Author Archives: ZoHa Islands

Virtual Reality: The Business and Content Boom

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Not even 7 months ago the tech universe was afire with discussing the introduction of Virtual Reality to the mainstream market around the holiday season. There were mixed feelings about whether or not VR would turn out to be a totally novelty concept, but the past several months have been a pleasant surprise.

Virtual Reality has fast become a new outlet of business with a frenzied pace. Forbes recently posted an article discussing how the VR world is being taken more seriously for long-term growth from a business perspective. Before, Virtual Reality had very few models that were deemed viable for a long term existence, spare the still-thriving Second Life platform.

“According to a Goldman Sachs report published earlier this year, the combined virtual reality and augmented reality market is estimated to reach anywhere from $80B to $182B in market size, by 2025.  The higher number represents an accelerated uptake scenario.  These estimates represent both the hardware and software sales that would make up the market.  What is interesting is the composition of the software market, where videogames only account for approximately one third of the market.  Retail, healthcare, engineering, military and real estate applications make up a strong portion of the market.”

Virtual Reality has also fast become a hot ticket to creating a widely-viewed video, with big-time YouTube gamers like Markiplier and Pewdiepie frequently posting videos using the HTC Vive and have long been showcasing games using the Oculus Rift. The horror genre is especially appealing within the gamer community for the simple fact that you’re totally immersed in them, raising the terror bar.

Alternately, there’s always some comedic relief in the bad games (NSFW):

It might seem like a development boom in the gaming world, but this moment has been in the making for quite some time. Second Life has, by popular opinion, set the motion that’s helped lead us to this point. And now we’re in an age where VR is becoming far more advanced and accessible in such a short span of time. I’d like to think that Project Sansar is going to set the bar again, because it was clear that the folks at Linden Labs knew we were on the cusp of the next evolutionary phase of Virtual Reality.

Esteban Winsmore’s Best Moments

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Be forewarned: this is NSFW.

It’s not often that trolling isn’t related to destructive or obstructive behavior, but you can’t talk about trolling in Second Life without discussing one of the “greats”, Esteban Winsmore. Now, I express only my opinion here, so don’t get up in arms, but the history behind this “character” is one worth telling. While many struggle with figuring out the elusive world of profitable business ideas in Second Life, this guy has pretty much forged revenue from being nothing short of obnoxious. Spoiler alert: I love his work.

Esteban is impossible to get an actual interview with, but let’s take a look at his history, which seemingly originated in July of 2010 on YouTube with “The Story Of Esteban Winsmore (Episode One)” where he decides to hit up the club scene, much to the dismay of club owners. The constant theme in his videos is simply his ability to find people that he can easily irritate to the point where they rage, despite the option to simply eject and ban being accessible to most. Short version- his trolling ends up being comedy gold.

He’s extended his reach beyond YouTube into Twitch (where he livestreams), Reddit and others. From a Second Life point of view, he’s a bit of a virtual celebrity. While some might question the ethics of his popularity, it’s hard to deny the muted genius behind his ability to prank the heck out of people. If people learned to lighten up, he wouldn’t have as much of an impact. But there’s always “that person” that probably rages over everything, and the results are glorious.

So today, in honor of Esteban Winsmore, here’s a list of his top 3 classic videos (in my opinion, and in no particular order).

1. The Home Invasions of Esteban Winsmore (Episode One)

A classic Esteban video, where somehow he ends up able to sit in people’s homes until they rage, rather than be logically booted.

“Bang bang skeet skeet, I’ll never leave”

 

 

2. Esteban Winsmore and Jesse Threebeards: Karaoke Kings

Esteban and Karaoke- it’s just ridiculously amazing. And that poor woman really tried to help.


3. Esteban Winsmore’s Big Furry Adventure (Second Life)

I can’t even caption this to do it justice. I do need to remind you it’s NSFW- YouTube took down the original video, if that’s any indication.

 

What are some of your favorite Esteban moments? I want to hear from you!

