Mastodawn

Jupiter Rowland Dec 10, 2023

The OpenSimulator Community Conference is saving the best for last. At least for those of us who live in central Europe, 9 hours ahead of grid time, and who don't want to stay up all night for the late-late events.

11:30 AM-12:30 PM PST/grid time:
Shop during lunch! Hypergrid Shopping Tour: Where to find content
I'm curious where Lyr Lobo will take us. And if she has taken the time to add some of my suggestions as actual destinations. Then again, @Juno Rowland or I could probably do an even longer specialise "So you've got a Ruth2 v4, and you're looking for clothes, but you don't want to resort to copybotted Second Life stuff" shopping tour. Have this wiki article instead.
12:30 PM-1:30 PM PST/grid time:
In Conversation: Mal Burns talks with Tish Shute
Okay, that's a filler, but probably an interesting one, also because it takes a look at early OpenSim.
1:30 PM-2:00 PM PST/grid time:
The Open Metaverse Research Group
Right now, the Open Metaverse Research Group appears to be a bunch of idealistic OpenSim users who want to achieve what industry and cryptobros, both with no knowledge of even OpenSim's existence whatsoever, are working on independently themselves. And it doesn't look like the OMRG has any associates outside the OpenSim community. Not to mention the state their very wiki is in. I hope this panel will convince me otherwise.
2:00 PM-2:30 PM PST/grid time:
Max – New Free Mesh bodies for OpenSim Avatars
The most exciting panel of the whole event. Ada Radius presents the new "unisex" mesh body she has created this year, Max, that can be turned into a male variant named Maxwell and a female one named Maxine. It's the official successor of Ruth2 and Roth2 now, and just like them, it's free, open-source, legal and made in and for OpenSim by largely the same team. And it promises to provide a much better dev kit. I'll try to apply as a beta-tester, also because I don't want this body to go out there only lab-tested by its own devs.
2:30 PM-3:00 PM PST/grid time:
A Home for Arcadia Asylum
Another topic dear to Ada, now joined by Kayaker Magic: the creations of Arcadia Asylum/Aley Arai/Lora Lemon/Aley Resident, at least what was successfully rescued and transferred to OpenSim. Kayaker has recently launched an entire grid specialising on Arcadia Asylum, and there'll be a tour through it tomorrow at 10 AM PST/grid time.

#Long #LongPost #CWLong #CWLongPost #OpenSim #OpenSimulator #Metaverse #VirtualWorlds #OSCC #OSCC23 #Events #OMRG #OpenMetaverse #Max #Maxwell #Maxine #MeshBody #ArcadiaAsylum

Jupiter Rowland - [email protected]

Ryan Schultz Nov 18, 2023

NEWLY UPDATED AS OF NOV. 25th! Second Life Steals, Deals, and Freebies: Your Guide to the 2023 Black Friday Sales in Second Life

https://ryanschultz.com/2023/11/17/second-life-steals-deals-and-freebies-your-guide-to-the-2023-black-friday-sales-in-second-life/

Second Life Steals, Deals, and Freebies: Your Guide to the 2023 Black Friday Sales in Second Life

Black Friday comes up on the Friday after American Thanksgiving (which is always the fourth Thursday in November; we Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving in October, because by the time American versio…

Ryan Schultz

Jupiter Rowland Oct 16, 2023

If you've always been curious about the #MeshBody development in #OpenSim from Ruth 2.0 to the new #Max project, @Ai Austin has you covered in his blog:

Austin Tate's Blog wrote the following post Sun, 15 Oct 2023 11:59:49 +0200

History of the Development of Max

History of the project, current Ruth2 and Roth2 avatars, testing models,
managing artists and the community social media channels. Further
resources for the Max, Maxine and Maxwell mesh avatars is available at
https://blog.inf.ed.ac.uk/atate/2023/09/13/max-new-open-source-mesh-avatar/
Timeline 2017 – Shin Ingen creates original … Continue reading →

https://blog.inf.ed.ac.uk/atate/2023/10/15/history-of-the-development-of-max/ View article View summary #^History of the Development of Max

