Comments on: The Hidden Oak Retreat

By: SealWyf

SealWyf — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 19:01:43 +0000

I purchased my Hidden Oak Retreat clubhouse skin last night, and MotherShip 16 is now surrounded by woods. I’m enjoying the increased floor space, which allowed me to install a lakeside hot tub, a dance floor, a video arcade and a poker table as well as the fireside seating area. It’s not sci-fi, but I don’t care!

By: SealWyf

SealWyf — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:59:08 +0000

Thank you — nice to know. Time to invest in a Mechjet!

By: NorseGamer

NorseGamer — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 06:31:45 +0000

The tracking shots were achieved by using a Lockwood Mechjet with the camera zoomed in (R3 button). It takes a little getting used to, but it can provide some nifty camera shots that would otherwise be virtually impossible to achieve.

The Lockwood mechjet is also good for filming due to its “power orb” feature. When used correctly, you can get some awesome shot angles without your avatar present onscreen. These two features alone, for a Home machinimist, justify the ten-dollar price tag.

As a note, I learned these tricks from HearItWow, who’s *infinitely* better at this stuff than I am. But I’m slowly learning.

The tracking shots are okay in this video, but the one that really shines is the French Chateau virtual tour. That space really lends itself to such a technique, and I’m really happy with how it turned out.

By: SealWyf

SealWyf — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:28:25 +0000

.oO( how DID he get those tracking shots…? )

By: Burbie52

Burbie52 — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 05:57:29 +0000

Now a private bowling alley clubhouse would be a definite win I think, it would be nice in a personal space as well but having a couple lanes in a clubhouse would be awesome. In fact any clubhouse with built in gaming would probably sell very well. If we could have a gamers clubhouse with some built in furniture and a few games like checkers and maybe a bowling lane or two, I think people would buy a lot of them, we could then use our allotted 4 actives as well to make it a real gaming spot for members.

By: keara22hi

keara22hi — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 03:59:23 +0000

Note to Dlyrius, oldcatsrock, deuce_for2, and Kid Fleetfoot: You fellows always have interesting comments in HSM. Why don’t each of you do 900 words (or more) on your own favorite topic and enter it in the new writing contest? 12 prizes? $20 cards? great odds!

By: NorseGamer

NorseGamer — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 03:10:11 +0000

That would be my criticism of Hidden Oak as well: it’s static. The water effects in the reflection pond are nice, but the torch flames are all synchronized. There’s no movement or life to the clouds, and while there’s the sound effects of birds, there’s none to be seen.

Hidden Oak honestly feels like a personal estate that at the last moment got reformatted as a clubhouse. I’m biased in favor of it because I’m a sucker for nature-themed estates and I’ve been yearning for a nature-themed clubhouse, but I’ll admit that it has its shortcomings.

Should there be a bingo space? Absolutely. Whether it’s a clubhouse or a public space, it would definitely win. And I love HearItWow’s idea of a private estate that had its own bowling alley. It’d make for a killer clubhouse, that’s for sure.

By: deuce_for2

deuce_for2 — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 02:41:32 +0000

I love the video. The space seems a little plain to me. It doesn’t really move at all. I like it as a clubhouse because the people will be moving in it. I would have liked some ceiling fans, some birds outside, basically all the things in the Luxury Lakehouse that make it interesting.

The question is whether a club will remain majorly for meetings or will people want to start getting together for activities? Will the spaces facilitate those activities? And what activities do people want to do as a club?

I went to a Homeling Bingo game about a year ago and that was fun. The question is whether having a space dedicated for that is too much or just right? Or should a Bingo space be public? I don’t know.

Great article. It has my wheels turning. Thanks!

By: Godzprototype

Godzprototype — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 17:11:05 +0000

One word. Swanky!

By: Dlyrius

Dlyrius — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:43:11 +0000

I too totally dig the country more than the city. I personally never had a use for a club, especially after seeing the basic club house.. egads, my first studio apt had more appeal and it was a room the YWCA.

Anyhoo, I bought one after seeing Desert Springs, but I totally flipped out when I saw Hidden Oak.. OMG, it looks like home.. and I mean my real one in Oregon.

I set out to decorate as usual, and ended up with what looks like a personal space with a twist.. I put a “caretakers” apt up in the loft, and left the main floor with plenty of seating, a kitchen/dining area, and of course bbq party area outside.

It looks great and my club members feel at Home when they visit. Yay Sony! You hit a home run with this one!

By: Burbie52

Burbie52 — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 13:53:21 +0000

The video came out great Norse and Terra as always. I like this space as a clubhouse, but I think owning the Desert one is enough for me for now. Most of our meetings in the Grey Gamers are public as the club is now much too large to do it otherwise. Hopefully some day soon that limit of 32 will change, then having a different clubhouse other than the two I have and rarely use might become something I would think about.
As for the clubhouse itself it is very pretty, but they should have made the outdoor scene one that actually moves with clouds and not so much like a picture they pasted in a stuck position. Other than that O like it well enough.

By: Kid Fleetfoot

Kid Fleetfoot — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 07:22:14 +0000

oooooooooooooooooh, I love that song always have. If it came with the space and the two peeps at the beginning came as employees to cook & clean, I might well buy it.

However, having taken an open tour Hidden Oaks, it’s not really for me.
For those who might consider buying it, I think there’s a limit on clubs that can be bought… or maybe not. What if tons of others that are better come out and one can’t buy them cus one has reached their limit?

That’s as good as video preview I’ve seen of a space or club and no I’m not from Canada. Which makes me wonder, do I like the space or the song better. But I’ve already said that.
SONY might want to hire whoever did the video, or think about it.

By: oldcatsrock

oldcatsrock — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 05:26:28 +0000

After seeing it for the first time, I thought it would be best suited as a personal space. Now after seeing a different perspective on the lay out, I can see the possibilities as a club space.
After settling back in my own mind. I wish my Jeep club had a place like this to meet up.