I visisted Malihini today, a place I've been before, but as of my recent vaunts, I headed off in a different direction and found a lot of interesting items.
First up, I went through several areas where it seemed they were themed to a certain region in our real world. There was an egyptian sort area with pillars, and patterns akin to that area. You might say instead of Egyptian, it had an Indian feel, what with the temple like building seen in the background of this screencap? I think it was the patterns used within the texture maps that made it - the arrows, the mosaic like tiled walkways. The colour scheme in the least seems quite meditteranian, definitely not England!
Following this, there was the chinese/oriental section.
And then there was a section that physically isn't reflective of our real world at all. I twigged onto what it was meant to be when I saw the grouping of tall poplar trees. This setting has been layed out to mimic 'Myst' the video game. There's the rocket and clock tower in the image below, and then further up the hill in the environment was the library and stone circle feature.
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At the time of playing such games I thought that creating such environments in the specialised artform of games design, and I myself wouldn't be able to do it. But sitting on the otherside of things now, with a little bit of knowledge in 3D design, I think I could have a stab at making a 'Myst' environment! Infact, that is what I've done for my avatar environment, instead choosing 'Super Paper Mario'!
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The person making it here, in there (reading that sounds odd) isn't a complete mad man, I myself think it's a nice touch, and recognised the nod, so hopefully my efforts will be acknowledged in the same way.There were also a few key buildings that I picked out along the way. One of these was the wild wild west bar building type thing. For me, this building would fit perfectly well in a cowboy type sandy road street (it helps that it pretty much was set out in such an environment anyway!) The square framed ground floor windows, the balconies, the pointed roof fronts - all what led me to perceive it this way.
The next building was something I've kind of been half expecting to find around every corner: a windmill! It wasn't moving (is there actually wind in there? Saying that, why worry when they could just autokey a rotation of the propellers in 3d max - ha, that lingo confirms me as a right computer geek!) but it's the first I've come across so kudos to the creator. And somebody had made a basketball court a bit further along, with net. I can imagine a few people hanging out here, fake playing a game of bball.
Next to the lighthouse were some tall xmas trees. Again, a first, so it gets a mention. (All you keen readers will sense the irony there cos I comment on certain things many a time on this here virtual world journal!)
Bizarre though, was that the green xmas trees were sat next to a couple of red ones? I can't think why they'd choose that colour, but then again why not? That's what I like about these VR worlds - you can blur reality by emphasising it, extending it, or altering it in someway. It doesn't have to be real!
I also came across a desert type, Arabian tent, complete with drug smoking sheesh kabob thing (and I know I have just completely gotten the spelling wrong!) What drew my attention, for being funny, was the camel stuck outside next to the tent! My instinct was to try and get on for a motionless ride, but alas, no joy with this camel! At least he didn't spit.
And talking of camels, which is an animal... you'll no doubt guess where I'm going! Indeed, animals! I won't bore you with the details, but I found chimps, elephants spraying water from their trunks, swans, hippos, unicorns (hello, reality blurring with creative imaginations again) and a parrot!
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- This in particular, is my favourite picture of all time from my there.com visits! It happened by chance, as I flipped to body view to take the picture, my avatar jumped to his camp hands on hips stance and the image was captured! It's the sort of picture you would have on holiday with the colourful yapping parrot, plus the lush green bushes in the background, my shorts and sandles combo - it all makes for the typical holiday snapshot!
Lastly, a few posts back I mentioned how the places I visisted all seemed to have been Americanized in some way or another. This Union Jack flag near the centre of the town helps balance the bias up somewhat for us Brits!
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