Chindogu Grand Opening
(reposted from http://ali.alidarmoxie.com/2008/10/16/chindogu-grand-opening/)
As you all are well aware, Alidar Moxie has been scripting some of the most useful and clever tools in SL. Via her MechanizedLife stores, she has connected a growing number of SL businesses and nonprofits to Google applications (her CogCalendars and CogBoards) and her Web-based StatsCollectors to help track visitors and let them know of coming events. Often, what she has needed for her own development efforts in Second Life she ends up building, then making the tool available through her store. (Things like Countdown Timers, FormsExchanger, Fishbowls, etc.)
View from above the MechLife building
Last year, she changed plans for a city sim and gathered together a crack crew of builders and roleplayers to develop Dune Apocalypse, an RP sim based on Frank Herbert’s novels and the miniseries based on them. Last fall, as the sim flourished, she turned her creativity toward creating elegant furniture that incorporated her scripting genius. From steampunk-influenced timepieces, music box jewelry displays to sets of furniture for bedroom, living room, or office, Ali’s offers a nice range of creations for the discerning shopper. All carry her special sense of aesthetic.
Throughout all of her phases of creativity, Ali has reached out beyond the confines of Second Life with the usual battery of Web 2.0 social devices: the backbone server support for her MechanizedLife gadgets as well as support blog and wikis (with help from her Girl Friday, Paypabak Writer), which also extended to a thriving forum and support wiki for the DA sim.
View from above Ali
When the Dune sim collapsed amid circumstances beyond her control, she pressed the Reformat button, returning to her original intent for the sim. With all she’s learned, Ali brings this sense of style and community to the creation of a city sim: a place to live, to shop (and sell), and have fun. It provides a home for both of her stores and an invitation to like-minded residents to share in its making. For instance, she has created a communal social area where dance parties can be held. By using a device she has developed, the same area can be transformed into a wedding hall and there are plans for a swimming pool, too. Flying around the entire sim (ala Bladerunner) is a mini-zeppelin that can display advertising or messages. Other ad signs greet store visitors and follow them around. She has just finished a theater with a feed for old-time scifi movies that is open to the public. A lake is centrally located for those who like to kayak or swim. A large shopping mall has been developed with flexible rental plans so vendors can optimize their sales.
The name of the sim is Chindogu, but the sensibility derives from Ali’s wonderful blend of aesthetic taste and playfulness. You can find numerous photos in our Flickr group to see what is there. To celebrate accomplishments so far and to invite people to share in the continued development of the sim, we are planning a grand opening celebration that includes dancing and fireworks, an open push period for playing Bladerunner (we may use a combat system but need to work out details), giveaways, and more following a Halloween theme! Plan on visiting the sim during the day on Saturday, October 25 for festivities starting at 11:30 am slt. Check the SL Events calendar for further details. Join MechanizedLife support group to get announcements and receive the occasional freebie. Contact Paypabak Writer with suggestions and questions.
