// Hand mesh guesser, left hand v1.0 by Allegory Malaprop of Schadenfreude
// This version sized for women's hand 45.
// Instructions:
// The easy way to make this work is to skip down to the hand states (fist_state is the first one), and input where you want your ring to be in each state. Even easier way is to just drop this in your ring and let it run. It assumes the link parent is dead center of a ring on the ring finger, a small invisible sphere if there isn't a nice handy one piece band, and goes from there. You can't move it or rotate it or anything, the script will override any of that sort of thing- so if you want it moved or rotated, you have to set that in the hand states. It also assumes a female hand size of 45, because I found 50 was veering a little towards manhands, at least on my shape. There will be attachment wander with other sizes if you don't code other options, but then, that's typical, isn't it?
// Documentation:
// I have a tendency to not document, a lot, and then I wander off and am distracted by shiny things and forget how to use the language and have no idea what I did. So instead, I'm over documenting so when my brain has leaked out of my ear I can still, maybe, figure out just what it is I was doing. Also, I can be really really wordy in my epistles to the invisible people, even though when it comes to actual conversation I usually don't know what to say. Go figure.
// Distribution:
// This script had a bad experience, locked up in a closet as a child. As such, it wants to be free as the pretty birdies in the sky. So give it to anyone who might be interested in "finger attachments," bundle it up in freebie script give aways, share it with a loved one over a romantic candlelight dinner. Feel free to sell objects that contain this script for whatever your little heart (or wallet) desires, but please do not charge for the script itself, not even a single Linden. This is for many reasons, but the biggest is that this script works best if people believe in it. It's like Tinkerbell in that way. Animation Overrides are very prone to breaking it, and maybe if people use it and like it, they will make AOs that leave the default hand states alone whenever they can. It's not a perfect solution by any means, but unfortunately this script can't actually do anything about knowing the actual hand position beyond its best guess due to limitations in the language currently. See section: Where this breaks. Feel free to modify this script in any way and distribute your modifications, because you may have made it better, which I'm sure can be done in a great many ways.
// What this does:
// This script makes educated guesses about what position an avatar's hand will be in, and allows you to set things for each position. So rings can move with your hand, and it can be adapted for claws and fingernails that will actually move with your fingers. Not perfectly, no, and you may be able to improve upon the code to make it work better, but this should do the heavy lifting of figuring out what the hand position is most likely to be out of the box, and provide ways to do things with it, as well as providing a jumping off point for improvement.
// How it works:
// Well, my little darlings, I figured out the necessary functions by disecting the Franimation Overrider (available for your animation overriding needs at YadNi's Junkyard), in that the important bits are detecting in what animations the avatar is currently running. Now, it is designed to assume that you are using the default hand states, which isn't always true, as they can be overridden, but it is the most likely, and as there is no way to actually detect actual hand positions of which I am aware, this will have to do. Once it makes the guess about what the hand should be, it directs it to a function that tells the object where it should be located, and how it should be rotated (or whatever else you want to add in the functions).
// Where this breaks:
// This makes a lot of assumptions about hand positions, because it cannot actually detect them. Any Animation Overrides that have different hand states included will break this script- your ring will go one way, your hand will go the other. Poseballs are also likely to break it, as they also often override hands, in fact, any animation that overrides default hand state, broken. Drinks and other such hand attachments that have poses attached won't really break it, since they are generally hand attachments- therefore they will simply take the place of the object that has this script in it. Also, cases are added for most built in animations, it's just that custom ones are something we can't know, and the possibility also exists that I missed some of the built in ones. The one advantage to the bug wherein hand states are not being recognized properly, is that default hand states are more likely to be used so we avoid the hand issue a bit more. The disadvantage is that some built in states aren't being handled properly either, so if we actually do what we ought to, it can break. I think it's a bad priority thing, but watch the peace sign or holding a handgun- the hand style breaks when you change to any stands but the base one, I think. It's all sort of a mess, and I mostly just ignored it because it might be temporary. Whatever it is, I treat it as not intentional and did not code ways around it. Also, since these things are in motion, most people probably won't notice the majority of it anyway.
////////////////////////////////// HAND STATES ////////////////////////////////////
// Yes, this is where you have to work if you want to have it be anywhere by the default position. It's actually not that bad. Attach your object on your hand, get it in the place you want for each state, and make a note of the rotation and the position for each. The position is easy, just plug it right in. The rotation is a bit more difficult, as it involves translating the rotation into quaternions, but if you use the Rotation Getter, which may be included in this package, that's pretty easy to just get the numbers and copy paste too. Drop a notecard to Allegory Malaprop if you can't find the Rotation Getter, and I'll drop you a copy when I'm around (sometimes I'm AFK, so don't panic if I don't respond right away. Also, sometimes I crash, so IMs may not be reliable, but you can try that as well).
// If you want to move objects in more than way (claws, fingernails, multiple rings, etc.), you're on your own. This is the framework you need, but you'll have to get the rest of the way yourself because I haven't sat down to figure it out yet.
// Good gestures to check states: Relaxed I just did standing around; Impatient for fists; Wink (Hollywood) is good for pointing; Surprise or waiting around for the stand with the right hand in a fist and the left spread, for spread. You may have to define custom gestures for all of them, I'm not sure any are in the common gestures library.
// What do we do if we think the hand is relaxed?
relaxedState() {
llSetPrimitiveParams([PRIM_POSITION, <-0.014, 0.044, 0.026>, PRIM_ROTATION, <0.52439, -0.49190, -0.44772, 0.53160>]);
// Set position relative to avatar attachment point, in this case -0.014x, -0.044y, 0.026z, and set rotation the same way. This is 106.15 degrees x, 277 degrees y, 19.1 degrees z, translated into quaternion.
}
// What do we do if we think they have a fist?
fistState() {
llSetPrimitiveParams([PRIM_POSITION, <-0.013, 0.038, 0.007>, PRIM_ROTATION, <0.21548, -0.64547, -0.16706, 0.71346>]);
// Rotation: 51.2x, 276.75y, 19.75z
}
// What do we do if we think the hand is spread out?
spreadState() {
llSetPrimitiveParams([PRIM_POSITION, <-0.020, 0.045, 0.016>, PRIM_ROTATION, <0.54979, -0.44383, -0.38158, 0.59595>]);
// Rotation: 89.75x, 288.45y, 6z
}
// What do we do if the hand is pointing?
pointingState() {
llSetPrimitiveParams([PRIM_POSITION, <-0.013, 0.038, 0.007>, PRIM_ROTATION, <0.21548, -0.64547, -0.16706, 0.71346>]);
// Rotation: 51.2x, 276.75y, 19.75z
}
// What do we do if the hand is typing? Really, this ought to be animated, but you wouldn't have any way to sync up the animation. I'm just referring it to relaxed, because that's close enough for me. You can decide if it's close enough for you.
typeState() {
relaxedState(); // Treat as relaxed
}
////////////// EVIL CONFUSING CODE STARTS HERE. FEEL FREE TO WANDER OFF AND IGNORE. /////////////////////
// More functions for each hand state. This is entirely to keep the above code less confusing for the end user, so the only line of code they mess with is the thing they might want to change. Only relaxed and fist are included, because they are the only ones called multiple times, so the others are unnecessary. I'm warning you here about the inconsistency so you know what's going on.
relaxed() { // Relaxed case, calls the state above.
if (lastAnim == "relaxed") { // if that's what we just were doing, do nothing.
