A Warning About Glitches/Bugs/ The Beta Grid!

This is a warning that is based on a real event that occurred about a month ago to a Second Life Financial/Investment Institution. We did not reveal this bug at the time, as the director was unable to be reached and the bug took several weeks to resolve. In order to not cause negative effects towards this business, we will not reveal its name. (In case it hasn’t been noted, I attempt to avoid negative impact on groups unless those groups are okay with that or are attempting to create a detrimental effect upon others.) Despite this lack of actual reference, we assure you that these events took place, and further, we report this in an attempt from having these mistakes take place again.

 

In the Beta Grid, residents are given a larger than normal sum of linden for experimental reasons. This Linden is usually non-transferable to the main grid, as there is no direct way to make the transfer through Second Life. However, there are servers – financial storage devices from which some businesses attempt to create banks and investment firms, that have been placed on the Beta Grid, and have not distinguished between if the Lindens being put into an account are from the Beta Grid or the Main Grid.

Now, you may ask, why would this be a problem?

Consider that an individual makes 18 unverified accounts, spends 10 minutes going through the tutorial island. The only reason that ten minutes are required is that tutorial island requires the completion of different workshops before allowing a resident to the mainland, and that financial kiosks are only available off of tutorial island Of course, if someone had 18 accounts, I’d hope they’d get decent at going through that island. After that, they can access a financial system, and then use each account to transfer over 5000L from the Beta Grid to the Main Grid.

Now, I am unsure if the Beta Grid gives residents on it a total of 5000L after a time period, but presuming it does not, the thief would already have made 5000L eighteen times across a span of three hours. That comes to a total of 90,000$L, or 30,000$L an hour. At a conversion rate of 400L per dollar, this comes to a total of $75 USD per hour. I wish I made that type of money IRL. Imagine however, that someone made 180 accounts and that there was a recharge on the beta grid.

 

Unfortunately, certain individuals did take advantage of this system, with at least $200 USD being stolen. Had it not been for someone reporting this reporter, it would have taken longer before the bug was caught, and much more money would have been stolen. We do not know what Linden Lab’s response would be to this type of theft either, but one thing is sure. Individuals whom wish to post servers or anything connecting to finances on the Beta Grid had better be extra sure of their equipment before doing so, and should always use a server separate from their Main Grid Server for testing.

Please keep this in mind if you use the beta grid for any such purpose.

A Day of Reflections

The Alliance Navy, the leading military group on Second Life, surrendered earlier today… and the Merczateers, a rival group to the Alliance Navy, similiarly surrendered.

Not a single bomb was dropped, although some gunshots were fired. This reporter was even shot by a few. However, gunshots didn’t tear down the Alliance Navy or the Merczateers. Nor did they surrender land or group. They surrendered their will to fight, and they surrendered it to Memorial Day. In respect for this day, the Alliance Navy has turned off damage in most of their sims, and is waiting for damage to be turned off in Tethys and Dorien.

 

And while I could write about all the things that they have done to celebrate, I would not be honoring the reason why if I did not honor the day itself.

 

In the midst of the current war in Iraq, this day has a bittersweet meaning for some and a more ridiculed meaning for others. It’s easy to criticize the way the war is being run – how congress attempts to set deadlines for funding, and then goes back on those attempts. How there seems to be a lack of a definite plan, even now, even four years after the end of ‘Major Combat Operations’ was declared from the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln. However, Memorial Day is more important than just the current war in Iraq. It isn’t about criticizing mistakes made – It’s about remembering those whom fought for freedom. It’s about remembering those whom were brave and courageous, and loving enough to take up arms to protect their fellow man. And that is something that can transcend to all countries – not just America.

 

The last several decades have not seen much in terms of conflicts. The Vietnam and Korean wars have been the last wars besides the First Desert Storm, which was praised as the ‘Perfect War’. Perhaps there is a need for more bloodshed, for more tyrants to rise to power, to massacre those around us to make us see how important it truly is to fight – not just for freedom, for the ability to live. Indeed, in a way, freedom is the freedom to live rather than be put to death. It’s the freedom to come home, to criticize the wrongs and not be tortured, strung up and hung from a ceiling while being tortured as you can barely breathe. To be cut, have salt smeared into your skin, or worse chemicals, as your blood drips from your form, and you are powerless to stop it. And if there is anyone you care about, to have it happen to them, while you watch and hear their screams. I’m not trying to gross you out, but the statistics don’t do any good to show what cruelty exists in the world. But if you want statistics, try this from the front page of my local newspaper today: “U.S. frees 42 captives from Iraq torture cell”.

