The End of a Sim, But Not a Community

By Bixyl Shuftan

It was March 21st when I got the news. Dreamers Cove was gone, and with it my old home, Woodlin. The other sim in the area had vanished a couple weeks before.

Woodlin was created almost a year ago, and when I first saw it in Summer 2008, it was mostly the form I had known it. Dreamers Cove was the main of the two sims in Woodlin. Most of the residents lived there, either in treehouses or apartments built onto the larger trees that stood a few hundred meters high. There was also a shopping mall where people could get new clothes, accessories, avatars, etc. Dreamers was also where the Margaritavile beach club was located. The sim also boasted a movie theater (for a time, people could see movies in their own homes as well). All was built in a sim with a natural look to it, where one could explore the trees, hills, and streams, occasionally finding some hidden caves. The largest one was a temple where one could meditate.

Hopeful Shores was the second sim of Woodlin, only occasionally ever have anyone living there, and fewer trees. But it had two good clubs. 6th Circle was the hell-club there, inspired by another one that had gone out of business. Later on came Star Tails, the highly-colorful space club that regularly hosted parties to the end. Late in 2008, a space station was built and Star Tails attached to it.

The Woodlin area was built and managed until recently by Dax Loon. Staticminded Waco became co-manager in January, and full manager in February.

I made a number of friends there. There was Bubbles, whose lighthearted manner and “bubbly” friendliness were always a cheery sight. There was Aiko, whom was a bit of a prankster, but always wanting everyone to have fun. There was Maria, whom was often seen with Aiko and her “partner in crime" in mischief, though the more I knew her the more I saw of her sweet and tender side. There was Mega, whom liked firing her guns and causing explosions (away from peoples’ houses). There was Miki, the self-described “lil imp,” whom was known for her line of clothes and webcomic. There was Galvanized, whose “movie voice” made him popular with others and one of the best DJs. There was Rory, who proved to be a great event organizer and club owner. There was Aiko’s partner Foxy, whom also made a name for himself DJing. There was Isegrim, the “big but not so bad” wolf as I called him, whom was known for eyeing the ladies, but so big-hearted none of the girls minded. There was Jessica, whom was a bit of a tease. There was Danikia, whom was an up and coming DJ this year. There was Ekedo, the quirky little DJ whom is best described as young at heart. And there are many others whom I lack the time to mention.

The times we had. Where to begin? We saw movies together, laughing at humor and cheering at the action. We played games of Una in the space station’s lounge, cracking jokes over voice and laughing harder than we had in weeks. And of course all the parties we had, and not just in the clubs. We would have a dance party out on the deck of one of the apartment trees. This included a few beach parties with the landlady dancing around in a bikini and guitar.

Although this may be the end of the Dreamers sim, it is not the end of the community that for months called it their home in Second Life. Foxy acquired another sim: Foxworthy, also known as Willow’s Thicket. Running the location with help from Aiko, he has offered a number of houses for rent, some housing other old neighbors of his. With the close of Dreamers Cove, he plans to eventually offer more residential places for them. In the meantime, the residents of Willows are continuing to keep in touch with old friends.

The land may be gone, but the happy memories remain, and friendships forged over time between neighbors in SL continue.

Bixyl Shuftan

One Stop Baby Making Clinic

I never thought Second Life could get as close to reality as I have been discovering. Who could have thought that there would be a baby making clinic? Just like you heard it, a baby making clinic! The genius behind this idea is Jeff Demar, creator of the Bouncy Bundles Maternity.

Getting pregnant in SL is now a wish come true to those who have wanted to experience real life experiences in SL. Bouncy Bundles Maternity is a one stop clinic and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Jeff Demar and his staff offer everything a real life maternity clinic can offer. They offer pregnancy tests, pregnancy bellies, baby toys, and even delivery rooms, where you can deliver your baby even if there are no staff members online.

If it’s your wish not to look pregnant or go through a pregnancy you can always go to their Creation Stations and create your own baby. The Bouncy Bundles Maternity offers 4 main variations of babies to choose from: Economy, Deluxe, Low Prims and Crawlers. The difference between the variations are the prices, the Economy baby is the most affordable one. The prices range between $2500L and $6000L, they are very well-equipped and can interact with the parents and people around them just like a real life child would do.

