I have always heard in a nuclear disaster that cockroaches would be the only thing to survive.

This particular cockroach would certainly survive because it is built like a tank. Actually it is a tank.

Check out the below video featuring TankRoach.

Machinima: This Cockroach is Build Like a Tank

In the below video we take a virtual tour opf the Innsmouth virtual sim in Second Life. It is a pretty scary sim.

Teleport there now

The video is about 3 minutes long. Check it out below.

The Innsmouth Sim is Scary Video Tour:

So you want to create a 3d game? There are many expensive game development platforms out there and also some free virtual game development platforms. But why not use one of the easiest ones out there. The below 2 part video tutorial shows you how you can create a 3d game in the virtual World of Second Life using the Preso-Matic Game Kit. No programming is required. This is a very easy game development platform.

The videos are about 25 minutes long total. Check out part 1 and part 2 below.

Create 3d Game Tutorial Video: Part 1

Create Virtual Game Tutorial Video: Part 2

The below is video of the NCI Boomer Island Fall Football season kickoff party. It is about one minute long high definition video and shows you why they do not let you dance around on football fields in real life. I would have preferred to see some actual football being played.

The BEF is an organization dedicated to fighting cystic fibrosis.

Teleport there now.

Check it out below

Why They Don’t Let You Dance on the Football Field HD Video:

The below video features over 8 minutes of a 3d surfing game in Second Life.

The waves do not really look all that real but some of the moves on the board including paddling out are pretty cool. Watch and about half way thorugh there are some really cool shots. The video was shot in the virtual world of Second Life. This is from the SLSA Qalifiers, Sol Mananero Heats 1 to 4 3d surfing competition.

Check out the video below.

Video of 3d Surfing Game Competition:

In the below video we see an almost 5 minute long video demoing what could be the best virtual guitar that I have ever seen. The Nomasha Syaka virtual guitars include 200 riffs, 14 motion capture animations, a record and playback function (of up to 9 recordings), different tempos, the ability to add your own sounds or songs, and much more.

Check out the below 3d guitar video.

Teleport to see the virtual guitars or go to http://www.nomasha.com/guitars.html for more information.

HD Video Demo of the Best Online Virtual Guitar:

One of my absolute favorite novel series is the Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan (aka James Oliver Rigney). It is an 11 book series with the first book, The Eye of the World being made into a movie. In the below video we see the Aes Sedai flag flying high over the White Tower of Tar Valon, Rand al’Thor, Mat Cauthon, Perrin Aybara, the Dark One, the Aiel, and even a Draknor flying through the sky in the Eye of the World Video Game. This is a must see for any Eye of the World or Wheel of Time fans. The video is about 7 and a half minutes long. Check it out below.

Teleport there now

The Wheel of Time Game in Second Life: Enter the Eye of the World Online:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjboDgzdh0A
http://vrshed.com/sketchlife/index.html

In sharp contrast to a different post on duck hunting in Second Life.

In the below video we experience what it is like to be a duck. The below video was made in Second Life and features two virtual ducks swimming around. Check it out below.

Video: Virtual Ducks in Second Life:

The American Cancer Society is again sponsoring the Relay for Life in Second Life. Over $215,000 US was raised in the virtual world of Second Life last year. 2009 is expected to raise even more. Between $70,000 and $185,944 has already been raised. The event has been an annual one since the year 2005. There are over 125 teams and 2,000 participants run by a committee of 30 organizers. This is by far the largest fund raising event in any virtual world.

The 2009 virtual Relay will be held July 18, 2009. Check out the below promotional video for the Second Life Relay for Life 2009 event:

Relay for Life 2009 in Second Life Video:

Please support the American Cancer Society in Second Life. You can visit their virtual office to volunteer, visit the memorial garden, share your cancer survivor story, or to seek support. Teleport there now.

Find out more information here and here.

The Second Life Wiki may become outdated as the primary method of support and help in Second Life. Linden Labs has announced the beta for Second Life Answers.

This is a new way for residents in Second Life to ask questions and receive answers from other residents. (Think of Yahoo Answers).

In this new form of Second Life Help you can ask and answer questions, search for already answered questions or browse around. Frequently asked questions have been added so far.

You must login with your Second Life account. Email notifications are sent to emails tied to your account when your question gets a response. The asker of the questions will then be able to chose one response as correct and 2 responses as helpful. Points will then be assigned with Top Participants shown.

This is a great idea and goes hand in hand with the merging of the Second Life Wiki and Knowledge Base .

Read more here

In an earlier post I wrote about virtual duck hunting pheasant and clay pigeon shooting in the Second Life hunter game.

In the below video we see some rabbit hunting and field target shooting. Check it out below.

Second Life Rabbit Hunting & Field Target Shooting

I have written before about 3d fireworks in Second Life. It is a popular addition to any party or event.

The below video in high definition is another example of some of the different virtual fireworks effects in the game.

Watch the below video and some of the cool 3d firework displays.