The fighting that has taken place in the world, at least for soldiers, hasn’t been just to go over and take someone’s oil. It’s been to stop injustice – injustice in its weaker forms, and injustice at its very worst.

 

The people whom died back in World War I and II, the people whom died in Korea, the people whom died and are missing in Vietnam, the people whom died and are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan – they aren’t dying to protect the mistakes of a government. They are dying in order to protect others. In the light of these real life incidents, it can seem even silly to imitate warfare in a game like Second Life. Why waste your time on a game when you could be doing something to make life better in the real world? Why fight to protect a virtual base when you could fight to protect children?

 

Regardless of the reasons why, however, there will always be some form of combat in video games – whether it be Second Life, Counterstrike, or so on. People like to shoot things for recreation. So with it be said that it will occur, it becomes not a question of why, but how it is done that makes a difference.

 

Whereas some people would accuse the Alliance Navy as being tyrants, of trying to make Second Life more like Real Life, of being griefers and so on, it’s nice to know that the Alliance Navy are willing to respect real life events. That the AN honors real life militaries, real life war veterans. The Alliance Navy even has some real war veterans that call themselves members. To see that accusations can be made, while being told that someone has does not care about Memorial Day, and that attacks on the Alliance Navy bases can be performed on the basis that ‘The Alliance Navy are griefers’ and ‘I have no love for the Alliance Navy’… well, it seems almost silly and sad at the same time that someone would make a claim while attempting to lay a victory claim during a day that the Alliance Navy can rightfully reserves a holiday. Perhaps it’s even a good thing that the Alliance Navy would try to make Second Life more like Real Life, because how else would a day like today be honored?

 

And similarly, it is nice to see that the Merczateers invited enemies and allies alike to their base to celebrate Memorial Day. The Merczateers played a modified Merczateers theme, pipes, and performed a twenty one gun salute. Both Militias enjoyed a two minute silence. And so, I have to congratulate them for a job well done.

 

It is nice to see that within all the Chaos and Griefing of Second Life, that Memorial Day and that the veterans are remembered, and are thanked. Follow the suit of these fueding parties. Thank a veteran – of your own country, of another country, wherever. Thank them for fighting to give you a chance, and thank them for fighting to show how deeply the struggles go to thwart true evil from looming its tyrannical heads over the world. Remember the words that inspired nations. Evil thrives as Good People do nothing. But these veterans stood up to evil. They stood up to Tyranny. They stood up to Hitler. They stood up to Kim. They stood up to Saddam. They stand up to Bin Ladin. Today is a day to pay our respects to those whom lost their lives, and to those whom lost their friends, their good memories, and their years… to sorrow, and for the chance of giving everything they had for us. There is no greater honor than that.

 Thank you all whom have served and all whom serve.

Press Release:

MANKIND TRACER TO CONDUCT ONE OF THE LARGEST SCALE LIVE MUSIC EVENTS PERFORMED BY A SECOND LIFE RESIDENT - HALF OF PROCEEDS TO FORM THE NEW MTNAP!

Mankind Tracer, who has been dubbed SL’s Premiere Rock Perfomer, is planning a live two hour concert event of the broadest expanse. In a nutshell, he will perform a full two hour, live rock show at a designated location within SL, aka Home Base, and will stream to an amazing 20+ other sims/clubs simultaneously.

Mankind Tracer, who never charges SL residents for his performances, was disturbed after hearing many residents complaining about artists charging too much for concert tickets. As a performer in SL and a strong proponent of keeping SL Music free for residents, Mankind has taken it under his wing to do something. And… he wants to get as many residents involved.

“It’s up to the clubs and sim owners, not the residents, to pay the artists. Sure residents can tip the artist, I love tips :-), that’s how most artists survive. But take a new resident who has little or no money, she/he would not be able to afford to even attend if an artist charged L$1000’s for each show. Further, as sims get full, residents cannot even get in. That’s why I want to spread the concert over a larger area, to make it possible for 1000’s of residents to attend, instead of the present limitation of about 50-100.” expresses Mankind. He continues, “To me, it doesn’t matter what deal an artist negotiates with a club owner, just so long as the RESIDENTS aren’t paying a ridiculous amount to simply push play.”

