The life simulation game,The Sims, is one of the mot successful video
game franchises series of all time. No one might have predicted this at the
start of the games creation. Designer Will Wright had conceived the game while
recovering from the trauma of losing his home to fire and using the
construction of a “virtual dollhouse” to rebuild his life while also creating a
new home in the physical realm. A game without winners or losers, driven by an
AI built on an armature of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and Hamden Turner’s mind
maps, role playing life in the digital universe has been a great success and it
should be no surprise that in the world’s largest virtual community, Second
Life, a game within the game called beYOU World help players strive for life’s
big and little achievements, giving them a sense of accomplishment.
After months of brainstorming
in 2013 Brianna Altneu, Moxie Polano and a few other community members like
Gunner Walker, Forda Fairlane wanted to begin this “game within the grid of
second life.”
Brianna Altneu and Moxie
Polano are the founders of beYOU World but the team has had a few different
members as the beYOU project developed.They say they have the “perfect team”
currently: Moxie Polano (art, design, game play and 3-D Mesh), Brianna Altneu
(in-world scripting, game development, art) Treon Bikcin (backend developer/web
design and in-world communications and scripting) and Denis Tristan (3-D Mesh
Art wizard and animations guru).
The game is very complex and
the team took over a year testing in a beta version and adding things as the
process unfolded. The developers explained, “The game will always be released
in steps as its real-life based ideas, so it’s never ending and always changing
in natural order. There will always be
more stages and things to add like professions, new quests, crafting supply's,
recipes for cooking in the kitchen, farming crops and more and more!”
When asked what is the core
mission that drives all this effort founders say “In beYou you can be me, be you, or be virtually anything or
anybody you want. The beYou team realizes that everyday real life can be
overwhelming and hard at times. Some of us may have disabilities that hold us
back from things we would love to do in the real life. Some don't have real
families or friends to even interact with. Regardless of your RL situations,
our main goal is to provide players just that and to make it fun and
entertaining. We want to give the players a game where they can feel like they
are apart of a family and community that care for each other. Community, it’s
what brings people together. Players can
also choose from out many professions available. Perhaps be a Doctor, Lawyer,
Farmer, or even a Chef. All of these professions are geared with the end goal
of personal accomplishment.”
“The goal is to create a
community based economy that grows from different professions that are interconnected
between each other. This progression
acts just like real life progression, which takes the time and drive, depending
on the level of role play you wish to involve. You make it your life to enjoy
and fulfill as you wish.”
The
game begins with retrieving the role-playing HUD system, found and purchased for free in the SL marketplace,
and creating an account. Of course a player must agree to the terms of service,
and should read them because like in any community not understanding them or
abiding by guide, can get you exiled. A
note card with account creation instructions is delivered along with the HUD.
“The HUD isn't the main focus
of the game. Although you do need it to interact with beYou World and it will
show a player their personal stats. It's just one part of the whole system. [The
beYOU website is] more important because the game is based on assets you hold
in your beYou account.” the founders explained. The website, http://www.beyouworld.comis a crucial part of the gaming experience.
Some information in the
registration process like your account key and legacy name are set-up
automatically but then you will choose some attributes that begin to create
your game experience. Is your player a teen, adult or child, male or female are
the first few choices.A player who wants to be the best furry lawyer in SL for
example is also available; just select the option from human, vampire, furry,
or supernatural as per your preference from the race selections.
Once registration is complete
just login and make sure you have the beYOU HUD and your beWorld meter.
The meter tells the player
their stats in the categories: Hygiene, Energy, Reputation, Social, Wellness,
Mana, Mood, and Dedication. As soon as game play commences the player’s 100%
reading begins to diminish, as these stats require sustenance, care and skilled
activity to sustain.
Skill Points are rewarded by
wearing the HUD and being in world as well as game-play. As Skill points become
available they can be allotted to seven different abilities: Charisma, Logic,
Creativity, Spirituality, Fitness, Cooking, and Mechanical.
