Avie Poll: Which Prim Baby is Popular and Why?- Debby Sharma Reporting...

Photography Credits: 4m my Eyes

Lisa Weeden said, “Being a family means you are part of something wonderful. It means you will love and be loved for the rest of your life”.  

Virtual families are no less, less bonded. VR families have parents, grand parents, god parents, uncles and aunts; an array of sometimes annoying cousins and next to kin like brothers and sisters who share a bond, not by blood but by sheer love. Love is bond that makes them stronger than any other bond; which am sure you sure you will agree too. Families can either be made up of members who are real people behind avatars, roleplaying to be child, toddler, baby, teenager or even an adult; or prim babies created by residents to make the family roleplaying more realistic and fun.

There are a number of prim babies ranging from interactive babies, wandering babies to non-interactive babies. The following are a few examples under each category:(*Note:The prices mentioned are only for the babies. The nursery items are not included. It also excludes the things that baby needs like the diaper bag, bottles, diapers, baby bath, etc.)

Interactive babies:

• Zoobys = L$ 5000
• Lyuboff =  L$ 699 (new born) L$1999 (age 8 to 36 months)
• Funsies = L$ 2500
• Baby Tatu = L$ 3000 (previous version) L$ 900 (Lite version)
• PooterBilt = L$ 1000
• Sexy Mamas = L$ 3000
• Latin Babies = L$5000

Non-Interactive babies:

• Prim baby = L$ 300 (this is the hospital charges only)
• Kitten Krescendo = Free
• Googoo Babies = L$ 1599
• Sexy Mamas = L$ 700

Wandering babies:

• Spumelogy Studio

A few adoption centers have their own prim babies like Baby mania (https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/71359). The adoption centers may choose the kind of baby they deliver, however, the parent/s may switch the baby they would like to have before delivery.

The next big question is which to adapt or have. This decision purely rests on you. But if you are going to decide by which is the most popular, here are a few opinion polls. The questions asked were:

1. Which is their most favorite prim baby or which prim baby according to them is the most popular and why?Do they have it?
2. Would they prefer a baby avatar (an actual person role playing behind the avatar as a  kid) or a prim baby (the one made of mesh or prim)?
3. At what age do you think, one should adopt a baby avatar for a complete family roleplay experience?

Photography Credits: Facebook

Joycieselphie Larimore: I think it's the Zooby's because for me it looks more realistic. I can feel like a parent and it looks cute too. Yes, I have one. I would like a prim baby because I don't like an adult person portraying a baby. In Zooby', I love their script as they can grow and it is always available when I want them to be with me. I want to take care of them and see them grow. I don't need a baby who can talk. Prim babies are more realistic for me if I can see them just crawling and play with blocks. As of now, I don't see any prim baby that are much better than Zooby'. Maybe if I find one then why not try it too.

Photography Credits: Facebook

Radiance Snowpaw: Oh goodness, I honestly have no clue with that one. I think Toodoodle is a prim baby right? I'm not up to date with the SL prim/mesh babies. I don't, I think I had one like 4 or 5 years ago but I honestly don't remember where I got it from. I've just recently come back to SL on a full time basis so prim and/or avi babies will be in my future. I think you should be at least a year into SL before you even think about starting a SL family. I think that's enough time to really get to know what SL is about and get a feel for the people you're hanging with.

Photography Credits: Facebook

Shalanie Tann: I like the Zooby's and I think it is the most popular because it is the most realistic baby in roleplaying experience. Zooby babies work with a large variety of babies also. For me, I want baby avataria because I want to interact with the baby; talk, play, feel the love that he or she can give to me. It is fun and more real. The toddler is a cute age to adapt. In my other alt account, my live-in partner already had a prim baby before we met.

Photography Credits: Facebook

Srikandi Lennier: I think on-duty is popular among prim babies because it's cheap. I would prefer a baby avatar cause we can interact and it would feel more real. Among prim babies, I like the Zooby, others I don't know. I only have 2 on-duty and zooby babies. I think the right age to adapt is from first born. It is wonderful.

Photography Credits: TheGridWorld Resident

TheGridWorld: My favorite among prim babies are the Zooby and the Lyuboff. Although, I think, I like Zooby better as I think they are cute. I do not have a baby yet but in future I think I will like to have a Zooby newborn. The age to have a baby avatar would be when the Zooby has reached it’s maximum age and I would like the baby to grow, talk and move on with life and have a family of her own. I guess, I like to have son-in-laws and daughter-in-laws too.

