The guided tour

Oliver Gass(n)er: [Teleports in.] Hi Araldia. [Bows.]
Araldia Primbee: Hi Oliver, thanks for inviting me to be chatted to and welcome to ?Evolution Oddity?.
Oliver Gass(n)er: [Tries to face toward the host.] I am still a bit insecure when walking here. Nice castle ;)
Araldia Primbee: Thank you, Alyce Goodnight, my partner in the Agency, and Wife built it.
Araldia Primbee: Feel free to take photos.
Oliver Gass(n)er: I am trying to. I am still fighting with controls ;)


Araldia Primbee: This SIM has been bought for the MMORPG game that I admin, to develop an In-World presence and introduce another layer of gamer interaction
Oliver Gass(n)er: Take the lead ;)
Araldia Primbee: Where would you like to start? a tour of the SIM, or castle?
Oliver Gass(n)er: What is the difference?
Araldia Primbee: The SIM is all you see before you, I own this whole area.
Oliver Gass(n)er: Just maybe 2-3 major points of the area/Castle. Stuff that is special maybe?
Araldia Primbee: Ok, well then I must start with Diamond Acres. A very good friend of mine has been very ill for some time. Her husband and herself play SL.
Oliver Gass(n)er: [nods]
Araldia Primbee: She has just had a major operation, and they have decided not to come back to SL. I set aside land for them here, and have now turned it into a memorial park, somewhere to relax, contemplate and remember.
Oliver Gass(n)er: Because RL is more important now?
Araldia Primbee: yes, they want to spend more time as a family, and feel its time to move on from here. - How is your flying?
Oliver Gass(n)er: Ok if you stay in sight ;)
Araldia Primbee: ok : )
[Flight to a garden. I lose Araldia and teleport there.]

Araldia Primbee: People come here to place candles, and relax. From the air, the cherry blossoms form a heart shape, and all the plants and flowers have been chosen for their meanings. It is a very special place to me.
Oliver Gass(n)er: What symbolism do you use?
Araldia Primbee: The pine trees are friendship, silver birch is healing and rebirth.
Oliver Gass(n)er: I'll try to take another pic from the air.
Araldia Primbee: Want me to do that?
Oliver Gass(n)er: I need the practice ;) [Fails to fly.] Is flying blocked here?
Araldia Primbee: Yes this land is push restricted and a no fly zone. I use a disabled camera to do it
Araldia Primbee gave you Snapshot.
Oliver Gass(n)er: Thanks
Araldia Primbee: Ok, the role playing village : )
Oliver Gass(n)er: Sounds good.

Araldia Primbee: I was approached by some friends to rent them this land to build a role playing village. They have built a blacksmiths, a tavern, a library and are in the process of building a stables and a welcome building.This well they sunk down to the water. They are helping with the chapel behind as well, and it all goes well with the castle.
Oliver Gass(n)er: It looks awsome. And they use it for 'real' RPG sessions?
Araldia Primbee: yes. they are currently in a light Vampire type game. The SIM has not opened to the public yet, you are the first reporter/ non-resident to come : )
Oliver Gass(n)er: I am honoured. Before we start the interview: Maybe some nice room in the castle?
Araldia Primbee: Certainly, we will take the path.
[we ?climb? a steep path through the rock up to the castle.]
Oliver Gass(n)er: Wow, what a climb ;)
Araldia Primbee: Fantastic view though. You an see the other side of the sim from here on a good day. One half is older, the other is ultra modern
Oliver Gass(n)er: Did you have a model for the castle?
Araldia Primbee: I showed Alyce a picture once of a castle near me, Castell Coch, and that inspired her. Although it doesn't really look much like it.
Oliver Gass(n)er: What does SIM stand for? (I now know what it is ;) )
Araldia Primbee: I believe its short for Simulator. Each private island is a server of its own. It allows lag to be controlled a lot easier by the Estate Owner, and gives me the ability to remove people or scripts causing problems.
Oliver Gass(n)er: OK. How big would your island be in RL?
Araldia Primbee: which i think works out at 16 acres, but my mathematics is atrocious .
Araldia Primbee: This is our dining room and kitchen. My wife roleplays as my sub, my slave for want of a better word, and often serves me here.
Oliver Gass(n)er: Can we do the interview here?
Araldia Primbee: Yes sure