As for the big concert, club owners will simply have to plug in Mankind Tracer’s stream to broadcast the event to their patrons. “So long as you have streaming capabilitites on your land, you can participate! ” said Mankind.

Half of all proceeds from the big concert will be donated to create the Mankind Tracer New Artist Program. The MTNAP will provide promising new SL musical artists, who have shown initiative and strong work ethics, the opportunity to play live in SL by way of a free stream, introductions to club/sim owners and help in developing their in world talent. Mankind has been a professional touring musician in RL and will use his expertise to assist new artists in the many aspects of live streaming, instrument procurement, production, engineering, even musical arrangement if need be.

“The creation of the MTNAP will alleviate the need for new artists to charge SL residents for attendance to cover their overhead costs, since they will be drastically reduced, and will allow them to focus more on the pure joy of performing, as I do. We hope to reach out to the other areas of the arts in the near future as well.” said Mankind. “There are so many worthy and talented artists who deserve the same results I have achieved. My feeling is if they are willing to work as hard, they should be equally rewarded.”

THE CONCERT STREAM URL WILL ONLY BE GIVEN TO THOSE WHO HAVE PURCHASED ITS USE. “Please my friends, we are going on the honor system here. If you somehow manage to get ahold of the stream info, do the right thing. This is a worth while cause we are trying to create. I don’t pay for a house or land here in SL, so why do I need to keep all the money. Sure we have some overhead costs for the concert event - such as stream, staff, and the obvious -  which will be covered by part of the proceeds, but the rest will go to the MTNAP. I am lucky though, I have never once had to pay for anything with RL money. I started with nothing and managed, with the respect and honor I have been shown by residents - and with some hard work of my own - to become a known name via my musical performances in a very short time. I’m extremely grateful for that and the time has come to give back!”

If you would like to have your sim/club included, there is a L$8000 buy in fee and you will be permitted the use of the stream for the full two hour live show. Again, half of all proceeds will be put towards the development and creation of the MTNAP so we’re looking to get as many sims involved as possible to extend a financial hand to its creation and its ultimate extension through other areas of the arts. Remember, this is a two hour live concert!

We are not looking to go over 20-30 sims so if you are a club/sim owner and you want in, now is the time as slots are filling. If you are unfamiliar with Mankind Tracer’s live shows, just ask around. He is known for his incredible vocal and guitar playing skills and equally, for his ability to do vocal characatures of the artists he covers and his wonderful and always respectful interaction with his audiences. And how can we forget his amazing original rock tunes? Plus, wear your Mankind Tracer t-shirt or tank top, ladies, and he might even invite you up on stage to dance with him! Join the Friends of Mankind Group for show announcements.

Home Base for the big benefit concert has yet to be determined and will be given to the highest bidder in order to be fair to all owners. The current bid is L$20,000. Bid increments of L$250. If you win this bid, you will of course not be required to pay the L$8000 buy in. Presently we have 5 sims in on the concert. They include Aden, Happy Zion, QT Labs, Hedonism, Haven’s Paradise and the Vibe HQ. We’re hoping other bigger sims will also join in.

“It’s up to the sim/club owners to start thinking of new ways we can work together to develop the true power of Second Life’s artist community, but moreoever, to keep music free in SL. With this concert, I’m just trying to do my part.” says Mankind Tracer, “and I hope others will step up as well!”

Please contact Mankind Tracer or Sherah Sands directly to participate. If you know any sim/club owners, please pass this along.

THE HOME BASE LOCATION IS YET TO BE DETERMINED.
THE DATE OF THE SHOW IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED ON SATURDAY JUNE 9th 2-4PM SLT.

Peace, Love and Belief!

The Sims Online experimenting with Custom Content?

 
The New “The Sims Online” logo. No, really.

The Second Life Times discovered this website over the weekend that seems to be the Developers Blog for The Sims Online and, the effort to include what looks like a form of custom content.

It also showed us tha, for the last year, The Sims Online has been handled by a part of EA called EA Mythic.  EA Mythic handles games like Dark Age of Camelot, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, and Ultima Online. Most likely explaining why not much has happened to the game lately. The blog states that EA overall is now in control of TSO.

This story has promise, and were going to continue covering it.

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