Category: Marketplace

Cats and lemurs living together? Mass hysteria!

Cats and lemurs living together? Mass hysteria!

by Lisa Millar ♥ 2 Comments

Well, it’s not quite Ghostbusters but I needed a catchy title for this post where I’m going to have a quick natter with you about some new virtual breedable pets that are on the grid. 

Back in the mists of time, when breedable pets originally launched on the grid,  I got really into the Ozimals Bunnies and Wildwood Cats. Then I got heavily into Amaretto Horses and Kitty Cats..and then I realised I was being a little bit too crazy with my addiction and nipped it in the bud. I was spending way too much real life money on this hobby that I couldn’t actually afford to spend.  I’m more sensible now and I tend to give the breedables a wide berth because I’ve realised that for me they are just too dangerously addictive , but I still love them.

Well, I checked out a couple of new virtual breedable pets this week and they couldn’t be more different to each other. 

First up are ‘Imaginimals’ which the perceptive among you will realise at first look are re-branded Wildwoods. If you don’t remember Wildwoods they were pretty awesome, as I hope this picture from 2010 demonstrates.. (Click here for some of my old Flickr cat piccies!)

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The name change is to reflect  that the focus  is not just on cats but about future releases too which will be other animals.  I’m not going to get into the politics of what happened to Wildwoods, but I will say that I loved the product.  I adored the way that they looked and I really enjoyed owning them, so I was keen to see what the re-launch had in store.  I trotted over and had a look around.  There are a few cats out in beta that you can take a closer look at there.

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My first impressions are somewhat mixed.  I love the shape of the body and I really like the majority of the textures that are being used for fur.  But the eyes aren’t a patch on the ones that the Wildwoods had; they seem duller by comparison.  The shape of the eye itself has changed too and it’s far less effective than the previous Wildwood eye shape.  I also dislike the ear shape that I saw, it is a bit pointy whereas the previous ear was more cat-like, in my opinion. The cats I viewed were of course in beta test so they may well change..I almost hope that it does.

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But then again, check out the picture above. Doesn’t this guy look great? When the cats are rolling around on the floor or in a seated pose they look rather grand and very regal, in the way that only cats can, but the walking movement was a bit of a letdown; it is best described as a strange forward-moonwalk trot/shuffle combination. I think the product needs a little more work but that’s the blessing of beta-testing, you can iron out the quirks before launch day.   One final positive that I noted from my visit to the Imaginimals sim were the kittens.  They actually birth kitten shapes, rather than boxes. These would look great in a basket and I envision that’s how many breeders will choose to sell them, they’re not especially detailed although I do I think it’s a nice touch.

I really rate some of the animations in the cats.  The sleeping pose is really incredibly sweet as I hope the shot above demonstrates.  I watched a Siamese slumber and it looked very natural for a stylised virtual cat! (If I was being hyper critical I’d say that it was breathing a little bit too fast..but perhaps it was dreaming?)

Do I think Kittycats should be shaken by this new feline competitor?

Absolutely not. I think Kittycats are well-established and successful for a number of reasons, not just because of their excellent product. They offer the full package, the cats look sensational, and the team behind them is justly proud of their excellent customer service and have a dedicated Kittycat community which would prove hard to break. I certainly think Kittycats have the edge when it comes to animations as well. That said, a bit of competition is very good for the consumer, so I don’t begrudge Imaginimals giving it another shot at all.  This time I just hope that they have a more structured customer service in place and will be able to deal with their clientele more effectively, but I do wish them well and look forward to seeing the finished product at launch.

I sincerely hope however that a fresh start with a re-imagined product means they will be more respectful to their customers and provide a full customer support service which is keen to respond to questions when asked.

This has not always been the case, as this post from the excellent Breedables Inc. blog clearly proves.

When people pay money for a product, service is paramount, something that Kittycats CSR reps prove time and again. I hope Imaginimals can endeavour to follow that example so the past does not repeat itself.

