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NUS Second Life: Live It Up in the Virtual World |
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Written by Mok Yuen Teng
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Mid-terms? Essays due? Project
meetings? If your real life is not stimulating enough, then check
out Second
Life (SL).
Register as a SL Resident with NUS SL and be part of the RidgeCat
community to gain
unrestricted access to facilities on NUS Island!
What is NUS Island?!
NUS Island in SL is nothing
like Kent Ridge Campus, save a recreation of University Hall.
The main
areas on the island are Hangout, Dance Floor, Amphitheatre, Student
Dormitories and Sandbox; while more new buildings will be added during
the course of time.
Personally, I had a lot of fun exploring these places
and would recommend any newcomer to inspect every nook and corner of
the island. There's just so much to do and see around here. I'm
particularly amused by a reference to our favourite Milo van. Do keep
a look out for it. Oh, and take snapshots!
The Dance Floor is a must-go
for any visitor. With live streaming from Radio Pulze playing all day,
the atmosphere is simply electrifying.
Snowing! The dances
are coordinated.
The beach is located next to
the Dance Floor. Here, RidgeCats ride the Jet Ski, sun tan and pose
for sexy snapshots.
Sizzling hot!
The rooms in the dorm, I was
told, will be offered to deserving RidgeCats (2 to a room).
Now why would anyone want a room in NUS SL?
For ownership, since the
room is yours (and your roommate's) and it is entirely up to you to
furnish. You can also invite your fellow RidgeCats over to show off!
Inspecting an already
furnished room.
However, the fun part of NUS
SL is definitely the role-playing and meeting other RidgeCats who are
absolutely into their avatars. Many hilarious scenes were enacted, thanks
to my colourful companions.
Fireman(?!) and...uh...drag queen sunbathing by the beach.
At the
gym, NUS Island's very own local hero: Fatman. He's undergoing
a weight loss programme.
Moments later,
Fatman and RidgeCat Guru LividEye Yoshikawa
were found slumped by the pool. Drunk on Magic Beer, I was told.
RidgeCats, in my opinion, are
a close-knitted community, thanks in part to the RidgeCat Gurus' efforts
to familiarize each and every newcomer into the RidgeCat culture.
There
was also a three-day orientation (12th - 14th March) for newbies where they
imparted useful tips on avatar customisation and on procuring items.
Most visitors come from a diverse NUS background and NUS Island presents
a clear opportunity for students to meet more people from across campus.
HOOKED editors would be glad to know that I've found a HUGE fan in RidgeCat
Guru Jui Aeon!
RidgeCat Gurus also organise
events - usually on a Friday night - and I must add that the prizes are
real, as in real life.
On the 14th of March, we had
our first RidgeCat Rich Hunt which was unfortunately marred by a slight
technical glitch. Nevertheless, the experience was entirely worth it
as I got to know many of the Gurus better and made some very good
RidgeCat friends.
We were also promised a rematch, free RidgeCat tee
(real life real) each and a promotion to RidgeCat Regular status, which
I think is not that bad a deal.
We concluded the night at the amphitheatre,
where the elusive NUS SL founder RidgeCat Zhangsun made an appearance
and treated us to a rare display of fireworks!
To keep up with the latest happenings
in NUS SL, log on to their website regularly. Also, do read contributions
from the community in the Blog Highlights section. Someone might have
caught an interesting going-on or two. hooked
More information on NUS Second Life here!
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Written by Guest on 2008-07-06 07:51:51
how i wish i can log in to sl again...my laptop has failed me -.- |
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