interview | sachi Vixen

Posted on November 12, 2009 by Ana Lutetia | 1 Comment

Second Life name: sachi Vixen
Rez Date: 5/29/2005

1 – How did you discover Second Life and what made you create an account?
Friends from another program were migrating to Second Life in droves and I came over to see what all the fuss was about and visit them. I immediately saw the potential and was hooked pretty fast. Even back in May 05 before flexi hair and sculpts it was far more sophisticated than anything like it.

2 – How did you come up with your Second Life name?
sachi was a nickname I was already using, it means ‘happiness’ and vixen was the nicest last name on offer at the time when I was creating an account. I can also be a bit mischievous so it seemed to suit my character.
Vixen makes me think of someone that is a bit foxy and naughty.

3 – Lots of people only stay inSL for a week or a month after creating an account. What made you stay and what motivates you to log back in?
In the beginning I stayed for friends though some of the friends that I came here for have since moved on. I also adored the way you could dress up your avatar with skins, hair and clothes. I’m a girl and like most girls I love playing with dolls! I soon became interested in making things to help finance my shopping habit and Adam n Eve was born.

4 – What have you been doing in SL? Tell us your story: what have you been up to or what have you created.
I started out with a little florist store on my first land. Tga flowers were the very first thing that I learned to make in SL. My hobby at that time was making 3d generated scenery so I also made some skybox rooms with lovely panoramic views. My interest in avatars meant that very soon I was looking at how to make clothes and skins and developing my photoshop skills in that direction.
My partner Damen Gorilla used to wear a priests outfit in the program we started out in and at the time I started the store, I was making him clothes in Sl because there wasn’t much around for guys. So, with the religious theme in mind, and making things for girls and guys, I chose the name Adam n Eve for the store. I had no idea then that this would become a job for me and didn’t really put a great deal of thought into the name.
We have been making clothes, skins, hair and shoes for avatars for 4 years now and I love the creative process and the thrill of sharing what I’ve made with others. We also have a second sim called Revelations where we started a tree and nature business called Artis Natur. We sell low prim sculpted trees, rocks and water options there and some plants and flowers of the wild flower variety. You might say that the tree store is my hobby as I love making beautiful scenery but it isn’t as well known as Adam n Eve. We change it pretty much every season and it looks fabulous in Winter! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/25221652@N05/2941332297/)
We are also very lucky to have had the opportunity to work with German TV, the French Government, a rock band and a picture production company bringing several movies (300 (http://www.adam-n-eve.co.uk/2007/03/17/this-is-sparta/), Die Hard 4.0 (http://www.adam-n-eve.co.uk/2007/06/02/yippee-ki-yay/), & Transformers (http://www.adam-n-eve.co.uk/2007/06/24/robots-in-disguise/) to Sl for publicity events where real life stars like Bruce Willis, Shia Le Beouf and Megan Fox attended live voice press conferences in avatars made by us. We also made free gifts to give away at builds that reconstructed scenes from the movies mentioned. It was a very cool thing to be involved with and is a shame that the builds are no longer there. But then again one of the exciting things about Sl is that it is ever moving and changing and growing.
We have also worked with Linden Labs themselves on several avatar projects, including supplying custom made avatars for the Second Life Library. I have a great sense of pride that hollywood studios and Linden Labs themselves would trust us to make avatars for them.

5 – Have you found, developed or improved any skills because of SL?
All of my graphics skills have improved immensely over my time in Second Life. I think I am just about hitting my peak now and am pleased to say I think I am producing some of my best work at the moment. Some areas I want to improve on is my presentation beause sometimes when I’ve created it, brought it in world and made it all up, I get a little lazy with packaging images and this is an area where I feel my professionalism could improve.

6 – Could you share a funny or awkward story that happened to you inSL?
You mean apart from Sl logging me in naked into a crowd of people because my last location wasn’t available?
Because I make skins I am unclothed a lot checking them out and I have on rare occasions forgotten that I don’t have anything on and tp’d to the store to check something. I have bumped into people who think I’m not rezzed so they can see me naked and I quickly get dressed!

7 – What would you change or improve in Second Life?
Goodness if I make a list we will be here all day! I think Second Life has so much potential and its exciting to think how it could grow and develop. I would like to see Linden Labs move a bit faster with many promised updates. I want to see them adopt more layering options and attachment points. I want better default lighting because new users need to learn a lot and expecting them to customise windlight from get go is a bit much. The current default is dark, gloomy and not flattering to the avatar.
One major thing I would like them to take action on is content security, they have made lots of promises in this area but on the ground we aren’t seeing a great deal happening yet. The copying is so rife these days, through many mediums, including 3rd party viewers, and it feels like a violation. I know that some people think that copybots are useful but from a creators point of view my second life enjoyment and experience is as valid as everyone elses and it’s simply not acceptable that everything I make is fair game for anyone who wants to take it and make money from it, or maliciously circulate it. We need more protective tools and options as designers or it will damage the prospect of new content being made.

8 – Can you share your current and/or future projects for SL?
At the moment we are going through the store with a fine toothcomb refreshing, rebuilding and updating. I can’t really talk about projects beyond that because I have secrets that I can’t share at this time!

9 – Have you ever had any issues whatsoever within Second Life? If so, how did you reported and was the feedback positive?
I think we all have issues from time to time though I’ve not been the victim of a stalker or anything like that. I’m not easily intimidated as I am very aware that SL has an off button and I can go away and leave it behind.
Any problems within the program or sim problems are always dealt with fairly swiftly by Linden Labs. I think on the whole their customer service is good and the staff are friendly and helpful.

10 – Is Second Life merely an online game or do you consider it more of a metaverse or a virtual world?
It’s my job so its much more than a game to me. Its a creative outlet, a source of income and a wonderful experience that has brought me into contact with Hollywood, movie stars and all kinds of people from all over the world.

11 – Imagine a new resident asks for your help. What would do? What would you tell him/her?
It would depend what they needed help with. I have a folder full of notecard for new players for the practical things!
I think that the best way to find out about Second Life is to live and explore the experience, be patient and have an open mind.

12 – How would you describe yourself in one word?
Friendly

Your urls
Blog: http://www.adam-n-eve.co.uk/
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sachivixen/
SLurls:
Adam n Eve: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Genesis/185/168/38
Artis Natur: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Revelations/122/171/28

Mentions: My friends are an amazing inspiration to me and I am very lucky to have their help and support in everything that I do. Much love and thanks to them all and there are too many people to mention everyone but I’d like to give a special mention to Damen Gorilla my partner in crime, Freyja Nemeth & Ran Garrigus without whom my SL experience would be missing so much! Jadie Sapeur, Grazia Horwitz, Robin Laffer, Sasy Scarborough, Alicia Cyr, Tuli Asturias, Kia Goodliffe, Prad Prathivi. These are all people I have very regular contact with and who give me much support and caring friendship.

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