In total contrast are the Zooby Lemurs.

Now, I love lemurs.  There is an amazing wildlife park within driving distance to me that has a  walk-through lemur enclosure, and it is outstanding. (There’s also a very good one at Blackpool Zoo of all places, my father-in-law got licked by a very affectionate Red-Ruffed Lemur while we were there!)   Being surrounded by lemurs chilling and basically enjoying themselves is a very enjoyable and humbling experience. They are truly amazing animals and to see them brought to the grid as a breedable pet is really quite exciting.  Team that with the fact that these are made by Zoobys and you have a dazzling breedable prospect. I mean, let’s face it, Zooby’s creates the best animals on the grid; they are always beautifully built and rendered and the textures that are used to coat the creatures are just bang on.

For me Zooby’s is the epitome of virtual animal creation in-world. 

But I felt a bit disappointed when I visited the sim and just saw a lot of boxes and information and a couple of gorgeous, but static lemurs…

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Don’t get me wrong, the location where the lemurs are located  is great and the builds fabulous ( I love the temple styling and the way the product is boxed and presented) but if I’m  going to spend money on these  I need to see them moving around and doing Lemur stuff..

As gorgeous as they are, and believe me they REALLY are outstanding looking things, seeing them in a static pose does not encourage me to want to buy them.

Fortunately  I bumped into a guy who was carrying his new Lemur and he told me that they were great virtual pets; they move about beautifully and follow you around at home too. He was really satisfied and excited by them.  It was great to see him so enthused, so please Carrie Tatsu and Zooby Vella, let a few of the little fellas loose on the sim so we can get a better feel for these stunning virtual critters! Because I mean, just LOOK at them..

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A tempting prospect aren’t they? Click HERE to visit Imaginimals and see the cats, and HERE to visit Zooby’s and see the Lemurs.

What do you think? Post your comments, how do you feel seeing the Imaginimals beta-cats and what do you think to the Zooby Lemurs? I’d be really interested in your thoughts, please add them below!

(A final note: I found a FANTASTIC BREEDABLE BLOG when I was mooching around the interwebz seeking links for this article. If you’re at all interested in Second Life Breedables, you must check it out.  It’s curated by a lady called Aywren Sojourner and it’s an incredibly useful resource and interesting read to boot.)

Kitty Loves ‘The Etienne Set’ From Atelier Visconti

Kitty Loves ‘The Etienne Set’ From Atelier Visconti

by Lisa Millar ♥ 8 Comments

Atelier Chair

(Click on any image to enlarge)

I talk about texture a lot on the blog, but that’s because it’s so important. I mean, it’s one of the most essential elements of successful Second Life design, and it continues to amaze me when I come across shoddily manufactured items on sale, with textures that look like they’ve been dragged from a bargain basement bin. Why would you want to pay for an inferior product when a few Lindens more can get you something sensational?  

A lot of people seem to think that because this is a virtual world everything should be cheap and cheerful and if that’s the way you want to play then that’s fine, but for me I get a real buzz out of something when it has clearly been crafted and worked upon with great care and sympathy towards the finished product. It doesn’t matter what it is, if the quality is there it will speak volumes about the creator, and of course about the eventual owner.

Today I’m sharing with you a collection of furniture that really evokes these quality principles. Nothing could be simpler in Second Life than making a sofa, chair and table combination but this is where a designer worth their onions can make a huge impact. It’s not just about the shape, but also about the texture, functionality and the overall quality of the finished product.  Rather than a ‘bish, bash, bosh made it lets sell it’ approach, the conscientious content-creator will take their time and the results will naturally reflect this.

The Etienne Set from Atelier Visconti is a prime example of this ethos and features  beautiful workmanship at a very reasonable price. This is an original mesh set aimed at outdoor dining, featuring a gazebo with delicate gauze curtains, a sofa,armchair, side table, low table and lanterns. It’s a perfect blend of quality elements with the textures that Stephan Visconti has selected  for this piece turning it into a sensation.