The community in beYOU world
is very diverse and anyone who has watched the group chat of beYOU World will
find a helpful community of administrators and players managing the beginning
learning curve and strategizing their gameplay. Founders are encouraging
helpfulness in the game because they claim the community is“still growing [and]
we are seeing all kinds of different types of people from everywhere
beYou is a very versatile
gaming environmentand gameplay is approached in different ways. Some players
are role-playing the family unit, while others are happy totest their culinary
skills and farm all on their own.
Founders saywhat makes beYOU different
from other experiences in SL is “that there are no bounds to what can be added
to this experience, you decide. We will
continue to provide the tools and content to enhance your experience by
enhancing and expanding out he careers and game features as much as possible.”
When asked if beYOU is solely
about the virtual experience or is it a RL educational tool as well the team
says, “We think that with everything in SL there is a commitment from RL if you
plan to progress in anything worthwhile and productive. Some people may make
huge commitments to their careers in beYou because they can generate Lindens by
selling their products to other customers. Others however might only use beYou
in passing and stay clear from any RL time commitment.”
Visit the website for
information and registration. In Second Life visit the beYOU City Hall
to get started, explore careers. In the Learning Center you will find links to
informative instructional videos or go direct to their beYOU World YouTube channel.
Additional Information:
Group: beYOU World
Preferred contact: InWorld Ticket System
Spotlight Interview
Q. Shiny: How did
beYou begin?
A. beYOU Founders: Back
in 2013 Brianna Altneu, Moxie Polano and a few other community member like
Gunner Walker, Forda Fairlane come up
with some ideas to make a game within the grid of second life. Moxie and Brianna
had worked together on some other projects in world and become great friends.
They enjoyed working together as well as shared the same rare work ethics.
Although it took months playing with ideas even to begin a foundation, they
come up with a game based on real life role-playing with achievements based on
gameplay that gave the players a feeling of accomplishment.
Q. Shiny: When did
the community launch? Did it go through stages?
A. beYOU Founders: We
started testing with the community in a beta, and add things as we went. It
took about a year in beta because the game is so complex. The game will always
be released in steps as its Real life based ideas, so it’s never ending and
always changing in natural order. There
will always be more stages and things to add like professions, new quest,
crafting supply's, recipes for cooking in the kitchen, farming crops and more
Q. Shiny: Who are the
founders? builders?
Brianna Altneu and Moxie Polano are the founders. Through
the years there had been a few other team members but we found the perfect
match for the current team that includes Moxie Polano (Art, design, game play
and 3d Mesh), Brianna Altneu (In world scripting, game development, art and
overall master), Treon Bikcin (Back End Developer/Web Design and in-world
communications and scripting) and Denis Tristan (3d Mesh Art Wizard and
animations guru).
Q. Shiny: Who
designed the HUD?
A. beYOU Founders: Overall
it was a collaborative team effort on the function of the Hud. Moxie Polano did
the HUD design /art and Treon Bikcin did the scripting. The meter was designed
by Denis Tristan and also scripted by Treon Bikcin.
Q. Shiny: What is
beYou’s core mission and goal?
A. beYOU Founders: In
beYou you can be me, be you, or be virtually anything or anybody you want. The beYou team realizes that everyday real
life can be overwhelming and hard at times. Some of us may have disabilities
that hold us back from things we would love to do in the real Life. Some don't
have real families or friends to even intervene with . Regardless of you RL
situations, our main goal is to provide players just that and to make it fun
and entertaining. We want to give the
players a game where they can feel like they are apart of a family and
community that cares for each other.. Community.. it’s what brings people together. Players can also choose from out many
professions available. Perhaps be a Doctor,
Lawyer, Farmer, or even a Chef. All of these professions are geared with
the end goal of personal accomplishment.
Q. Shiny: How would
you describe the community? What makes it distinct from other experiences in
SL?
A. beYOU Founders: We
have a very diverse and helpful community. Because it is still growing we are
seeing all kinds of different types of people from everywhere and one common trait we like to push within our
group is helpfulness. Users always help each other out with information they’ve
gained over time. Of course, we also provide the community with experienced
CSR’s as well as encourage player interaction to assist in anyway possible.
beYou is so versatile, gameplay can be approached in several different
ways. For example, some people really
enjoy role-playing the family unit, while others just want to cook and farm and
keep to themselves and do their own thing. I think what makes it different from
other experiences in SL is that there are no bounds to what can be added to
this experience, you decide. We will
continue to provide the tools and content to enhance your experience by
enhancing and expanding out he careers and game features as much as possible.
