USC Second Life Student Developers Group

Sculpted Prim Tutorial!

2009-12-14T13:52:00.000-08:00

Second Life provides a great avenue to learn, practice, and show off your 3D modeling skills!

As many of you know, there are two ways to build objects in Second Life. You can do so either in-world or via a 3D modeling program (like Maya). Building objects in-world is fairly straight-forward, but can be limiting. Building objects in an external program allows you to build more interesting and complex objects - and uses only one prim! However, bringing 3D models created in other programs into Second Life (to create a "sculpted prim") has traditionally been a fairly elaborate, difficult, and often expensive process.

However, after doing some research, I have started using one method that is quite effective and fairly easy.

The tutorial for this method that can be found here: http://www-scf.usc.edu/~slsdg/mayatutorial.html

It may appear a little intimidating at first - but it takes you through the whole process step-by-step so that even the novice modeler can bring some snazzy looking objects into Second Life in no time.

My hope for this tutorial is that it will help make Sculpted Prim creation more accessible to a wide variety SL users. If you have any feedback, suggestions, ideas, etc. that you think will help improve the tutorial, please let us know at slsdg@usc.edu.

Enjoy!

(Also, while you're at it - make something to submit to our Second Life Modeling Contest!)

The Official SLSDG Modeling Contest Begins!

2009-11-02T15:28:00.000-08:00

Alright, it's the moment we've all been waiting for - the theme of the contest!

So, what exactly will you be doing?

Saving the world of course!

Create the one object that will save the world. This object can be organic, mechanical, interactive, large, small, realistic, unearthly, have multiple moving parts, be simple and streamlined... and everything outside and in-between. The most important thing is to think about what is the one thing you would create for the real world (if given infinite resources) that would bring the environment back into harmony. We will be looking for overall creativity, logic of concept, and the quality of execution.

That's all that's to it. And, with that, the contest has officially started! When creating your entry, remember to review all the rules (http://slsdg.blogspot.com/2009/10/slsdg-modeling-contest-rules.html) for important dates and official requirements.

To submit an entry, please fill out the official SLSDG Modeling Contest Form (found here: http://slsdg.wufoo.com/forms/usc-slsdg-modeling-contest-form/). Further instruction will then be provided.

We're looking forward to seeing your entries! Good luck!

SLSDG Modeling Contest Rules!

2009-10-23T16:36:00.000-07:00

Things may have been quiet for a while there, but it was only because we've been hard at work on several Second Life projects - including.....none other than the upcoming Modeling Contest!

It's still on - and about to heat up! Below are the official rules of the contest. Check back again on November 2nd for the official announcement of the topic - and then it's on!

Key Dates:
11/2/09 – The Theme is Announced and the Contest Officially Starts
1/8/10 – Contest Officially Ends
1/29/10 - Winners Announced

Theme/Narrative: You'll just have to wait to find out ;)
(Check back again Nov 2nd!)

Judging Criteria:

Creativity: 40%

Logic (does it make sense?): 35%

Execution (quality): 25%

Judges:
Special Guests to be Announced at a Later Date!

Reward:
Grand Prize: $200 Amazon Gift Certificate
Runners Up:
Most Creative Concept: $50
Most Logical Concept: $50
Most Ambitious Concept: $50

Venue:
Entered models will be showcased in the USC eLand

Rules and Requirements:

15 prims per entry

16m wide x 16m length x 50m height (consult with SLSDG for objects that exceed the limit)

The contestant must be a full time student (you must have a .edu email address in order to enter)

Each contestant must be solely responsible for the entire creation of their entry- including both modeling and texturing.

If less than 10 valid entries are received, the contest will be canceled or postponed to a later date. No entries will be selected for awards but, upon consent of the artist, will be automatically re-entered if/when the contest is held again at a later date.

