Mythra and Jaq Røṡε showed up this Sunday morning to meet me for a feature and interview on something new and exciting. We met and sat down on a bench, in one of their many lovely visiting areas to discuss their new addition to the world of SL.

Tabitha Mercury: This sim, features quite a bit and is quite lovely aesthetically, I have noticed. Who did all the work to make this look so amazing?

Jaq Røṡε: Raven Røṡε did most of the actual course design, the layout and such, since she has a long history with RL disc golf.. so the planning for that was mostly her…the three of us did the landscaping together and all the golf stuff is custom mesh we made for the game packs.

Tabitha Mercury: So you guys created this Disc Golf+ system or just the mesh items to use for it? (not discounting making the items, that’s hard as heck, I have tried Blender and it won.)

Mყϯɦrɑ Røṡε: *laughs at the Blender winning comment*

Jaq Røṡε: (The) whole thing. It's a ground up build all stemming from a simple course refresh idea that we had.. then we kinda ripped up a whole sim and made an LOTR themed course next door.. which we'll have to take you on a tour of some time, we're really proud of it.. and then we were like.. we need a better game…so we made one.

Mყϯɦrɑ Røṡε: Pretty much.

Jaq Røṡε: so the game system itself, the hud, the discs, all the course building stuff, tees, baskets, etc.. all new and unique

Mყϯɦrɑ Røṡε: It's all Jaq's fault, really. It all began with a "You know what would be cool..." comment.

Jaq Røṡε: yeah, that's accurate lol. But given how good that sim turned out, I'll claim it lol

Tabitha Mercury: hehe, that’s how it starts.

Jaq Røṡε: this sim came about to be essentially a demo area, for other course builders who might want to add our game to existing golf courses, or make new, specialized ones. This is your more traditional kinda course.. 9 holes.. 3 tee options per hole.. can hold short form tournaments here and such, but it's also a really fun course.. we have people coming here and testing the new tees we put down.. we have 2 per hole that are fixed and the third we move around with the seasons to keep people guessing

Tabitha Mercury: Honestly, y'all have done something pretty amazing here. You've created a game for SL based on RL, the system, the props, all of it...Can you walk me through a "game" of it for those who don't understand what Disc Golf is still, please?

Mყϯɦrɑ Røṡε: It's a lot like golf, really. Just played with frisbees or 'discs'. Rules are quite similar and scoring is done the same way.

Jaq Røṡε: sure .. so disc golf is similar to golf in that it uses a similar set of rules. Obvious differences being balls and clubs are swapped for discs for different lengths and styles of shot.. and the holes are replaced with baskets…you have driver discs, approach discs, and putting discs, depending on how you need to throw.. you have to aim, account for wind.. either curve your short or throw straight.. avoid obstacles.. all that fun stuff

Tabitha Mercury: Ok, thank you very much for that, I think that will help those who might be new to this! Oh wow, so it’s more intricate than I realized!

Mყϯɦrɑ Røṡε: Actually (we) have a fairly large update in the works right now...in the testing phase of things.

Jaq Røṡε: it's as close as RL as possible.. and we're constantly revising it and trying to improve it. (It) runs on sim wind, so it's constantly variable.. although for tournaments, you can fix the wind so everyone is dealing with the same conditions

Tabitha Mercury: Whoa! Wait! What’s that? This is actually based upon the winds on SL as well?

Jaq Røṡε: oh yes.. Every sim has its own wind system. Our game reads that wind signal from the sim and will affect the discs accordingly, so the wind will vary every time you play but also as you go around.

Tabitha Mercury: Let's say one reads this article, then they want to try it out...What do they need to do when they arrive to use your system?

Jaq Røṡε: first thing to do here is to join the group. That will be the same with any golf game, because you'll need certain permissions to be able to use it. Group enables that. We have the game huds for sale in the building behind us.. they are 299, but discounted for members. They'll also be available in partner courses as and when. We already have the game in one well established golf course, Eagle Creek Golf Club.

(Jaq points to the roof of a nearby building.)

Jaq Røṡε: if you have a look on top of the building, there's a weather vane that shows the wind strength and direction.. that's actually the thing that talks to the game hud all around the sim, so everyone is playing under the same conditions, (so) you don't have to watch the weather vane when you're playing though, you get a little flag that follows you around when you take your shot, so you can see what the wind is doing when you need to

Tabitha Mercury: Y'all have done an amazing job here. I can't wait to see this take off! A totally new game, developed by some really creative minds. I really do thank you for your time and explanations to show me what you have created for others enjoyment! Before we wrap this up, is there anything else you would like to say?

