Second Life

Things about SL

Second Life News 2013-6

by

This week the main channel is getting the package that ran on the Le Tigre RC channel. The release notes lag behind. So, I’m fuzzy on what all is in this package. Maestro Linden describes it as miscellaneous bug fixes. I think that includes the fixes for scripting attachments to the Neck and Center attachment points and the change to how abandoned land is handled.

Centent & Mesh Meeting 2013-6
Centent & Mesh Meeting 2013-6

Release Candidates

Blue Steel continues to run the Materials Project update. We still do not have a test viewer, so we cannot play with the new feature. I suspect that may keep the package in the RC channels until after we get a project viewer. But, I could be wrong about that.

Le Tigre is running a maintenance package with unspecified bug and crash fixes. I always assume that means some security fixes.

Magnum is to get the updated Interest List package with fixes for the increased bandwidth problem. Bots that used LibOMV were hit hard by the problem. Some users were too. Also, the Materials updates are in this package too.

Read more

Materials System Update 2013-6

by

Last we were hearing is that being able to change Normal and Specular Maps via script was not going to be possible. We have some clarification on that.

When the Materials System is first released it will not be possible to change the Normal and Specular Maps via script. The reason is that feature is just not going to be added in phase-one of the rollout. There is no other technical or mystical reason than the work to add the ability is just not being done. It is a time availability thing.

Changing the normal map requires the server to update everyone that can see the object being updated. All those that do not have the new map will have to download it. So, there is a load placed on servers and viewers for each map change. The same is currently true of texture changes, which are scriptable now. So, if people request the ability to change Normal and Specular Maps via script, it may be added at some point. Don’t bother requesting it now, unless you have a really good user case. I suspect the Lindens are waiting to see if scripting for the maps is really needed.

Read more

Second Life Region Crossings

by

If you regularly read this blog you know that the Multi-Threaded Region-Crossing code rolled to the main channel last week (5). We’ve had the code running for a week as I write this. So, how is it working for you?

WolfBaginski Bearsfoot has written up his experience now that the code is in place. See: Region Crossing: A Report On Experience. Wolf thinks crossing are not as good as they once were… I suppose he means like ‘ever.’ Personally I can’t remember when they were better. But, later he says there is little if any change when walking across regions, which is my experience.

It is small, but I do think I get control of my avatar a bit faster after a crossing. But, it is hard to say.

Read more

Bye Bye Flufee

by

I am sure everyone with even a vague awareness of what is happening in Second Life™ has seen the Flufee Missions, or at least knows of them. I’ve featured several of them. The videos are made by the creative Draxtor Despres (RL: Bernard Drax).

A problem has come up with Flufee. The problem has to do with intellectual property rights. While Drax has made the videos, he did not create Flufee and that has become a problem. So, no more Flufee videos by Drax and associates.

[youtube 0sF4QSgU9FQ]

The Flufee avatar is made by an avatar named Dirty Lynx or may be more accurately the Bytegang peeps. You can see the full body mesh avatar in world at Bytegang (URL). There is no doubt it is a cute and creative. And there are various types of these full body avatars. 

Read more

Mesh Deformer 2013-5

by

There is really no new news on this project. There is an updated Deformer Project Viewer. But the update is just blending all the other viewer changes into the Deformer Project. The Deformer has not changed, as best I can tell.

In the Metareality podcast this week Karl talked about lag from the Deformer and mesh clothes. Yes, there is lag caused by both. How much depends on how the mesh is made. Just as with other mesh objects we are finding out they can reduce lag compared to prims or increase it.

Mesh clothes are always going to increase an avatars polygon count. So, they will always add some lag. How much is dependent on how well the mesh is designed. Since there is little cost difference between poorly made and well made mesh clothes there is little incentive to make well made clothes, at least from a cost perspective.

Read more

Second Life News 2013-5 (2)

by

As reported earlier this week, things are moving forward with server releases. There isn’t much new to report. See: Second Life News 2013-5 (1). Things have gone pretty much as expected.

The Lindens think the package running on the Le Tigre RC channel will get promoted to the main channel in week 6. This is the package with the fix for regions not showing up in search. Yawn.

Region-Crossing

The Multi-Threaded Region-Crossing code rolled to the main channel this week. That mostly seems to have worked.

Don’t expect to see much difference when you cross a region. I think my avatar responses to navigation instructions faster after a crossing. But, it is not significant enough a change that I can be sure.

Read more