K-SOCCER : Football within Second Life

By Wesley Regenbogen

K-SOCCER is a football field (or soccer field to Americans) created on the 25^th of March 2015 by Jayra79 Resident. What’s special about this football project ? Well, they teach newbies how to play and follow them closely. Like in real life football, actually, I presume.

Next to the football field there are stairs that take you up in the relax area, where you can sit down and relax. Or when you played a match, you can rest there for a while.

The football field is unique in Second Life. I haven’t tried out playing football in Second Life, but I might give it a try myself. On how to play, I received a notecard from the owner with some instructions. Near the field there are four totems one clicks to get a "K-Soccer" kit, a goalkeeper HUD, a player HUD, as well as a link to the group one can join. Players need to select "Always Run" on their viewer, which they can be clicking CTLR + R - if you want to walk again click CTLR + R again. To play, it's best that one does so in mouselook.To get a ball, "to the field if you need a ball click on the center circle with the left mouse button."

"Before the game you must click on the center of the midfield - you see on the screen a window with team or team b - DEVEI you choose one of the two teams and you can play. To join a game in progress you need to click on the center of the midfield - you see a window with the join - click and choose freely join one of the teams. Of course the most common colors are blue and red kits whiteOur do u kit benfica for red - Real Madrid for the white - blue for schalke04." For any questions, one is invited to message Dreewan Resident. Readers can find more information about the place in the landmark.

They are working on creating their own website and they advertise themselves on SL radio. So, they will have a website in the near future. But for now, they have a Facebook group and can be found through Twitch.tv (http://www.twitch.tv/ ) , as some players broadcast their matches on the internet.

On the 15^th of June 2015 they will hold their World Cup and teams can sign up for it soon.

Personally, I think this place and the project is a mention worth, although I’m not a football fan myself. So I’m not going to become a professional K-SOCCER player. But it’s cool to be able to play sports in Second Life.

So, if you're into football in Second Life, why not join them and join the competition? Be sure to check out this place. Have fun and enjoy the game !

The K-SOCCER soccer field can be found here :

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Breakaway/146/99/3502

The training soccer field can be found at this place :

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Shared%20Fantasy/161/110/2501

K-SOCCER Article Video from Pcfreakske2000 on Vimeo.

(Click here if the video fails to play)

Wesley Regenbogen

Xavier Thiebaud's Play "The Little Prince"

By Grease Coakes

There’s lot of things to do in Second Life including seeing a play. The well-known Xavier Thiebaud himself created one with the help of Szerewp Loon as the director. The story was written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry according to Wikipedia (entry link). The play itself is being featured at the Royal Opera and Ritz Ballroom here at Oceanea (82/109/1153). There was a performance at Sunday at 2pm SLT on March 15th.

 Xavier explained that the Little Prince is basically falling to earth, "but it's about exploration and love and innocence and wisdom."

I answered back with, "I think lots of people may relate to the story as sometimes they may feel alone or as an alien in some situations."

Lots of people seem to relate to the play/story that Xavier and Andy produced. Xavier told that it has "been sold out everytime it's been shown in SL."

Andy Loon (Szerewp Loon): "Our performances was record of frequence."

Andy said that lots of times on Earth, the Little Prince might see something we take for granted that he would see as very special, "(The) Little Prince is a person who is surprised (by) many situations objectively unnatural, though obvious for us. And so a huge amount of roses on Earth. The Little Prince really thought that in the universe there is only one rose ..."

Xavier Thiebaud, "He thought his rose was special, because he thought only one existed in all the universe.

Xavier said he approached his friend Andy Loon and presented the idea of the Little Prince play. A play of this magnitude was never done before but Xavier and Andy explained they did it for the passion and story, but not so much to see if could be done. In fact what can be done in SL can’t be done in the real world as Andy said, "SL gives far more possibilities of realization than RL."

I said in response, "Yeah what you can do in Hollywood and Broadway is one thing. But only in SL could you make a harmless volcano and a room looking like a whole universe."

Then Xavier and Andy showed me a different scene out in the desert. Xavier explains the Little Prince lands on Earth before he meets the pilot. In the desert he meets a snake. Out in the forest he meets a fox. I asked Xavier and Andy about the characters the Little Prince meets, "So the snake fox and pilot all have things to say and teach to the Little Prince."

Xavier Thiebaud, "Yes, and very valuable lessons."

Grease Coakes, "What are the lessons that they teach?"

Andy Loon (Szerewp Loon), "(The) snake gives to (the) Little Prince hope, and (the) fox gives to him friendship."

Grease Coakes, "Ahh very important lessons."

