The Italian sailor was landed in the new world…: Cyberlandia.

Are there any SL users that have sometimes thought about the fact that all the Second Life residents are guests of the Californian company Linden Lab?

And for those who do think about what should happen to all of their creations, and at all the things stored in their inventory, results of many and many hours of work and Linden Dollars investments, if the management of Linden Lab should decide to close the company and make a move to the Hawaiian islands to go surfing?

Seriously speaking, it is clear that the proprietary based environment is an important issue in all the company’s and commercial protagonist’s plans. The question is: it is possible to invest lot of money by using a platform that is managed by someone else, not under control? It’s clear that the question is very important for those operators that should invest capitals in the virtual world, although the Californian company has no intention to close its activity to go surf in Hawaii.

This is the reason for the growing concerns of Virtual Worlds, similar to Second Life, but independent and free, is developing based on Open Source movement, very largely diffused between the users of Open Source Software, the free software.

The Open Source phenomena is so largely diffused that even Italian Public Administration regulatory Institute has planned to use this kind of software in the public Administrations, with many savings in terms of investment and standardization.

So, the virtual world of Open Sims was born, a world that uses the free Open Source code to create and manage entire grids in free and independent mode, has permitted, since the beginning of 2008, the born and the development of several initiatives similar to those realized in Second Life.

The pioneers, in Italy, of this initiatives, are the people joined with Carlos Roundel, Laima Holmer and Ferdinand Begonia.

Their history began in the April 2008, with the creation of three sims called, from their names: Laima, Post Humanlab and Begonia. From this three sims, following the evolution of open source code, was born, in June 2008, Cyberlandia the first Italian Open grid.

The beginning history was, naturally, very pioneeristic; in fact, in that time (only two years ago…) didn’t exist several functions, like teleport, voice, instant messages, and so on. But since that period, the growing was very fast, especially in the last months.

Today, Cyberlandia grid includes 185 active sims, and the Avatar registered are 1644. A very important group, that is the principal Open Sim group in Italy becoming, in that way, the focal point for those users that wish to develop the free and independent Virtual Worlds. And this environments are developing very fast.

Anybody, in fact, can create his own sim, even on his personal PC by using ADSL to connect their self to Cyberlandia grid, with the permission, of course, of the owners, because it’s necessary to protect the grid by griefer or hackers also in this worlds.

The most correct choose, for those are interested to use this virtual world, for normal and frequently initiatives, is to use computers of an external server farm’s provider, by paying very few money, for having guarantee of stability and correct hardware management. Of course, in the case of business users, wishing to use Virtual Worlds for their commercial initiatives, they can use own hardware and dedicated technical staff.

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The Open sim movement is today largely diffused in the world, and Cyberlandia, for example, has established contacts, by using hypergrid connections, with French, German and, even, Japanese grids.

All the principal groups, or business and institutional users, have already built their own sims by using the Open platform, and, in Italy, they all are connected with Cyberlandia.

Cyberlandia is composed, as Second Life, by a Mainland and several separated islands. The politic of the owners is that all Mainland’s islands, have to be open. If someone needs to work in a protect place, he has the possibility to have an independent and closed isle separated by the Mainland, but connected with it.

The connection with Cyberlandia is very simple. It’s necessary to log on from Cyberlandia portal (www.cyberlandia.net) to create a new Avatar and to log into the grid directly, without to pass from an orientation isle. It’s possible to connect with Cyberlandia Grid also directly from the web, with apposite link.

With the recent evolutions, including the use of voice, and with the recent versions of the software, the technical level of the open sims is almost similar to Second Life platform. In my opinion it’s only a question of time, and such open environment will became more diffused and able to resolve all needs of users, like Second Life,is becoming, in that mode, competitive with the Linden Lab software.

Many things have to be resolved to permit a fast development of this world, not only respect its technical characteristics, but also in relation to the “social” development.

For example, the creation of an internal economy, based on a virtual money, like Linden Dollars, should help the growth of artistic and commercial initiatives. That don’t mean that it is necessary to have the goal to became rich, but this possibility should help the born of an internal economy, with the development of different kind of opportunities, similar to Second Life and other similar worlds.

I think that the fast evolution of the Open Sim Virtual Worlds will cause the opening to external of the Linden Lab company, exceeding the proprietary model. But this fact will happen for business reasons, and only when it will be inevitable as a market need.

This evolution will be very important, because the competition among different Virtual Worlds, with several new proposals and initiatives, will permit the growing of the quality of the services.

At this point, at only at this point, it will be possible the return in the Virtual Worlds of the business operators, following the evolution of this communication model, in a different and correct direction respected to the first phase of the last years.

This will happen with the defeat of the negative prophets of the death of the Virtual Worlds.

P.S.: For those among our readers, knowing the origin of the phrase in the title of the article, can send me the answer to the following email address: aquiladellanottekondor@hotmail.it

Originally published in Italian in Esseelle Movie Magazine by AquilaDellaNotte Kondor
translated by AquilaDellaNotte Kondor and republished with kind permission

A protagonist: Poptart Lilliehook.

