Showing posts with label Allanah Tomsen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Allanah Tomsen. Show all posts

Trin & Voo Get Clued Up

Wednesday, 19 August 2009


Voodoo Buwan: As long term readers to Rez will have no doubt picked up, Trin and I are both fans of games. From treasure hunting, to fishing, to immersive Madpea craziness and late night Slopoly sessions, we can often be found trying to beat each other at some contest or game of chance. In fact, even when we, and our respective partners, all met up at my house in real life recently, there was a time set aside for crashing out on my comfy sofa, and getting immersed in a board game. So, when Trin came to me telling me she'd discovered an SL version of Cluedo (or Clue, for our American readership), it seemed like giving it a road test would be the perfect subject for this, our 100th article!

Trinity Dechou: Yes that's right dear readers we thought it would be wise to mark this milestone by joining collectively with our respective partners to solve the mystery surrounding the death of our very own Governor Linden. The Governor had been found in a bloody heap of death in his prim-worthy mansion.

Clued Up! is the most recent release from Ember Games, coming in at a respectable 799$L and available from http://slurl.com/secondlife/Umbridge/157/218/1001


Voodoo Buwan: And for what you pay, the set itself is lovely. Once the sculpty prims finally stopped being massive balls, we were treated to the sight of a very finely made table and chairs for up to 6 players to sit at, and a nicely made board in the centre.

Trinity Dechou: The only real differences between Clued Up and Cluedo (Clue) are the fact that there are no appearances of Miss Scarlet or Colonel Mustard (such a shame really I've always suited red). The characters in the Second Life version of this game all come from inside the Lab, i.e. those Lindens with access to the Governor's house and therefore those capable of committing such a bloody atrocity


Voodoo Buwan: Likewise, the rooms have been renamed to suitably SL based locales, such as the Dance Club, the Hot Tub and the Casino Games Room; while the weapons are objects that would not be out of place littering a Linden's personal castle (i.e. Pose Ball, Watermelon Gun, Bling Ring)

Trinity Dechou: In the window of our Kernow office we all took our seats and prepared to discover whodunit. We were each issued with a HUD which acted as our in-world notepad.

Voodoo Buwan: This leads me neatly on to my first criticism of the game. The HUD is lovely, don't get me wrong, but as is not uncommon in this virtual world we live in, we were having a bit of a crashy night. And since this is not a game where someone can just drop out easily, and everyone else carry on, the HUD does not deal particularly well with someone crashing once a game has been commenced. We suffered quite a few mis-starts, and on each occasion we all had to effectively bin our HUD's, and let the game give us new ones, before we could recommence

Trinity Dechou: However unlike most other games in Second Life when you do crash you aren't automatically kicked out the game; the game suspends itself and waits for your crashee to return. Also, unless you happen to have the memory of an elephant you will need a good old-fashioned piece of paper and a pen as it is worthwhile to note suggestions made by your fellow suspects in order to more effectively cross off and highlight potential accusations.

Voodoo Buwan: Yes, the HUD may be all well and good at marking off which cards you have, and which ones you get shown, but the fact that you can't jot down a little note that someone doesn't have any of the cards involved in a certain suggestion does mean that it does pay to go a little Amish on the side

Trinity Dechou: The table dished out cards to the contestants so our HUDs all automatically crossed off those cards we'd been given. From there the players take it in turns to head towards rooms, make suggestions about who committed the crime and with what implement. The table then asks the player to your left to confirm or deny any of these suggestions based on their cards. Should they have none, it continues to ask in an anti-clockwise direction until you have suspects, weapons and rooms crossed off on your HUD notepad.


Voodoo Buwan: Of course, one of the chance elements is the fact that to make any kind of suggestion as to who might have dunnit, with what, etc, you need to get into a room, and your movement is all decreed by the roll of a dice. Now, granted, its been a while since I played Cluedo irl, but my god does it take a long time to get from one side of the board to another.

