Thursday, May 16, 2024

The Last of Boston

 The Last of Boston is a zombie game based on the TV show The Last of Us on Neverworld Grid.
The build was due to be our first destination in this special 10 anniversary Safari tour, but,  the code gremlins got active in the inner workings of Neverworld's opensimulator on this occasion, The usual suspects of Safari all showed up at the clubhouse, ready to go see the Boston sights, but instead it was a nice excuse to hear people share some of their feelings about our trips (and complain about the seats at the clubhouse - these people have no stamina!) It's been 10 years since our first forays into the unknown, with so many crashes and uncertainties in the planning and executing of our guided tours, so there was something appropriate about our last minute crisis. That's happened so many times it's a bit of a miracle when things all work out perfectly, as they often do.
But regardless of the stress related to trying to make these trips happen, I'd like to thank everyone who has joined us for their good humored patience and generally upbeat approach to Safari trips, no matter what they bring. After all, this is all about the people. If you want perfection, there are thousands of impersonal video games out there. 

Safari turns Ten

 This week marked ten years since the first ever Safari trip and we celebrated at the Safari region on Avacon grid, with a special installation in the sky showing a few of the places we have visited, and revisited, over the years.
It was lovely to welcome to the party sim both people who have been with the event from its earliest days, like Nara and Neo and Alan and lifted pixel, as well as relative newcomers like Lynnestra and Alexey, plus many who are both regular Safari trippers and also hosts. As the tee shirt says, the 'liberty, variety, and instability' of virtual worlds continue to be challenging motors for change and expression and endless surprise across the hyperverse.  And so many, many great places still to see.

Thursday, May 9, 2024

Safari Goes to See Ocean

 Our second stop this week was another first for the Safari, the grid Ocean, founded by Akata Ocean, which at first blush one might think of as a French grid - it certainly is distinctly francophone, but in reality there's much more to their story... isn't that always the case?  That's what makes meeting grid owners and residents so interesting. As always the address of the place is at the end of the post.
Our guide today was Eli Funt, she speaks both French and perfect English, so she was deputed to lead the tour.
Many other Ocean locals were on hand to meet us when we arrived on Accueil,  their modern Welcome region.

Everlove

The Safari's first ever visit to GermanWorldGrid was ever so lovely... we had the opportunity to tour sim Everlove, in company with Emma Florido, who together with her lovely husband Mick owns this gorgeous place. Many grid residents came along to join us, and it was really lovely not only to see beautiful pixels but also to glimpse the great atmosphere of friendship and fun that this grid clearly represents.
Emma Florido
Emma Florido: Hello everybody we welcome you at the Germanworld grid in Everlove
Drangur Kray: Willkommen zusammen
Emma Florido: im proud today to have you all here and i thank everyone for coming. I want to let you know a little bit of the history from germanworldgrid
Emma Florido: Germanworldgrid was founded by my husband Mick Florido in April 2019 because virtual life has always been one of his big hobbies and he wanted to offer residents from different countries a home. Over the years he gained a lot of experience and met many interesting people.
James atLLOUD: Wow, big group!
Rosi Taler: ⋞⋞⋞ ✜ ├┤ⓐllⓞ ✜ ⋟⋟⋟

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Into the 3rd Wind

 It's almost here!!
The 3rd Rock Grid community  - they're retiring that name and going with "3rd Wind", wind being the next element after rock - are moving to an enclave on Zetaworlds grid.
This decision was taken after a lot of thought not only about finances but also grid security, size, and atmosphere. Considering how many different solutions were proposed to them, it's fair to say it wasn't an easy decision, which speaks well to the amazing solidarity and opportunities that opensim offers these days.
3rdRock Grid will become the
3rd Wind Community located on
Zetaworlds Grid
What was the best and the worst part of this experience? I asked two well-known members of the community, David and Alia, to give me some background.
David7 Bravin: The worst is on course the fact that 3rd Rock Grid is having to close after so many years. The best thing that has happened is that Alia Soulstar took up the challenge and has managed to find the 3RG Community a new home on ZetaWorlds
Alia Soulstar: Yes,  it was an extremely hard decision. 
David7 Bravin
Thirza Ember: how did the transition process work ?

Thursday, May 2, 2024

Karsten's Crafts

A nice techy-fun filled ride around today for our first stop on Safari where we got to learn (and mostly we learned that none of us should be let loose with vehicles of any kind) and that's always a bonus when you combine it with good friends and some hilarious scenes. We were on Pangea Grid - fill HG Address, as always at the end of the post - in an unusual venue for us, someone's private sandbox. Tat someone, Karsten Runningbear, a vital part of the Pangea Grid team, he is a scripter of talent, and many of the fine builders on the grid, like Bink Draconia, Tutz Zabelin, and Lampithaler Artist, just to mention three, rely on Karsten to animate their builds with travel accessories like trains, planes and automobiles.
Here we are, sitting in a large circle, since it was a big turnout this wiee with quite a few first time Safari trippers, including Koke of LFgrid, a Spanish-speaking singer, and Lynnestra Parker and Maldrul Smith who popped over from AMV.  Welcome to all new recruits to the madness that is Safari! As you might expect many of the Pangea crew were with us, with made for a truly party atmosphere.
By the way, Karsten's region is a private sandbox, but you can try out his vehicles if you go to pangeagrid.de:8002:Waterworld  - that's a public region on Pangea grid.
Karsten Runningbear: Welcome to my sandbox ! I will tell and show you today about

Haven of Memories

 Lavia Lavine's Haven of Memories is a Var region with a mission - to spread serenity, and to protect memories, specifically of the ones we have loved and lost.
Lavia Lavine
Arriving on Haven of Memories - the full HG Address is of course at the end of the post - you feel as if you've entered a celestial park, all swirly clouds and golden gates.
Next, a rainbow bridge, shrouded in mist, completes the sensation of moving on to another place, but never fear! You're just visiting!