The Horror Of Nightmare Eden

If you do anything in SL to celebrate Halloween this year, go to Sn@tch's Nightmare Eden Event.

At it's heart, Nightmare Eden is a story-driven, sci-fi haunted house attraction spread over 2 sims. It's set aboard a fictional station known as New Eden. When you arrive there, it becomes frighteningly obvious that something has gone terribly wrong. You interact with clues and puzzles that have to be worked out before you can work your way deeper in search of the truth.

The puzzles aren't complicated, but you WILL have to think...but don't worry, they are fun! There are gifts hidden throughout Nightmare Eden, some harder to find than others. My favorite has to be the New Eden Uniform--its awesome not only because it looks good, and comes in both female and male versions, but you can wear it during your nightmarish visit which makes you really feel like part of the story!

Take your time, turn off your lights, turn up your volume (headphones make it extra creeeepy,) and set your Environment Settings to Midnight. And don't forget to use the Nightmare Eden screen HUD. You don't actually interact with the hud--what it does do is provide a "widescreen" cinematic feel to your experience and really increases the tension you feel. You can see the HUD in my screenshots.



Ivey Deschanel said it was a "labor of love" and it really shows. Gratz to her and the entire Nightmare Eden Team! I'm really thankful that they put the effort into providing such a deep and entertaining event for everyone in SL. It will last until November 15th, so you've got plenty of time to make it.

I think I'll sleep with a light on tonight....

Lovely, Dark, And Deep.

I was hopping around the interwebz the other day and found out about one of the most beautiful and eerie placed in Second Life: Bentham Forest. Words just don't do this build justice. Take the SLURL I gave you, set your environment settings to Midnight, and go. Now ^.~

Several forests I've visited in SL make it very hard to suspend my disbelief. There is usually too much bare ground, the land is too flat, and there are not nearly enough plants and trees. And besides that, apart from looking around the build isn't very interactive.

In contrast, walking through Bentham Forest makes you feel like the woods are closing in around you. The trees are huge and knarled, and there are bushes and moss and other plants that cover the rough terrain. You'll be climbing over hills and cliffs, wading through streams, and marvel at the shafts of dim light that barely cut through the treetop canopy. There are creepy lights everywhere, and sometimes you catch a brief glimpse of eyes in the darkness. Yes, in a place such as this, you can't expect to find yourself wandering alone ^.^

What tickled my fancy the most was the fact that this build isn't just for looks. There are 3 quests (that I know of) you can do while visiting Bentham Forest, if you can find the magical beings that offer the quest to you. I don't want to give too much away, but as will all quests you can expect to be rewarded for your perseverance and your bravery!

My favorite place in Bentham Forest? It would have to be here:
Have fun!