Trinity Dechou: Yes and of course should you start to make headway down the huge primmy mansion halls and are then suspected of the murder back in the room you just broke free off you go shooting back to that room and prepare to make the epic journey all over again, and again and oh yes again.

Voodoo Buwan: And then if someone accidentally ends their turn standing outside of the door you want to go out of, you can't push past them, making you have to do massive detours.

Trinity Dechou: As you play the game, and make suggestions you begin to cross things off your suspect list. You build towards the stage of accusation but of course in true cluedo fashion you may only make one accusation and should that be wrong your game is over although you do stay in place as your cards are needed for your fellow (non stupid) competitors to continue their investigations.

Voodoo Buwan: However, here again I have a bit of a criticism. Maybe it was just the way we played at my house, but if you make a suggestion at the end, and now know whodunnit, I've always played that you can make an accusation straight away, and claim your victory! However, in this game, making that suggestion ends your turn, meaning that if the next player has been paying attention, they can then make the accusation based on what you just said, and win the game. And thus, I bloody lost our first game!

Trinity Dechou: However we did learn from this mistake and are aware that as your fellow players are watching your every move and ready to pounce on the victory, I decided to throw caution to the wind and accuse when I was sure in the next game. And thus, I bloody lost our second game!

Voodoo Buwan: Eventually, we got the hang of it a bit more, and actually this annoyance led to an extra depth to the game itself. Making suggestions that included at least on of the cards in your own hand, to try to lead the others down the wrong path, yet all the while, keeping a check on which cards you showed who, and thus who was aware of what you were figuring out. As we said before, it becomes nearly impossible to keep track of without a piece of paper in front of you in the real world, but becomes much more of a tactical brain ache, and more fun for it.

Trinity Dechou: We quickly found that as we played the tension mounted, so much so that when the lovely 'butter wouldn't melt' Aimee lost a game she had a small tantrum and performed a full scale artillery attack on the room.

Voodoo Buwan: As is her way. Fortunately, Trin, Allanah and myself were all still sat at the table, and bravely weathered the ballistic storm.

Trinity Dechou: In the true trying to beat each other fashion, Clued Up does indeed prove to be an excellent game, there is nothing better than saying to Voodoo 'I beat you in a game and you are a murderer!' Poor Governor Linden, bad Colonel Buwan.

Voodoo Buwan: You'll never take me alive, coppers!

Posted by trinandvooshow at 13:57 0 comments  

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It’s an SL Buskers Life?

Tuesday, 18 November 2008

By Allanah Tomsen

We all need to have a few Linden dollars in our SL life. Without them, the creative residents of this artistic haven, would be unable to or possibly less inspired to design and produce the incredible array of fashion, furniture, vehicles, games, entire sims, that make the majority of residents, keep entering that log in password. If your new to this strange and alluring world, looking to progress your avatar and lose that freebie fashion attire (although there are many wonderful freebies out there), or whatever it is you want to buy on SL, there are loads of different money making activities to be had. Of course I would say that probably buying your lindens is the easiest option and to be fair they are very cheap, 1000 lindens costing around £2.40 ($4), but I was a newbie once and was wary of putting my card details online, or sharing my information with someone calling themselves a Linden, and was in fact a cheap skate to start with, although I blame my Scottish heritage for that:D

Camping…..ah the sweet memories. Probably the most boring and mind numbing experience I have ever had the misfortune to try. You can plonk your avatar on a bench and basically sit there…….and sit there…….and Aaaaarrrrgh!, sit there, and after an hour you may just have the enthusiasm to take your 8 lindens (earning 2 lindens for every 15 mins) and head over to the Yard Sale to grab that bargain! If having your av sitting all day bores you, then there are dance pads, although there’s something very wrong and embarrassing about being chatted up while your both doing the Chicken dance. I should really include Zyngo in this list since I am myself an addict of this “while away the time” game and have won many a linden on it. Of course you could “Just get a job” or get creative and build and sell your fine artistic ideas. There are many many ways to earn your living in SL.