} else { // Otherwise, we want the relaxed state.
relaxedState();
lastAnim = "relaxed"; // reset lastAnim state so we know what to look for to skip it next time.
}
}
fist() { // Fist case, calls the state above.
if (lastAnim == "fist") { // if that's what we just were doing, do nothing.
} else { // Otherwise, we want the fist state.
fistState();
lastAnim = "fist"; // reset lastAnim state so we know what to look for to skip it next time.
}
}
string lastAnim = ""; // The last state in which we decided we were.
// How often are we going to check on the animation state? More often = more lag. So while you can check 0.001, that's hammering the server pretty hard. 0.25 only checks 4 times a second, which, really, is still often enough for what people are going to see, especially with lag and all.
float timerChecking = 0.25;
// Meaty mcMeatFingers, the script that goes through all our possibles and tells us which if the above states to use.
detectHand() {
list curAnims = llGetAnimationList(llGetOwner()); // A list of all the animations currently playing. They're going to be in UUID format, so, well, it's going to be great fun to deal with it all.
// Gestures get checked out first, because they will override everything else. They are cool and like to throw their weight around, pushing to the head of the line, and stealing lunch money from the standing and walking animations.
// We're using funky operands here, the ~. But it saves bytecode, because we love the server and want to keep it happy, and is faster than doing != -1, since if we come up with -1, it doesn't exist. Also because the programming wiki tells us to.
// Typing doesn't appear to actually trigger correctly for some reason.
if (llGetAgentInfo(llGetOwner()) & AGENT_TYPING) { // Are we TYPING? Cause we do that sometimes.
if (lastAnim = "typing") { // if that's what we just were doing, do nothing.
} else { // Otherwise, we want the typing state.
typeState();
lastAnim = "typing"; // reset lastAnim state so we know what to look for to skip it next time.
}
// Now let's check for the fist state. I'd be using ||seven more if LSL used them properly, but for some reason it still feels the need to check everything in the list, so they are less useful. Sad really. I'm still lots just because it saves a little space, and out of the hope they'll realize that this way actually is much nicer on the server at some point and change it. Also, I'd run out of ifs otherwise.
} else if (~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"eae8905b-271a-99e2-4c0e-31106afd100c"]) // I'm not standing here for you to take SNAPSHOTS.
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"5ea3991f-c293-392e-6860-91dfa01278a3"]) // IMPATIENT already? We've only just started.
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"709ea28e-1573-c023-8bf8-520c8bc637fa"]) // It's a bit early to be JUMPING FOR JOY.
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"315c3a41-a5f3-0ba4-27da-f893f769e69b"]) // I remain unimpressed by the flexing of your sexy MUSCLES.
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"ef62d355-c815-4816-2474-b1acc21094a6"]) // Your invisble BAZOOKA you're HOLDing doesn't scare me!
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"8b102617-bcba-037b-86c1-b76219f90c88"]) // Invisble BOW HOLDing, no more scary.
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"46bb4359-de38-4ed8-6a22-f1f52fe8f506"]) // Nor invisble BOW AIMing.
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"eefc79be-daae-a239-8c04-890f5d23654a"]) // Your ONE-TWO PUNCH doesn't scare me either!
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"f3300ad9-3462-1d07-2044-0fef80062da0"]) // Hey! No beating me up with your LEFT PUNCH!
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"c8e42d32-7310-6906-c903-cab5d4a34656"]) // Nor the RIGHT PUNCH either!
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"49aea43b-5ac3-8a44-b595-96100af0beda"]) // Ok, that's it. I'm not putting up with the abuse of your ROUNDHOUSE KICK.
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"11000694-3f41-adc2-606b-eee1d66f3724"])) // *sigh* Don't throw a TANTRUM. I know you only hurts me cause you loves me baby.)
{
fist(); // Call fist(), which covers the "are we there now?" and "what do we do again?"
// Only one pointing left hand:
} else if (~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"c0c4030f-c02b-49de-24ba-2331f43fe41c"])) // Your HOLLYWOOD WINK gets me every time, and you know it. Cheater.
{
if (lastAnim == "point") { // if that's what we just were doing, do nothing.
} else { // Otherwise, we want the pointing state.
pointingState();
lastAnim = "point"; // reset
}
// More batch checking, this time for relaxed hands
} else if (~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"18b3a4b5-b463-bd48-e4b6-71eaac76c515"]) // Don't you laugh that deep BELLY LAUGH at me!
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"b906c4ba-703b-1940-32a3-0c7f7d791510"]) // And now you are BORED by my antics. Well then, who needs you!
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"92624d3e-1068-f1aa-a5ec-8244585193ed"]) // Aw, don't CRY. I didn't really mean it.
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"42ecd00b-9947-a97c-400a-bbc9174c7aeb"])) // You aren't really going to prove to me you're a higher spiritual being with your FLOATING YOGA.
{
relaxed(); // Call relaxed(), which covers the "are we there now?" and "what do we do again?"
// More batch processing for spread
} else if (~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"313b9881-4302-73c0-c7d0-0e7a36b6c224"]) // Ha! I knew I could SURPRISE you!
// Left hand only:
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"ea633413-8006-180a-c3ba-96dd1d756720"]) // Eek! Don't AIM that RIFLE at me!
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"35db4f7e-28c2-6679-cea9-3ee108f7fc7f"]) // Moving on to COUNTing for a game of Rock Paper Scissors? You're very competative tonight.
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"42dd95d5-0bc6-6392-f650-777304946c0f"]) // Ha! Take that! My scissors shatter your ROCK.
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"0836b67f-7f7b-f37b-c00a-460dc1521f5a"]) // Rock Paper Scissors, again? My PAPER wraps around your paper!
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"16803a9f-5140-e042-4d7b-d28ba247c325"]) // And again I beat you! My paper wraps your SCISSORS!
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"42b46214-4b44-79ae-deb8-0df61424ff4b"]) // STAND 3 has one hand one hand spread out- the right hand is in a fist instead.
// Both hands:
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"62c5de58-cb33-5743-3d07-9e4cd4352864"])) // Fly away! HOVER UP is both hands spread. Put at the bottom here because it is a lesser priority than the gestures.
{
if (lastAnim == "spread") { // if that's what we just were doing, do nothing.
} else { // Otherwise, we want the spread state.
spreadState();
lastAnim = "spread"; // reset
}
// A few of the standing states involve balling hands into fists, as does the run state. So, if we don't get overridden by any of the above, we direct the state now.