Bria Oceanside

ZoHa Islands Blogger/Social Media

Underrated Horror Theme Sims To Visit In Second Life

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If you are a fan of the thrill of a good horror themed sim in Second Life, there are always the staple places to go to. However, today we’re going to take a look at a short list of places that, from my perspective, are totally underrated. I purposely went exploring around places that had the low end of traffic (and avoided the urban RP sims, as that’s not what I was after). Yes, there were some places that were deservedly at the bottom of the search rankings, but these were absolutely worth a mention for individual reasons. Let’s take a look!

1. Spooky Interactive Haunted House

Nothing says scary like an intimidating house perched atop a hill with suspicious stone stairs leading up to it. This wonderfully set up space really leans more towards the interactive side than traditional horror, but it also makes for a great photo-op or something that is more family-friendly. There’s great props and poses laid out through the home ranging from tarot to “death by couch”, so the “interactive” bit is completely accurate. Good for a scare? Maybe not so much. But it’s a neat space to visit!

For those who are adventurous and into the dark urban roleplay, the neighboring After The Fall post-apocolypse setup certainly looks promising. Not at all one for the kiddies, but a really eye-catching setup for the type that enjoy creepy spaces.

2. Innsmouth

I have a deep appreciation for both the terrifying and the retro. Innsmouth marries the two ideas with a beautifully established 1930’s New England coastal town, complete with the incredibly creepy Arkham movie theatre. With boarded up builds, abandoned vehicles and an eerie lighthouse still functioning in this seemingly abandoned town, Innsmouth offers plenty to explore with all of the feels that someone is watching you from somewhere. Absolutely in love with the work done on this sim and will need to spend plenty of time exploring more. I won’t put spoiler alerts, but you absolutely better carve out a good chunk of time to check out every nook and cranny. It’s totally worth it.

3. Olivia’s Creepy Diner

Now, this is probably leaning more towards the novelty side, but Olivia’s Diner is certainly an unforgettable spot for a…..date? With plenty of poses and props and even horror movie trivia, Olivia’s Diner sets the scene for the macabre, but also sets the mood for a romantic outing- if you are into that sort of thing. With a mishmash of creepy decor, the diner certainly lives up to the name. Perhaps that next date night you can put your wits- and beau- to the test!

And, finally….

4. Picklesong (promise, I did not make that one up)

If you are terrified of creepy dolls/children, best stay away from this one. But right from the landing point, this space looked like quite an interesting spin on the more “predictable” approaches that some horror themed sims can have. Yes, there was the required creepy building and bats, but man, that merry-go-round caught me off guard. The interior had a perfect “totally run down and creepy” feel, with beautifully worn textures and incredibly creepy choices of decor. And wait…..is that a rat’s tail peeking out from underneath that rug??

I enjoyed that there was much to explore, and the designer got really creative with a lot of the animated textures. Very well arranged and I will certainly have to come back and visit!

What are some of your favorite underrated horror spots? I want to hear about them!

Bria Oceanside
ZoHa Blogger/Social Media

ZoHa Islands NEW Up Front Fee Promotion!

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This program has been ended by Linden Lab on 2016/10/04 and is not available anymore!

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In case you missed it, Linden Labs made a big announcement on their blog about a limited time special on buying full sims and homesteads at grandfathered rates.

It’s a great opportunity for those who want to stay in the same place for more than 6 months, and we are happy to extend the savings to you! The best part: this can be applied to any land size and type, so with ZoHa Islands you can get great savings on your land long term, without the obligation of a full sim or homestead!

You simply pay a one-time upfront fee to ZoHa Islands based on the land type and size and you will benefit from lowered tier rates for your land as long as you hold it. This is a great way to get land at lowered rates and SAVE!

Based on our standard prices we can offer you the following PERMANENT tier reductions:

• 20% promo for land on Homestead Regions!
• 30% promo for land on Full Prim Regions!