Now I am a music lover and it wasn’t long before I had my first taste of what SL had to offer and attended my first live music event. I stood mesmerised by the very talented and amazing Djai Skjellerup singing songs he had himself written, he sang from his soul with a passion that touched my heart and I have somewhat become enthralled by the endless musical talent accessible in SL.

It occurred to me recently that I’ve never actually come across a busker on Second Life. I’m sure there are some, but they are obviously few and far between and this got me wondering how much a busker could actually make using their singing and musical talents, turning up here and there, putting down their tip jar if the sim allows and just singing and playing his/her heart out? Now I have a love/hate relationship with my RL guitar, I love it and it hates me, but I know enough chords to strum a tune together so decided to give it a wee shot. Firstly I needed a guitar and managed to pick up a lovely Martin D35 acoustic guitar from Nortique Musical Instruments, found a cool guitar case tip jar and was set for the life of an SL Busker. Where to busk was my next dilemma and decided that if anyone would accept me it would be the Hobos and off I teleported to The Hobo Island Sandbox. There were about three avatars in all, standing around building and creating.

I was actually petrified since I am very mediocre on guitar and my voice is less than mediocre, but I decided if I was going to write this article I should at least have the guts to be a part of it. So guitar in hand, strumming animation on, tip jar rezzed, I clicked voice and started singing and playing the Streets of London, which I thought was quite apt for the place I was currently at. Within about 3 seconds a very scary gesture of “I will KILL you” could be heard echoing around me, geez knew I was bad, but give a gal a break. I carried on regardless, sang a few other little ditties and could not believe, when the same person who I thought was out to get me actually turned out to be a lovely guy and tipped me 20 lindens (still trying to convince myself he actually liked my songs and didn’t tip just to get rid of me).


I thanked him rather enthusiastically and with a new found confidence headed off to my next pitch in Central Park. I was a little disappointed to find out that it wasn’t actually based on the real Central Park as I had been planning to do a whole repertoire of songs by Phoebe Buffay from Friends, which both suit my guitar playing and my voice. Sadly there was no-one about and was just about to take back my tip case, when I noticed someone lurking about, obviously intrigued at what I was up to. Soon found out it was the owner of the Sim, JadzOr Conover. Got ready to be sent straight home and banned with no chance of showing off my Pheobe skills, but to my delight he seemed quite keen to have a wee listen. My Smelly Cat tune went down pretty well I thought and he had invited a friend of his to eavesdrop by phone to my obviously delightful, enchanting tones. Did the Grandma song, Cow in the Meadow (my personal favourite) and the Shower Song. It wasn’t long before another of his friend’s teleported in, which hilariously was a cat avatar named Ed Bumstead. I of course did an encore and readily dedicated my Smelly Cat song to him and between them they tipped a nice 300 lindens.


So all in all, I earned an impressive 320 lindens within approximately 50 minutes of busking. Not bad me thinks considering the quality of play on offer. So, from this I have proved that it could very well be an SL Busker’s life.

So if you feel that you may have what it takes to whip out your instrument and give it some and I’m speaking about artistic talent here, give it a try, who knows, you may even get some recognition and move on to the big time and I will be standing at your gig, secretly wishing it was me. If you already feel that you are ready for the stages of SL, then check out this link http://slmc.myfastforum.org/about2137.html where Djai is eagerly awaiting to hear from you to take part in a very special Christmas event, which is a collaborative recording project, although he does stress “no comb and papers please”, so sadly that leaves me out.