} else if (~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"370f3a20-6ca6-9971-848c-9a01bc42ae3c"]) // STAND 2 is hands on hips in fists default.
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"05ddbff8-aaa9-92a1-2b74-8fe77a29b445"]) // RUN away!
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"20f063ea-8306-2562-0b07-5c853b37b31e"])) // Dive! Dive! HOVER DOWN!
{
fist(); // Call fist(), which covers the "are we there now?" and "what do we do again?"
// Catch all for all other states is relaxed hands. We may have missed something up there, but I did try to be exhaustive.
} else {
relaxed(); // Call relaxed(), which covers the "are we there now?" and "what do we do again?"
}
}
// Initialize timer, and reset a variable so we don't carry forward the last state erronerously.
initialize() {
llSetTimerEvent(timerChecking);
lastAnim = "";
}
// The stuff that actually starts doing things. Because all the above is just waiting impatiently to be chosen by one of the default states, otherwise it just sits there in its corner and rots.
default {
attach(key attached) { // Start the script when it is attached. Otherwise you have to run after this tiny prim object all over a sim as it flees from you. Trust me, it isn't fun.
if (attached != NULL_KEY) {// We are attached! So let's run!
detectHand(); // Run Meaty McMeatFingers!
initialize(); // Set the timer and blank out lastAnim so we don't get into trouble from the last wearing.
llResetTime();
} else {// No, really. We aren't attached. Stop the timer.
llSetTimerEvent(0);
}
}
timer() { // Our timer, so we keep checking states, instead of checking once and them being done with it. Because that would defeat the whole purpose of keeping track where our hands were.
detectHand(); // Run Meaty McMeatFingers at regular intervals!
}
}
// aim_r_rifle and stand_3 have different hand states for left/right- fists right, spread left for both. All the rock/paper/scissors also have different hand states- left is always spread.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Ring scripts, part 3 - the left hand
Ring scripts, part two - the right hand
// Hand mesh guesser, right hand v1.0 by Allegory Malaprop of Schadenfreude
// This version sized for women's hand 45.
// Instructions:
// The easy way to make this work is to skip down to the hand states (fist_state is the first one), and input where you want your ring to be in each state. Even easier way is to just drop this in your ring and let it run. It assumes the link parent is dead center of a ring on the ring finger, a small invisible sphere if there isn't a nice handy one piece band, and goes from there. You can't move it or rotate it or anything, the script will override any of that sort of thing- so if you want it moved or rotated, you have to set that in the hand states. It also assumes a female hand size of 45, because I found 50 was veering a little towards manhands, at least on my shape. There will be attachment wander with other sizes if you don't code other options, but then, that's typical, isn't it?
// Documentation:
// I have a tendency to not document, a lot, and then I wander off and am distracted by shiny things and forget how to use the language and have no idea what I did. So instead, I'm over documenting so when my brain has leaked out of my ear I can still, maybe, figure out just what it is I was doing. Also, I can be really really wordy in my epistles to the invisible people, even though when it comes to actual conversation I usually don't know what to say. Go figure.
// Distribution:
// This script had a bad experience, locked up in a closet as a child. As such, it wants to be free as the pretty birdies in the sky. So give it to anyone who might be interested in "finger attachments," bundle it up in freebie script give aways, share it with a loved one over a romantic candlelight dinner. Feel free to sell objects that contain this script for whatever your little heart (or wallet) desires, but please do not charge for the script itself, not even a single Linden. This is for many reasons, but the biggest is that this script works best if people believe in it. It's like Tinkerbell in that way. Animation Overrides are very prone to breaking it, and maybe if people use it and like it, they will make AOs that leave the default hand states alone whenever they can. It's not a perfect solution by any means, but unfortunately this script can't actually do anything about knowing the actual hand position beyond its best guess due to limitations in the language currently. See section: Where this breaks. Feel free to modify this script in any way and distribute your modifications, because you may have made it better, which I'm sure can be done in a great many ways.
// What this does:
// This script makes educated guesses about what position an avatar's hand will be in, and allows you to set things for each position. So rings can move with your hand, and it can be adapted for claws and fingernails that will actually move with your fingers. Not perfectly, no, and you may be able to improve upon the code to make it work better, but this should do the heavy lifting of figuring out what the hand position is most likely to be out of the box, and provide ways to do things with it, as well as providing a jumping off point for improvement.
// How it works:
// Well, my little darlings, I figured out the necessary functions by disecting the Franimation Overrider (available for your animation overriding needs at YadNi's Junkyard), in that the important bits are detecting in what animations the avatar is currently running. Now, it is designed to assume that you are using the default hand states, which isn't always true, as they can be overridden, but it is the most likely, and as there is no way to actually detect actual hand positions of which I am aware, this will have to do. Once it makes the guess about what the hand should be, it directs it to a function that tells the object where it should be located, and how it should be rotated (or whatever else you want to add in the functions).
// Where this breaks:
// This makes a lot of assumptions about hand positions, because it cannot actually detect them. Any Animation Overrides that have different hand states included will break this script- your ring will go one way, your hand will go the other. Poseballs are also likely to break it, as they also often override hands, in fact, any animation that overrides default hand state, broken. Drinks and other such hand attachments that have poses attached won't really break it, since they are generally hand attachments- therefore they will simply take the place of the object that has this script in it. Also, cases are added for most built in animations, it's just that custom ones are something we can't know, and the possibility also exists that I missed some of the built in ones. The one advantage to the bug wherein hand states are not being recognized properly, is that default hand states are more likely to be used so we avoid the hand issue a bit more. The disadvantage is that some built in states aren't being handled properly either, so if we actually do what we ought to, it can break. I think it's a bad priority thing, but watch the peace sign or holding a handgun- the hand style breaks when you change to any stands but the base one, I think. It's all sort of a mess, and I mostly just ignored it because it might be temporary. Whatever it is, I treat it as not intentional and did not code ways around it. Also, since these things are in motion, most people probably won't notice the majority of it anyway.
////////////////////////////////// HAND STATES ////////////////////////////////////
// Yes, this is where you have to work if you want to have it be anywhere by the default position. It's actually not that bad. Attach your object on your hand, get it in the place you want for each state, and make a note of the rotation and the position for each. The position is easy, just plug it right in. The rotation is a bit more difficult, as it involves translating the rotation into quaternions, but if you use the Rotation Getter, which may be included in this package, that's pretty easy to just get the numbers and copy paste too. Drop a notecard to Allegory Malaprop if you can't find the Rotation Getter, and I'll drop you a copy when I'm around (sometimes I'm AFK, so don't panic if I don't respond right away. Also, sometimes I crash, so IMs may not be reliable, but you can try that as well).
// If you want to move objects in more than way (claws, fingernails, multiple rings, etc.), you're on your own. This is the framework you need, but you'll have to get the rest of the way yourself because I haven't sat down to figure it out yet.
