STEAM 7 – The Wrap!

What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.  

T. S. Eliot          

Sadly, all good things must come to an end.  STEAM 7 is over and all we have are the memories.  (OK, and some great pix!)  And, the promise of future hunts from Perryn Peterson.  I blogged about the kick-off party for the event, I checked in midway through the Hunt, and now, I’m wrapping it up. (You’ve got to admit, I’m thorough!)

          For those of you joining late, STEAM 7, a steampunk themed Second Life (SL) hunt ran from September 1^st to 30^th inworld.  As usual the Hunt had a subtheme to the main steampunk one.  This time it was “Time & Space” honoring H. G. Wells.  Participating merchants incorporated this concept into their gifts to the hunters.  

          As is the STEAM Hunt tradition, a wrap party was held to celebrate the end of the Hunt and to give team members, merchants, and hunters one last chance to get together. Unlike prior hunts, this wrap party was held on September 29^th, and not the last day.  Unfortunately, I was unable to attend.  (The attendees may say fortunately.)

           The party was held at Mieville Academy Asylum Library and Prof. Grey’s (AKA brian61 landar) prim handiwork was much in evidence.  Skeletons (with thirty-three prims each I’m told, almost as many as there are bones in a real skeleton) were numerous in the haunted cemetery theme used for the party’s venue.  The skeleton band really had things jumping I’m told. 

          Since the wrap party was not held at the conclusion of the Hunt, the Fave Five winners could not be announced at that time.  The Fave Five are the merchants voted by the hunters as best in terms of gifts, service, and whatever else it is that intrigues them.  But, the winners can now be announced!  Perryn just gave me the go ahead and here they are:

·       Gold (1^st Place) - Epic Toy Factory - Mayah Parx

·       Silver (2^nd Place) - Ghostraven's Steampunk and Pirates  - Marcel Ghostraven (No relation!)

·       Copper (3^rd Place) - Joy of Steampunk Museum - Knowledge Tomorrow

·       Bronze (4^th Place) - Land of Nodd - Noddington Schmooz

·       Iron (5^th Place) - Ankh Morpork - Janeel Kharg

Congratulations to all the winning merchants! 

          Noddington Schmooz of Land of Nodd designed the trophies for the Fave Five winners.  Each trophy is in the base color of its award (gold, silver, copper, bronze, and iron) with its place etched on the front.  A little zeppelin flies around each trophy.  No wonder he was one of the Fave Five! 

Once again, I come away impressed by the organization, commitment, and creativity of a group of SL residents who have been doing this for over three years.  This is neither a fad nor a flash in the pan.  Come look at the work done by these merchants and I dare you not to be impressed.  Come see people working and playing together and tell me this is only a game that happens to use pixels as its medium. 

Steampunks are one of the few communities in SL I’ve encountered where social life, scripting, and creativity are all equally evident and important.  I’m not faulting other communities just calling out what makes this one special, unique, and successful.  Very successful.  Of course, there’s Perryn Peterson. Leadership counts as much in SL as it does in Real Life (RL).  Maybe more.  (Yes, I’m biased here but I’ve been around Perryn and his team long enough that it’s hard not to be.) 

I want to thank Perryn for his time and assistance. I look forward to visiting with the hunters and merchants in future Hunts and can’t wait to what clever new ideas they present.  I would also like to thank Noddington Schmooz, and Prof. Grey for taking the time to reply to my queries.  I would also like to thank Prof. Gray for his permission to use the pictures indicated below.

STEAM 7 may be over but it’s only six months to the next one and I’m sure Perryn and his crew are working their magic for us!  And, let’s not forget the Renaissance Faire which will be soon upon us!  (I still don’t know how Perryn does it all. He must have a lot of alts.) 

As always, I’m grateful to all for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives.

Below are a few pictures of the STEAM 7 wrap party and other people and topics associated with the event.  I hope you enjoy them!  Again, thanks to Prof. Grey for the use of his! 

I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

          If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.

Photo No. 1 STEAM 7: The Hunt Poster (with credit to Tattoo Lane)

Photo No. 2 Perryn Peterson

Photo No. 3 Fave Five Trophy (with the permission of Noddington Schmooz)

Photo No. 4 Skeleton Band

Photo No. 5 STEAM 7 Wrap Party 1

Photo No. 6 STEAM 7 Wrap Party 2

Photo No. 7 STEAM 7 Wrap Party 3

Photo No. 8 STEAM 7 Guests 1

Photo No. 9 STEAM 7 Guests 2

Photo No. 10 STEAM 7 Guests 3

 

STEAM 7: The Kick-off Party (and a Mystery!)

 

It's so much darker when a light goes out than it would have been if it had never shone.

John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

          The Hunt has begun!

          STEAM 7 has started and will run until the end of the month.  Perryn Peterson’s steampunk extravaganza is off and I should know.  Last night I attended Perryn’s kick-off party at the Mieville Arcadia Asylum & Freebie Centre.    As usual, his flair for throwing a party and drawing a crowd that has a great time was in evidence. 

          Perryn had hinted previously of a mysterious inworld master scripter who had disappeared along with her legacy which devotees are trying to unearth.  (Can one unearth something in a virtual world?)  A party and a mystery, how could I refuse? 