Posted by Brutha Voodoo at 13:59 2 comments  

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Trin and Voo go Loco (Poco)

Wednesday, 1 October 2008


**The following article contains information about the Loco Pocos Treasure Hunt, it does contain spoilers**

Trinity Dechou: Following on from my previous article and experience of Loco Pocos Island, I suggested to Mr Buwan (fellow explorer) that Trin and Voo should attempt to do the infamous Loco Pocos Treasure Hunt.
Voodoo Buwan: As a break from the norm for our little Trin and Voo jaunts, on this particular excursion, we decided to drag our respective significant others along for the ride
Trinity Dechou: I was appointed (by myself) to lead this little expedition so I arrived at the Loco Pocos Main Store (as the adorable red Loco Poco Fox) and teleported the equally adorable Loco Pocos Gray Cat, namely my partner, Aimee Trescothick.
Voodoo Buwan: Myself and the beautiful Allanah Tomsen met up with Trin and Aims, but of course, we decided to go all non-conformist. Allanah wore a non-Loco Pocos black cat avatar, although with a very cute Loco Pocos hat and trainers, while I turned up in my tiny Cosmic Boy avatar, a self customised piece, created mostly using the Seisaku Kit from Kuroboro Works.
Trinity Dechou: We quickly wandered the shop to pick up any essential equipment for the adventure; this is where Aimee decided it was essential to purchase a tank for the trails. Having been mercilessly mowed down by the tank a few times, we decided to start off our adventure.


Voodoo Buwan: We headed down from the main shop, to the roots of the massive tree that dominates the island, and started searching for the notes from some long forgotten Pirate, which would guide us on our way
Trinity Dechou: We spotted a shipwrecked boat and decided this would be a good place to start our adventure. Once we all fell aboard we began looking for these hidden books which detail the history of the island, and its inhabitants. Allanah exclaimed that she had found the first book and we all set off trying to find her.


Voodoo Buwan: I was amazed at how our feline counterparts were coping so well with all the water!
Trinity Dechou: Having rescued the kittens from the water, while voodoo tried to guide his cosmic boy creation into the first room, we all stood waiting for our snapshot as he arrived on the floating door and prepared to strike his cosmic pose.


Voodoo Buwan: Boy did I look cosmic! However, I looked less impressive when we went to find the other book on this boat, as it required falling through a grate, which everyone else managed with ease, while I got my massive planetoid sized heed stuck in the bars.
Trinity Dechou: We decided with two wet and angry Cats, and the huge headed Cosmic entity, that we had had enough of the boat so I lead the party back to dry land. Aimee decided around this time she no longer wanted her camouflaged tank to blend in, and she changed her tank to a tan appearance. We stumbled upon a REALLY tiny village and decided to stand around in an intimidating fashion.


Voodoo Buwan: Oh how I envied the little mushroom houses! Tiny is good, but I can't wait until someone invents the miniscule!
Trinity Dechou: Before Aimee flattened the pretty village we wandered round the island further and discovered a rather tricky and hidden book under a little ground bush.


Voodoo Buwan: It was at this point, that the primberrys reminded Aims that tank fired primberry bullets. Which she then spent most of the rest of the trip shooting us with. Ignoring this, we battled on, eventually finding an entrance into the giant tree itself.
Trinity Dechou: As Allanah, Voodoo and myself tried to find neutral ground away from the tank we fled up the tunnel and arrived in a large open space with falling starts and yet another book. Aimee ceased firing for just long enough while we grabbed a quick pic.


Voodoo Buwan: Once we got the photo, everyone headed out, while I predictably fell into the pool there, for the fishermen who frequent that room. After spending a couple of minutes running as fast as I could on my little cosmic legs to catch up, I was told that Allanah had to go deal with some rl things, but that we should carry on.
Trinity Dechou: Offering a towel to the soaked Cosmic Boy we happened upon another tunnel this one filled with portals to other worlds. After collecting another book we took the fiery red portal into a lava filled world.


Voodoo Buwan: This is where the real fun began, as not only did these magic portals give the chance to find more books, but also to get special prizes! These prizes didn't come easily, as you have to complete challenges to earn them. In this particular zone, you had to hop from rising and falling platforms, above molten lava, from one side of the room to the other.


