Building in Second Life
Second Life is a very flexible virtual world that supports residents who want to customise their avatars, their clothing, the landscape, buildings, furniture, tools, and just about anything else you can imagine. The tools for building are accessible and easy-to-use. You can import images, patterns, sounds, and much more to enhance the objects created in-world. Using simple programs called scripts allows actions and responses to be included. Because Second Life also has an economy, you can sell the products you make, and, if you work hard and smart enough, generate an income. However, to do that you will need to spend a lot of time developing your skills and identifying a market.
Preparation for these classes
Merino (aka Çağla Solak) has produced this really useful and easy to follow series of short YouTube tutorial videos for building in Second Life. You can follow the instructions and practice building at Çağ University’s sandbox in the Second Life campus. Don’t forget to activate the Cag University group so you have permission to build.
How to Build in Second Life demonstrates the basics: creating a prim; using the ‘object’ tab to edit; applying textures; and linking objects:
Build a Basic Solar Panel in Second Life applies what was learned in the previous video:
The Basic Mushroom Lamp Modelling in Second Life tutorial explains how to make an object interactive by using a script:
The Second Life Marketplace Guide | How to Buy and Use Items tutorial explains how to find free items to use in your own building:
Using scripts to animate objects so that they react to being clicked is explained in How to Use a Script in Second Life:
Second Life Notecard Giver Tutorial explains how to have an object give out a notecard to anyone who clicks on it:
Building classes
- Absolute Beginners Building class – Builders Brewery (Only offered during the VWEC Student Challenge)
- Intermediate Building class – Builders Brewery (Only offered during the VWEC Student Challenge)
- Master Building class – Merino
Incorporated into the VWEC Student Challenge are a series of building classes to give you the opportunity to practice techniques under step-by-step guidance from teachers at Builders Brewery, Happy Hippo Building School, and Merino.
Teacher – Merino
Merino (Çağla Solak in the natural world) is the VR Lab Assistant at Çağ Univeristy. She is an expert in 3D modeling and contributes to research and development in immersive technologies. Her work focuses on the intersection between digital media and education, particularly in virtual environments. She has developed several projects in the metaverse and believes that there is potential for sustainable cultural archives to be developed. Her work in this area has won awards for her innovative approach.
Merino is currently undertaking research for her MA studies at the university.