The cushions are a gloriously comfortable spread of materials on a sturdy wicker base. The cloth textures look like a mixture of cotton, and I think some linen as well.  The placement of textures and shadows along with the combination of fabrics mean that this sofa and chair look really relaxing and cozy but with a contemporary edge.  I want to sit on this in real life, desperately. (We have a shop in my home-town that sells furniture like this but it’s well out of my price range and I’ve always wanted some. Now I’ve got some, sorta..YAY!)

Etienne Sofa And Chair

What is even better is that the sofa fabrics can be changed to suit your own tastes. That’s actually a bit of an understatement really, because there are 24 textures resulting in 432 colour combinations. YIKES!  (I didn’t do the maths!) This means you can chop and change your furniture look to suit mood and setting. All of the choices are equally excellent, and it’s fabulous fun selecting options from the HUD (great hud too, nice and easy to use!) to co-ordinate and contrast.

Etienne features quite a classical, muted colour-palette which I really like; the trend at present is for really loud hues but I like something that will look the part for a long time to come.  In particular I really rate the patterned cushions with their floral design because they aren’t overpowering and don’t take away from the look of the overall piece.

Incidentally there’s another thoughtful touch, and that is that the chair and sofa have separate texture HUDS ; this means that you can really contrast your furniture pieces and create a look that’s unique to you.

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But the quality isn’t just limited to the larger furniture pieces; it extends to the tables too. These are both stone topped tables  adorned with excellent marble textures. Both the side table and low table feature different furniture patterns yet both work wonderfully together and are enhanced by the lanterns; one lit and one static that can be placed in or around the setting to create a gentle ambience. Not only that, but they’re juxtaposed perfectly with their  elegant Verdigris  framework that also extends to the foot of the sofa and chairs; and to the stunning, elegant Gazebo.

The Etienne Set is a creation that has lots of ‘zoomability’; and you will take great photographs using these pieces  as your setting and  I recommend that  using these pieces you do just that. 

But it’s not just about appearance, it’s about function too, and the sofa and chair both have an extensive range of poses for males, females and couples.  When I say extensive, I’m under-playing it a little. There are 54 animations in the sofa (31 single, 23 friends/couples) and 33 in the chair (23 singles/10 couple) That’s an astonishing amount and yet again a further example of the quality of this piece.  The poses are all excellent too, with a few quirky choices thrown in.  For example there’s a nice lean onto the wicker arm, and a great pose called ‘curler’ which is me when I’ve got a hangover. (Try it; you’ll see exactly where I am coming from!)

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It should be apparent by now dear reader that once you rez this furniture you’ll instantly see that a lot of thought, time and care has gone into its production and that’s something that I really value as a customer.  Be assured that Etienne is going to win admiring glances from your peers, and it’s going to be extremely popular to get comfy on too.  I don’t think it’s limited to being an outdoor piece either, exclude the gazebo and you have furniture that will work extremely well in a living room setting.

For now mine is erected on my patio, facing over the water. I can sit under my gazebo and gaze into the Second Life night sky as the stars begin to  twinkle and it feels really good.

 And that after all isn’t that what life it is all about; real or virtual?

I cannot recommend Etienne enough, please go and see if for yourself by clicking HERE.

Set containing ALL pieces (Gazebo, Sofa, Armchair, Side Table, Low table and lanterns(on static, one lit) has a total land impact of 28 and will set you back a mere L$1700.  Which is a ruddy bargain for  original mesh of such quality. Pieces are also available individually too. 

Bazar Floria Dining (Avatar Blogger Crossfit Challenge(Entry 26 of 30))

Bazar Floria Dining (Avatar Blogger Crossfit Challenge(Entry 26 of 30))

by Lisa Millar ♥ 1 Comment

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(Click on the picture to enlarge and have a closer look at the table layouts!)

I swear I’m not a one woman Bazar appreciation society, I really do, BUT when Ria Bazar Mavendorf keeps dropping awesome on the grid then I’m going to rave about it. 

