I just returned from one of my most enjoyable 2nd life experiences. I got there from the link on Alx’s blog:
When I arrived there were 3 other people standing around, which was itself a rarity. We tried to chat, but they were Italian so it didn’t go far. However, what I liked best was that there was a tour of the island. By clicking on the big chair outside the landing station, you can choose a language and get an aerial guided tour. Quite a pleasant experience, like flying but controlled by the program. It was a strange merging between feeling embodied and disembodied at the same time. In mouselook it was much more realistic.
Unfortunately, the tour isn’t interactive, which would have kicked it up to another level and a still more embodied experience as true participant instead of passive observer. I asked a question about the “artificial life experiments” they were doing, which the tour guide mentions, I got no reply. However, I did get some sense of what the place had to offer, what the major landmarks are, and the general topography. I got the landmark card and will return to explore another time.
In my mind this is a huge improvement over wandering aimlessly trying to figure out what’s going on, and what options are available. More “newbie” friendly places should provide something like this.
ps – if you take the tour, be sure to switch to mouselook – it’s a much better experience.
pps – If you go back to Art Metropole, be sure to touch the chained down floating simulation of Jean Beaudrillard right outside. He offers many interesting quotations of his ideas with each touch (right click, or option-click Mac)
