My first object imported to OpenSim from Second Life

The Imprudence viewer exported the biplane model as XML, minus any textures I didn’t actually own (I’m not sure which those would be, since I textured this myself). Then I ran Sim-on-a-Stick, logged in with Imprudence and imported the XML. Over a period of about 30 seconds, I watched Imprudence assemble the plane in pieces — all 248 of them and all textured correctly. Proof of concept: Now I can start migrating my content away from Second Life.

Just to be perfectly clear, I’m not abandoning Second Life. I just think that it’s good to have a lifeboat available if the Titanic goes down.

UPDATE: After playing around with Imprudence in Second Life for a bit, I find that I can export almost nothing, because there’s always at least one part of the model or textures that have someone else as the “creator”, even if that name is my own alt account. What I need is a viewer that ignores the creator tag. Without that, all of my content is stuck in SL.

1. Terra Ornithopter

2.Terra Cormorant

3. Terra Tigershark 2.1 (in-world only)

4. Terra Tigershark 3

5. Terra Talon

6. Terra Manta

7. Terra Sparrow

Blue skies and happy landings!

I had heard about some clever folks who figured out how to install and run OpenSim on a USB key.  You can also install and run a viewer like Imprudence on a USB key.  Which means you could walk up to your friend’s PC, stick your USB key into it, run a few programs on the key, and suddenly be in your own personal virtual world. [Link: A Virtual World in my Hands: Running OpenSim and Imprudence on a USB Key]

Pathfinder describes how he uses the OpenSim server combined with the Imprudence viewer, which allows you to copy your own content from Second Life then import it into your OpenSim grid instance.

Unfortunately, the key phrase is “your own content”: anything that you attempt to export using Imprudence must be 100% attributed to the account doing the exporting. This means that if you used an alternate account for some of the work, as I often do, your own creations are stuck in Second Life. If you have mixed creator tags on anything you export, even if you’re the actual creator of that object and even if you own the copyright on all aspects of the work, you can actually be permanently banned from Second Life without appeal, due to restrictions in the Second Life Terms of Service. While I recognize the need to protect copyright and Linden Lab’s need to protect their butts legally, I would be saddened to lose control of my own content (or get banned) due to a technicality.

All the same, I think I might try Pathfinder’s technique on some simpler items. Maybe I can retain at least a few mementos of my Second Life years for the future.

Starting today, my Rocketeer and Infinity rocket packs are now reduced in price to exactly zero Lindens. Everyone can have a rocket pack.You can have one. And you too. Oh, wait… no not that guy. But the person behind him can have one. I have to draw the line somewhere, really. But besides that one guy, everyone can have my classic sci-fi styled rocket packs.

What do they do? Well, strap one on, choose one of the three speed settings, and your avatar’s natural flying abilities will be greatly enhanced. And a handy side-effect is that they will most definitely get you some action. That’s right, these things are regular chick-magnets. Walk into a club with one of these babies on your back, and within minutes, there will be two new members in the mile high club. Three if you wear the shiny copper helmet.

Where can I get one of these wonderful devices, you ask?

• If you’re in-world, drop by the top floor of Abbotts Aerodrome (that’s in Abbotts, of course).
• If you’re lazy, you can get them from XStreetSL.com: Infinity and Rocketeer.

The result is closer to what I want, but this canard isn’t ready for scripting just yet.

The general shape is coming into focus, I think. I want to improve the fuselage some more and smooth the join between wings and fuselage. Control surfaces would be nice to have too, but as usual with SL vehicles, the prim count for vehicles is only 32, so I might have to sacrifice that kind of detail to the prim gods.

Cubey Terra and Reitsuki Kojima are pleased to introduce the TERRA-KOJIMA MERLIN-CLASS CUTTER AIRSHIP.

In this new world of lighter-than-air aviation, in which one navigates the clouds as easily as a steamship plies the waves, the Merlin-class airship will make you master of not only the sky, but also the sea. Fly kilometers into the sky between mountain tops and clouds, or skim the ocean to hunt ironclad ships with your potent array of torpedoes.

The Merlin is 55 meters long.

Through the advances in modern mechanicals and automation, the Merlin-class cutter airship may be crewed by a single individual; however, in the unfortunate event of an engagement with an enemy, you may wish to call upon the assistance of up to two gunners, with a third individual as lookout, for a total of four crew including yourself.

EASY TO NAVIGATE AND FLY…

• Carry up to four persons: a pilot, two gunners, and one passenger.
• Choose who can be the pilot. Set the access lock to “anyone”, “group”, or “owner”.
• Use the shiny control panel. A durable brass-and-wood HUD has all the gauges, buttons, and knobs you could ever wish for.

The Merlin HUD includes altitude and speed gauges, altitude control, weapon control, and more.

EFFECTIVE IN COMBAT…

• Engage in battle using the Ironclad Combat System (ICS) by Kandace Commons. This standard combat system uses physical ordinance and damage tracking without requiring damage-enabled land.
• Track battle damage to your airship. The ship tracks where you were hit, and alters its flight characteristics accordingly.
• Engage in team-based combat. Use nation flags and ensigns to identify your ICS team.
• Recruit a gun crew. Gun crews can aim and fire the port and starboard cannon.
• Fight without a crew. The pilot’s HUD lets you fire the cannon (without aiming) and drop torpedoes, even without a crew.

The gondola of the Merlin-class airship carries up to four persons.

EASY TO CUSTOMIZE…

• Pick a colour. Choose from several colours. Paint the hull and the fins separately.
• Pick your flags. Choose one nation flag and one ensign from a list of flags that include both modern and 19th century flags. If your flag isn’t in the list, you can apply any texture from your inventory.

Merlin can be customized with alternate colours and flags.

CREATE AUTOPILOTED TOURS…

• Plot a route. Plan a route for your airship by adding route waypoints to a notecard.
• Provide scenic tours to visitors. Even when you’re not around, you can get your airship to offer automated tours without giving away full piloting control.

WHERE TO BUY…

Starting Saturday, May 15, 2010, you can find the Terra-Kojima Merlin-class airship at these locations.

• In-world at Abbotts Aerodrome.
• On the web at XStreet SL.

One week from today, on Saturday, May 15, the latest creation from the labs of Cubey Terra (hey, that’s me) and Reitsuki Kojima will finally take to the skies. This project is the culmination of many months of design, planning, and long hours in the workshop.

Specifications, locations, and pricing to be posted at a later date.

I have to say, it will feel great to finally send this flying machine out into the world. It’s been in development (on and off the backburner) for almost a year. Maybe it’s like a ripe casu marzu cheese: it needs to be aged fully before being consumed. But with fewer larvae.