A few weeks ago I blogged the Floria bedroom. I instantly fell in love with it, and it’s still laid out in my house looking awesome. I’ve added a few pieces to it to compliment but I can honestly say I’ve never been happier with my virtual sleepy-place.

So when Ria sent me a box called ‘Floria Dining Room’ I kind of had an inkling as to what the contents would be. If they were in keeping with the bedroom, then there would be romantic lines and feminine touches brought together with grace and class. I wasn’t wrong. 

Floria Dining has the same styling as the matching bedroom, and features a table, chairs, chandelier, dresser and a potted plant.  Like the bedroom before it the furniture is colour change, so you get TONS of options for your Lindens, although it has to be said that the pink and blue colour schemes that are included may well prove to be too much for some.  (They were for me, hence I haven’t photographed them!) I do get the feeling that they will go down very well with the Lolita crowd, and leaving the pastels to one side you still get plenty of colour options to play with including dark and light wood, black and white solid colour and complimentary striped colour schemes too.

The dresser is elegant and includes tableware and glasses.  The chandelier matches the sconces in the Floria Bedroom and is just the right height for an intimate dinner party setting.  The light can be turned off and on, and is also colour change too, a thoughtful touch.  The potted plant is, to be honest, a little disappointing.  The pot is great but the plant isn’t anything to write home about especially.  But that’s a minor quibble, because on the whole this is a quality dining set and that’s proven when you sit at the table to begin your feast.

The table can accommodate 2, 4 or 6 persons. It’s menu controlled, and you have a choice of tea and cake, wine or coffee. When you rez your selection the table comes to life and it’s a sight for sore eyes. It’s beautifully decorated with linens, cutlery, flowers and foodstuffs depending upon the setting.

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There are candles, and cheeses and oh my goodness you should see the chocolate cake!! It’s utterly resplendent, incredibly posh and luxurious and the whole ensemble works beautifully in both a formal home setting and a more modern environment.  I absolutely adore it, and the visual feast is enhanced by the animations that you can select from the chairs, and of course you’re automatically issued with cutlery, glasses and all the tableware you need to attach to your avatar and fully live the dinner party experience.

The’ Floria Dining Set’ proves yet again that Ria Bazar Mavendorf is a thoughtful designer because she always adds quality finishing touches to her furniture items, and each time she issues a new release it leaves me longing for more.

I’ve become so enamoured with the brand that I confess it’s made me greedy, but when creative work is consistently this good it’s to be expected. I’m wondering now if there are going to be further additions to the Floria series, such as a Living Room and Bathroom ,and if there are I can see them proving to be exceptionally popular with individuals whose taste in Second Life home furnishings is a little more classical than contemporary…

BUT as I said previously  it does work in a modern setting. For my pictures I actually rezzed my absolute favourite skybox, ‘Apartment C’ from Commoner.  This build is based upon Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment from ‘Sex and the City’ and it’s a fabulous dwelling.  It is beautifully open plan, with kitchen and bathroom included, along with a closet to absolutely die for. (If you’re a fan of the show it’s a must have!) I rezzed the Floria Dining Room in the skybox, and just added a few cat prints in Barnesworth Anubis’s  fabulous ‘Four Frame Grid (Oak)’ et voila! A stunning look for formal dining in a casual setting, and I love it.  What do you think?

Click here to teleport to Bazar to experience Floria Dining for yourself!

STOP PRESS: There is indeed a kitchen too! WEEE! 

 

The Cutout Chair Series from Bazar (Avatar Blogger Crossfit Challenge(Entry 19 of 30))

The Cutout Chair Series from Bazar (Avatar Blogger Crossfit Challenge(Entry 19 of 30))

by Lisa Millar ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Image(Cutout Chair No.1)

You know there’s one thing I really,  REALLY love about being a blogger.  

It’s when you’re lucky enough to have a designer drop a package on you to preview.