---

The Interview

Oliver Gass(n)er: Can you introduce yourself to our readers? And describe your connection to 3D and roleplaying?
Araldia Primbee: Well, in Real Life, I am a mother of 4, who works for a Multimedia Online Role Playing Game, as an admin. The game is called Evolution, and can be found at http://evolution.neondragon.net I discovered SL as a kinda "escape" from my admin duties, but soon realised the potential this world offers.
Oliver Gass(n)er: Is it Araldia Primbee or can we use your real name?
Araldia Primbee: Araldia has been my online name for more than 11 years now, I don't tend to give out my real name, as I worry for my kids.
Oliver Gass(n)er: So your photo in the 1stLife section is fake, too?
Araldia Primbee: No that was me at 18
Araldia Primbee giggles
Araldia Primbee: Don't look much like that now [lol] : )
Oliver Gasser smiles.
Oliver Gass(n)er: You mentioned your "Wife" and an agency. Tell us about that.
Araldia Primbee: I met Alyce shortly after arriving here. I discovered that SL is a safe place to play out your fantasies, as all interaction in the world is more or less done with agreement. For example, I'm not bothered about walking about alone late at night here : )
Araldia Primbee: So we felt safe entering into a "relationship" here. And as I had no SL income, I needed a job. I was advised Escorting was the easiest way to get money for a pretty avatar. We were both working for another agency at the time, but the opportunity came up to start our own.
Oliver Gass(n)er: So you have an escort agency. Do you operate it from here?
Araldia Primbee: Yes, its currently "closed for refurbishment" due to the move.
Araldia Primbee: Argh. RL interruption one moment.
[Pause.]
Araldia Primbee: Ok sorry about that, when you have 4 kids, something?s always happening.
Oliver Gass(n)er: I guess so ;)
Oliver Gass(n)er: How would you describe Second Life to someone who has no idea what it is?
Araldia Primbee: Second life is more a Online reality than a virtual reality. Virtual implies that its not real, and something that?s very important to remember here is that behind every av is a real person, with real feelings, emotions and desires.
Araldia Primbee: I jokingly call it a 3D-Myspace . Its a networking site really, where the only limit is your imagination.
Oliver Gass(n)er: What is so fascinating about SL - besides it being a room for 'safe fantasies'?
Araldia Primbee: I can do anything here, I make jewellery as well as being a madam to the agency girls
Araldia Primbee gave you Snapshot. [Photo of a necklace.]


Araldia Primbee: This is something I can make here, that i would have no chance of making in real life.
Oliver Gass(n)er: Wow, this is the amount of detail you can achieve here?
Araldia Primbee: Yes, any scale any item : ) As long as you learn the basics, you can work on anything.
Oliver Gass(n)er: How may hours a week do you spend here?
Araldia Primbee: This week i have spent 84 hours so far. Since the 20th September, i have spent 259 hours. [We have Oct 24th.] This watch I wear tracks my online time and location. SL has its own scripting language its what will allow interaction between my Game and SL.
Oliver Gass(n)er: That is about 60 hours a week?
Araldia Primbee: Yes.Not all of that is work time though ;)
Oliver Gass(n)er: Do you still sleep?
Araldia Primbee: Hehe; doesn't feel like it. It's far too easy to suddenly find yourself still here at 4am local time.
Oliver Gass(n)er: Can you tell us about the other game you are running? What is it like?
Araldia Primbee: Its a web based game, where you develop your resources and continent, and create creatures to send into space to battle. Players create social groups called "alliances" and can coordinate attacks and defences.
Araldia Primbee: We are hoping to provide them a meeting point here, so they can "meet" in person to plan things. It seems the next logical step from IRC. Also, as the game is free to play, we run mostly on donations. So players with no payment information can come here, earn and donate, and land I sell or rent here can also provide us income.
Oliver Gass(n)er: So the other game is not 3D but just a game with rounds on a web surface?
Araldia Primbee: Yes its totally web browser based, and before now, the only interaction between players was in-game messaging, or IRC.
Oliver Gass(n)er: And how much money do you make here with jewelry and escorting?
Araldia Primbee: Escorting is 1000 lindens for half an hour, the exchange rate varies based on inworld commerce, but currently that?s 2.89 Euros or 1.94 GBP. But on the same token, 1000 lindens can buy you a full outfit of clothes. Jewellery prices are round about 500 for a set of necklace, earrings, ring and bracelet, it takes more time to do it, but you can sell it many times.
Oliver Gass(n)er: So you are working for 6 Euros an hour? Does that make sense?
Araldia Primbee: Yes that would be right, it sounds low, but the in-world value of the currency makes it worth it. I believe a lot of the escorts in SL average 750 lindens for 30 minutes. *AAA* Escorts provides a text based service, not just the type offered by most, using scripted body parts.
Oliver Gass(n)er: And if you sum it up in a month? can you quit your other job soon?
Araldia Primbee: I'm doing this to supplement Evolutions income, I don?t keep the money myself. From land sales on the sim, we have raised about 121 Euros in the last 2 weeks.
Oliver Gass(n)er: Land sales means rental?
Araldia Primbee: Sort of, but more long term.
Oliver Gass(n)er: What exactly does an escort do in SL?
Araldia Primbee: Escorting on SL is the use of scripted beds and/or poseballs to engage in animations with a paying partner. What makes our Agency more expensive is the verbal (written) communication between client and escort.
Oliver Gass(n)er: That is not standard?
Araldia Primbee: Generally no, Xcite body parts make it so easy for escorts to randomly click their nipples or other parts and just throw in a few "oh yes" and "more". Xcite is only one of the products available. We interact on a more intimate level.

