From SketchUp to Second Life 84
writes "Roo Reynolds of Eightbar (an external blog written by some IBMers) has put together a tool to export Google SketchUp models and import them into Second Life. It only seems to work for fairly basic objects, and cylinders and non-rectangular surfaces 'are particularly badly hit.' Along with the Prim.Blender project, this sort of tool looks like it could make building in Second Life considerably easier, allowing people to choose their preferred tool rather than be constrained to the in-world editor."
why do i see so many second life links on slashdot (Score:3, Interesting)
Of Course it Sucks and is Incomplete (Score:3, Interesting)
If someone found an efficient algorithm to convert 3D models based off vertices into a group of simple parametric objects, they would be very, very rich. It would be the Computer Graphics equivalent of an alchemist discovering a way to convert copper into gold.
What this guy did was paint a piece of copper with liquified gold, then wrote a blurb about how great it would be if this was pure gold. It's not, although it's good to dream. I'm sure a lot of alchemists made progress in chemistry just by trying to solve the copper-into-gold problem. I just don't think people should get their hopes up about a Sketchup to SL importer that does anything worthwhile.
Re:(Friend Spam) In Game Editor Augmentation (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Second Life -- needs to escape its roots (Score:1, Interesting)
I tried out Second Life a couple of months ago. It is a nice gimmick, but I just can't get into it.
I played with the building tools, and then tried out the scripting, and then played with the physics and particles... and then ran out of interesting things to do. The physics engine is just too limiting. Once you realise that stuff like swaying trees and wind aren't that clever, and are a bit of a hack/trick, it loses its appeal somewhat.
Even the chat isn't that interesting. Nice people on the whole, but kinda uninteresting. Then you come to the whole control issue. Imagine a DRM future, where everything you do it watched and regulated by a computer... where every object is subjected to computer control, and every bit of land is owned by someone and their minute wishes are imposed -- can't even walk on a piece of land because the computer stops you etc etc etc. It's frustrating to find that a virtual environment is governed exclusively by money because Linden Labs tied land to physical servers and charge money for them... and consequently wanted a way for "residents" to make money to pay THEM... and consequently virtually everything is SL is a billboard or an advert, or a casino... and everyone is touting wares. It gets old really fast. You are supposed to have different second life, not one that is just as obsessed with money and property and the first one.
Having said that, there are some great places that aren't just sales-pitches, like the International Space Museum. But on the whole, Second Life is a serious disappointment and I now only login occasionally to see if anything has changed.
Re:why do i see so many second life links on slash (Score:3, Interesting)
To many slashdot readers the idea of a big sandbox would be very tempting.
I guess you're just one of those guys that want everything handed out, with no constructive, social or creative skills needed.