// Good gestures to check states: Relaxed I just did standing around; /rock, /paper, and /scissor are good for fist, spread, and peace; Wink (Hollywood) is good for pointing; and Salute for, well, saluting. Rock, paper, and scissors are in the common gestures library, the other two I had to make new gestures for since I couldn't find them in the ones provided.
// What do we do if we think the hand is relaxed?
relaxedState() {
llSetPrimitiveParams([PRIM_POSITION, <-0.014, -0.044, 0.026>, PRIM_ROTATION, <0.52439,>]);
// Set position relative to avatar attachment point, in this case -0.014x, -0.044y, 0.026z, and set rotation the same way. This is 106.15 degrees x, 83 degrees y, 340.9 degrees z, translated into quaternion.
}
// What do we do if we think they have a fist?
fistState() {
llSetPrimitiveParams([PRIM_POSITION, <-0.013, -0.038, 0.007>, PRIM_ROTATION, <0.67513,>]);
// Rotation: 67.3x, 85.1y, 80.4z
}
// What do we do if we think the hand is spread out?
spreadState() {
llSetPrimitiveParams([PRIM_POSITION, <-0.022, -0.044, 0.016>, PRIM_ROTATION, <0.57562,>]);
// Rotation: 80.05x, 63.85y, 8.9z
}
// What do we do if the hand is pointing?
pointingState() {
llSetPrimitiveParams([PRIM_POSITION, <-0.013, -0.038, 0.007>, PRIM_ROTATION, <0.67513,>]);
// Rotation: 67.3x, 85.1y, 80.4z
}
// What do we do if the hand is typing? Really, this ought to be animated, but you wouldn't have any way to sync up the animation. I'm just referring it to relaxed, because that's close enough for me. You can decide if it's close enough for you.
typeState() {
relaxedState(); // Treat as relaxed
}
// What do we do if the hand is saluting? (Only right hand salutes.)
saluteState() {
llSetPrimitiveParams([PRIM_POSITION, <-0.015, -0.038, 0.020>, PRIM_ROTATION, <0.48835,>]);
// Rotation: 5.6x, 76.8y, 96.5z
}
// What do we do if the hand is making a peace sign? (Also only right hand.)
peaceState() {
llSetPrimitiveParams([PRIM_POSITION, <-0.013, -0.038, 0.007>, PRIM_ROTATION, <0.65968,>]);
// Rotation: 65.65x, 75.3y, 80.95z
}
////////////// EVIL CONFUSING CODE STARTS HERE. FEEL FREE TO WANDER OFF AND IGNORE. /////////////////////
// More functions for each hand state. This is entirely to keep the above code less confusing for the end user, so the only line of code they mess with is the thing they might want to change. Only relaxed and fist are included, because they are the only ones called multiple times, so the others are unnecessary. I'm warning you here about the inconsistency so you know what's going on.
relaxed() { // Relaxed case, calls the state above
if (lastAnim == "relaxed") { // if that's what we just were doing, do nothing.
} else { // Otherwise, we want the relaxed state.
relaxedState();
lastAnim = "relaxed"; // reset lastAnim state so we know what to look for to skip it next time.
}
}
fist() { // Fist case, calls the state above.
if (lastAnim == "fist") { // if that's what we just were doing, do nothing.
} else { // Otherwise, we want the fist state.
fistState();
lastAnim = "fist"; // reset lastAnim state so we know what to look for to skip it next time.
}
}
string lastAnim = ""; // The last state in which we decided we were.
// How often are we going to check on the animation state? More often = more lag. So while you can check 0.001, that's hammering the server pretty hard. 0.25 only checks 4 times a second, which, really, is still often enough for what people are going to see, especially with lag and all.
float timerChecking = 0.25;
// Meaty mcMeatFingers, the script that goes through all our possibles and tells us which if the above states to use.
detectHand() {
list curAnims = llGetAnimationList(llGetOwner()); // A list of all the animations currently playing. They're going to be in UUID format, so, well, it's going to be great fun to deal with it all.
// Gestures get checked out first, because they will override everything else. They are cool and like to throw their weight around, pushing to the head of the line, and stealing lunch money from the standing and walking animations.
// We're using funky operands here, the ~. But it saves bytecode, because we love the server and want to keep it happy, and is faster than doing != -1, since if we come up with -1, it doesn't exist. Also because the programming wiki tells us to.
// Typing doesn't appear to actually trigger correctly for some reason.
if (llGetAgentInfo(llGetOwner()) & AGENT_TYPING) { // Are we TYPING? Cause we do that sometimes.
if (lastAnim = "typing") { // if that's what we just were doing, do nothing.
} else { // Otherwise, we want the typing state.
typeState();
lastAnim = "typing"; // reset lastAnim state so we know what to look for to skip it next time.
}
// Now let's check for the fist state. I'd be using ||seven more if LSL used them properly, but for some reason it still feels the need to check everything in the list, so they are less useful. Sad really. I'm still lots just because it saves a little space, and out of the hope they'll realize that this way actually is much nicer on the server at some point and change it. Also, I'd run out of ifs otherwise.
} else if (~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"eae8905b-271a-99e2-4c0e-31106afd100c"]) // I'm not standing here for you to take SNAPSHOTS.
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"5ea3991f-c293-392e-6860-91dfa01278a3"]) // IMPATIENT already? We've only just started.
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"709ea28e-1573-c023-8bf8-520c8bc637fa"]) // It's a bit early to be JUMPING FOR JOY.
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"315c3a41-a5f3-0ba4-27da-f893f769e69b"]) // I remain unimpressed by the flexing of your sexy MUSCLES.
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"ef62d355-c815-4816-2474-b1acc21094a6"]) // Your invisble BAZOOKA you're HOLDing doesn't scare me!
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"8b102617-bcba-037b-86c1-b76219f90c88"]) // Invisble BOW HOLDing, no more scary.
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"46bb4359-de38-4ed8-6a22-f1f52fe8f506"]) // Nor invisble BOW AIMing.
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"eefc79be-daae-a239-8c04-890f5d23654a"]) // Your ONE-TWO PUNCH doesn't scare me either!
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"f3300ad9-3462-1d07-2044-0fef80062da0"]) // Hey! No beating me up with your LEFT PUNCH!
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"c8e42d32-7310-6906-c903-cab5d4a34656"]) // Nor the RIGHT PUNCH either!
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"49aea43b-5ac3-8a44-b595-96100af0beda"]) // Ok, that's it. I'm not putting up with the abuse of your ROUNDHOUSE KICK.
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"11000694-3f41-adc2-606b-eee1d66f3724"])) // *sigh* Don't throw a TANTRUM. I know you only hurts me cause you loves me baby.)
{
fist(); // Call fist(), which covers the "are we there now?" and "what do we do again?"
// Right hand animations only:
} else if (~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"7db00ccd-f380-f3ee-439d-61968ec69c8a"]) // Your FIST PUMP of joy because I forgive you is still not making up for the black eye.
