Remembering Mal Burns

Mal Burns died a few days ago, and if that comes as a bit of a shock, you're not alone. 

The news of his passing has with much dismay and sadness rippled across Opensim, where he had his home, and in Second Life, where he got his start in virtual worlds in February 2007. A vital piece of our virtual network is now missing. 

From his earliest days in virtual worlds,
Mal always loved to see a beautifully landscaped sim.

News aggregator, videographer, talk show host, critic, builder, intrepid traveler, and all round communicator, in Mal's eyes virtual worlds were an opportunity to discover one another, to be better, more creative, and to stay in touch with the people who matter to us, despite the challenges of our far flung real lives. 

In a world where most people's pronouncements on social media are all about themselves, Mal kept the focus on others, on the places and projects that he found fascinating. He probably would be a bit embarrassed to think that people were reading and talking about him, rather than some cool new sim or innovative development in virtual worlds.

Mal will no doubt be memorialized in Second Life and of course RL. As you know, this blog is about Opensim, so the focus of this article is to share comments by a few Opensim friends of Mal, their words represent hundreds of voices from all over the hyperverse. 

Let's start with James Atlloud and Tosha Tyran, Mal's current co-hosts on his talk show Inworld Review. It's worth pointing out that the original 'Inworld Review' - an offshoot of other talk shows Mal produced and presented - first aired on January 13, 2013 in SL, with Tara Yates and Petlove Petshop.  The show was revived in Opensim in 2018 with Maria Korolov as co-host beside Mal and James, at Mal's studio on the Great Canadian Grid.

James and Mal on Inworld Review, 2025

James Atlloud: My relationship with Mal was a unique and amazing journey.  In YouTube production there were times I became so irritated with him! I’m also sure he had those moments with me, and even so we made it all work - just like so many of us do in virtual worlds.  I will miss him more than I can say and I know I’m in a huge community of people who will never forget his influence on our lives.

Mal and Tosha

Tosha Tyran: "Stop eating on stage, stop swearing, stop smoking..." Mal wrote me in an IM on a Safari-trip at the Strawberry Fields region [on Dorenas World] just before inviting me very gallantly to dance to the music of the Beatles. "Well," he answered to my somewhat surprised and amused question, "that's one of the first tips, Epstein, a long time manager of the Beatles, gave to them." It was the beginning of our friendship full with discussions, explorations and laughter. Thank you for the advice, Mal! I surely have followed it - well, except for the swearing maybe. Have a good journey and rest in power, my friend!

Petlove Petshop: I met Mal a few years after I started in Second Life in 2006.  He was probably the second or third person I met who had any interest in filming.  I learned so much through my work with him during the next 7 or 8 years, and met many of the people who literally enriched my life by providing wonderful opportunities to exercise my own creativity through him.  He was a rock and I will miss him!

Mal on Moonrose grid dancing with
grid owner Chrissy Coage (left) and (right) the lovely Loru Destiny

Alongside his talk show Inworld Review, and long running news roundup MBTV, Mal was also a founder member of the Hypergrid International Expo. Here's Mal's original build for the HIE auditorium, it was used on Craft grid in 2017, 2023 and 2024.

the Hypergrid International Expo auditorium on Craft Grid, in 2024

Mal also had a long and productive association with the OSCC or Opensim Community Conference, organized every year by Avacon since 2012. He helped out there in a variety of ways. He moderated panels with opensim developers, and even lent his voice to a NPC storytelling presentation, with Nara 'Nook' Malone and her writer's group. In December 2024, Mal had the job of interviewing Philip Rosedale. 

Although Mal and Philip knew each other pretty well, Mal confessed that the idea of interviewing him in front of a big crowd, and at rather short notice, was a nerve wracking experience! But he handled it with style and it was undoubtedly the highlight of the conference. And yes, there was a camp fire on stage. Another of Mal's quirky, memorable ideas. If you'd like to see the video of that 'fireside chat' interview, click here.

Mal made the best use of his time on HG Safari tours by filming the regions we visited, and getting to know hosts so he could invite them on his show, or at least to highlight their regions during his roundup of recent travels. 

Guests on the Inworld Review were often nervous, and Mal was great at putting people at their ease, with a kind word or a joke that just made them feel at home. Doing so opened many doors. Opensim is a fragmented platform where communication is often lacking, and unlike the rather more brash denizens of SL, Opensim folk are notoriously shy and unwilling to push themselves forward. Thanks to Mal's Youtube show, builders and community organizers in Opensim found their voices, made new friends, and gained recognition for their work. And Mal's sense of humor and kindliness kept the conversation light. For example...