The fantastic world of fashion in Second life.
By AquilaDellaNotte Kondor

Poptart Lilliehook is an example of a self made woman in Second Life, one of the most important members of the fashion world in SL: Chief Marketing Officer of LeeZu! (formerly LeeZu Baxter Designs), Owner and CEO of Modavia Fashion Marketing, Chief Editor of the Modavia Fashion Directory, Modavia Supermodel, MAD Agency model, InStyle model ...Glance model ....Faces model... the list goes on... Poptart was recently nominated for the Runway Model of the Year award and is a favourite on the catwalk of many of the leading designers in SL. Poptart also recently announced that she will be launching a new venture, together with Payton Heron, which will take Modavia into an entirely new segment of the market. Modavia Productions came into being in April 2009 to fill the gap left by Runway Productions which closed its doors a short while ago. Modavia Productions will focus on industry events like the spring and fall New York Fashion Weeks, seasonal revues and special interest showcases.

I met Poptart Lilliehook at the Modavia HQ in Second Life. She lives in the same sim, at the opposite side of the Modavia HQ. She accepted to have this meeting to answer a number of questions that every SL resident is probably curious about.

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: Poptart, I think fashion is one of the most interesting activities in SL, what is your opinion?

Poptart Lilliehook: Yes there are a lot of very creative people here.

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: I wish to know something about your professional history in SL, in the fashion world.

Poptart Lilliehook: Okay,.... well. I started as a model - working my way up through the agencies as many do. My first inspiration, when I was a new SL resident, was landing one day in the LBD - LeeZu Baxter Designs store, I suddenly found myself surrounded by all these amazing designs - like nothing I had ever seen in SL, or RL for that matter. LeeZu at the time had a leopard in her store, and I sat on her couch in the store and just stared. I never dreamt such clothes existed, and I decided there, sitting by this leopard, that I wanted to be a part of the fashion world. This was back in July or August 2007.

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: I know you are a marketing consultant in RL…

Poptart Lilliehook: I have always approached SL in the same way as RL. I have the same belief system and the same values, here as in real life, so I knew I would have to put in the work to get anywhere in SL.

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: Were you attracted by those wonderful clothes and creations, or by the people that work in this world?

Poptart Lilliehook: Both really, creative people are interesting, and stimulating.

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: so you started as a model....

Poptart Lilliehook: I spent the next year developing a career as a model and studying the couture fashion market. I went to every show and every shop, read all I could find about this world.

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: was it a planned career or just something that developed?

Poptart Lilliehook: I cannot really say it was planned when I joined SL, but shortly after discovering LBD I made a very conscious decision, to learn how the fashion market works in SL.

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: so, LBD was very important for you…

Poptart Lilliehook: Yes, as you mentioned, I am a marketing professional in RL and it was intriguing for me to see how RL techniques and strategies worked in SL, I later got the marketing role at LeeZu Baxter Designs (now LeeZu!) which was a very exciting step for me.

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: Poptart, this is a critical aspect in a virtual world, don't you think that this is a game, a fantastic world?

Poptart Lilliehook: No, I dont - people like LeeZu and many others, make their living here. SL supports them and their families, it is very very real in many ways. I am always conscious that there are real people behind the avatars, who can be disappointed or hurt. I know how terribly hard the designers work to put things in their shops, how they hope people will like their things.

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: lots of people work in the fashion world in SL.

Poptart Lilliehook: ....how discouraged they can get sometimes. The models of course too put a lot of themselves into their work.

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: there are also not very able people in this world, not all are good designers.

Poptart Lilliehook: Well SL is the same as RL, not everybody is the best of course.

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: what are the characteristics to became an high level model, for you?

Poptart Lilliehook: Hard work and discipline, and a sense of style. If you've got those you can succeed, a lot of new models don't realize it is very hard work and a big time commitment.

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: hard work, the principle rule, I understand. But what do you mean by discipline, in this case?

Poptart Lilliehook: Well you need to be on time and prepared for engagements - which means you need to be disciplined in planning your schedule and meticulous about fitting and styling so that you are completely ready to perform when you are called to. If like many of us you are doing 4 or 5 shows a week plus shoots and rehearsals .... it’s a lot to organize.

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: a very hard work, do you work here, in SL, every day?

Poptart Lilliehook: I have my responsibilities with LeeZu! And the Modavia company to run - trust me discipline is an absolute requirement to keep everything pointing in the right direction. I am on-line pretty much every evening, and a lot of the weekend.

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: do you participate still in catwalks now or work only as manager?

Poptart Lilliehook: No I am still very active - this last weekend I walked in the two LeLutka spring shows, the Sweetaholic kimono show and the Modavia show. I think it’s important to keep an active modelling career as it keeps me very immersed in the fashion scene. But I have a lot of wonderful people who help me with many things also, Modavia is a fashion marketing company in which the group slikk set is a very important component.

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: Poptart, can you explain to me about the Modavia project?

Poptart Lilliehook: Modavia publishes the Modavia Fashion Directory each month which showcases the best of SL designers. Modavia has 30 models, and we use about 10 different photographers. The trick is to attract good people who want to work with us. We have a wonderful event every 2 months where we give away all the clothes that have been modelled in the Directory to 2 lucky subscribers - we call it the Modavia Designer Wardrobe Giveaway. Each winner walks away with about 40 couture outfits so it is a very exciting event. As a fashion marketing company we also provide consulting services to our designers, helping them with a broad range of issues.

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: what are your projects for the future Poptart?

Poptart Lilliehook: Well, I want to definitely grow the Modavia brand and help to make LeeZu! even more successful. The aim of the Directory is to provide a platform for the best of design, the best of photography and the best of modeling in SL. And to take that platform to as many people in SL as we can - so if a new resident is wondering where to go to buy good quality fashion they can just look in our book - it is all there for them, in one place, the Directory is an invitation. We feature only the best designers, so it is a "guide" to residents, of where the best fashion can be found. Of course we do not have every one of the best designers - but we are growing our designer base every month.

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: Your “mission” is to give only the best to SL residents, to create a culture of fashion, right?

Poptart Lilliehook: Every month a few more of the top designers are joining us. I hope to keep expanding this base to include as many good brands as I can.

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: I have a complicated question Poptart: what relation is there between SL and RL fashion, are there already contacts through the two world, how will it be in the future?

Poptart Lilliehook: Oh there is a lot of contact already.

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: really?

Poptart Lilliehook: Yes, we witnessed two important RL crossover fashion events take place. These took the form of simultaneous shows held in SL and at the Amsterdam International Fashion Week and the “In Quelle Trine Morbide” event which involved Italian designers here showcasing unique creations using antique lace textures provided by the Museo Napoleonico in Rome, the SL environment was shown on a giant screen at the RL venues. Also several of our designers here are also RL designers with large fashion brands in RL - example is VictoriaV. So I think we will see more and more crossover between the RL and SL fashion world in the future.

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: but do u think that SL creations can became real life models?

Poptart Lilliehook: Yes of course .... How does an RL creation start? A sketch on a paper pad, a drawing from the mind of a designer. If an RL creation can start with a drawing why can’t it start with an avatar wearing a design..? It is all about demonstrating the concept and the creative vision.

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: do u think there are RL stylists that can use SL models? Who trust in SL stylists?

Poptart Lilliehook: Well, we see architects in RL using SL builds to "sell" their concepts to clients, let clients walk around the building see what they like or don’t like, and transfer the learning to the real world. Again - why cannot fashion designers do the same?

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: yes, I understand this point.

Poptart Lilliehook: Use an SL model to demonstrate their design to their clients before creating the real garments in RL. Of course it has applications for any kind of design, SL provides a very valuable 3D sketch pad for design. But more importantly ... I think SL will increasingly be used by RL companies to promote their RL products.

Poptart Lilliehook: You mentioned Armani - this is perhaps a useful example - they saw the opportunities here but I think they perhaps underestimated the technical challenges of design and marketing in SL. My impression was that they found it harder to create quality merchandise here than they originally thought.

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: for the technical difficulties of the platform you say?

Poptart Lilliehook: They perhaps needed to work more closely with designers who are already very experienced in SL.

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: this is a point to discuss with them Poptart in the RL occasions. What do you think about Italian designers ?

Poptart Lilliehook: We all love them, so creative, so full of spirit…

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: do u know some of them?

Poptart Lilliehook: Italian designers in SL? Yes many of our designers in the Modavia Fashion Directory are Italian. Italian designers are among the most prolific creators in the industry here I think.

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: there is a lot of creativity in Italy I think.

Poptart Lilliehook: Well, they certainly bring a lot of light to our lives in SL, a very very active community here.

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: You are very kind Poptart to say this of my country.

Poptart Lilliehook: They work very collaboratively, it’s like an Italian "club", many Italian designers working together here, in SL. The BeStar Fashion Club, the Best of Italy, the SHOUTED collaboration. They like very much to work together.

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: may you give a suggestion for all those young models that wish to improve their capability?

Poptart Lilliehook: To be unique above all else. Too many models with same faces, same hair. Find your own style, and stand out.

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: this is a wonderful suggestion I think, for them.

Poptart Lilliehook: If you have any further questions let me know.

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: do you know Italy Poptart? in RL I say.

Poptart Lilliehook: I have a Godson in Venice, I know Tuscany, Milan, and Rome of course.

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: did you see it?

Poptart Lilliehook: Yes many times. I have some RL clients there. I’ve also had conferences there many times. I work for a global management consultancy so I get to travel to these cities quite often.

AquilaDellaNotte Kondor: Well. Thank you very much Poptart, for your time and for giving us your vision of this fantastic world of fashion. Good luck.

Originally published in Italian in Esseelle Movie Magazine by AquilaDellaNotte Kondor
translated by AquilaDellaNotte Kondor and republished with kind permission