3d Fireworks in Second Life HD Virtual Fire Works Video:

I wrote before about the $10,000 Linden Prize. The contests was for inworld applications that garnish results int he real world with the highest levels of aesthetics, capacity, function, and collaboration. Applications were due January 15, 2009 and over 230 applications were received. There is a definite pattern of non profit and charity submissions. Linden Lab has announced the finalists and here they are:

Finalists of the $10,000 Linden Prize Second Life Application Development contest:

1. Skoolaborate – Virtual Learning.

2. Studio Wikitecture – Collaboratin in Virtual World.

3. The Tech virtual – Science and Museum Exhibits.

4. Virtual Ability Island – Disabled use Second life.

5. NonProfit Commons – Biggest nonprofit presence in SL.

6. The Space Between Trees – Fight Hunter with Heifer.

7. Invisible Threads – Order Real Jeans in the Virtual World.

8. American Cancer Society Island – Fundraise and Awareness.

9. Alliance Virtual Library – Exactly what it sounds like.

10. Let there be Night – Light Polution of the Night Sky.

The winner will be announced on April 30, 2009.

Taser International is used to getting sued from the alleged accidential deaths from the use of their products. Just take a look at their latest company news at http://www.taser.com:

1. TASER International Dismissed From a Product Liability Lawsuit

2. TASER International Granted Partial Summary Judgment in Breach of Duty and Fiduciary Duty in TASER v Ward, Vievu, LLC Lawsuit

3. Ohio Court of Appeals Affirms Trial Court Order Removing TASER Device Reference from Three Death Certificates in Akron

4. TASER International Dismissed From Two Arrest Related Lawsuits

Taser XREP 12 Gauge Gun Video:

Taser International Has Too Many Lawyers – Fight Back Against the Crack Den

I guess the fact that they must now have too many lawyers on the payroll and the fact that their stock price is down to $4.96 quote led to this completely ridiculous lawsuit. Complaining about patent and copyright infringement and adult use in the “Crack Den by The Newman Group in Second LIfe from the use of Virtual tasers. Find out more about the Crack Den from their official web site. This is a virtual role playing sim in Second Life in the grunge city of Hathian. And yes there is adult content. SLurl.

Hey Let’s Sue Everyone

Taser International Inc filed a lawsuit against Linden Lab and basically everyone else even remotely related to the case including XStreet SL, Virtuatrade LLC, Jay Geeseman, Philip Rosedale, Mark Kingdon, Frank Ambrose, and many other employees including those who have left or are leaving the company.

Why Wouldn’t Taser’s Lawyers Use a DMCA Notice to Remove the Content?

Taser has now joined the ranks of the RIAA, the Associated Press, and Dune in needless lawsuits rather than turning the use of virtual Tasers into a marketing push. Is this just another case of lawyers who do not understand marketing, virtual worlds, or even the internet? Why wouldn’t these lawyers just use a DMCA notice and have the content removed?

I have written before about virtual maternity and childbirth in the Second Life game.

In the below video we see another virtual pregnancy and 3d childbirth from a loving couple giving birth in the Second Life game.

It is quite an experience and afterward you can care for the infant in virtual baby games.

Video: Virtual Pregnancy and 3d Childbirth Video Game:

Happy Easter! I wrote early about Easter Second Life BunnyJam.

Below we see a video of an egg decorating contest and some other Easter sights in the Second Life BunnyJam.

Second Life Easter BunnyJam:

Those who love medieval times will appreciate Jousting & Mounted Combat in Second Life.

You can visit Medevil England to start jousting on your own. SLurl

Mounted Combat in Second Life Video:

Knights Jousting in Second Life Video:

Lol. OMG this is too funny. I wrote recently about the Greenies Land virtual Sim in Second Life.

Apparantly Mars heard about this alien competition. Mars Attacks! You may remember the 1996 movie from Tim Burton with the deadly aliens with large exposed brains and death lasers.

Mars Attacks Greenies Land Video:

This is a freaky machinima video made in Second Life called the Diary. I am not really sure what is happening for most of the video but somehow a diary is important. It starts off strangely enough and ends with an even weirder murders and the diary showing a cryptic message. Viewer discretion is advised.

The below video was created by the Regina Public Schools district in Teen Second Life. This project introduces students to Teen Second Life and new cultures and uses different types of media and the virtual world.

Two teaches from grade 8 classrooms collaborate on social studies and simulate cultures along with students who take photos of their virtual world experiences. Lesson Plans were also created.

I have to say that Greenies Land is one of the most interesting virtual sims out there is the virtual land of Second Life. The virutal sim is basically a giant kitchen in a home where everything is giant sized and you are small and Greenie sized.

There are greenies all over the place in really fun pozes with large objects in this environment. Just watch the below video tour with a tiny Iron Man as your guide and you will see what I am talking about.

Iron Man Video Tour of Greenies Land Virtual Sim in Second Life

Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope you have used our Top 10 Valentine’s Day Events in Second Life post to plan a really fun and romantic day in Second Life.

Make sure to visit the kissing booths and you can also enter the Second Life Valentine’s Day Golden Heart Contest.

Happy Valentine’s Day Second Life Avatars!

The Second Life Valentine’s Day Golden Heart Contest:

1. Saturday Feb. 14 Valentines Day until Midnight Sunday Feb. 15.

2. Find some candy boxes and look for the Linden Lab Golden Hearts.

3. 20 of the 1000 boxes have the hearts which win you L$5000 at XStreet SL.