History of the project, current Ruth2 and Roth2 avatars, testing models, managing artists and the community social media channels.
Further resources for the Max, Maxine and Maxwell mesh avatars is available at https://blog.inf.ed.ac.uk/atate/2023/09/13/max-new-open-source-mesh-avatar/

Timeline

2017 – Shin Ingen creates original Ruth 2.0 and Roth 2.0 avatar meshes in ZBrush. https://github.com/ingen-lab/Ruth
2019 – Fred Beckhusen creates GitHub RuthAndRoth organization to improve open source community management of the project with Ada Radius, Ai Austin and Serie Sumei as administrators. https://github.com/RuthAndRoth
2019 – Ruth 2.0 RC#2, Ruth 2.0 RC#3 and Roth 2.0 RC#1 resources archived as branches in https://github.com/RuthAndRoth/Ruth
2019 – Ruth2 v4 and Roth2 v2 released by GitHub RuthAndRoth organization into OpenSim and Second Life. https://github.com/RuthAndRoth/Ruth2 and https://github.com/RuthAndRoth/Roth2
2022 – Ada Radius, Kayaker Magic and Tom Ernst explore details of viewer data for avatars as basis for Max. https://github.com/New-Media-Arts-New-Viewer-Avatar
2023 – Max, Maxine and Maxwell project underway. https://github.com/RuthAndRoth/Max

Max, Maxine and Maxwell

The new underlying avatar created directly in Blender by Ada Radius is called “Max” which can be morphed into female and male variants called “Maxine” and “Maxwell”. The avatar armature is refined via research on the character folder in SecondLife/OpenSim viewers https://github.com/New-Media-Arts-New-Viewer-Avatar.

RuthAndRoth GitHub Organization

In 2019 Fred Beckhusen created the GitHub RuthAndRoth “organization” as a shared community umbrella to improve open source community management of the project. Ada Radius, Ai Austin and Serie Sumei continue to act administrators.

Github Organization: https://github.com/RuthandRoth

There are several code and resource repositories available:

Ruth – the original Ruth 2.0 RC#2 and RC#3 and Roth 2.0 RC#1 resources with Git archival branches for the releases.
Ruth2 – Female mesh avatar – Ruth2 v4.
Roth2 – male mesh avatar – Roth2 v2.
Extras – attachments and resources of interest for open source avatars.
Skins – open source skins.
Reference – archive of Second Life and OpenSimulator avatar-related reference files.
Max – repository for the new Max, Maxine and Maxwell avatars.

A simple management approach to code and resource contributions and preparation of releases is taken at present. There is a “Contrib/ which any creator may establish and into which they can commit their own contributions. Hence they can make them available to the community for testing and feedback.

Repository issues can be raised for discussion and a repository “Wiki” allows for useful documentation. Social media channels, in particular via Discord, are available to discuss developments, issues, testing, etc.

An OpenSim community region on OSGrid called “RuthAndRoth” is available to allow any user on any grid that implements the “Hypergrid” protocol to get in-world prepared resources and boxed releases. There is a Second Life marketplace also called “RuthAndRoth” for boxed release items. An avatar “RuthAndRoth Resident” exists in both OpenSim (on OSGrid) and Second Life to “own” the canonical version of each released item.

Resources and Social Media

Note not all of the resource below by any means will contain Max, Maxine or Maxwell relevant content at this early stage, but the links are here for possible future use.