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"efdc1727-8b8a-c800-4077-975fc27ee2f2"]) // And invisible HANGUN AIMing isn't helping any.
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"ea633413-8006-180a-c3ba-96dd1d756720"]) // Neither is the RIFLE AIMing. Did you forget how we got into this in the first place?
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"35db4f7e-28c2-6679-cea9-3ee108f7fc7f"]) // Moving on to COUNTing for a game of Rock Paper Scissors? You're very competative tonight.
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"42dd95d5-0bc6-6392-f650-777304946c0f"])) // Ha! Take that! My scissors shatter your ROCK.
{
fist(); // Call fist(), which covers the "are we there now?" and "what do we do again?"
// More batch checking, this time for pointing hands
// Right hand animations only:
} else if (~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"c1bc7f36-3ba0-d844-f93c-93be945d644f"]) // Don't you WAG your FINGER! I did so win! Scissors beat rock! Ask anyone!
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"17c024cc-eef2-f6a0-3527-9869876d7752"]) // All the POINTING at YOURSELF won't convince me you won. So there.
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"ec952cca-61ef-aa3b-2789-4d1344f016de"]) // And don't you POINT at OTHERS telling them they're cheaters! You know pointing isn't polite!
// Both hands point:
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"c0c4030f-c02b-49de-24ba-2331f43fe41c"])) // Your HOLLYWOOD WINK gets me every time, and you know it. Cheater.
{
if (lastAnim == "point") { // if that's what we just were doing, do nothing.
} else { // Otherwise, we want the pointing state.
pointingState();
lastAnim = "point"; // reset
}
// More batch checking, this time for relaxed hands
} else if (~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"18b3a4b5-b463-bd48-e4b6-71eaac76c515"]) // Don't you laugh that deep BELLY LAUGH at me!
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"b906c4ba-703b-1940-32a3-0c7f7d791510"]) // And now you are BORED by my antics. Well then, who needs you!
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"92624d3e-1068-f1aa-a5ec-8244585193ed"]) // Aw, don't CRY. I didn't really mean it.
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"42ecd00b-9947-a97c-400a-bbc9174c7aeb"])) // You aren't really going to prove to me you're a higher spiritual being with your FLOATING YOGA.
{
relaxed(); // Call relaxed(), which covers the "are we there now?" and "what do we do again?"
// More batch processing, but not much, for spread
// Right hand only:
} else if (~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"0836b67f-7f7b-f37b-c00a-460dc1521f5a"]) // Rock Paper Scissors, again? My PAPER wraps around your paper!
// Both hands:
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"313b9881-4302-73c0-c7d0-0e7a36b6c224"]) // Ha! I knew I could SURPRISE you!
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"62c5de58-cb33-5743-3d07-9e4cd4352864"])) // Fly away! HOVER UP!
{
if (lastAnim == "spread") { // if that's what we just were doing, do nothing.
} else { // Otherwise, we want the spread state.
spreadState();
lastAnim = "spread"; // reset
}
// Batch process giving the peace sign. This is a right hand only animation.
} else if (~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"16803a9f-5140-e042-4d7b-d28ba247c325"]) // And again I beat you! My paper wraps your SCISSORS!
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"b312b10e-65ab-a0a4-8b3c-1326ea8e3ed9"])) // PEACE, that's the last game of rock paper scissors we'll have. Note that this animation appears to have the improper priority and can be overridden by some default standing hand states, so it will glitch in and out even without an animation overrider. I didn't go through the states to fix that because I say it's a bug, and therefore someday might be fixed and break the hack to get it working temporarily.
{
if (lastAnim == "peace") { // if that's what we just were doing, do nothing.
} else { // Otherwise, we want the peace state.
peaceState();
lastAnim = "peace"; // reset
}
// The salute state. This is a right hand only animation.
} else if (~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"cd7668a6-7011-d7e2-ead8-fc69eff1a104"])) // Your SALUTE indicates that we part as friends. Note that this animation appears to have the same problem as peace.
{
if (lastAnim == "salute") { // if that's what we just were doing, do nothing.
} else { // Otherwise, we want the salute state.
saluteState();
lastAnim = "salute"; // reset
}
// A few of the standing states involve balling hands into fists, as does the run state. So, if we don't get overridden by any of the above, we direct the state now.
} else if (~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"370f3a20-6ca6-9971-848c-9a01bc42ae3c"]) // STAND 2 is hands on hips in fists default.
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"42b46214-4b44-79ae-deb8-0df61424ff4b"]) // STAND 3 has one hand as a fist on hip.
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"05ddbff8-aaa9-92a1-2b74-8fe77a29b445"]) // RUN away!
|| ~llListFindList(curAnims, [(key)"20f063ea-8306-2562-0b07-5c853b37b31e"])) // Dive! Dive! HOVER DOWN!
{
fist(); // Call fist(), which covers the "are we there now?" and "what do we do again?"
// Catch all for all other states is relaxed hands. We may have missed something up there, but I did try to be exhaustive.
} else {
relaxed(); // Call relaxed(), which covers the "are we there now?" and "what do we do again?"
}
}
// Initialize timer, and reset a variable so we don't carry forward the last state erronerously.
initialize() {
llSetTimerEvent(timerChecking);
lastAnim = "";
}
// The stuff that actually starts doing things. Because all the above is just waiting impatiently to be chosen by one of the default states, otherwise it just sits there in its corner and rots.
default {
attach(key attached) { // Start the script when it is attached. Otherwise you have to run after this tiny prim object all over a sim as it flees from you. Trust me, it isn't fun.
if (attached != NULL_KEY) {// We are attached! So let's run!
detectHand(); // Run Meaty McMeatFingers!
initialize(); // Set the timer and blank out lastAnim so we don't get into trouble from the last wearing.
llResetTime();
} else { // No, really. We aren't attached. Stop the timer.
llSetTimerEvent(0);
}
}
timer() { // Our timer, so we keep checking states, instead of checking once and them being done with it. Because that would defeat the whole purpose of keeping track where our hands were.
detectHand(); // Run Meaty McMeatFingers at regular intervals!
}
}
// aim_r_rifle and stand_3 have different hand states for left/right- fists right, spread left for both. All the rock/paper/scissors also have different hand states- left is always spread.
Ring scripts, part one - introduction and explanation
This is the basis for the ring script I'm using. The one I use for my own items has a little more flexibility (yay!), but less efficiency (boo!). However, this is at least a) a starting point for people wanting to add the flexibility in perhaps more elegant ways than I have, because I code like an epileptic monkey with a large wrench that I beat things with regularly and often, and b) something that actually does work, and even without the extra bits I added is perfectly serviceable.
What this does in brief: it guesses the hand position it thinks you will have, in fairly often intervals. It uses the same basic functionality for this that Franimation Overriders use, and detects animations currently playing. Instead of overriding the current animation with a custom one, it assigns hand values to animations and adjusts the item you are wearing accordingly. It does not work as is with custom overrides or any other poses that override the hands. Part of the ugly hack in the version I use is to allow people to add their own UUIDs without delving into the code proper. Once the animations are detected, it then runs the proper function for that state, which includes position and rotation data for the item- or, indeed, whatever you desire it to do at a changed hand state.
