Sometimes you find a artist that you just want to show to the world. Tomais Ashdene is such a artist. In his work I find more than just pictures of the Second life world. There are stories. What happened before or what happens after. It is not just the perfection in the technical work but the way he makes the image continue to explore his virtual life and the world around him. There are many good photographers in Second life but very few that makes the pictures relevant even beyond the virtual self.

I am happy that we can show Tomais pictures and you are all welcome this Saturday the 10 at 1pm SL time to party and meet the artist.

In many ways my 2014 was not a good year so i am really looking
forward to 2015. I had to work on my artist career and could not
spend as much time in virtual as i wanted and it was really
frustrating. Anyhoo.

2014 was the year i got my Oculus Rift and the virtual reality i
had known would for ever be something totally else. Opensim and
the Second life grid changed and now i always use it when i am in
world. It is a totally different experience using the Oculus in
world that i can not really describe the feeling. The only way to
understand is to try one out. If you get a chance do it.

Ok there are a few drawbacks. The motion sickness can be bad but i
have learned how to use the Oculus and after a while you do not
get sick anymore. You can not chat as usual. Linden labs viewer
have solved some of the problems but i still can not see my
keyboard. So voice it is. But not many use voice on the grids.

And the viewers are not ready yet. I use the CtrlAltDel viewer
because the Linden lab viewer have some stupid software that do not
let you see all prims in some kind of attempt to speed up the
viewer. Please take that out or let me decide what i want to see in
a scene. But the Linden lab viewer on the other hand have solved
the user interface very nice.

When i visit a place i want to see everything in the fantastic builds around Second life and the hypergrid. This year i am buying a super duper graphics card just for this.

This year i am not going to obsess on the real life artworks that much and spend some more time on the grids. I may even come up with some new products if there is a way to manage the very stupid new EU tax laws. Yes i confess i am also in it for the money. A artist life is both poor and boring. Some cash makes it more fun. But over all the exploring of virtual hardware and software is the most exciting for me.

The Opensim conference was a great success. Once more. It is nice to meet other fellow enthusiasts and have a chat. I do not know if we are a elite in the virtual worlds or just a bunch of wackos? Future will tell. It was fun.

The OSgrid went down and never came up. So I created my own hypergrid. And soon realized that I have no time to run my own grid. The islands on the OSgrid was up for months and I had them for years with out much work. So I hope the guys get it up running again. I will be back.

And 2worlds2go is another project I miss treated 2014. It is going in all kinds of directions with Second life, The gallery, Opensim and my flight simulation. If it is going to work I have to focus and start working together with other designers. I always meet great designers in Second life that like to work with their designs but do not have the time and skills to run a company or even want to. There is a business idea in here somewhere. I am down sizing somewhat. I have a real life company too. Everything takes time.

So for all you out there in virtual lala land. This will be the
best year ever. See you around the grids.

Just got of the grid and thinking about all the stuff I have learned from the last two days. I have to say I am feeling a lot of mixed feelings. The conference is of course a success. TY guys well done.

But listening to Philip and the new tech developments I am not that sure about the evolution of Opensim. It is a big and complicated nest of code guarded by very few people. Can it change enough to be relevant in a few years? The new Second life and I suppose there will be a few new worlds will make it even more difficult to be something to spend time running and developing. On the other hand I see a lot of dedicated people using Opensim for business and recreation.

My artist me say that this is a great platform for different art projects but my CEO of 2worlds2go say maybe to do something else. I did think that I would come out of the conference inspired and full of energy to create more stuff on my own grid. But instead I just feel conflicted.

One big thing is the Oculus rift. I know it really works best in Second life and Opensim but I have this strange feeling it will not be the game changer people think.. A lot of talk about it but nobody really used it. Its like a great idea, but only on paper.

I am going to get some sleep it is late in Sweden and see if I feel the same way tomorrow. I am sad to say I think I will do so. It is the future of Opensim and Second life that bothers me not the fantastic and great Opensim conference that was really fun. That’s one good thing.