[Araldia Primbee smiles and plays with her hair.]
Araldia Primbee: using actions like that
Oliver Gass(n)er: Would you also do something like that on the phone? Or have you? ;)

Araldia Primbee: In my "youth" I worked for a RL escort agency.
Oliver Gass(n)er: OK, so you know what you are doing ;)
Araldia Primbee: I have, I hope, brought the nicer aspects of the relationship between the girls and us with me, and I can generally cater for most mens desires without feeling sick ;)


Oliver Gass(n)er: You mentioned your kids. Do they know what mommy does online?
Araldia Primbee: No. If they enter the room, i switch back to my other browser : ) Or i turn the monitor off. Although the girls would understand, the boys are too young, and I don?t want any of them finding the Teen Grid and stealing my bandwidth ;)
Araldia Primbee: Under 18's are kept separate from the Adult SL.
Oliver Gass(n)er: How do they need to prove that they are over 18?)
Araldia Primbee: That is rather a contentious issue in SL right now. To get on the Adult Grid previously, you needed to verify your account with a credit card or paypal account. Linden Labs removed the verification scheme a few months ago, and this has led to a number of youngsters creeping in. I will not employ or take a client without verification.
Oliver Gass(n)er: How do you verify?
Araldia Primbee: You right click an avatar and choose profile. If they have payment information on file, or have used payment information then they have passed Linden Labs age verification
Oliver Gass(n)er: You mentioned in a previous conversation with me that you applied to be a helper of newbies. How does this work?
Araldia Primbee: SL helpers come in a few forms, Live Help, Mentors, Greeters and Instructors.
Oliver Gass(n)er: What type of helper are you and what did you have to do to be approved?
Araldia Primbee: Anyone who has been in game for more than a few months can apply to be any of the helpers. Greeters meet people on Orientation Island, Mentors provide help with the basics in SL like changing appearance and finding places to go. Instructors take classes.
Araldia Primbee: I have applied to be a Mentor, I spend a lot of my free time helping new residents become au fait with the rules, and behaviour expected here in SL, the process is easy, you apply on the website, and are judged by your own behaviour. If you have had abuse reports filed against you, then you are not likely to succeed.
Oliver Gass(n)er: What are the major problems of newbies?
Araldia Primbee: Well that can be taken two ways. The problem "with" a lot of newbies is the lack of understanding that this is not World of Warcraft, and flying about blowing things up is not a good thing to do. The major problems newbies themselves have, is that they find it hard to adjust to altering appearance, and the main questions are "how can I make money" or "how do I open this box"
Oliver Gass(n)er: Oh, I did not know I could blow things up. Have to try that. (Kidding.)
Araldia Primbee: There are a lot of free items around SL, and most newbies will have a gun or weapon in those packs within their first few days. You can not "die"here ? just get rather annoyed and sent back to your home location. and that?s only if you are in a combat enabled area.
Oliver Gass(n)er: Do you have any idea what age the new people in SL are, or what backgrounds they have?
Araldia Primbee: A lot of the new players I actually peg as journalists, since we got the 1 million residents as a result of Reuters presence in world. The ages and backgrounds differ, but most players who choose to play as human tend to go for a "white" avatar, so ethnic group is hard to work out also. It?s safe to assume that most are reasonably affluent as the computers and connection needed to play are not base level.
Oliver Gass(n)er: Are they tech-geeks or more the eBay-business type or what?
Araldia Primbee: A lot of players come here, as they find the knowledge that they can make transactions and get "real money" a draw. Most players have some here after playing the SIM's or there.com. And some now are just curious what all the fuss is about. As a side note, there is a very inproportional amount of women in world. You will see a lot of female avatars that are actually real life men and a ridiculous amount of "lesbians".
Oliver Gass(n)er: Why do you think is that so?
Araldia Primbee: It?s a fantasy, men want to discover what its like for women I imagine. It gives freedom of self for transgendered people, and also you can be male one day, female the next and a furry the next.
Oliver Gass(n)er: I am just trying to figure out whether two men making love to each other in female bodies is a funny or a sad idea. I mean if they do it to find something out.
Araldia Primbee: A lot of the time they wont know. I'm reasonably good at guessing, and most female avs [avatars] played by men will admit it on a direct question.
Araldia Primbee: Well I guess they are finding out about themselves, their boundaries and their own mind. Things you cant do for reason of social taboo, or RL relationships
Oliver Gass(n)er: Some people eye the arrival of big business in SL with suspicion. What is your point of view?
Araldia Primbee: I like the extra interest with some of the companies, it makes SL more interesting. I also find it funny that their "prices" in world will have to match those of the rest of the established market. It really is a consumer based society
Oliver Gass(n)er: How do you think SL should or will develop?
Araldia Primbee: SL is at the forefront of Web 2.0 I feel that the user created content will keep on improving and I envisage a lot more integration between external sites and companies. It is almost possible to play our web game from inside SL. Hopefully this will become easier soon.
Oliver Gass(n)er: What if the Chinese gold farmers move here from WoW?
Araldia Primbee: Let them. They still have to work to get their money, and the markets not geared towards reselling really. They have as much right to make products, and it would probably be a lot more time consuming for them.
Araldia Primbee: To develop the skills alone would take a while
Oliver Gass(n)er: You hinted at what I wanted to ask next in an earlier statement: Some people see the SL environment as a model for the way we will interact with Internet content in the future. What do you think?
Araldia Primbee: I think it will be supplemental. It does remind me of William Gibson?s visions, and Asimov also, but I think it will even out in the same way that Flash helped change the internet. Flash sites are all well and good, but the better ones are the ones that integrate it in moderation. I think SL and Web 2.0 needs to be approached carefully, as if everything becomes like this, we alienate a large proportion of the Real Worlds population.
Oliver Gass(n)er: So instead of surfing in the WWW we will not have a kind of 3D-Browser to walk streets and shops?
Araldia Primbee: Well we have that here already, but looking at the web trends since I started working online in 1996, people tend to like fast loading, plain, easy to navigate sites for their purchases. There will always be a few pioneers, like the residents here, but it will take a while for the world to catch up as an average. If at all : )
Oliver Gass(n)er: The pioneers of 1996 formed the WWW like it is today, maybe the pioneers of SL will form the Web³ like it is in 5 or 10 years.
Araldia Primbee: I hope to be a part of that : ) The internet is both my lives : D
Oliver Gass(n)er: Is there anything you want to add, now at the end of our interview?.
Araldia Primbee: Well, yes. If you have ever had a dream that couldn't be realised, give SL a go : ) I hope to meet some of your readers either here or on Evolution at some point. I'm always free to help : )
Oliver Gass(n)er: Thanks for our time and tell me when this place opens for the public. I will surely stop by. Although I might not become a customer of AAA Escort service ;)
Araldia Primbee: There?s always my jewellery : )
Oliver Gass(n)er: Well. This is the point where I miss a 'handkiss'-script. Good bye. [Bows.]

Remarks:

- SL= ?SecondLife? (also ?in game? or ?in world? or ?inworld?)

- RL real life

- The interviewer?s SL-Name is ?Oliver Gasser?.

- [The Island in question hast 65 km2 which is either the size of Berlin-Carlottenburg/Wilmersdorf, and that has over 300.000 inhabitants or the size of the island Guernsey in the English Channel.