          I’m one of the first guests to arrive and Perryn is there to greet me with his usual bonhomie and sartorial elegance.  (I have to ask him where he buys his hats.)  Surrounding us is a world that I don’t typically associate with the worlds of Jules Verne and H. G. Wells.  A grim, urban dystopia looms around us.  I feel like I’m in a Hollywood back lot for a Mad Max movie.  A police cruise sits at the curb with its lights flashing.  I’m not sure why there’s a flying saucer with little green aliens carrying in an unconscious guest, but, hey this is Second Life (SL).

          Yep, just the kind of place that I’d expect Perryn to select for a kick-off party!  Now, here’s where it gets fun and mysterious.  This sim represents the reconstructed body of work of one of the great builders of SL’s Golden Age.  None other than arcadia asylum herself.   

          Perryn had made a quick reference to this when we’d last met.  Tonight, I’m introduced to the whole story.  (Now, don’t worry, this story’s about the STEAM 7 kick-off party.  But, I can’t just ignore this.  Perryn chose this location for a reason.)  Perryn introduces me to Prof. Grey (AKA brian61 landar).  He is a dapper, scholarly looking gentleman dressed as I would expect of someone who looks like he’d just stepped out of a Vernes novel.  Prof. Grey has been charged with telling me the story of arcadia asylum. 

          Prof. Grey and I walk through the arriving merchants and hunters who are dancing in the streets led by Perryn himself.  Prof. Grey begins to tell me about the legend of arcadia asylum.  Seems that back in the day of early SL, she was quite the scripter and also believed all objects should be free or as close to free as possible.  Then one day for reasons that are still unclear to me, arcadia decides to unload her fairly hefty body of work and leave SL.  Gone.  Done.  Except (There’s always one isn’t there?) that she purportedly has several alts and keeps an eye on things inworld.  Some of her friends may know who she is and when she’s on, but if they do, they’re keeping mum about it. 

          OK, now I love a mystery just like everyone else.  This one is cool even by Real Life (RL) standards.  But it gets better.  Seems that many people inworld either knew arcadia or of her work.  They formed the Arcadia Asylum Recovery Group (AARG) and have been reconstructing her work inworld.  Mieville Arcadia Asylum & Freebie Centre is the result of that labor of love.  (Except for the flying saucer, little green aliens, and the ruined building next door.)  A plaque in front of a pawn shop (Hey, I keep saying the Great Recession is hurting SL!)  I get the sense of a lost civilization being resurrected from the dust. 

          Prof. Grey and I visit several shops and an exhibit displaying arcadia’s work which, BTW, is all free.  Yes, free.  Check it out.  In the hall, only photos of her work can be shown because they are too big to be displayed.  This woman definitely knew how to build ‘em! 

          When looking at arcadia’s work, attention should be paid to the detail particularly the textures.  She made many herself.  Her work is functional whether it’s an armoire or a subway car. 

          Prof. Grey also takes me to an exhibit of arcadia’s work which is on the sea bottom.  The environment is completely different from what I’d seen on the street topside.  The fish, plant life, and other objects show the true creative range of arcadia.  Unfortunately, this exhibit will be taken down after the party.  (I do have a link to a picture of it with Prof. Grey below.) 

          After surfacing, we make our way back to the street party which is now becoming riotous. Unfortunately, between all the older scripts which are processor intensive and all the guests, lag is a killer tonight.  I’ve already been bounced a couple of times.  Perryn is known for bringing the house down with his parties but he’s really outdone himself this time. 

          I thank Perryn and Prof. Grey and leave.  The party is still going full blast as I make my way out. 

          If the kick-off party is any indicator then STEAM 7 should be great.  It’s under way now and starts at the recently renovated Laughing Gryphon House in Mieville Doyle Victorian Steampunk sim.  The theme this time is “Time & Space” honoring H. G. Wells.  Participating merchants will try to incorporate this concept into their gifts to the hunters.   

          Speaking of the merchants, Perryn estimates that there will be about one hundred and forty for STEAM 7 including some hunters like Glorf Bulmer who are now merchants themselves.  Several dozen merchants are new to the Hunt which Perryn believes is a real plus to the increasing popularity of the Hunts.  From the Laughing Gryphon the hunters will first visit the shops of two other Hunt organizers, JoseDiego Silverspar and Wyvern Dryke.   

          I encourage everyone to go to STEAM 7 and enjoy themselves.  Meet the merchants and other hunters.  I guarantee a good time will be had by all.  I hope to see you there as I’ll be covering the Hunt. 

          Finally, I will be returning to look at arcadia asylum more closely, both her life and work.  And, maybe, just maybe I might be able to meet her!  If you read this arcadia, I’ll do an interview on your terms.

As always, I’m grateful to all for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives.

Below are a few pictures of the places I visited for this story.  Please go yourself and look at arcadia’s work.  Pictures, especially mine, do not do it justice. 

  

I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

     If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.

Photo No. 1 STEAM 7: The Hunt Poster (with credit to Tattoo Lane)

Photo No. 2 Laughing Gryphon House

Photo No. 3 Perryn Peterson

Photo No. 4 Mieville Arcadia Asylum & Freebie Centre Street Scene

Photo No. 5 Mieville Arcadia Asylum & Freebie Centre Exhibit Hall

Photo No. 6 Arcadia Asylum Commemorative Plaque

Photo No. 7 Arcadia Asylum Wanted Poster

Photo No. 8 Mieville Arcadia Asylum & Freebie Centre Freebies Centre

Photo No. 9 Mieville Arcadia Asylum & Freebie Centre City Mission

Photo No. 10 Prof. Grey Under the Sea

Photo No. 11 The Aliens Have Landed!