Those moments as you open the box and start to rezz the contents as you speculate what marvels await your earthly gaze. It’s a TANTALISING feeling, it really is.

I was chuffed  to receive a surprise from Ria Bazar Mavendorf today, and it floored me.

As regular Kittywitchin’ readers are by now well aware, Ria’s one of my favourite creators, so I was in effect receiving a package from one of  my virtual heroes! A rare privilege indeed.

So because I’m already accustomed to Ria’s style, I wasn’t worried about the contents of the parcel, because I know that Ria is an excellent content creator, hence my returning  to her store, and why I happily live in her Arizona House.  Suffice to say as a customer I am confident in Ria’s designing capability, so I knew that whatever was hiding in the box would be a ‘wonderful thing’.

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(Cutout Chair No.2)

Turns out it was three wonderful things that are her latest releases,  the perfectly named ‘Cutout Chairs’, and readers, I love them. They remind me of the chairs we had in school; one sheet of bonded plywood on metal legs. They were chairs that we used to pick at and scribble upon and stick massive globs of gum underneath.  (We were pretty disrespectful of the equipment in school, it has to be said. I’m not proud.) In fact they’re so realistic that as soon as I saw these chairs I could almost smell them, you know? They look perfect in every detail that they evoked that sense for me, and even had me recalling the sound those metal legs make when scraped across the floor to antagonize a teacher! How’s that for a real-life memory triggered by a virtual creation? (Awesome!)

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But of course what make these chairs far superior to the real thing are the cut-out designs within each one.  They really are rather special indeed. Chair number one features an elegant  female silhouette, with the female figure gazing at a butterfly.  Chair number two has a vibrant, modern motif that to my eyes is reminiscent of tribal tattoo designs, and chair number three appears to be the most traditional of the group, bearing a pattern that suggests  a modern, rounded take on a Fleur De Lys theme. It’s a little Art Deco too, and out of the three I think this one is most suited to traditionally styled homes.

Ria could have crafted these mesh marvels and fitted them with a bog-standard sitting animation and they would still have been leagues above their peers.  Instead she’s gone the extra mile, and you’ll find that each one is stacked to the brim with animations, something that Ria is incredibly generous with in her builds.

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Not only do you have nine male and nine female animated sits in each, but there are eight couples poses and seven ‘misc’ poses too, and of course they’re all great fun. The misc poses include wearable props for all kinds of chair based activities such as knitting, embroidery, surfing the web, browsing  a tablet, drinking coffee and reading a magazine. Every pose is perfectly realised and the props just add that extra touch of authenticity to proceedings.

I had so much fun posing using these chairs, but they’re much more fun with a friend, so I enlisted the help of Jez so that we could test out the couples animations. It was at that point that I realised that while the singular poses are good,  these chairs really come alive when couples use them together! 

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You will create some lovely romantic scenes together with this furniture.  The animation sequences feel very loving and proved really enjoyable to use as a couple.  I played around with them, as you do, and to my joy I discovered that if I used the poses as a single, with Jez using the couples poses, we could create even more interesting scenarios. If you’re in any way interested in Second Life photography and modelling then  these chairs should find a place in your home, without a doubt.

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And speaking of photographs, if you’re blessed with a strong enough graphics card the results will  prove extraordinary if you use windlight settings heavy on shadows. Alas my graphics card isn’t *quite* good enough, but I did the best I could for the photos on show here, and I do hope I’ve done the chairs justice. 

What else can I tell you about them? Well, each chair comes in a variety of wooden textures (Brown, Dark, Light and White) and they will probably go on sale tomorrow (Friday 21st June) Unfortunately I don’t know how much they will cost, but I do know that they’re original mesh and I think they’re terribly exciting. I expect to see them featured in lots of blog posts in the near future, because I think they’ll really lend themselves well to interior design.

The Cutout Chairs are beautiful form with lots of extra fabulous function, and I think that regardless of price, they’re certainly going to prove to be a worthy investment for your virtual home. Click HERE to visit BAZAR.