SecondLife: FuturePerfect Is Worth The Teleport

So, while you're waiting to log in to SecondLife you may be reading about things in SecondLife to do, or griping in a forum... but when the SecondLife Status is online, one of the places that you should check out is FuturePerfect- the link will work if you already have SecondLife installed, and if not - try it out for free¹. It's been mentioned before a few times here and there, perhaps most notably by Torley Linden. I'd been meaning to write about it for some time, as it is one of my favorite sims in SecondLife.

While it seems odd to log in to a virtual world to get away from things, it's one of the forms of escapism I permit myself, and FuturePerfect is one of the things that I truly appreciate. Sure, I build in SecondLife, but sometimes it's just nice to soak in some scenery and not try to figure out how they did this or that. If you're a builder, you will inadvertently try to figure out how FuturePerfect is as stunning as it is - a lot of it is texture, and it's amazing that this is all done with about half of the 15,000 prims available on the simulator. When I first went there, back in July, there was no commercial link that I saw - but in visiting yesterday to write this and take some of the pictures, I did see links to a store - but it's done tastefully. In fact, when you teleport into FuturePerfect, you are offered the immediate chance to hit the main sim.

Walking the paths - you don't have to, but the experience is better - is a lot of eye candy in a virtual natural area built on a silicon network. The paths themselves will lead you through mountains, up hills, next to and above cascading waterfalls, around the central lake... and if you take flight (and I suggest you do so only after you have walked the paths), you can find nice and quiet places that are off the beaten path. I must admit some regret at not seeing the elephant there anymore, but there are plenty of other things to look for. It's like a little treasure hunt for a peaceful spot.

In all my trips there, there are general rules of etiquette that I've observed. If you're there alone, be courteous to the other visitors. Couples sometimes pass through, virtual romantic interludes between whatever happens between virtual romantic interludes. The newcomer sometimes stops in, checking out the scenery and - sadly - not having learned to pick up their prims when they are done (it's fine to practice, but little wooden shapes (prims) all over are annoying. Pick up your plitter). Don't pee in the waterfalls, as that may harm the mermaid's ecosystem. Are there mermaids? I didn't see any, but one never knows.

The store area, where you originally teleport to, is worth checking out. Unlike most stores, distances exist between areas and you can teleport between the stores easily with a right click and selecting teleport - or, more pleasantly, you can walk -it is like golf without the frustration of clubs and a tiny white ball. There's Garden Central, the Texture Gallery, Household Items and Artwork, and a Wedding Boutique for all those virtual weddings.

All in all - this is a great sim in SecondLife to visit which demonstrates what is possible on such a wide three dimensional canvas seen through a two dimensional screen. Very highly recommended. :-)

¹ And try to ignore the vocal minority who seem to think if you're there on a Free account that you must be a griefer.