Mid April at MOSP

Lots of goodness arrived at MOSP this last week. The machinima theater is now fully open with three screens; LEA, MoMac and UWA. You can pick up personal versions of the HUD from a sign at the theater. Attach to your screen or rez in world and make your own viewing system.

The huds are impressive with an easy to use interface as well as information about each film. Both new and archived films are in the listings so you can keep up to date or journey back to when machinima was in its SL infancy.

We have LaPiscean Liberty to thank for these great additions to SL machinima.

You'll find a new and very impressive Cape Cod style lighthouse down at Beach Walk.

Imagine the possibilities.

Now the lighthouse is off sim, mostly because I am stingy with MOSP land mass. I like the feel of real dirt underfoot when at all possible.

You can ALMOST reach the lighthouse, and from there -- if you so choose -- just hop on the bench and film.  Happily there is no intrusive bright light to interfere with your Windlight setting, only a subtle periodic glow. The water area around this new addition is animated and DOES come into the sim proper.

With plenty of new decor touches worked in -- seamlessly I hope -- to the buildings and outdoor areas, the star of this week is the new massage table with an extensive list of PG animations and automatic rezzing modesty towel. There are plenty of props not visible in this shot, so stop by the tree house at Peaceful Valley and think of how you can add this addition into your script.

The Orangery Completes the Core

This magnificent building, The Orangery, completes the SAGE quadrant. I am now calling the core build complete. Yeah!  This conservatory type building was popular in the 17th through 19th centuries, decorating the grounds of fashionable estates. I so fell in love with this. A matching garden appeared with a little bit of mod and modern magic. Colorful bushes will be added soon and who knows what else may appear over time?

Other news includes a dragon fire statue added near the ruins in SOIL -- a dramatic backdrop for sure.

Upgrades worked in seamlessly in many areas with new versions replacing older props and new plants added hither and yon. You can never have too many plants -- well perhaps, but these look great.

There will be other additions reported soon, so check the blog now and then or get your updates in group. 

April Newness

A new barn appeared in SOIL this week along with fencing and other outdoor additions.

A set of porch furniture was added to the Newport Beach House (gray) at Beach Walk. It includes some really fun animations with props to let you play.

Also in the news is an updated and expanded video for MOSP. If you wonder what areas you might have missed, this will give you a clue.
  
SEE IT HERE at YouTube.

While general framerates are getting much better with the new server codes, shadows have taken a major hit it seems. Since I love shadows -- and for those of you who film with shadows, I went out on a killing spree. Complex scripts in some of the plantlife are no more and I found some laggy koi that had somehow found a home UNDER the ground (oh my). SAGE is now in the 19fps with shadows -- for me anyway -- so much, much better.

The ruins in SOIL can still be laggy with shadows. It is the lovely grass peaking around and about the lava. It is so beautiful I can't bare to take it up, but if you are filming there and having issues, give me a shout and I'll scoop it up temporarily for you.

The last quadrant in SAND is now full --  be it in a minimalistic manner. Slightly disturbing, the empty landscape is open to your interpretations.The bunny has on off music when clicked. The pram has an excellent grieving animation.

Other additions are updates and newness in Sound Stage 1 including a stereo with click to move the turntable and arm and to open and close the cover. Some possibilities there.

There are other surprises underway so stay tuned or just stop by and poke around!