Voyeurs, take note: now you watch the same person in two different places at once! What a timesaver!
To demonstrate a) the amazing potentials of the online 3D world Second Life, b) the amazing flexibility of some Intel thingamabob, and c) that New Yorkers are capable of ignoring anything, acclaimed virtual designer Versu Richelieu is spending 72 hours in a storefront window at 5th Avenue and 39th Street living her life entirely through a computer. She is also inside Second Life, where her avatar is busily designing a copy of the street she’s on in real life. Got all that?
For the next three days she’ll be ordering her food and entertainment online, demonstrating the usefulness of computers and probably boosting her WoW levels to some ridiculous, Cartman-killing number. I stopped in and watched as she whipped up a street sign and some traffic lights. It was sort of like watching God, if God wore Lennon glasses and was into urban renewal. Versu stepped away from her creations and answered a few questions.
247: So whose idea was this? And what were they drinking?
Versu: Reuben’s, founder of MillionsofUs.
247: He said, “We need to stick Versu somewhere for three days”?
Versu: Yes, apparently I have dirt that needs to be secret for 3 days.
247: A wise move, then π How much of NYC do you hope to recreate?
Versu: As much as I can see from my window, and then some. Obviously, I cannot see the building above me or the ones to my side but I eyeballed them as best I could before they locked me in π
247: Going to be tricky at night. Are you including cars, litter, passing aliens…?
Versu: lol. Depends what i have time for. Cars, yes, but I will defer to the car experts on our team for that.
247: You need compatriots e-mailing you shots of 5th avenue.
Versu: I actually have some π (It) was always meant to be a team effort. I am just the idiot that agreed to get in the window.
247: What programs are you using (for your design work)?
Versu: (Photoshop) 7, mostly. Actually, that is all I am using.
247: Will you be using any modeling software, or just the ingame design tools?
Versu: Just in game.
She then excused herself to go make a building. You don’t want to pressure anyone who can do that, so I’ll check back later.
For someone who’s been stuck in a store window for 10 hours or so, she was very cheerful, and she does amazing work. SL regulars may recognize her as the builder behind Rue d’Alliez (a French-themed estate sim), an Asian mountain community, her own personal castle, a zillion clothing designs, and much, much more. Here she’s working for Millionsofus.com, a site devoted to raising the general awareness of virtual worlds and the specific awareness of the new Intel Core Duo processor.
You can follow along by going here and gawking at both Richelieus through the miracle of streaming video. If you’re in New York you can swing by and gawk at her directly, although I think that would violate some city ordinance. If you’re in Second Life you can go and break into a ritualistic dance in front of her, apparently.
I’ll stop back in every now and then and post updates on how she’s doing, what NYC or SL thinks about it, and what happens when she finally runs out of Gummi Bears. Check back!