GitHub:
- Github Organization: https://github.com/RuthandRoth
- Github Repository: https://github.com/RuthandRoth/Max
Social Forums and Discussion:
- Discord Discussion Forum: RuthAndRoth [See channel #max] [Invite]
- MeWe Community Page: https://mewe.com/group/5bbe0189a5f4e57c73569fb9
Second Life:
- Second Life Group: “RuthAndRoth” (free to join) – Group name place holder.
- Second Life Group: “Ruth and Roth Community” (free to join) – Most active and recommended for use.
- Second Life Marketplace Store: RuthAndRoth
OpenSim:
- OSGrid Inworld Location: hop://hg.osgrid.org:80/RuthAndRoth/134/124/26
- OSGrid OpenSim Group: “RuthAndRoth” (free to join)
- OpenSim Kitely Market: RuthAndRoth Store (products not currently listed)

Contributors to Max

Ada Radius
Ai Austin
Curious Creator
Kayaker Magic
Linden Lab
Serie Sumei
Sundance Haiku
Tom Ernst aka Owl Eyes

Contributors to Ruth2 v4 and Roth2 v2 Development

Ada Radius
Ai Austin
Chimera Firecaster
Duck Girl
Elenia Boucher
Fred Beckhusen
Fritigern Gothly
Joe Builder
Kayaker Magic
Lelani Carver
Leona Morro
Linden Lab
Mike Dickson
Noxluna Nightfire
Sean Heavy
Serie Sumei
Shin Ingen
Sundance Haiku

Previous Core Contributions to Ruth2 and Roth2 Avatars

Original Ruth 2.0 RC#1, RC#2 and RC#3 and Roth 2.0 RC#1 meshes modelled in Zbrush by Shin Ingen with rigging and vertex weight maps by Ada Radius.
GitHub Repository management and testing by Fred Beckhusen, Outworldz LLC (Ferd Frederix), Ai Austin and Serie Sumei.
Revised mesh, rigging and vertex weight maps by Ada Radius.
Improvements to feet meshes by Sundance Haiku and Curious Creator.
Fingernails and toenails by Sundance Haiku.
UV map is CC-BY Linden Lab.
HUD mesh, textures and scripts by Serie Sumei using modifications to original scripts by Shin Ingen and nail enhancements by Sundance Haiku.

#RuthAndRoth #Ruth2 #Roth2 #Maxine #Maxwell #OpenSimulator #SecondLife #Metaverse #VirtualWorlds #LongPost

Netzgemeinde/Hubzilla

Jupiter Rowland Oct 16, 2023

It's happening.

#Max is slowly coming together. The new free and open-source #MeshBody for #OpenSim and #SecondLife has a GitHub repository now on which the old #RuthAndRoth gang is reuniting, still with @Ai Austin at the helm.

There isn't any actual content in the repository yet, but I can hardly wait to ask if they need a beta tester. I think having daily-driven #Roth2 v2 since June 2020 should add to my qualification.

#OpenSimulator #Metaverse #VirtualWorlds #Maxine #Maxwell

Netzgemeinde/Hubzilla

Juno Rowland Sep 25, 2023

Now that I'm thinking about it, when #Maxine comes out (the new free and open-source #MeshBody in the making, see here), and people actually start making clothes for that body, I hope to see some mix-and-match basics in many colours, ideally for all seasons, not only for summer.

When I look at what kinds of virtual women's clothes come in from Second Life, I keep noticing two things. One, many complete outfits consisting of pieces which can hardly or not at all be combined with anything else. Two, most clothes are designed for wild club parties on Mediterranean tourist hot-spot islands, increasingly even only for after dark.

This can wait until the basics are there. Including shoes if those made for #Ruth2 don't fit which should include medium-heeled shoes, something between flat and 6-inch heels.

Also, at least I don't need certain skin-tight clothes as mesh such as swimwear, underwear or hosiery. If the body supports BoM, and I'm sure it will, I can wear these as layer clothes much more easily than I could wear them as mesh.

#OpenSim #OpenSimulator #Metaverse #VirtualWorlds #VirtualFashion #VirtualClothing

Netzgemeinde/Hubzilla

Jupiter Rowland Sep 22, 2023

Here's a premiere: the first #FollowFriday for #OpenSimulator.

For those who don't know what I'm talking about: OpenSimulator, also called #OpenSim, is a free and #OpenSource platform for 3-D #VirtualWorlds that uses largely the same technology as #SecondLife. It was launched as early as 2007. It mostly became a network of #federated, interconnected worlds (#grids) when the #Hypergrid was introduced in 2008. And "#Metaverse" has been a part of the standard OpenSim vocabulary since before 2010, too.