Trinity Dechou: Having watched the tank clad Aimee leap gracefully over the platforms I decided to try. Having failed miserably I decided that I didn't have the skills to attempt these challenges. I however turned my attention to Cosmic Boy. As I watched him rise and fall with much amusement I decided others had to bare witness to this debarkle and I shot a movie; guest star Cosmic Boy!
Voodoo Buwan: Yes, laugh at Voodoo's complete lack of co-ordination!
Trinity Dechou: I have done on many, many, many occasions. It is only fair our fans should see this in real time too!

Voodoo Buwan: Yeah, well at least I tried! Anyway, eventually, we both gave up, and instead figured out that if we stood near the treasure chest, while Aimee made us feel inferior with her platform hopping skill, then when she opened the chest, we could quickly grab the treasure for ourselves too!
Trinity Dechou: This then involved amusement of its very own. While Aimee and I were both in Loco Pocos Avatars, attaching Loco Poco accessories is no issue. However if you are a rebel, like cosmic boy, the accessories don't really fit.
Voodoo Buwan: Yes, while Trin's av sported a flame Mohawk perfectly, I looked like something had caught fire inside my noggin.


Trinity Dechou: As Voodoo decided this really spoiled his whole look, we teleported to the next area, this one has a settlement of houses. We headed into the blue house. Cosmic Boy decided he needed to lay down following the whole lava experience, and Aimee posed with her turret through the fire.


Voodoo Buwan: I needed a brief time out in a comfy bed, to recover from various 3rd degree lava burns, and internal Mohawk scorching
Trinity Dechou: From the settlement the group headed to a lovely boat and yet more treasure, providing we could crack the code to open the box.
Voodoo Buwan: We cam'd around the boat, to find the various clues, showing us the meanings behind the strange symbols above the chest. Once we uttered the magic word, we all gathered a delightful Pirate Hat to wear

Trinity Dechou: When you have a Loco Pocos Avatar you also get the Loco Pocos HUD. With this HUD you can change the colour of your attachments. Aimee decided her current look suited the black, I chose the white, which left the very manly cosmic boy the default pink hat.
Voodoo Buwan: Hey, I'm secure enough in my cosmic masculinity to carry that off! Anyway, job done, we headed to the next zone, a maze of sand-walled catacombs for us to find our way through. Problem was that Trin had been struck by an attack of the lag, so Aimee and I strove on while she sorted herself out.
Trinity Dechou: Now being the profound genius that she is, Aimee headed straight to the end. Meanwhile Voodoo and I were sucked into the swirling sand as we kept taking the wrong turns. What is they say about men not looking at maps? My excuse was the lag.
Voodoo Buwan: Now, while I tried again and again, and earned the sense of achievement that comes from managing something yourself, Trin waited until I was done, and then got her girlfriend to come and guide her half blind lagging ass to the treasure room, in what some would call cheating
Trinity Dechou: Personally I would call it an act of love. I was struggling and my lovely partner came back to rescue me... this is not cheating.
Voodoo Buwan: Cheating!


Trinity Dechou: Having made it into the treasure room (by any means possible) we each collected our swag bag and posed for yet another picture. Having finished all the portals we headed back down the tunnel and out onto the island once more. We made our way over to the lighthouse and decided to walk the tall circular staircase to the top, to take in the view and have one last snap.


Voodoo Buwan: Well, to be slightly more accurate, as our scene and this adventure closed, Trin was looking out at the gorgeous view, while Aimee chased Cosmic Boy around the top of the lighthouse, shooting primberrys at him from her wee tank.
Trinity Dechou: That's because you accused her of helping me to cheat, which clearly is an inflammable comment.
Voodoo Buwan: Hmmmm
Trinity Dechou: Why must you always have the last word?
Voodoo Buwan: As if I would

Posted by Trinity Dechou at 10:55 0 comments  

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