Questions? Email us at slsdg@usc.edu

The Second Death of Caspar Helendale

2009-10-20T16:58:00.000-07:00

I encourage everyone to check this out:

The Second Death of Caspar Helendale by Jessica Curry and Dan Pinchbeck has been selected by The Royal Opera House and will be performed live at the Linbury Studio Theatre, Royal Opera House as part of the Firsts 09 season, "showcasing some of the most talented and genre-defying artists in the UK today."

The performances will be taking place simultaneously at the ROH and in Second Life on 27th and 28th November at 7.45 p.m.

The Second Life avatar Caspar Helendale invites you to attend his death; a funeral service held simultaneously in the real and virtual worlds. He has been exploring mortality since he was first created, and in his last twenty minutes of existence he will share his thoughts with collected mourners. He will be accompanied by his widow-to-be, Trixiebelle Landar, whose requiem will be performed live and streamed back into the virtual world over the course of the service. Via live onstage musicians and a giant projection screen, the theatre audience will join Second Life residents to reflect and mourn, as the real and virtual worlds collide at the point where Caspar’s light is forever extinguished…

Book tickets at:
ROH Box office: 020 7304 4000
www.roh.org.uk (Firsts 2009)

If you cannot attend in first life then we would be delighted if you and your avatar would join us in Second Life for the duration of the performance.

Teleport to 208.240.22 at 9 p.m.GMT (1 p.m. PST) and join the mourners in Caspar's specially built mausoleum.

Please email jessica@jessicacurry.co.uk for further instructions if you would like to attend in Second Life and feel free to distribute this email to any individuals/communities that may be interested.

Second Life Modeling Contest - Part 2!

2009-09-28T14:54:00.000-07:00

Intrigued about the upcoming SLSDG modeling contest? Well, you should be. Don't know anything about it? Well, let's fix that! It is my pleasure to introduce the official webpage for the contest! Sure, it's still all a mystery (we don't want to spoil the surprise too soon) - but perhaps this will sustain your burning curiosity until the next update. Until then, enjoy!

(For those of you who would rather cut and paste the link, the URL is: http://www-scf.usc.edu/~slsdg/about_us.html)

Article about OneWorld's Virtual Bali

2009-09-11T13:08:00.000-07:00

http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/resources/articles/field_report_oneworlds_virtual_bali/

"...This field report assesses a project that involved the use of a commercial virtual world, Second Life, and a niche nonprofit social network, OneClimate.net, by a nonprofit media producer, OneWorld UK. By operating a public forum from the 2007 U.N. Climate Change Conference via these platforms, OneWorld was able to expand participation in the conference and create an ongoing conversation among members of a global public interested in environmental issues. While the number of online participants was limited, this experiment drew significant press attention and served as a benchmark for nonprofit and public media uses of these online tools. ..."

Second Life Modeling Contest!

2009-09-09T15:37:00.000-07:00

Calling all Second Life student developers, artists, architects, inventors, and everyone else who is interested in building great things within the SL community! The USC Second Life Student Developers Group will be holding a contest starting on the first week of November for any student modelers who wish to submit entries built around a special theme (that will be announced at a future date). And, yes, a prize will be involved. More details to come, so stay tuned!

FASHION MANNEQUINS

2009-09-09T13:10:00.000-07:00

I guess its high time to start posting on the project :) .

Fashion Mannequins are a integral part of the Fashion District project
where we aim to achieve a highly interactive fashion platform. Making
the mannequins interactive is a very effective way of showcasing the
clothing and accessories. A trial of the clothing and accessories on
the mannequins helps to display the costume dynamics, on the basis of
which people could opt to buy them.

Scripting is necessary to achieve the interactivity that we aim for.
The mannequins are created as scripted bots. Some of the interactive
features that we aim for are:
- Deliver clothes in a single click
- Clone your self into the mannequin
- Display the costume dynamics effectively

The project requires me to work on the following platforms
- Second Life ( duhhh!!! )
- LSL
- C# and .NET programming
- LibOpenMetaverse: a .NET based Client/Server library used for
accessing and creating elements in Second Life

Its just too early to comment on challenges which I could be facing.
But one definite challenge which I foresee is the costume dynamics.
Realistic simulation of costume dynamics such as cloth folding, cloth
material has always been a difficult task in CG. There are
approximation methods to simulate them which would be more than
sufficient in SL. I gotta do more research on this issue and the
medthos to solve the problem.