“All of my babies come with several poses for interacting. They sit, stand crawl, walk and can grow up to 3 years,” said Demar.

The Bouncy Bundles Maternity babies go through a regular growth and as Demar stated, their maximum growth is at the age of three. The babies change as they grow, their faces change and grow teeth at 6 months old. The babies go through six stages: newborn, 3 months old, 6 months old, 1 year old, 2 years old and 3 years old. Parents decide how long it will take the babies to reach their maximum age.

“I did not place a timer into them because each parents’ role-play is different,” said Demar.

You can choose the amount of babies you want, twins, triplets, quadruplets or as many as you wish. Parents can create a “normal” baby, gorean, goth, neko, or vamps, which are born with baby fangs that grow as the baby grows.

“You can rez a baby and select from a multi-menu system. You pick the options for the baby and when you’re finished, you make your purchase,” stated Demar.

If you choose to go through a regular pregnancy, you can decide the time you want to be pregnant and the delivery date. All you have to do is go to the Pregnancy Section where they offer the “tummies” and information needed. There you can also purchase an ultrasound appointment and can get your free “pregnant shape”. The delivery facilities are found in the third floor where you can go to when it’s time for your baby to come into the beautiful SL world.

Jeff Demar has been in business for over 2 years and has delivered many babies. His staff is very well prepared and will guide and answer any questions you might have. Visit the Bouncy Bundles Maternity and enjoy your new baby.

By Lizzy Arriaga

Woodlin: My Home Community in Second Life

Being a free player, owning land isn’t an option for me. Not that I felt the need for a home here for most of my time in SL. Some months ago, two friends of mine invited me to use a house of theirs rent free for a while. But for reasons beyond their control, the deal had to be called off. So it was back to calling my office my home. But as it turned out, not for long.

By a happy coincidence, I came across the Woodlin community. The scenery itself is impressive, with it’s tall trees with treehouse apartments and walkways. It’s possible to get around without flying in most places with the use of elevators and climbable ropes. There’s a shopping area for those looking for clothes or a new avatar, a community platform in the main apartment tree for dance parties or a soak in the hot tub, a couple steampunkish balloon & propellor craft for flying around in, a temple to meditate in, two clubs, 6th Circle and Star Tails, to party in, a theater to watch movies, and other things to do.

But what makes the place what it is, it would be the people there. I called it the Woodlin community, not just a sim, for a reason.

Woodlin was created by Dax Loon about eight months ago. A resident of SL who has had quite a colorful history over time, she created the place at Dreamers Cove as her image of an ideal place to live, later expanding it to Hopeful Shores, and kept rentals fairly low. A master builder whom a friend described as “oozing talent,” she is often working on new projects. But she will drop what she’s doing to show someone around.

But the sim is more than just one person. Megatherion Zenovka, a neko with a small arsenal of big weapons, is described by Dax as her “right hand” in the sim. There is Staticminded Waco, a self-proclaimed “dirty old dog” whom isn’t afraid to poke fun at himself in order to get a chuckle from his friends and once got the Star Tails club on a real-life club’s TV screen while doing DJ duty. There is Foxyfurman Kumaki, another DJ whom has put up some interesting variety of songs. There is Aiko, a fun-loving prankster. There is her “sister” Marai, a friendly sweet-voiced kitten whom is often her “partner in crime.” There is Galvenized Hammerer, a good friend of Dax and another notable DJ with a “dramatic commercial voice.” There is Evo Imako, Star Tails’ main DJ. There are Bubbles, Leon, Danika, Scratch, Rory, Jessica, and many others whom have helped make the place what it is. A place that finally got me to part with a bit of cash to help contribute to it’s going.

The majority of Woodlin’s residents are furred avatars. But Woodlin is not and will never be a “furry” community. Dax has stated over and over again the place is open to all, and it irritates her how some furs, nekos, and normal humans strictly stay within a “cliche.”

So if you’re in SL looking for a club to dance, a place to shop, or just want to look around some scenic views, come on over. And if you’re looking for a place for a home here in the metaverse, I doubt you’ll find a friendlier group of neighbors.

Bixyl Shuftan