Even built in animations do not always work properly because SL has some rather nasty hand position glitches, with priority for hands right now being an utter mess.
The code itself follows in the next few posts. Copy the entire body of the post into a script file, and drop that script file into your ring.
What this does in brief: it guesses the hand position it thinks you will have, in fairly often intervals. It uses the same basic functionality for this that Franimation Overriders use, and detects animations currently playing. Instead of overriding the current animation with a custom one, it assigns hand values to animations and adjusts the item you are wearing accordingly. It does not work as is with custom overrides or any other poses that override the hands. Part of the ugly hack in the version I use is to allow people to add their own UUIDs without delving into the code proper. Once the animations are detected, it then runs the proper function for that state, which includes position and rotation data for the item- or, indeed, whatever you desire it to do at a changed hand state.
Even built in animations do not always work properly because SL has some rather nasty hand position glitches, with priority for hands right now being an utter mess.
The code itself follows in the next few posts. Copy the entire body of the post into a script file, and drop that script file into your ring.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Helios and Astraios
The first things I'm actually getting ads and such together with are for the Jewelry Exposition, since I have the impetus for it. I need to get all the little details on the scripting for the rings (they've got a script that makes educated guesses as to your hand position, and moves the ring accordingly, instead of having them just stick out like they tend to otherwise) for Helios done so I can send them off, and I also want to send Miriel the pictures for the webpage.
Helios is what I am going to contribute to the treasure hunt. It's an Art Deco sunburst design, that comes in quite a few pieces. For her, one of the aforementioned scripted rings, a bracelet, broach, hair pin, necklace, and 3 sets of earrings- one set with drops, one set with fairly small studs, and one set that has both as well as some hoops further up the ear for those who prefer to wear multiple earrings. For him, a set of cufflinks, and a more intricate ring
Astraios is a set that is quite similar to Helios, coming in the same variety of pieces (and got the ads done at the same time since they had to be similar). It is a 6 pointed star instead of the sunburst, and in silver and black instead of gold and white. Because I'm not really someone who wears gold (or white), myself. Some day I'm going to have to figure out what to price everything. I really don't know.
Helios is what I am going to contribute to the treasure hunt. It's an Art Deco sunburst design, that comes in quite a few pieces. For her, one of the aforementioned scripted rings, a bracelet, broach, hair pin, necklace, and 3 sets of earrings- one set with drops, one set with fairly small studs, and one set that has both as well as some hoops further up the ear for those who prefer to wear multiple earrings. For him, a set of cufflinks, and a more intricate ring
Astraios is a set that is quite similar to Helios, coming in the same variety of pieces (and got the ads done at the same time since they had to be similar). It is a 6 pointed star instead of the sunburst, and in silver and black instead of gold and white. Because I'm not really someone who wears gold (or white), myself. Some day I'm going to have to figure out what to price everything. I really don't know.
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Greenies
I stumbled across Pavig Lok when I inspected an absolutely clever little magnified flea (I absolutely adore the mechanism, and had actually been considering the same type of exploit but hadn't decided on what yet), and wrote down her name for later to browse her picks, as I was still in my first exploration of New Babbage (and still haven't seen a quarter of what's there as it is). It is exactly along the lines I've been thinking myself- turn a weakness of the system into a strength, and she did it dead fabulously. I'm sure I'll eventually steal the idea for this exact mechanism too, it's just perfect.
Aside from sending me to the hobo railroad, which I desperately wish I'd known about when I first started (or, more accurately, when I restarted) because it's got all sorts of useful information for newbies (as well as some freebies I'm still sorting through), I also found Greenies Home, which is apparently a new build of hers. This place is great! You are the same size as these little green aliens, who are about mouse sized, in a gigantic house.
They're all over doing various and sundry things (everything is frozen in place with no movement, including a spilt drink, which I'm sort of on the fence about- on the one hand, I'd like some movement, on the other with figures you've either got to program AIs for all of them or they look even more out of place, and within the limitations of not only LSL but sim load and computer processing speed due to inefficiency of not being designed exclusively for that, it really isn't practical), and there are proximity teleports up to the mother ship. That's right, cameraing around doesn't cut it. I camera around most of the time, because I find movement to be difficult at times, especially with lag and all, but I've been flying all over the place instead (and I totally respect and love the idea, even though it is somewhat awkward for my computer). The ship has a shop, in which you can purchase one of the little green alien avatars for your very own, as well as other merchandising (let's face it, they have to pay the sim fees somehow!), including a pj set with a stuffed alien and alien slippers, see-through bags which contain little aliens, odd alien inspired accessories, particle effect perfumes (!). It's all truly adorable.
It's on such a vast scale that flying is generally the way to go about it, not only is a lot of the action happening above your head, but with the greater movement speed you aren't walking across an expansive floor forever. There are some fabulously built models, of particular interest to me were the cat, which is sculpty free and a little (huge) feline marvel (but that may be in part due to having 5 cats, so, er, I tend to be drawn to cats. Also, I think it's actually an old model, and I love history, as well as it being very well done), and the bronze of the ballerina, which is all sculpty and amazing- this is one of the examples of what sculpties can really truly do (sadly, we've seen a lot that sculpties really aren't necessary for as well, I don't think I can count how many sculpties that could have been made exactly with only two regular prims- and while this may be a way to get around your prim limit, I think it is harder on the system). Amusingly, it looks like all the alien ships and tech are textured with sculpties as textures- it's all that rainbow gradient (they probably are not, but they are certainly reminiscent). There's also a great big movie screen (tiny black and white TV if you were to scale to the house) with assorted shows playing, if you want to sit and stay a while.
Interesting sociological experiment though: while I was there, the majority of the people were in the dollhouse, which is build to our size.
Aside from sending me to the hobo railroad, which I desperately wish I'd known about when I first started (or, more accurately, when I restarted) because it's got all sorts of useful information for newbies (as well as some freebies I'm still sorting through), I also found Greenies Home, which is apparently a new build of hers. This place is great! You are the same size as these little green aliens, who are about mouse sized, in a gigantic house.
They're all over doing various and sundry things (everything is frozen in place with no movement, including a spilt drink, which I'm sort of on the fence about- on the one hand, I'd like some movement, on the other with figures you've either got to program AIs for all of them or they look even more out of place, and within the limitations of not only LSL but sim load and computer processing speed due to inefficiency of not being designed exclusively for that, it really isn't practical), and there are proximity teleports up to the mother ship. That's right, cameraing around doesn't cut it. I camera around most of the time, because I find movement to be difficult at times, especially with lag and all, but I've been flying all over the place instead (and I totally respect and love the idea, even though it is somewhat awkward for my computer). The ship has a shop, in which you can purchase one of the little green alien avatars for your very own, as well as other merchandising (let's face it, they have to pay the sim fees somehow!), including a pj set with a stuffed alien and alien slippers, see-through bags which contain little aliens, odd alien inspired accessories, particle effect perfumes (!). It's all truly adorable.