Q. Shiny: Is beYOU
solely about the virtual experience or is an RL educational tool as well? Or
both? How does that relationship work? What do you think users are looking for
in the beYou Community?
A. beYOU Founders: We
think that with everything in SL there is a commitment from RL if you plan to
progress in anything worthwhile and productive. There are certainly some
aspects of careers that allow for learning and may translate over to RL in some
ways. Additionally these may not always translate over as people would expect.
There is certainly a dichotomy to it. Some people may make huge commitments to
their careers in beYou because they can generate Lindens by selling their
products to other customers. Others however might only use beYou in passing and
stay clear from any RL time commitment.
Q. Shiny: Why should
other SL users join beYou in you opinion?
A. beYOU Founders: Not
only is it fun and exciting but it can make them lindens. Players can create
their own farmers markets and craft things to sell as each profession offers
items that others professions may need in their business. It is a great way to
meet other people and share common interests. We are always taking suggestions
from our users on how to improve the game and the more people there are
contributing the better the experience ends up being.
Q. Shiny: What I one
of the greatest success stories, or interesting moments in beYou’s history you
would like to share?
A. beYOU Founders: It’s
difficult to pinpoint any specific success story to stand out from the rest,
however we think it’s safe to say our biggest success story is getting beYou
off the ground and running. The amount of work that goes into building and
maintaining a successful role play system like this is huge, so huge it took
years of development. We have managed to get to where we are now with a
relatively small group of people actually grinding away behind the scenes so we
are proud of our progress so far.
Q. Shiny: What are
beYou’s current challenges?
A. beYOU Founders: Current
Challenges is keeping up with the community's excitement. We have shared many
things that will be added to the gaming system and they want them as soon as
possible. It can be quite complex to add one thing even as small as a recipe
let alone a new profession. The beYou team works diligently to provide more
content on a regular basis to enrich the gaming experience.
Q. Shiny: What are
beYou’s future goals and visions?
A. beYOU Founders: This
game is so expandable so really the sky's the limit. Plus we can't share all the secrets :) The
goal is to create a community based economy that grows from different
professions that are interconnected between each other. This progression acts just like real life
progression, which takes the time and drive, depending on the level of role
play you wish to involve. You make it
your life to enjoy and fulfill as you wish.
Q. Shiny: Decribe the
beYou HUD?Speak to its development and features. What do you want readers to
know about the HUD?
A. beYOU Founders: The
HUD isn't the main focus of the game. Although you do need it to interact with
beYou and it will show a player their personal stats. It's just one part of the
whole system. More important because the game is based on assets you hold in
your beYou account , the website located at http://www.beyouworld.com/ is a
crucial part of the gaming experience.
Q. Shiny: What are
the important landmarks for beYOU? Where should people visit to learn more?
A. beYOU Founders: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/beYou/112/151/30 is the landmark to our help area and learning
center.
Q. Shiny: Are there
any important upcoming events that you would like readers to know about?
A. beYOU Founders: We
are heading into our one-year anniversary for going live. There aren’t any
specific events that we are holding right now but one thing is for sure, we are
expecting to make many more improvements and add more careers in year two.
Expect for more beYou products and fun game additions to come out in the next
few months.
Q. Shiny: Is there
anything I haven’t asked and you want to share with readers? Any images?
A. beYOU Founders: We
are continuously working on game content on daily basis to add to the already
literally thousands of items already implemented into the game. Each and every item is scripted to enhance
the gaming experience of each and every player.
For example, living room suites, yoga mats, bedrooms, dinners, drinks
and so much more. beYou developers have
introduced crafting items to expand each profession's productivity. Every item for beYou is made to directly
interact with the game HUD and enhance the RP experience or each and every
player. And if you want to have a little laugh the team here at beYou has great
humor, just start reading the back of some of the product labels and packaging
as we do like to have a little fun as we work!!!
- Shiny Blackheart
digital artwork by Shiny Blackheart
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