Linden Lab quickly followed up that first XStreet SL promotion with a more hard line advertisement for their recent acquisition. How is that exactly? Send a Valentine’s day gift in Second Life using XStreet SL buy selecting “Purchase as a gift”.

Giving a shoutout to all the plurk users out there. – secondlifeup.

In this interesting Machinima video filmed in Second Life we see many things. From swimming whales, to beautiful scenery, to a mystical woman trapped in a cage. Lyric breaks free from her cage to ride the whales and dance the night away in a fury of light, feathers, and red fabric.

In this beautiful Second Life Christmas eCard we see a wide range of holiday images and romantic scenes. From the snow to the Christmas tree, to the warm fire, to the dancing, to the iceskating this is a beautiful virtual Christmas eCard. I love it. How will you spend your Christmas in Secondlife?

More Christmas Cards

The World of Warcraft is getting increased attention with the release of WoW the Lich King and they are definately at the top of any list for MMORPG games.

One of the reasons that WOW is such a great franchise is that Blizzard Entertainment continues to improve and invest in continued developments. They have captured the attention of so many and it seems like others simply want to emulate their sucess.

Video Tour of the Lich King Borean Tundra

For example the National Science Foundation recently provided a one hundred thousand dollar grant to Bonnie Nardi a professor at the University of California to study the World of Warcraft MMO. That is a lot of microwaveable burritos and time spent playing WoW.

The grant will focus on studying modifications, maps and tactics, the in game virtual economy, combat, and more in this virtual world.

Dragonica is a Massive Multiplayer Online RPG created by Barunson Interactive. The Dragonica MMO had a closed beta test on July 15, 2008 in China and Korea. The open beta test in China should come out in October 2008. We are not yet sure on the English release but THQ want to release it in 2009 in North America with ICE Entertainment. Dragonica is a free MMO Dragonica focuses on Dragons, gods, and demons. It is a side scrolling 3d game.

The classes are Warrior, Magician, Theif, and Archer.

Dragonica Gameplay Video:

Watch the Dragonica Video Trailer:

There are several memorials built in Second Life to the September 11 terrorist attacks. You can visit this virtual ground zero for free and easily from home.

This is a great option for those who are otherwise unable to visit the September 11 Ground Zero area.

Several events recently remembered those who lost their lives with speeches, name readings, dedications, performances, and prayer services. The World Trade Center virtual replica at the Wings of Hope sim is one of these.

Here is a video of the Second Life 9/11 Memorial

There were quite a few different memorials including this memorial photo wall

Another one that caught my interest was the memoria for fallen heros

Ant this one was particularly beautiful:

Top 10 Ways to Create Your Own Online Avatars

Videos and Photos to Make Your Own Avatar:

1. Second Life Avatars:

It has never been easy for someone to create avatars than with Second Life. In most cases it is as simple as picking up some free pre-made avatars although you can also design it from scratch. Here are two videos one of how to create your own avatar in Second Life and one of some interesting premade avatars:

From Scratch Online Avatar

:

This shows the wide range of customization on almost everything on your avatar from clothing to size to face to colors and more.

Variety of Pre-created Online Avatars

:

This video shows the flexibility and creativity of the character editor tools available:

2. World of Warcraft Avatars:

Create Wow Character

:

To Create a World of Warcraft Character is very easily done. This short video shows how to easily create and customize a new World of Warcraft Character:

3. IMVU Avatars

This video features some IMVU Characters and what you can do with them:

It is pretty easy to create and customize an IMVU avatar but it does not have some of the flexibility of the other above options.

4. Kaneva Avatars:

Kaneva Avatars could use a little more graphic detail. I am sure that this is in the works. Check out this short video of different Kaneva Avatars entering a room:

5. Meez Avatars

I have not written about Meez too much although I have used it in the past. It is easy to create characters and you select an image for your room. They work well with Myspace and social networks. The MeezMaker allows you to make a Meez Avatar without too much fuss.

Here is an example of a Meez Avatar rocking out:

6. There.com Avatars

I have selected a music video to demonstrate the There.com Avatars:

The video is pretty funny too but shows the wide range of avatars you can create.

7. Active Worlds Avatars:

The cool thing about ActiveWorlds is that you can run it on your cell phone. Check out this video of Active Worlds running on a cell phone:

This older video shows some character customization in ActiveWorlds:

8. HiPiHi Avatars:

HiPiHi is the Chinese version of Second Life. I just had to show this HiPiHi Dance video because it is….well…crazy…:

9. DoppelMe Avatars:

DoppelMe is a free way to make avatars that look kind of like bobble heads. It is fun and easy to do. This is definately a 2d type of character that can be easily used anywhere.

10. Google Lively Avatars:

You can easily and quickly create an online interactive avatar with Google Lively as well as a virtual 3d room and then embed it into your web page or blog. It is easy to create your own avatar and customize things like eyebrows, clothing, look, and more. Options are added to the online catalog every day so there should be even more customization in the future. Here is a short video although it is in Italian but it shows the options very nicely: