VW Concept

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0BzW7s13ucmKuYTFjODVjZTQtZGM3ZC00ODljLWE3OTMtOWRiNWI0YmI2MzNk&hl=en_US

Second Life Event Proposal

Larisa Ocañada, Michael Yra, Michelle Nguyen
Professor Veeder
DAI 627

Experiment Title: to be announced
Scenario: Individuals who attend our event will help decorate the Christmas tree using objects they made or found and once everyone is done, we will be giving out Santa hats.

Mechanics: Our goal is to create an event where the whole class can work together as a whole. Since the holiday season is coming up, we figured having a Christmas theme would be the perfect way of keeping a consistent concept. With that, attendees will work together to decorate the Christmas tree that we will provide. They have the choice of finding or building their ornaments. Once the class finishes, then we will supply Santa hats as a reward for their efforts.

Location: Designated sandbox

Roles: The moderators of the event will create the Christmas tree and the class can also help document/videotape the event.

Role Assignments
Builders
- Ornaments: moderators/class
- Christmas tree: moderators
Jobs
- Documentation : moderators/class
- Photos : moderators/class
- Video footage : class
Assests: Ornaments can either be created or searched at different locations in Second Life. We plan on making the Christmas tree.

Participation Preparation: This is optional for the attendees to do. If they want to make their own ornaments or find ornaments at a different location, prior they can do so, but if not they can create the event starts.

Production Plan: As moderators for this event, we will create the Christmas tree and email the class a few days in advance so they have the option to look for ornaments before they participate. People who choose not to prepare, can build their ornaments on-site on the day of.

SL Persona

For my virtual persona, I wanted my SL avatar to be funny and outspoken. As a result of her persona, I kept butting into other conversations with other SL avatar users. Although she is a troublemaker, she loves to go dancing, and is often found in the dance floor. She is very found of Lara Croft from the Tomb Raider game, and is often found to dress like her.

I attended the "Step in my Groove" event since my SL persona likes to dance. Once I opened the event, in the description, it originally said "+Music, Jazz, Funk. Place to play, relax, dance, listen to great tunes and enjoy our friends. Everyone welcome. If you are artists : tip venue. SIM PG so : no nudity, no harassment, no sex. " I thought it was interesting how it was promoting jazz and funk as it's music, however once I was actually inside the event, the music was not at all what I imagined. I don't even know how to categorize it, however the first think that came to my mind when I heard it was the singer, Bjork. There wasn't a lot of SL participants. I would describe it as a "slow day" in contrast to the other locations I visited like Miami Beach.

Toontown Research Questions

2. Describe how each component of the Toontown HUD is used to inform you of things not visible to the camera?

Each button acts as a shortcut for any additional information. It also allows the user to create personalized actions for their avator.

3. Describe how other toons, maps, objects, and the Head-Up Display (HUD) help you locate other users and objectives?

Icon images that wouldn't particularly look like it would belong in the avator's environment, creates curiosity to the user playing. Therefore, the user naturally clicks on the image to see why it's there.

5. How are various tasks and goals communicated to you at the start of the game? How and why does this evolve as you gain more experience?

At the start of a game, there's a designated avator, who will tell you your importance and purpose of the game. Each statement the avator tells you, is a new transition using an arrow button to move forward. Based on the target audience of this game, the audience will have an easier time understanding the game once you evolve, step by step. The more experience you have, the easier it is to maneuver around the site.