Andy Loon told me the names of the actors and what roles they played, "Angelina Kitaj was rose, snake and fox.  Orionek Twist was the pilot, king, drinker, and the businessman and geographer."

At first Xavier wanted to have it done over voice chat with singing and voice and not text. When I asked who built and scripted the sets I thought it would be a whole team of builders and scripters I was surprised to hear it was Andy Loon did everything by himself.

What Xavier suggested, and it sounds good advice, is to arrive early to make sure you get a seat and no you don’t have to pay to get in. The problem isn’t paying a linden price but making sure you get there ahead of the crowd before the theater fills up. Xavier also suggested to join his A List! Group to get all the best updates about Second Life. As one of Xavier’s buddies if you IM or notecard Xavier mentioning my name Grease Coakes it grants you a free entrance into Xavier’s A List! Xavier also suggested reading the story before you come to the play so you have a clearer idea of what’s going on.
Andy suggested this site to read the story ahead of time:
http://www.odaha.com/antoine-de-saint-exupery/maly-princ/the-little-prince.

Xavier happened to say this about his friend and director of the play, "Also Andy has been doing opera and plays and musicals and ballet for several years in SL, everything from Josephine Baker and the Moulin Rogue to Romeo and Juliet and Tales of Hoffman to name a few."

When I asked how long it will be in SL Xavier told me, "We have not decided yet, suffice to say. Grab the chance to see it. We're booked through April."

Angelina Kitaj came by and showed me one of her costumes for the play. She played the role of the rose for the Little Prince played by Szerewp Loon AKA Andy Loon. She also showed me her role as the fox in the forest as she befriends the Little Prince teaching him the lesson of friendship, "it's hard work to get to be friends."

I answered back saying, "Yes it is. You don't always agree with each other and you have to be aware of each other's needs and wishes."

By the sound of it seeing the play is a must see for everyone in Second Life. You had better run to see it before it’s too late and the little prince has gone back to his little asteroid.

Grease Coakes

Facebook Game Review: Campaign Story

One computer game I remember from my youth was "President Elect," which allowed the player to take on the role of a political candidate for the White House. Since then, election games have continued to come up every four years, though I never did buy another. Recently, one came out for Facebook: "Campaign Story," billed as "the first political Facebook game where you run your own political campaign." It is made by Five One Nine Games.


The selling point of the game is the chance to run for office with the option of "Play Clean or Play Dirty." Indeed when your candidate starts his/her first election, you're greeted by a pol from your party whom expresses hope you'll be a refreshing change from the politician you're up against who's known for his dirty tricks.

Starting out, you're given a selection of several appearances to choose from, male and female. You're also asked your candidate's name, the symbol he/she will be using (Democrat, Republican, or one of several others), and the slogan. You'll also be asked if you'll be playing as a liberal, conservative, or moderate, though I have yet to see how this affects gameplay.

Your first election is one for mayor of a city. You're given some guidance for the first several moves. The map shows your appeal in various places, from welcoming to hostile. Canvassers from your staff can be placed on the map to speak directly to the people about your candidate and make some gains in the polls. Fundraisers can be placed to raise money.

The news board shows events that have an effect on the election, such as reports of declining industry or rising crime rates, as well as statements (lies) by your opponent against you. By spending Influence points, you can act on an issue. You can then have your staff promote your efforts for votes. But your opponent will usually make some response, more often than not by using cheap shots. You can respond by either defending your move, or by going negative yourself. Positive moves are shown as white angel wings while attacks are shown as red devil horns.

Different staff have different roles. Press Secretaries issue press releases and hold press conferences. Researchers dig up facts and figures to fight off attacks from your opponent, or dig up dirt for attacks of your own. Speech writers can help make  your candidate sound more intelligent on issues. Image consultants can help polish an image after an opponents smear campaign, or set up photo-ops to promote your candidate.

Gameplay has your candidate starting out low in the polls, with your actions making the numbers swing to your favor. Once your approval rating reaches 51%, the game declares you the winner on election day. Following your victory as mayor, your next campaign is for state senate. This election is a bit more detailed, taking place across four maps, and four regions of news issues and opponent's responses. As you win, you'll go up the political ladder, with elections for Governor, US Senator, and eventually the Presidency.

Campaign Story is a new game to Facebook, launched only last week, so there may be some changes to it as time goes on. As the real-life election makes the news, it's an interesting way to make gamers think a little about what goes on in winning races in the real world, and what it takes.

Unlike certain Facebook games, it doesn't ask to make posts to your friends (yet). So Facebook has done what to some would seem impossible: make politics a subject less annoying than many others, at least with games.

Bixyl Shuftan