Here are some examples of the savings you can obtain:

(Up Front Fee Promotions are available on all land sizes and sim types)

1/4 Homestead Region:
Up Front Fee: 9,830 L$ (First week tier included)
20% promo: From 1,995 L$ to 1,595 L$ per week

– 1st year:
Regular Pricing: 52 wks @ 1,995 L$
Promo Pricing: 9,830 L$ Up Front Fee + 51 wks @ 1,595 L$
With the Promo Pricing you save: 12,565 L$ the 1st year

– 2nd year:
Promo Pricing: 52 wks @ 1,595 L$
With the Promo Pricing you save: 20,800 L$ the 2nd year

1/2 Homestead Region:
Up Front Fee: 19,660 L$ (First week tier included)
20% promo: From 3,895 L$ to 3,115 L$ per week

– 1st year:
Regular Pricing: 52 wks @ 3,895 L$
Promo Pricing: 19,660 L$ Up Front Fee + 51 wks @ 3,155 L$
With the Promo Pricing you save: 24,015 L$ the 1st year

– 2nd year:
Promo Pricing: 52 wks @ 3,115 L$
With the Promo Pricing you save: 40,560 L$ the 2nd year

Full Homestead Region:
Up Front Fee: 39,320 L$ (First week tier included)
20% promo: From 7,695 L$ to 6,155 L$ per week

– 1st year:
Regular Pricing: 52 wks @ 7,695 L$
Promo Pricing: 39,320 L$ Up Front Fee + 51 wks @ 6,155 L$
With the Promo Pricing you save: 46,915 L$ the 1st year

– 2nd year:
Promo Pricing: 52 wks @ 6,155 L$
With the Promo Pricing you save: 80,080 L$ the 2nd year

4096 sqm Full Prim Region:
Up Front Fee: 9,010 L$ (First week tier included)
30% promo: From 1,695 L$ to 1,185 L$ per week

– 1st year:
Regular Pricing: 52 wks @ 1,695 L$
Promo Pricing: 9,010 L$ Up Front Fee + 51 wks @ 1,185 L$
With Promo Pricing you save: 18,695 L$ the 1st year

– 2nd year:
Promo Pricing: 52 wks @ 1,185 L$
With Promo Pricing you save: 26,520 L$ the 2nd year

1/4 Full Prim Region:
Up Front Fee: 36,040 L$ (First week tier included)
30% promo: From 5,995 L$ to 4,195 L$ per week

– 1st year:
Regular Pricing: 52 wks @ 5,995 L$
Promo Pricing: 6,040 L$ Up Front Fee + 51 wks @ 4,195 L$
With Promo Pricing you save: 61,755 L$ the 1st year

– 2nd year:
Promo Pricing: 52 wks @ 4,195 L$
With Promo Pricing you save: 93,600 L$ the 2nd year

1/2 Full Prim Region:
Up Front Fee: 72,085 L$ (First week tier included)
30% promo: From 10,995 L$ to 7,695 L$ per week

– 1st year:
Regular Pricing: 52 wks @ 10,995 L$
Promo Pricing: 72,085 L$ Up Front Fee + 51 wks @ 7,695 L$
With Promo Pricing you save: 107,210 L$ in the 1st year

– 2nd year:
Promo Pricing: 52 wks @ 7,695 L$
With Promo Pricing you save: 171,600 L$ in the 2nd year

Full Prim Region:
Up Front Fee: 144,175 L$ (First week tier included)
30% promo: From 19,995 L$ to 13,995 L$ per week

– 1st year:
Regular Pricing: 52 wks @ 19,995 L$
Promo Pricing: 144,175 L$ Up Front Fee + 51 wks @ 13,995 L$
With Promo Pricing you save: 181,820 L$ in the 1st year

– 2nd year:
Regular Pricing: 52 wks @ 19,995 L$
Promo Pricing: 52 wks @ 13,995 L$
With Promo Pricing you save: 312,000 L$ in the 2nd year

Best of all, we also offer a 3 or 6 month finance plan to residents who don’t want to pay the Up Front Fee at once. This is a huge advantage for those who know they want to keep their land long term, and makes it accessible to everyone!

Want to learn more about this deal that’s EXCLUSIVE to ZoHa Island Residents? Fill out the request form or visit our sales office today!