Star Ravenhurst: My last interview with Mal, he asked me like an hour or two before the show...very last minute ...at first I hesitated, but I knew he needed a guest to show up or he wouldn't have asked me. So even though I was very nervous since I had no time to really prepare properly, I agreed to do it. I am glad I did it and his support of me of me over the years is something I will always be thankful for, and I am glad I was able to support him when he needed it.

Cherry Manga: Mal's voice was instantly recognizable, a considerable and inexhaustible flow of words. He had an endearing personality, mixing curiosity, humor and sharing. 

Dinkies interview on Inworld Review, March 2025

Sofee Giano: Being one of Mal's last guests was an unexpected honor — one I never imagined would carry such emotional weight. Mal wasn’t just a host of discussions; he was a cornerstone of the OpenSim community. His curiosity, sharp wit, and genuine passion for people created a space where voices could be heard, where ideas could flourish, and where community thrived. Week after week, he brought insight, connection, and heart to every conversation, reminding us why this virtual world — and the people in it — matter so deeply. 

Some Opensim guests go way back, like Cataplexia Numbers, of AMV. Here's a pic of her and Mal on Metaworld News from 2018 - hey that avie of Mal's is a period piece! As stated above, different iterations of his chat show go back much longer than that, and you can find a treasure trove of those old episodes on his Youtube channel MalBurnsMetaworld .

Cataplexia Numbers: The legacy of Mal's shows is an extended time capsule that captures all he ever met with and interviewed. He was a true friend who bridged the gaps between all of our virtual world grids and will never be forgotten!

Mal and Cataplexia in 2018

The home of Inworld Review on OSgrid was sim Exupery, donated to HG Safari by Unadecal Masala and up until a few months ago it was the place where every Sunday you'd find Mal and his co-hosts and guests gathered up in the sky for an informed and amusing conversation.

Unadecal Masala: Mal was a veteran of Opensim, a pioneer, an ambassador for virtual worlds in general, and Opensim in particular. He collaborated in many projects designed to educate people on the current state and possible future of Opensim. His Inworld Review Youtube podcast showcased much of the best sim building and all major events that took place around the Hypergrid. His dedication to Opensim was exemplary. I will miss him.

Mal dives in during an underwater tour with Safine Mahoe

Mal was a supporter and regular attender of HG Safari tours almost from the start back in 2014, and he was never afraid to get involved with the activities, whether it was a case of underwater... is that yoga?  hmm not sure...

 ...or piloting some strange flying machine, like this one on Fred Beckhusen's region Silent Refueling, on Outworldz grid.  You'd often see him standing still during a tour because he was filming, so sometimes he would seem inattentive while in reality he was highly invested in the place we were visiting. 

Mal was never afraid to make new friends - this one on Neverworld grid

Inworld Review was never 'just' about one grid, it was always beyond that, and Mal welcomed news and views from all corners of the hyperverse, and that's probably why everyone feels so strongly attached to Mal's work. 

Cherry Manga has made a little figurine available on Cherry Freebies as a salute to Mal's adventurous spirit and his place at the heart of HIE, and Bloom Peters is working on one of her Midi songs for him.  Wolf Territories plans to have a memorial space for him, and on Neverworld Grid, where Inworld Review had a studio for about a year, he will be celebrated too. 

Govega Sachertorte: Mal was a champion of opensim, enthusiastically exploring, and learning and then sharing changes to our virtual worlds.   He was also a friend and will be sorely missed by me. We will be creating a parcel for all to leave their thoughts, objects and pictures of Mal in Opensim Memorial Gardens, in Neverworld.  hg.neverworldgrid.com:8002:opensim memorial gardens. 

Mal's last creation, his sim Inworld Review, on Craft.

In the Spring of this year, Mal got the wonderful opportunity of having a whole sim to build on, called Inworld Review, on Craft grid. He loved it. Tosha Tyran made this possible, together with grid owner Licu Rau.

Today, you too can visit the incredibly detailed landscape he put together with many features that recall places he had visited all over opensim.  The address is at the bottom of the post. James and Petlove have organized an easy to follow tour that will take you to all the main points of interest. You can watch a video of the final Inworld Review which is dedicated to a tour of the sim, and a few thoughts on Mal's legacy in Opensim. 

Mal's dear friend and partner Tara Yeats passed away in 2021. The picture shown above was featured in the opening credits of Inworld Review for years after her passing, showing just how much he missed her. 

Separated by half a world in RL, Mal and Tara's long lasting bond of affection and sympathy was extraordinary, and they spent hours online just shooting the breeze, grumbling, exploring, and pottering about in virtual spaces. 

I like to think that now they're finally back together, chatting and laughing into infinity.

HG Address: craft-world.org:8002:Inworld Review