By the Light of the Silv’ry Moon: The Midnight Glade Space
by CheekyGuy, HSM team writer
Let me first start by telling you all a little story, many years ago – when the Cheekster was much younger – as to what the glade reminds me of when I go to it: my youth.
I would sneak off away from my residential college grounds; you couldn’t say “no” to me back then, as this was very much like a red rag to a bull. I saw it as a challenge. I was very rebellious and didn’t take too well with authority figures.
I remember sneaking off and coming back almost every night to see this beautiful girl, but one summer night it got too dark. Where I was staying was practically farmland as far as your eye could see. I was a complete fish out of water; I came from London and now – at that time – staying in Gloucestershire for three years to not only study Art & Design, but to learn who I was and what I had to do. In short, become a man in a very short amount of time.
At first I couldn’t see anything; there were no streetlights out here. I stood in the middle of this huge field, with only the sound of crickets and cows in the distance as comfort. But I looked up and there was this huge full moon staring down at me from the skies, peeking in and out of the clouds. I looked around me; the moonlight was spilling over the field and lighting the way. I walked through the field, pausing every now and then as I waited for the moonlight to come out of the clouds, passing cows grazing in the distance. They were so laid back, they probably didn’t even notice me. Maybe it was angels or God himself guiding the way, but eventually I found my way home. Staff at the college yelled at me, but I didn’t care; I got back safely and I just wanted my bed.
This is just some of the memories that suddenly came to me as I see my avatar standing there, looking out at the moonlit fields surrounding the personal “outdoor” space. It’s definitely one of those party spaces you hang out with friends. You couldn’t enter this space alone, unless you’re like me sometimes and just want a break from the craziness at home (or in Home). It would have been nice to have the ambience of crickets in the distance; that would really make it feel like I’m in an open air space at the dead of night.
Sitting watching fireworks explode around me
This is a space I will be celebrating New Year’s Eve with my American friends on US Home. The strange thing will be that my New Year’s Eve will finish and your New Year will have just begun once my avatar touches down on your Home. I’ll get to celebrate it twice over, but who cares?
Firstly, you will notice when you buy the space (it’s in the region of $6.99 for you guys over there) is that you aren’t really buy a space, but a huge set of fireworks to choose from, which you can set as many as you like around the field. It’s fun to experiment with them to find the best effect, as they all have different colours and textures as soon as they explode. My only minor niggle, is that they don’t make sounds associated with fireworks. Maybe Lockwood considered this at some stage but thought that the fireworks would become a noise nuisance over time; it would also limit the amount you could add, as sound would make them an active item.
It would be unfair to review this space without mentioning the Supernova firework. This could be considered as ‘the big finish’ just as in the real world; that firework that you see at your Fourth of July (or any major celebration) that makes you go “WOW!” This definitely does not disappoint. As you now know from other reviews, if you bring eight wonderful friends (you popular person!), you get this Supernova as a reward – absolutely free.
Party with friends !
The firework is thrown into space, there is a small beat, then a huge explosion of psychedelic colours reminiscent of a kaleidoscope will expand out in front of you. A lot of work has gone into the detail of this and many of the other, smaller explosions that no doubt you will be spreading out across the night sky.
The fun of this space is in the way that you can experiment with your fireworks. Burbie has shown me that you can use many different levels, such as a table or a chair to get different results, every time.
The campfire that also comes with this space is a nice little addition, it glows and flickers softly. This may be a minor issue, but I would of loved to have seen perhaps a garden set with this space, (picnic blankets, baskets, chairs) perhaps this could be available in the future?
I sadly couldn’t find any outdoor light that had a large enough radius to give out soft lighting, which could be a nice touch to a social space such as this. Garden lights or even a tree strung with fairy lights would be a talking point of the party for anyone that hasn’t seen them.
I see a great potential in this space and hope to see more great things from Lockwood in the New Year, probably along with everyone else, on PlayStation Home.
December 24th, 2011 by CheekyGuy | 5 comments
CheekyGuy is a loveable, mischievous Brit who first entered virtual reality via Second Life, and now frequents Home as a Grey Gamer to keep in touch with friends. In real life, Cheeky is a video editor who has just completed a Master's degree in screenwriting from Liverpool John Moores University.
I agree Cheeky this space is incredibly unique and stands alone in in the fact that it has no housing structure in it. I think that Lockwood would do quite well with a furniture pack holding a picnic table, outdoor blankets for the ground to sit on, and perhaps some lanterns to place around the ground and tables for a bit of ambient light. They already have a picnic basket in their gift machine available and all of these things will add to the charm of this space.
For those of you who haven’t beaten the third level of Flickle Flapper in Midway 1, there is a picnic table you can win there.
Great job on the review Cheekers!
I think Sodium 1 has a lantern that works very well in this space and it’s available for Sodium credits.
Woo! Woo! Woo! on the Glade! And that an outhouse is now available in Furniture for the space.
I managed to build a little tool shack and put a couple of cows and a goat in there too.
As for playing cricket well you bloody English Knave, in the daytime you will find everything you need for a pickup baseball game… if you use your imagination of course. Yes, the Field of Dreams with a bit of mud. Hey! The Mudville team?
Very nice article.
Not only can you set them at different levels but you can also tilt them to achieve lower level of flight. I did this at the Lakeside Cabin space to get fireworks to explode just over the lake, which is also reflected in the water.
Also the more I see the Glade the more I am thinking of purchasing it. If I bought it now it would not be for the fireworks, as I have the free one and the two that you can have gifted to you, I would be for the Glade itself. I love dark night places. The huge moon is awesome. A perfect chill out place.
Very nice article and I like the personal connection to the Glade.
If you want the ultimate scare in this space add the mysterious doll! It casts a shadow and freaks my guests out. Heh!