Jaq Røṡε: We really just hope everyone has a bunch of fun with it like we do. All the time and effort that's gone into it is as much for our own enjoyment as it is for creating a product. We made it to enjoy it ourselves, so hopefully that will translate into others enjoying it too. We're trying to get it spread across as many quality golf courses as we can to give people plenty of variety.. and with the new update that will hopefully be released in the coming week or two, I guess.. There are some really exciting changes being made.

In closing, there is so much to do on this sim…from shopping to playing Tron or discgolf+ or dancing to some great tunes, this sim appeals to any fellow “geeks” out there. Check out the photos below for more info!

Additional Information:

Teleport: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Digital%20Frontier/221/176/23

Group: secondlife:///app/group/f7a4c471-f62b-7b9c-2083-2e00691015c6/about

The Grinch here…. That pain in the ass reporter Lanai offered me some community service by putting together this extremely irritating collection of sh*t to do in Second Life. Instead of going around the grid and doing something nice to a bunch of random avatars, why not kill all the birds with one big fat stone!

I know all you virtual knuckleheads are littering the grid with your presence and spending countless hours standing around trying to figure out what to do next. Well I’m here to help only because I don’t have anything worse to do…I have a court order to find my holiday spirit. I’d rather be racking up at a wine & spirits whilst wasting this season away in a drunken stupor. *grumbles* HOWEVER, here goes my contributions to the Second Life community. You’re welcome…

SNOWBALL FIGHTS AND SLEIGH RIDE TOURS!

Visit Seasons Change at Blissful Dreams and flex that good throwing arm and bash in a few skulls with a snowball fight. (I’d pack a rock in it personally but a reindeer pellet is just as effective… If you aren’t in the mood for that, there’s always a good ol’ fashioned sleigh ride tour for exploring this embarrassing beautiful sim! The best part is your view is a horse's ass….You’re welcome.

Description: Winter, Christmas, dancing, ice skating, snow, snowball fights, sleigh rides, Santa Claus, Tree Farm, church, photos, photography, exploring.

Please change WL / Day Cycle to Shared Environment, /*Sky: "Phototools Moon Light

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Blissful%20Dreams/125/208/27

COEUR LAC D’ANNECY SUMMIT SKI LIFT RESORT

FFS, Why on Linden's pixelated grid would anybody want to strap a set of sticks on and plunge headfirst down a mountain… OHHHH wait, that could be entertaining if there were lots of trees. I’d pay for tickets to see a bunch of avies bounce around like pinballs.

Description: The summit ski lift station is your drop off point for skiing adventures! Walk or ski down the ramps to the ski lodge. From there, use the western slope for Slalom timed runs. The eastern slope is for freestyle skiing for 1 to 8 skiers. Snowmobiles too!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Coeur%20Lac%20Annecy/51/21/2179

ICE SKATING AT SEASIDE ICE!

What an oxymoron this is…Ice skating seaside. Why not attempt ice surfing?

Ice Skating can be a serious sport in real life if you suck at keeping your balance like a runway model wearing 8 inch high stilettos but have no fear in Second Life, you can’t break an ankle or two! Better yet break a leg and check out Seaside Ice, strap on those ice skates and get your swan dance going across this frozen pond! Don’t tell em’ I sent you.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sailors%20Cove/98/181/23

Broke for the holidays and don’t have ice skates? DSL got that covered with HUDS and Rezzers on the cheap.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Pandorus/243/122/37

LOOKING FOR AN ALL IN ONE PLACE TO SKI, SNOWBOARD OR PLAY SOME HOCKEY?

I can’t stand Lanai, she always has to be in the middle of pictures like she's some sort of superstar or something…. Anyway, Check out Spectators Section- Cleary Arena! There’s all kinds of sh*t to do at this winter sports community. Go play some hockey and get a bunch of teeth knocked out.

Description: Welcome, friends! Enjoy FREE ICE SKATING, SKIING, SNOWBOARDING, SKI JUMP, ICE HOCKEY! Play or watch GOHA ice hockey and other winter activities. New residents, freebies, sports, and a myriad of winter fun awaits you. Home of Winterfest 2010.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Cross%20Check/121/200/42

WINTER FUN AND GAMES AT NYSHALA

It’s all fun and games until someone loses a toe or an eye or both! Check it out but don’t say I didn’t threaten you with a good time. If you see me at Whoville, don’t ask for a selfie with me. I don’t know you or like you!

TING BOWLING MINI GOLF BUMPER CARS DEMO DERBY. RELAX, HANG OUT, DANCE. GAMES GREEDY, PENTADEE CARDS AGAINST HUMANITY AND MORE

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Nyshala/137/138/22

Ok you little wastes of cyberspace, I did a lot of the footwork for winter activities in Second Life. If you still haven’t found something fun to do this winter, reevaluate your SL situation and get back to basics with an Atari!

-The Grinch