The basic unit of color in a computer image is
called a “pixel”. SecondLife residents, using the medium of these pixels,
have proven to be some of the most talented and most creative artists in the
world. Their creations are legendary in their beauty, as these “Pixel
Masters” create whole new worlds for the rest of us to explore and enjoy.
And there are none more talented than those who take examples from the Real
World and replicate them in cyberspace for our enlightenment and amusement.
Arguably, one of the BEST examples of Real World landmarks being immortalized
in pixel is the SL Grand Canyon. I caught up with Lis Dubrovna, the
creator of Grand Canyon, and managed to get her to share some about this
wonderful place with our SL Enquirer readers. This was no easy feat, mind
you, as Lis is almost ALWAYS on the go, creating, redesigning, tweaking here
and there, doing what she can to improve her four sims.
JOSH BELLIC (JB): Lis, what inspired you to build the Grand
Canyon?
LISISME DUBROVNA (LD): I went to visit the opening of
the SkyWalk and tour the Grand Canyon in RL. I was very thrilled and impressed.
Some years later I joined SL. I wanted to build a sim which would teach
residents the skills needed in SL and also to offer an alternative to poorly
done and immodest sims. I woke up one night at 5:00 am and wondered excitedly
if anyone had built the Grand Canyon. I went to my computer and researched that
no one had so then and there I bought a Full Sim. Little by little I added to
that first sim and now there are 4 and they offer just about anything you can
imagine. I made my sims free to all residents.
I thought LL would recognize the value and popularity of my
sims and assist me with tier but they have not taken notice. I rely on
donations and mostly on my RL job as a graphics artist to pay the $600.00 USD
per month tier which Linden Labs require.
JB: The Grand Canyon as
you have built it is more than just a canyon. You have many delightful
areas scattered around the Park Grounds. Share with us a couple of your
favorites here?
LD: On all the Grand Canyon sims I rent homes and the
renters are such cool people. It's like a family. On Grand Canyon South I love
my Falls Ballroom which is so very beautiful for couples and my art galleries
at ISME where talent from across the grid can be shared. There’s Mermaid
Park and Salsa Salsa. I love the central area of Grand Canyon which offers free
ridable horses and so many trails and other activities. Crater Lake and Zen at
Grand Canyon North are romantic and fun. A new addition is Circe du soliel camp
grounds at Crater Lake which has great animations and horse trails. And then
there is the crowning jewel, Mt Everest. It is the Highest terraformed land
mass in SL. I love watching the hikers find their way up the mountain. The
latest addition is that we now have EXPERIENCE which allows fast teleporting
all over the 4 sims. It is used as a teleport to the new LOVE TUNNELS. I hope
people will begin to realize that saying yes to EXPERIENCE does not mean, in
any way, that you hand over control of your avatar. It just gives you the
ability to get from one place to another fast.
JB: Besides the
Grand Canyon, you built another of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, that
you just mentioned - Mount Everest. Tell us more about that project?
LD: Mt Everest was built with pixels recycled from
digging out the Grand Canyon. Seriously, I love the ocean and scuba diving but
I really love hiking and snowboarding and mountains. To build Mt Everest was a
dream come true. I discovered a secret for raising land to over 500 meters in
SL and hence Mt Everest is the highest terraformed land mass in SL. It has a
gorgeous Tibetan village with dance and activities. The water falls coming from
above at the Buddhist temple are very beautiful. The Temple offers Buddhist
teaching scrolls and a meditation room. The music is calming and lovely. You
can climb all the way to the top by way of trails and ladders and zip lines.
There are secret love caves at the top. I love having built 2 of the 7 Natural
Wonders of the world.
JB: I know
there are several different rides in the Grand Canyon. Tell us what is
available, and which is your personal favorite?
LD: My favorite is our famous hot air balloon ride which
has given rides to over 600,000 people. It is a way to relax and chat with a
friend and get to know them better as you are carried on the wind to all the
best places on my sims. There is also a hot air balloon ride at Mt Everest. I
have a horse giver near the lodge and many trails. Another favorite is at the
canyon bottom near the lodge and it is a rock slide avalanche. People love it
although it is a little frightening. The Water Slide is well loved. The Hang
gliders and para gliding are also fun. I have a submarine ride at Mermaid Park
which shows off the beauty of that underwater park. There are so many fun
things at the Games area. You need many days exploring to find all the
activities I offer.
JB: How many
visitors have you had to Grand Canyon properties over the years?
LD: That is hard to say because I have not really kept
track. I know the balloon ride has given over 600,000 rides so I can assume
that all 4 sims in their 11 years have hosted well over a million visitors. I
have a group and the members are called Grand Canyon Scouts. There are 11,500
Group members, which is quite large for SL.
JB: What are
some of the unexpected headaches that come with running 4 sims.
LD: The unexpected headache is "be careful what
you wish for". I always wanted to build a place people would have fun at
and be loyal to and enjoy AND I didn't want to make them have to pay any fees.
The people who come here are terrific and love the sims but the sims are so
loved that I can't bring myself to tear them down even though they are draining
my bank account.
JB: Did you do
this all yourself? Or does it take help to run a place of this
magnitude? Tell us about your support Staff.
LD: I pretty much did it all myself and continue to.
In the early years Tiger Zepp helped add fun things to the GC sim. Willie
Frangilli and Wanli Resident have been loyal Estate Managers for many years.
There have also been a few other helpers along the way who have brought their
talent to help improve the sims. This past year WakiZashi Yoshikawa has been an
Estate Manager and he is super creative and reliable and kind hearted and given
so much unselfish attention to the sims. Waki is my partner and I doubt anyone
could find a more honorable, trustworthy, Skilled programmer in all of SL. He
is starting a line of mesh jewelry called Zashi and he has a shop on GC South.
JB: What can we
expect next to come from the creative mind of Lisisme Dubrovna?
LD: I just finished the Love Tunnels and caves and
created Experience on the sims. Recently I brought 2 statues I cast in bronze
in RL as mesh statues to my art gallery in SL. They are unique in the
techniques I used. I have a terrific permanent exposition by Igor Ballyhoo at
Gallery One. I added a corral full of horses at Grand Canyon and a free horse.
I added Cirque du soliel camp ground to Crater Lake. I'm sure I'll find a new
project soon. I always do.
So there you have it folks. If you have never seen the
Grand Canyon SL, you are truly missing out. If you have been here before,
I urge you to come back and see what’s new.
Yep. The Grand Canyon: Now more than Ever…
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