It's on such a vast scale that flying is generally the way to go about it, not only is a lot of the action happening above your head, but with the greater movement speed you aren't walking across an expansive floor forever. There are some fabulously built models, of particular interest to me were the cat, which is sculpty free and a little (huge) feline marvel (but that may be in part due to having 5 cats, so, er, I tend to be drawn to cats. Also, I think it's actually an old model, and I love history, as well as it being very well done), and the bronze of the ballerina, which is all sculpty and amazing- this is one of the examples of what sculpties can really truly do (sadly, we've seen a lot that sculpties really aren't necessary for as well, I don't think I can count how many sculpties that could have been made exactly with only two regular prims- and while this may be a way to get around your prim limit, I think it is harder on the system). Amusingly, it looks like all the alien ships and tech are textured with sculpties as textures- it's all that rainbow gradient (they probably are not, but they are certainly reminiscent). There's also a great big movie screen (tiny black and white TV if you were to scale to the house) with assorted shows playing, if you want to sit and stay a while.
Interesting sociological experiment though: while I was there, the majority of the people were in the dollhouse, which is build to our size.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Relay for Life 2007
I'm mostly out of the loop, I don't know many people in SL, and I spend a lot of time with tourism and building odd little random nothings. So I just sort of stumbled across the RelayForLife builds.
Incredible. Some of these are absolutely fabulous builds, many in a fraction of a sim, designed to be seen just walking by the road or with a bit more of a detour to explore. And they're all short term (I'm not sure they're even still there now- the walk was yesterday, and I don't know how long they stick around)- it's an astonishing amount of work to go into something that will be gone soon. It's very amusement park-y with going from one theme to another (some with rides or other diversions), and reminds me of the Universal Studios tour. The old one, with the real cylons, where I attempted to jump out of the tram and run away with my robot masters when I was about 3.
For instance, the giant wooden Pinocchio that dominates one build, dwarving houses, with a Punch and Judy show at his feet. Back down the path is the great fish, with a raft in his open mouth.
The Block has a fabulous Godzilla build, with everyone's favourite radioactive lizard, and some of his friends, trashing a city (Mothra circling overhead!). It's gritty and beautiful, just like their official sim, and they manage to stuff a lot of awesome little details in a very small space (they have a fraction of a sim, squeezed between two other builds, and it still works perfectly).
There's a fabulous little Aztec temple devoted to Peng-Ra, the great penguin god. You enter through an enormous mouth gate. To get to the temple you have to leave the road and climb up a mountain to find an altar, under which is a hidden little area with a throne you can pose upon. It isn't the only ancient temple themed build, there's another with a mining car ride that takes you around and is very Indiana Jonesish. And the Great Escape build also has a ride- a little sled you have to find the tunnel for, under one of the buildings (it's great in mouselook, a bit cramped otherwise).
The official Caledon build was rather surreal- you enter into an overscale Victorian house, and exit through the (lit) fireplace, the road running through the middle of it. On the other side a winter wonderland with a giant squid attack and dancing elephants in tophats awaits you.
Transylvania has a graveyard with a massive mausoleum on one side, I am guessing honouring one of their regulars who died of cancer. It's very sweet and fitting with the sort of build that Transylvania is (especially considering the permanent graveyard). They also have a fully "furnished" freak show house for sale for Relay for Life on display as part of their build. (It's a pretty good freak show, as well as all the proceeds going to charity!)
One of Caledon's residents has a build separate from the winter elephants, and created a 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea tunnel. It was quite disconcerting to actually be walking down the stairs into the water, and it left me feeling the whole thing was murky because I knew that I was under water as well. Once I adjusted, the murkiness, even inside the tunnel itself, was perfectly fitting. It was just that kneejerk "this is wrong" that got me at first. However even that didn't dampen my enjoyment of this build, the tunnel is fabulous (and has posters with quotes from the book at corners, as well as a conclusion about the unexplored deeps that may hold more jewels for science than the rainforests). There are jellyfish, a laboratory, sealife, and, of course, giant squid, that one can see from inside the tunnel. I fell in love with this build. I want it forever and always. And more.
Pixels in Pink created a film noir build, with greyscale textures- with the exception of pink accents. It was highly reminiscent of Sin City, although not as strong a colour. I got to speak briefly with one of the people who made the build (I assume- she was at least officially connected to PiP, but I know nothing about them beyond stumbling across this build), and she matched it herself- a completely desaturated skin and clothing, with the exception of pink lips and a pink sweater. The UFO in the background is from a neighboring build (that I'm assuming had references that I didn't get, not being familiar with the source material).
There was a massive Journey to the Centre of the Earth build, that you enter into twice. It spanned a number of styles, I quite enjoyed the simple cave that was towards the beginning, but there was also a cave full of crystals of all sorts of shapes and colours, as well as a section with dinosaurs and lava and ruins! Also, you can dynamite rocks onto unsuspecting people on their way up.
The Wizard of Oz build was based on the movie, which, well, honestly disappointed me, but did not surprise me. Everyone is all the movie, not the books, and the books are awesome. It was still a very neat and in depth build- you can follow Dorothy's travels, from her home in Kansas, to the tornado, to Munchkinland with Glinda waiting for you, picking up her companions on their way to see the Great and Powerful Oz (at which point I donned my green spectacles that I take everywhere with me, but that's just me), and being attacked by the most adorably awesome flying monkeys on the way to the Wicked Witch's castle, where you can make her melt into a puddle! before returning home.
(The above random selection of screenshots are what I took to show Max, as he couldn't make it.)
There's also a dead fabulous Zelda build that I didn't have a chance to really explore- it even includes a free HuD with a starter weapon (you buy better swords and such), so you can play the game! Unfortunately they don't currently have a sim for it to continue, so once RFL is over, the game goes back to limbo until they set it up again somewhere. And they have a lego Link avatar(!) And lots more things- the beginning and end was Lord of the Rings themed, and had some really great builds (that were very obviously movie inspired, but that's one that I don't mind, that movie was just about exactly as I see it in my head reading it), there were psychadelic things, and a cartoony Final Fantasy build (that was verging on the terrifying!), and Scooby Doo, and, well, really too much to mention. New Babbage had a build over an entire sim that made me say to myself "dear god, why haven't I been there yet? Must go!" Also, there was fishing (not at new Babbage), with another under the sea tunnel, that featured looking into the whale living room where the whales are sweating to the oldies on TV and getting ready for bed.
It's sad that something so vast and beautiful and complex will all be gone.