It currently measures about 420 public grids at various sizes from tiny to slightly larger than Second Life itself and countless private grids, the vast majority of which are on the Hypergrid.

So without further ado, here are some suggestions:

Shelenn Ayres
#InfiniteMetaverseAlliance CEO. Co-organiser of the on-going #OpenSimFest #OSFest2023 that'll continue until the end of the month. Follow her now for the daily schedule. Also maybe your first #Friendica connection.
→ @Shelenn Ayres
Mal Burns
Creator and main host of #InworldReview, also creator of several other YouTube video series about virtual worlds. One of the organisers of #HypergridInternationalExpo which will return next month after six years.
→ Main account: @Mal Burns Main
→ OpenSim account: @Metaworld Opensim Social
Thirza Ember
Organiser of the weekly #HGSafari. One of the hosts of Inworld Review. Another one of the organisers of #HIE.
→ @Thirza
Tosha Tyran
One of the four founders and owners of #CraftWorld, one of the five oldest grids. Another one of the organisers of HIE.
→ @Tosha T.
Kelso Uxlay
Co-founder and co-owner of the #CreaNovale grid. Co-builder of the famous four-seasons varsim known as #Novale. And yet another one of the organisers of HIE.
→ @Kelso Uxlay
Lone Wolf
Founder and owner of the #WolfTerritoriesGrid, the second-largest OpenSim grid. Might be the single person who owns the most virtual land in the world, but he offers it for rent. Also founder and owner of the OpenSimSocial #Mastodon instance.
→ @Lone Wolf
Hyacinth Jean
Founder and owner of the #GroovyVerse grid and the GroovyToot Mastodon instance. Prolific #MeshBody maker; has forked Ruth 2.0 into #LuvMyBod and Diana and created her own private mesh body. Currently working on an alternative to #OpenSimWorld.
→ @Hyacinth 🏳️‍⚧️ ☮️
vrsimility
Working on an authentic, detailed recreation of 19th century #Liverpool in OpenSim.
→ @vrsimility
OpenSimulator Community Conference
The #OSCC is a yearly community event with a whole number of panels about OpenSim in particular and virtual worlds in general. Expect #OSCC23 to happen in December.
→ @OpenSim Community Conference
Finally, the OpenSim community on #Lemmy
Not a user for a change, but a place on Lemmy for OpenSim users/avatars to meet and discuss.
→ @OpenSim

#FOSS #FLOSS #Decentralized #Decentralization #Decentralised #Decentralisation #VirtualWorld #WolfTerritories #WolfGrid #Ruth2 #OSFest

Netzgemeinde/Hubzilla

Jupiter Rowland Sep 13, 2023

@OpenSim

Exciting news from @Austin Tate/@Ai Austin: A new #OpenSource mesh avatar for #OpenSim is in the making! Oh, and it'll be available in #SecondLife as well. The project is called Max, the female body is named #Maxine, the male body is named #Maxwell. (Now we need an easily distinguishable hashtag for the whole project.)

Looks like Ada found it easier to make something completely new from scratch in Blender than to try to nip and tuck even the most glaring shortcomings out of #Ruth2 and especially #Roth2. Granted, we'll be back to zero clothes-wise, but it looks like chances are good that Max will have a working and usable dev kit, and making clothes for Max will be much easier than for Ruth2 and Roth2.

The new bodies will be licensed under #CreativeCommons #CC-BY-NC 4.0, probably a better choice for a mesh body than the #AGPL. After all, most Ruth2 and Roth2 spin-offs in Second Life are technically closed-source.

Metaworld Opensim Social wrote the following post Wed, 13 Sep 2023 20:11:13 +0200 Max – New Open Source Mesh Avatar – Resources | Austin Tate's Blog
https://blog.inf.ed.ac.uk/atate/2023/09/13/max-new-open-source-mesh-avatar/

#OpenSimulator #Metaverse #VirtualWorlds #MeshBody