More updates on the project soon !!!!!.

Nice short film shot in Second Life

2009-06-15T14:43:00.001-07:00

Poco Loco has shot a short film in second life. It has got good humor and well directed.

The Wiki-Tree on SL

2009-04-23T14:23:00.000-07:00

Here's how to use it, one of the most innovative features in SL:

Second Life Quickstart Guide

2009-04-21T16:49:00.000-07:00

Second Life Quickstart Guide

Publish at Scribd or explore others: How-to-Guides & Manu howto fast

Second Life Pilot Project - Ecosystem

2009-04-02T15:11:00.000-07:00

Here's an idea - we could use USC eLand to showcase interactive, dynamic ecosystems in a variety of different biomes (ocean, tundra, desert, etc).

Theme: Biome Park & Creators' Area
Required: Builds for 7 biomes (Desert, Tundra, Forest, Grassland, Caves, Marine, Freshwater)

- Interaction between clouds, sun, wind speed, plant growth, etc
- Incorporation of Architectural Jazz (and hence, Reflexive Architecture): Ambient music is generated by interactions of avatar and environment with objects

Creator's Area: On top of the current grassy mountain, with a sculpture fountain of the many AVs that have worked on USC eLand. When clicked on, sculptures will "come to life" with light and flexi effects, similar to the girl at Black Swan

Other ideas? Comment, if you will...

Second Life Student Pilot Project

2009-03-26T15:22:00.000-07:00

Time is drawing to a close this year, and as of yet, we have not created a pilot project to showcase what the USC SLSDG can do.

Some ideas thus far:
Hotel USC
Haunted house
Holiday Shoppe
Creator's Fountain

Please post your ideas!

USC Second Life Modelling Contest

2009-03-26T15:01:00.001-07:00

1) Second Life Modeling Contest (topic, prize, timeline) - Enter Here

Category 1: Reflexive/dynamic sculpture
Category 2: One Prim sculpture

Deadline to Enter: Last week of April 2009. Winner(s) will be announced during the final week.

Prize: Amazon gift certificate (Tomo to determine the amount and order)

Eligibility: Open to all students with .EDU email addresses.

---

Theme is still TBA - Suggestions welcome! Please post!

What building in SL should be like (and occasionally is!)

2009-03-05T15:25:00.000-08:00

World Builder from Bruce Branit on Vimeo.

Mission Statement

2009-03-05T15:14:00.001-08:00

The USC SLSDG's purpose is to faciliate learning, creativity, and the advancement of student involvement in virtual worlds. It accomplishes this goal by promoting the use of Second Life at USC and encouraging its use for educational purposes among students, faculty, staff, and University departments. The SLSDG promotes Second Life use and development by providing a support network for Second Life users and by building a library of Second Life-related materials, as well as training interested individuals in the ways of content creation in Second Life.

These publically available resources are stored and used in virtual USC eLand, which also serves as a meeting place and training center.

Hello World

2009-02-20T13:47:00.000-08:00

Hello Second Life...Word!

First Post !!

2009-02-20T11:19:00.000-08:00

Students and Second Life enthusiasts of University of Southern California have come up with a unique concept of Second Life Student Developers Group. Thanks to Tomo Isoyama, he is the brain child behind the whole concept. We as a group work exclusively on Second Life. We are specializing in wide areas of second life, may it be Modelling, Scripting, Sculpting, Animation etc etc. We started as a group of 8 and are expecting to become threefolds by the next Quarter. We have many upcoming events from the group and we shall keep you updated !!

Cheers !!