Incredible. Some of these are absolutely fabulous builds, many in a fraction of a sim, designed to be seen just walking by the road or with a bit more of a detour to explore. And they're all short term (I'm not sure they're even still there now- the walk was yesterday, and I don't know how long they stick around)- it's an astonishing amount of work to go into something that will be gone soon. It's very amusement park-y with going from one theme to another (some with rides or other diversions), and reminds me of the Universal Studios tour. The old one, with the real cylons, where I attempted to jump out of the tram and run away with my robot masters when I was about 3.
For instance, the giant wooden Pinocchio that dominates one build, dwarving houses, with a Punch and Judy show at his feet. Back down the path is the great fish, with a raft in his open mouth.
The Block has a fabulous Godzilla build, with everyone's favourite radioactive lizard, and some of his friends, trashing a city (Mothra circling overhead!). It's gritty and beautiful, just like their official sim, and they manage to stuff a lot of awesome little details in a very small space (they have a fraction of a sim, squeezed between two other builds, and it still works perfectly).
There's a fabulous little Aztec temple devoted to Peng-Ra, the great penguin god. You enter through an enormous mouth gate. To get to the temple you have to leave the road and climb up a mountain to find an altar, under which is a hidden little area with a throne you can pose upon. It isn't the only ancient temple themed build, there's another with a mining car ride that takes you around and is very Indiana Jonesish. And the Great Escape build also has a ride- a little sled you have to find the tunnel for, under one of the buildings (it's great in mouselook, a bit cramped otherwise).
The official Caledon build was rather surreal- you enter into an overscale Victorian house, and exit through the (lit) fireplace, the road running through the middle of it. On the other side a winter wonderland with a giant squid attack and dancing elephants in tophats awaits you.
Transylvania has a graveyard with a massive mausoleum on one side, I am guessing honouring one of their regulars who died of cancer. It's very sweet and fitting with the sort of build that Transylvania is (especially considering the permanent graveyard). They also have a fully "furnished" freak show house for sale for Relay for Life on display as part of their build. (It's a pretty good freak show, as well as all the proceeds going to charity!)
One of Caledon's residents has a build separate from the winter elephants, and created a 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea tunnel. It was quite disconcerting to actually be walking down the stairs into the water, and it left me feeling the whole thing was murky because I knew that I was under water as well. Once I adjusted, the murkiness, even inside the tunnel itself, was perfectly fitting. It was just that kneejerk "this is wrong" that got me at first. However even that didn't dampen my enjoyment of this build, the tunnel is fabulous (and has posters with quotes from the book at corners, as well as a conclusion about the unexplored deeps that may hold more jewels for science than the rainforests). There are jellyfish, a laboratory, sealife, and, of course, giant squid, that one can see from inside the tunnel. I fell in love with this build. I want it forever and always. And more.
Pixels in Pink created a film noir build, with greyscale textures- with the exception of pink accents. It was highly reminiscent of Sin City, although not as strong a colour. I got to speak briefly with one of the people who made the build (I assume- she was at least officially connected to PiP, but I know nothing about them beyond stumbling across this build), and she matched it herself- a completely desaturated skin and clothing, with the exception of pink lips and a pink sweater. The UFO in the background is from a neighboring build (that I'm assuming had references that I didn't get, not being familiar with the source material).
There was a massive Journey to the Centre of the Earth build, that you enter into twice. It spanned a number of styles, I quite enjoyed the simple cave that was towards the beginning, but there was also a cave full of crystals of all sorts of shapes and colours, as well as a section with dinosaurs and lava and ruins! Also, you can dynamite rocks onto unsuspecting people on their way up.
The Wizard of Oz build was based on the movie, which, well, honestly disappointed me, but did not surprise me. Everyone is all the movie, not the books, and the books are awesome. It was still a very neat and in depth build- you can follow Dorothy's travels, from her home in Kansas, to the tornado, to Munchkinland with Glinda waiting for you, picking up her companions on their way to see the Great and Powerful Oz (at which point I donned my green spectacles that I take everywhere with me, but that's just me), and being attacked by the most adorably awesome flying monkeys on the way to the Wicked Witch's castle, where you can make her melt into a puddle! before returning home.
(The above random selection of screenshots are what I took to show Max, as he couldn't make it.)There's also a dead fabulous Zelda build that I didn't have a chance to really explore- it even includes a free HuD with a starter weapon (you buy better swords and such), so you can play the game! Unfortunately they don't currently have a sim for it to continue, so once RFL is over, the game goes back to limbo until they set it up again somewhere. And they have a lego Link avatar(!) And lots more things- the beginning and end was Lord of the Rings themed, and had some really great builds (that were very obviously movie inspired, but that's one that I don't mind, that movie was just about exactly as I see it in my head reading it), there were psychadelic things, and a cartoony Final Fantasy build (that was verging on the terrifying!), and Scooby Doo, and, well, really too much to mention. New Babbage had a build over an entire sim that made me say to myself "dear god, why haven't I been there yet? Must go!" Also, there was fishing (not at new Babbage), with another under the sea tunnel, that featured looking into the whale living room where the whales are sweating to the oldies on TV and getting ready for bed.
It's sad that something so vast and beautiful and complex will all be gone.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Wasteland
I've met some of the denizens of the Wastelands, in the bar in the Great Fissure. One of the people who, it turns out, owns a fair bit of land in the Wastelands, struck up a conversation with me whilst I was gawking at the giant crab, and invited me in to meet some people. I've been back a few times, and end up sitting around for hours. Last time I was there I wore a new helmet that I'd just thrown together on a whim (it is obviously Morpheus' helm from Sandman), but usually I wear my goggles, the very first item I managed to script. It's a simple little script that just puts them up on my head, or down over my eyes on touch, but I'm still rather proud of myself for actually finishing a script (and rotations made things far more difficult that it could have been, and I ended up having to make some scripting tools to get that far). Someday I'd like to add a few more features, but I'm not entirely certain as to whether they are actually possible.
And here are a few pictures taken around the Wastelands, that give you an idea of what I look like, as I haven't uploaded photos of myself yet. I don't wear this particular mohawk all the time, most often I'm in one that is chunky somewhat anime, and off to one side; as well as much of the rest of this attire being something that I wear in the Wastelands- the fishnet shirt, the bracelets, the pants, the boots, and the spiked collar are worn most of the time, but I wear a different shirt, none of the shoulder paraphernalia, as well as a belt that is similar, but without the canteen and the skirt section. However, I have barely taken those boots off since I made them. Someday I'll have to texture them properly.
And here are a few pictures taken around the Wastelands, that give you an idea of what I look like, as I haven't uploaded photos of myself yet. I don't wear this particular mohawk all the time, most often I'm in one that is chunky somewhat anime, and off to one side; as well as much of the rest of this attire being something that I wear in the Wastelands- the fishnet shirt, the bracelets, the pants, the boots, and the spiked collar are worn most of the time, but I wear a different shirt, none of the shoulder paraphernalia, as well as a belt that is similar, but without the canteen and the skirt section. However, I have barely taken those boots off since I made them. Someday I'll have to texture them properly.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