Among, the number of babies that have been developed over the years by awesome creators, Zooby by far has won almost every heart. In the words of Carrie Tatsu, the creator, from an interview I had taken for my blog, 4m my Eyes (http://4m-my-eyes.blogspot.in/2014/09/behind-scenes-success-story-of-zoobys.html), she said, "I think our success was due to the babies functionality and its development over time. We never forced anyone to pay to grow their baby, but if they cared for their baby, it would grow and learn and earn tokens for free toys. So the incentive was if the owner did these things then a reward was provided." Not only among the customers/ end users for its interactivity, Zooby' have grabbed the market of the sellers selling clothing, furniture and accessories for zooby babies. As Carrie Tatsu, points out, that it is impossible for a single creator-cum-seller to meet the increasing demands in the market. This is where the residents who are also the sellers come in selling and providing wide range of options for clothing, furniture and accessories for the end users. Eventually, it all sums up and helps it in making it popular.

Irrespective, of people selecting, prim babies or baby avatar, one thing is constant, the look and the interactivity between them and the baby is very crucial to everyone. It is that, that makes virtual living and experience with a baby, more real and close to the heart for families across the grid.

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Want to Get Pregnant in Second Life? Let’s Explore this Question.- Lanai Jarrico Reporting..

It has been a while since I’ve binged on some candid articles about the culture of Second Life so I decided to browse the events list for some writing inspiration and came across this question….  “Want to Get Pregnant in Second Life”?

 I’m no stranger to this topic. Many of my friends have popped out prim babies, I even had a stork (creator) drop one on me to promote and play with. Besides that forced parenting experience I also own a zooby baby… or too. I won’t disclose my baby daddy or anything but … I know the process.

Anyway…curious to find out where the teleport would take me, I landed in a fertility clinic but oddly I was ejected and banned  after about 5 minutes with no warning or explanation. Perhaps I should dig deeper into that particular clinic and see if there is some shady business going on. I did nothing to deserve such a rude boot.

With a little light hearted humor let’s get back on topic here.

SL Family role play is very popular as many know. Many SLers have experienced it for themselves while others think it is just weird and ridiculous. Nonetheless most of us have came across a pregnant avie, child avies or a loving parent cradling a prim baby in their arms while subjecting everyone to the belly talking HUD letting bystanders know that Mommy loves her baby or something about nasty stretch marks.

With family role play comes the deed to creating prim babies for many couples.

 When these mates get intimate by using sexbeds, rugs, pillows, tabletops and other objects containing sex animation, the act of making babies gets more real but it won’t cause a pregnancy. Couples have to wear a fertility/ pregnancy HUD to achieve conception. (Mama-Allpa & Pooterbilt have good ones)

The next step is finding a clinic that provides the OBGYN roleplay care expectant parents need. There are some pretty authentic ones out there like Hands On Maternity Clinic and Birthing Center. It is operated by real medical professional for a genuine experience.

The whole experience can be interesting, costly and maybe even a bit complicated just to add a little something extra to a loving relationship.

There are different options for going about the whole parenting thing. One way is purchasing an artificially intelligent prim baby or finding someone willing to dress up like a child avatar and roleplay as your offspring.  

The child avatar option adds more substance to the relationship between child and parent but it is kind of strange when I see a child avie speaking like a 2 year old and knowing it is really an adult.  Nonetheless to each their own.

Artificial intelligent babies get neglected more because they can’t complain about being stored in an inventory for days or weeks whilst a child avatar might divorce you as their parent and move on to another loving family due to neglection.

What happens when you just want a baby without the “middle man”? Well Second Life offers alternative solutions to child bearing.  The clinic I landed at offers artificial insemination.

 I’m left with questions about how this process works since I was so rudely kicked out of the clinic promoting it.  I wonder if fertile avies choose from an ad board of willing donors for a quick hud hook up-minus the flowers and candy or… the deed is done in a more professional roleplay situation using a virtual turkey baster while the patient lays flat on a cold hard table. The process remains a mystery but hey the service is available in Second Life. Here is the link to the Maternity Clinic Rodeo Drive.  Sketchy name but you will have to find out for yourself.http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Vice%20Beach/110/178/32

If sacrificing your hourglass figure, child avatars or artificial insemination aren’t choices you like, adoption is an option.

Just remember, becoming a virtual parent is something you might want to think about if you are unsure about your romantic relationship(s) or if the time you have to spare with your little bundle of prim joy is rare. 

Just like having a child in the real world, you have expenses and responsibilities.  Also, nobody wants to see pregnant women twerking in the club or bringing their babies with them to places where adults go to get away from their own kids. It is not cute.

Adding a baby to your virtual family however should be a special and joyous time. The whole experience can be rewarding for some but not only enjoying the bundle of joy in their second lives but enjoying the joys of SL pregnancy while still being able to do some heavy prim lifting or enjoying a drink or two or three.

 Congratulations if getting pregnant in Second Life has changed your virtual experience for the better.

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