wander this world aimlessly

and slowly lost my mind.

Trust is something dear to me

but all they do is lie.

And always when I do believe

in the end I always cry.

 

I looked behind me and saw a pod that was just calling for me to sit on. The moment I did that the REAL experience began. An unexpected light show with particles just bounced in front of my eyes to this energetic music, making me move up and down in my chair, my eyes all wide of awe. I could truly feel that inside of me. I kept thinking.. WHY haven’t I heard of this place before?!


 

There are no words to truly describe this experience.

You must feel it.

Open your mind and let HAL 9000 rock you!

RATINGS:

1st Impressions:

Kiana: I loved the empty space with just one door to enter. It was like opening the wardrobe door to Narnia to experience something new and wonderful.

Bodie: When first walked into the door and saw the impressive, starry vortex, I knew there would be something cool about this sim.

Interactivity:

Kiana: An awesome musical particle bouncy show that makes you move in RL!

Bodie: While it’s possible to physically walk through the exhibits, the real experience is sitting in the viewing chair and watching. Interactivity is low in this respect, but does not detract from the sim’s experience. There are several interactive features on the sidewall of the diner that are worth checking out. Capturing the spinning QR code can prove challenging, but gives you a little message if scanned.

Visuals:

Kiana: Breathtaking, if you like bright lights and moving things and optical illusions.
Bodie: While there are no intricate builds here to write home about, the charm of this sim is in how the shapes and patterns are moved to create a really cool, trippy effect.

Suitable for:

Kiana: Maybe not for the first date, no chances to cuddle here! However, you do want to share this experience with someone close to you.
Bodie: When you want to just clear your mind and hear some interesting sounds and be inside a kaleidoscope.

FROM THE CREATOR'S MIND:

Bodie had a chance to talk with the creator of the sim: Thoth-Anubis (thoth.jantzen)

Bodie:  How long has your build been in-world?

Thoth-Anubis (thoth.jantzen): Mediamorphosis I think was installed in 2012.  (I've been inworld since 2006)

B: How did it first come about? I saw you are on the NMC campus - do they sponsor you?

T-A: I have two (apparently) permanent builds on NMC 0 Mediamorphosis and Simplexity. I also did a previous show there called Comosis before that.  so, you could say NMC sponsors some of my work...or Tayzia's just too nice or busy to tear it down.  ;)

B: Can you tell me a little about the audio and video that you use - why did you choose it, where did you find it/ who made it? We were definitely fans of the opening music.

T-A: I sort of fell into this art form while working up some sets for a magic thing I was playing with. I was experimenting with streaming media screens, and had two next to each other playing with them created some interesting patterns, and patterns are also interesting to me in other ways, and so I pursued that a bit more.
 

The audio and video selections vary. Sometimes it's just music videos, other times it's machinima made inworld by friends, and sometimes it's a cool video that makes nice patterns with a separate audio stream for ambience.

I also like to use demoscene videos - they can make awesome effects.

B: How long did it take to build? What was your inspiration? Was there any particular challenging part about the creation?

T-A: That was 'inspired' in different stages. In Inworldz, I made the "original" version of the nighthawks cafe...and I brought it to SL and set it up, began adding to it, and decided to make a more immersive experience with some other things I've done. For example, lumina and the wormhole entrance have been prize winners in other art contests, and it seems that combining them to make a crazy, disorienting and immersive environment would be nice, and I also made a couple of the other bits there on the spot while 'thinking' of how to set things up....

It took a few weeks to get it done.  most of it was done in about 10 days or so, but I kept tweaking this and that and trying different things until i ran out of time before the planned opening. ;)

B: What do you hope people walk away from your build with?

T-A: Well, I hope when people are there, they experience a few "wft? moments" and that they enjoy the experience. I hope they take away different things from differents aspects of it...that things are not always as they seem.... that reality is largely a combination of what it 'is', how we perceive it, and how we interpret it.

Click here to teleport to MEDIAMORPHOSIS