Have a great week ahead, everyone!

Bria Oceanside
ZoHa Blogger/Social Media

Keep Your Second Life Safe

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Second Life SafeOnline safety is just as important in Second Life as it is anywhere else. While Second Life itself ensures a lot of safeguards and TOS to keep things streamlined, there are a lot of instances where a user may learn the hard way that there are simply some unsavory people in our blissful virtual existence. So let me share some tips on how to avoid some common scenarios and ensure your Second Life is even safer.

1. The almighty Catfish

Catfishing is very common in Second Life. Now, I am well aware that Second Life is a place of escapism for many. Many people want to be whatever and whoever they want to be. However when you’re finding that someone wants to get to know you on a more personal level, it’s sort of important to ensure that what they’re sharing is accurate.

I had learned the hard way that people will seriously put on a false persona not just in Second Life, but also falsify their real lives as well. In one instance a few years ago, I spent two months involved with someone in Second Life that pretty much lied about everything. Had pictures of themselves “real life”, a whole backstory, job they didn’t really have, etc etc. However, I noticed that they would never talk on voice (and always had a reason not to) so when I pushed for them to meet outside of the game, of course they went running. Ultimately my gut instinct proved to be correct.

Here are some simple ways to ensure that the person you’re talking to isn’t putting on a show about who they really are:

• Have them speak on voice. If they are unwilling to speak on voice, there is a good chance they’re hiding their real life gender and/or real life relationship status. In rare cases, they could also be hiding that they’re not the age they say they are (I’ve heard of spotty stories where minors have hopped onto other people’s accounts).
• Skype is a wonderful thing. Ask them to do a Skype video call. Again, this is appropriate where someone is claiming they want to invest time with you and claim there’s potential outside of Second Life. This way, you can see that they are who they say they are.
• Did they send you a picture? Reverse search the image to make sure they didn’t steal someone else’s. Ultimately, this was exactly what I did to nail the person I was speaking with. I found out they were the opposite gender from what they claimed, and that they had been stealing pictures from some poor college-aged sap. Go HERE to upload and reverse search an image.
• If they’re local to you, ask them to meet up in a safe public place. Not many will have this option, but a request to go for coffee could confirm or eliminate any worry.

2. The Scammer
One thing that happens too often is that you meet someone that seems like a decent person. Within a few weeks they become “good” friends or more and then….BAM! They suddenly have some life altering crisis where they are financially strapped. They may start asking you for money, Lindens, things to be sent to them.

Honestly, this should really be avoided unless it’s a situation where here is a supported fundraiser by a recognized group (for example, when Linden Lab’s supports a fundraiser for someone who is ill in real life) or it’s someone that you truly have confirmed everything for in the “catfish” section and have known for a while. But, in most cases, it’s a sign you need to run screaming. Panhandling in SL is otherwise a huge no-no.

And, it’s said a lot, but don’t click any mystery links in chat, profiles or elsewhere in Second Life. People have links that alter your avatar totally, mess up your computer etc. If you don’t know them well, don’t click.

3. The Alt

This is common, this is easily avoided. There are some folks that are simply an alternative account (meaning, a spinoff of the original) and may engage in behavior geared towards taking advantage of others. Here are some simple things to check when deciding if someone’s account is suspicious:

• If they look like they are head to toe mesh and well-versed in Second Life ways (emoting, animation override, has a lot of land, heavily into breedables or some other time-intensive activity) but their account is less than 4 months old, that’s an instant red flag.
• When in doubt, ask. Sometimes people have a reasonable explanation, but generally speaking if you have to pry, it’s not a good sign. Some people do have business alts, some have ones for when they want to not be in their roleplay character, etc. Those folks tend to be straightforward about it.
• Read their profile. If they say something to the tune of “getting a fresh start” that’s a pretty blatant indication of an alt. It’s also an indication of so much drama on a previous account that they decided to ditch it and create a new one.

4. This goes without saying, but…….

Never share your password. Sometimes this seems like this is in dire circumstances but honestly, I’ve seen too many people lose their entire balance, their businesses and their inventory due to trusting the wrong person with their credentials.

