A home of his own.. «

A home of his own..

June 3, 2008 by Kitty O'Toole

As I mentioned a few posts ago, my RL Dad is in SL. LeapyLee Cliffhanger, as he is called, is doing amazingly well for a newbie, and I’m really proud of him. He’s especially enjoying hanging around ‘The Pig’n'Horn’ in Penryn. I think he likes the mad atmosphere and the..erm..animals? LOL ( Don’t we all) I decided I’d give him a few weeks in world to see if he’d stick at it, and I’m so proud to say that he has. With this in mind then, I’ve decided to treat him to his own pad, and it’s something I’ve had my eyes on for a looonnnggg time, but I couldn’t justify the expense..but hey, it’s my Dad..had to treat him, huh?I don’t know what it is about apartments, but ever since the Halifax ad in the late 1980′s (Remember it? A gorgeous guy lives in a stunning Docklands flat and ‘Easy like Sunday morning’ by The Commodores is playing in the background) I’ve wanted one. There’s something so cosy and romantic about them, even though it’s in an urban environment. Anyways, ages ago I was on SL Exchange mooching around when I discovered THIS
Isn’t it beautiful? It’s called ‘The Lodo Loft’ by Ravish Tyne, and cost the princely sum of L$1500. Now before you balk at the cost, let’s have a look at what you get, which is this deliciously textured and beautifully lit creation, replete with pictures and windows featuring a selection of views. You can choose from various cityscapes such as New York, Tokyo, Istanbul and Glagow, but it won’t be those that capture you so much as the lighting. The reflection from the windows into your room is quite simply breathtaking…It’s amazing that someone has been able to capture the light so beautifully and it is without a doubt one of the best effects that I have ever seen in a SL build. It’s almost worth having one of these just so you can bask in the faux light..it’s that wonderful ( set lighting to midday for best effects) The three framed pictures on the wall are changeable to match your mood, and you can add your own textures should you wish. The menu’s aren’t glitchy, it rezzes quickly and easily and the notecard is exceptionally easy to follow…All in all, it’s sky-box perfection:) Of course, I’ve kitted it out with all sorts of blokey furniture, including a bar, but I’ll share that with you at a later date…
If you want to try apartment living out for yourself pop along to Fivepenny where you can test this out out before you buy. I promise you, you won’t be disappointed.

Posted in Kitty O'Toole, Metaverse, Second Life, second life blogs, second life fashion, second life resident blogs, second life websites, secondlife, virtual worlds | Tagged lodo loft, ravish tyne | 6 Comments

6 Responses

on June 4, 2008 at 6:13 am | Reply Peter Stindberg

Well, trying to dampen your enthusiasm here a bit, the process of creating those light effects is rather straightforward. The building is a simple box, so what its designer most likely did was build a box of same dimensions in a RL §D application like 3D Studio Max, Cinema 4d, Blender or Maya. He then selected or painted the UNLIGHTED textures for the walls. That in fact must have been quite some work, since they are truly good. The next step is fairly easy again, as the designer simply used “light sources” within the 3D application, and placed them in 3D space around his build. In a final process called “texture baking”, the 3D application renders the whole scene and applies lighting and shadows, and saves those along with the textures. The designer then as 6 textures with correct light and shadow effects, which he then places on the prims in SL.

I do not say this is no work at all. I do not say one does not need experience to do so. I myself have worked with this technology, and my results look not as convincing as these.
What I DO say however, is that the light/shadow effects are no magic, and in fact only a minor part in the whole process.

I’d chose the Glasgow version
on June 4, 2008 at 8:00 am | Reply Kitty

Ahh, but you don’t realise that I have no concept of creating anything like this at all, so that’s why I’m so wowed about it:)) What can I say, when I like something I get all enthusiastic about it:)
I tend to clap my hands with glee.
A lot…
Think 4 year old in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory and you kind of get the picture, LOL
So, regardless of whether it’s easy to do or not, I think it works perfectly and I love it to pieces.
=^..^=
PS This is why Jez hates going shopping with me in RL, LOL. Rotten chuff won’t buy me a bubble machine from the ELC that I saw last week…bubbles! Oh so pretty!”
on June 4, 2008 at 11:46 am | Reply Deedee Fadoodle

Well Otoole, you’ve done it again. I may have to get me one of these apartments! I can look out over New York, all day!

I have no concept of creating things in SL either, and am impressed by people who can.. no matter how ‘smiple’ it may be!!

xxx
on June 4, 2008 at 2:25 pm | Reply praddles

Guess who has a similar thing coming out soon.. but *better*..
on June 4, 2008 at 2:59 pm | Reply Kitty otoole

Ooh are you giving any out free to frequent (ass licking) bloggers?
Purely for review purposes….natch;P

=^..^=
on June 4, 2008 at 3:36 pm | Reply Deedee Fadoodle

Ooh I might have to wait for Praddles’ apartment!