Money, so they say...

I'm not sure of the whys and wherefores, but it seems that the semi-mythical money sim is open for business. At random points in recent months I've noticed this apparently plain-speaking sim and given it a go, to no avail. However, following a tip-off (no names, no packdrill) I had another go this evening and was surprised to find nothing barring my access, even though the sim is clearly not quite finished.

But some history... or what I know of it. All of this comes from the NPIRL blog, a great place to get scoops on the latest arty or challenging sims. It seems NPIRL members (who have the ear, eye or other body part of many in the arty community) visited this sim around November,2007. The sim is the work of well-known virtual world artist/creators Light Waves (mainly), Pavig Lok and Littletoe Bartlett. It appears to have been built for languagelab.com, whose "approach combines the interactive and social potential of virtual environments with highly qualified, innovative teachers from around the world to provide a unique space for formal and informal learning." The virtual environment in question is S****d L**e - but not this sim (yet).

So what's the big idea? You'd be best off reading the interview at NPIRL with Edgeware Marker (David Kaskel in atomic life) . First, I got to understand the relevance of the sim name. languagelab.com actually owns many (closed/private) sims , with names like Art, Life, Jobs and Nightlife, so Money seems to fit quite well with these. As believers in experiential learning, the company use the virtual world environment to drive the learning process - and the deeply strange Money sim is a further extension on this apprach. The article goes on a lot further, but that's enough gleaning for my purposes.

I hope the pictures tell the story - because I don't think I can. You arrive by a large, industrial lift. In front of you is a house, but the setting feels odd in a way that is hard to pin down. The first hint of paranoia might just start tickling at the back of your head at this point. The house itself (aside from the Greenies, who strike me as being interlopers) is empty. It appears to have been left in a hurry, perhaps after some kind of struggle or kerfuffle. There's a weird science lab in the cellar, and an even stranger bedroom-cum-workroom in the attic, which is covered in graffiti both scientific and scatological. There's a robot(?) gorilla's head on a bench, the top of the cranium removed. hmmmm....

Back at the lift there are 3 corridors leading to some sci-fi stuff. I've not an inkling what this is about, but in a downstairs chamber there is evidence that someone.... or something (dan--dan--darrrrr!) has broken IN. If you manage to work your way to ground level (the lift is not working yet) you will find further signs that all is not well.

What the heck is going on is anyone's guess. Some of the site (not much?) is still under construction, and it is not at all clear why the general public is able to gain access. But hopefully you will enjoy reviewing my slide show, and will agree that the site is well worth a visit - even in its current state - though how much lingo you will pick up is anyone's guess.

UPDATE 06-04-08: According to Lem (see comments), the doors have been closed again on this sim. I tried too, to no avail. I suppose that's the way with Money - it can easily slip thru your fingers.