Pumpkins and Prizes on Yaksha

 It's that time of year again and we were guests of Nani ferguson and ANge Menges on their Halloween Hunt this week. The sim will be open until November 6, so you can come back and complete the Hunt, if you wish. It's called Yaksha, over the years I've often asked Nani if there's some sort of storyline or cultural reference behind the odd and distinctive names they pick for their sims, and she's always said something like 'it's funny' so I'm guessing this year is much the same. You can invent your own etymology - bonus game! The full HG Address is, as always, at the end of the post.

Ange Menges: Welcome to all the safarista, you don't have a lot of time, so I will help a little those who want to play the game. You can visit the sim as you like, and for those who want to play the game, start by reading the panel carefully. In the region you can find 10 laughing pumpkins that will give you a gift.  Follow me inside the castle so I can show you one.

As you can see, most people had some sort of festive costume on for our trip, leading to a remarkable range of styles. Is that wide-ranging pantheon of monsters and ghouls part of the secret to Halloween's success in virtual worlds? With so many different possibilities, it really seems to inspire the creativity of every opensim builder.

Tina Bey and Lifted Pixel scan for prizes

Ange Menges: Adjust your camera to see as many pumpkins as possible. Stay near me all, it will be easier to cam.. have you seen it ?

Thirza Ember: oh boy! that's quite a laugh!

Ange Menges: it was near lifted pixel

Nyx Breen: shut name tags off for a bit it helps with view

When you hear the laugh, try to figure out where it's coming from, and keep your eyes open. There are many little groups of pumpkins scattered around the build. Yo interact with them you have to be quite close to them Many of them are static - nothing happens if you touch them - and some of them will say something rude to you. Others will 'kill' you, sending you back to the arrival point. The prize pumpkin are the mobile ones. They will suddenly scoot across the space and hide among another group of pumpkins.

Nani Ferguson

Forest Azure: lol, now i have two thingies

Ange Menges: just at the feet of james atloud

Halloween: whispers: Hello thirza ember

Halloween: whispers: You just talk a lot of hot air

James Atlloud: got one!

Dabici Straulino hunts for pumpkins

Forest Azure: so we need to find pumpkins?

Ange Menges: So now you understand how it works. You found one, find the 10 others

Halloween: whispers: Hello Dabici.Straulino

Halloween: whispers: You deserve a good slap

Kimm Starr: LOL

Forest Azure: /me wants to start a fight with a pumpkin

Forest dressed in cobwebs with Nyx Breen and Tina Bey

We took a good look al around the castle which has multiple floors - you have to actually move around the sim, because clicking on an object will only work when you're within a few meters of it. In fact there is only one prize pumpkin in the castle, the rest are scattered around the cemetery, the swamp, and down in the caverns, so be ready to go walking!

Star Ravenhurst: Kimm... You look at photos of kid's mask from the 50s and 60s and no wonder kids had nightmares

Kimm Starr: yup,  i was one

Nyx Breen: reminds me of the SL craze for vampires back in the day

Lifted Pixel makes a new friend

Thirza Ember: i'm going to try my luck in the graveyard

Halloween: whispers: Hello thirza ember

Halloween: whispers: SO BAD, I JUST KILLED YOU....BYE

Thirza Ember: ouch i got killed

 Lifted Pixel: i can't find any other items

Thirza Ember: over in the cemetery where all the angels are

Jupiter Rowland

Halloween: whispers: Hello Nyx Breen

Halloween: whispers: I do not like your look at all

Forest Azure: this one moves, but no cigar

Thirza Ember: wow you really have to have sharp eyes open

Jupiter Rowland: Bingo, here it is!

The interior of the caverns gets pretty gruesome pretty fast, but the Hunt idea really encourages you to go and explore every part. Even without knowing exactly what you're likely to win!

Thirza Ember: Mal is always so good at the hunts

Mal Burns: i only have around 4 too - plus few hundred doubles lol

Tina Bey [es→en]: I think I have 200!!

Ange and Nani have been making these Halloween Hunts (and ones for Easter and Christmas too) for about a dozen years, each one is differently themed and organized, and they all incorporate new features and tricks as Opensim has evolved. nani lays out the build, Ange helps out with a lot of the modelling and the scripting, so it's a very solid and well balanced partnership. Some people just collect the prize folders in their Inventory, and wait until they get home to investigate the gifts. Others, like Lifted Pixel, always like to wear items just to see what they have found . She spent much of our visit with a mahogany desk around her middle, also a potted plant, but it turns out she tested a lot of other presents too!

James Atlloud: Lifted has worn some amazing things - especially down in the caves!

lifted pixel: i managed to fit into a church, and i thought i was a size chapel

Tina Bey: Yes, a fantastic decoration

Jupiter Rowland: I've managed to find seven, but not the potted plant.

James Atlloud: this is amazing as always Ange & Nani!

Forest Azure: did i win?

Thirza Ember: you are always a winner forest

Koshari Mahana: I loved all of the scenery and decorations! Thank you for having us

Mal Burns: will be back to find the rest lol - 6 out of 10 ain't bad

Forest Azure: this was real fun, thanks Nani and Ange :)

Nyx Breen: very nice design to the build a wonderful immersive experience

HG Address: hg.osgridlorg:80:Yaksha  (remember, the build closes on 6 November)