Those are just some basic tips to keep your Second Life safe and easy. Have you ever had a crazy experience that was a tough lesson? Any surefire ways you utilize to avoid those pesky people out to cause issues? I want to hear them!

Bria Oceanside
ZoHa Blogger/Social Media

The Secretive Escort and Camgirl Industry In Second Life

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camgirl It may come as a surprise to few, but there is such a thing as “escorting” in Second Life. I’m not here to bash it, judge it nor the people who decide to partake in it as participants, but I did feel the need to open a dialogue about it. Just a friendly reminder: this is my own perspective and not that of ZoHa Islands.

Over the years in Second Life, I was keenly aware that there was a strong consumer base for virtual escorts. There are an unimaginable amount of people who would offer “sexual” services in Second Life via text or voice interactions (of course, coupled with appropriate animated furniture and props), but as of late the “camgirl” end of the spectrum is starting to take over like a brush fire.

If you simply search the term “escorts”, you’ll turn up some incredibly high traffic results. I hopped around to visit a few and almost made this a piece about the individual establishments. However, I realized I needed to speak with a veteran in the industry.

Those of us who have been involved in Second Life know that it’s quite difficult to actually earn a reasonable income in Second Life without a good deal of investment and skills that make you stand out above the rest. Many try, and few succeed. But I sat down with a good friend of mine to discuss her experiences over the years in the “virtual sex industry” that thrives in Second Life.

She’s asked for her identity to be kept private, so we’ll simply call her “Eve”.

Eve has been a virtual sex worker since 2009 and has built herself a client base that is so amazingly strong that her full-time “escorting” earns her enough to make a full time wage in Real Life. It is a bit of a rare case, but Eve has made it into her primary job. She shared some insight as to how the industry has changed over the years.

“When I first started, people were generally content with the option of voice or text. I was mainly a voice escort, meaning there would be no typing. I basically would be going through the sexual experience of choice with a customer from start to ‘finish’ on voice. It paid considerably more and I was comfortable with it, so I decided to spend a bit more time offering those services.

Originally I worked through a gentleman’s club and was generating a good deal of revenue as people sought me out more. But, after I became a bit of a seasoned veteran, I decided to branch out into freelancing. It was a bumpy road, but with the existing reputation I had already built for myself it made sense. I invested in adult land, set up a classy space with themed rooms and invested in advertising on multiple sims that allowed freelance advertising.

It’s hard to stay motivated to do several days a week- I will admit that. But for several years now I’ve been able to generate enough income that I can stay at home and escort several hours a day. But, in the past few years the industry has heavily transitioned to being cam-centric, meaning more and more people would only shell out money for those women that would perform a sexual webcam session with the customers. It’s a bit awkward to admit, but after seeing that I couldn’t entice people with voice as much as I had been able to (and, had trouble commanding the rates that I normally require) I had to make a decision. I ended up offering services as a camgirl in Second Life.

Obviously, this is not an option for everyone. It’s easy to have a nice voice and a great looking avatar, but now we’re branching into bringing the sex industry from Second Life to Real Life. Women that were, essentially, role playing with their voices and avatars are now full-fledged moving into the real world sex industry but sourcing their clients in a virtual platform.

It’s almost gotten to the point where I almost expect the industry to eventually be shut down or regulated in Second Life. In a way, I do hope they move to regulate it, much like how the Skilled Gaming had to be regulated to keep things compliant. It’s very much “anything goes” and really, I have to require that people cam verify to ensure I’m not dealing with anyone nowhere near of age. Yes, I’ve asked for people to hold up proof of ID with cam sessions if I wasn’t 100% sure. To me, that’s much more important than anything.”

I can’t speak for everyone involved in the industry, but Eve’s perspective does beg the question: should there be guidelines around it? While it still seems to be a lucrative industry for many, is it a safe one?

I would love to hear some other thoughts and perspectives surrounding this piece. Make sure to tweet us with your feedback!

Bria Oceanside
ZoHa Blogger/Social Media