The Bond of Matrimony
by Viennese, HSM guest contributor
That’s right, the bond of matrimony. No, this has nothing to do with Skyrim — this is in fact about the latest Granzella Southern Hideaway update that came to our servers on the 15th of March. But what about it?
This update added two new areas and games to this peaceful public space. One is a fossil digging game where you can attack the ancient rocks until your rope breaks and you land in a heap in the sand. And the other: a wedding chapel carved into the delicate rocks.
First, to the fossil game. It gives you the opportunity to uncover the lost secrets of the world. You can take your pick of a pickaxe, a hammer, a chisel and other primitive tools of destruction. You can safely attack the rocks whilst being protected by a rope. Or, that is, until you take too long and fall to the sandpit below. This game gives some very nice rewards that you can get from uncovering them in the rocks. You can buy display cabinets from the store for a cheap price.
But that’s not the real reason I’m writing this piece. Far from it. The real reason I’m writing this is the Wedding Chapel game that came with it. So let’s make a tale of this romantic addition, shall we?
You wake up on the morn that will change your life forever, eyeing up the pale pink and flowing dress you’ve dreamed of wearing since you was five years old wearing your mother’s best heels. Quietly you look in the free-standing mirror in the room of your harbour studio, and decide how to do your hair for the day. Eagerly trying different styles, you almost don’t notice the knock at your door. As you open it, you find your friends waiting for you in their own dresses, coming to check your readiness for this day. In silence, you turn away and open your personal dresser application on the Navigator you’ve had for the last three or so years.
Across the hall, the man of your dreams is also waking up and getting ready for his own magical day. He suits up in his outfit — jet black, with pink details, purely to match you. Looking at the clock hanging on his own wall, he top enters the space of his Navigator and sets off to the Hidden Hideaway and waits patiently for you to arrive and make the moment complete. Still changing, your friends look and see he moved spaces, and tell you that they will go and let you finish in peace. One-by-one they go, and you are left there standing still in your undergarments, stuck in loading hell. Finally the image in your eyes changes and you are set free; you too can leave your home and meet the waiting party.
As you walk up the wooden staircase, you gaze upon the people standing there, just waiting to see you in your beautiful dress. As you get closer, you see the man standing in the suit, who turns to face you. Both smiling, you select ‘play’ together as one. You both watch as the scene before you plays out: a speech for the priest, a lingering look, a shy little giggle and maybe a wink, the final words to bind you together, and that perfect seal of approval: a kiss. After the event that ties person to person, avatar to avatar, you are both given a ring to treasure and protect.
In truth, you’re just glad you didn’t get a nasty ‘please leave immediately’ notice from the moderators roaming the servers of the area. As you both walk side by side down the steps to the wedding party, you discuss whose house you shall both call ‘home’ from now on: his modern city apartment, or your stylish Paris tower?
And then you notice: there’s another four possible rings to be given, and smile to yourself.
So there’s my short story. But now here’s my view on the mini area, game and also its rewards. Whilst I was overlooking the new rewards for the wedding chapel area, I was shocked, amazed, speechless and excited. But why? Were the rewards not worth it or pointless, badly designed or misshaped and coloured? No, but there’s five of them, and that just seems wrong to me. This basically means you get one new ring, which is bigger each time, for every time you get married there.
I thought marriage was something you only did once — maybe twice with the same person to show you really care? But five times? It just seems wrong in my mind. Even if you’re Larry King.
Now, I’m not saying getting married to more than one person in your lifetime is wrong. Far from it. But is that really the type of message we want to send down to our children, or young people?
Anyway. Let’s talk about the setting some more.
Just past the priest guy, there’s a set of three steps that allows you to overlook the sky. I think this adds the perfect finishing touch to this very romantic area.
What do I actually think of this space and its updated glory? Well, to match the theme…I love it. What else is there left to say on the matter? And, all jokes aside, it really adds something to this place we call Home.
March 29th, 2012 by Viennese | 5 comments
Viennese is a young woman from England who fell in-love with North America HOME. It is here she spends all her free time playing with friends (and admiring their avatars.) She spends her time on HOME having fun and helping friends find items in stores. Her passion is reviewing new and old fashions. Currently she is studying business at her local college. For the short times she isn't on HOME, Viennese is a storywriter, a blogger, a poet and all-around writer.
The wedding chapel is cute, and long overdue, but that is about all I can say about it. It is a game, nothing more nothing less. Very impersonal, no way to make the ceremony your own. Several of my friends and I had fun the other night putting on goofy costumes and getting hitched to get the rings. I was a fairy who married a smoke breathing minotaur once. We had people marrying treasure chests and all manner of things. It was a bit of a hoot and people were taking pics of the kisses.
I think it is weird that you can’t see the kiss and they can.
I think that private weddings in Home are the ones that really mean anything and people aren’t taking this new game too seriously.
P.S. Nice article too Viennese
Yes, I understand that completely. I myself had one of those private weddings, so to me also this new area is jsut a game. But I have seen loads of people making such a big deal out of it, which inspired this article. Thank you very mcuh for your comment.
http://www.acteurchanteur.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Liz-Taylor-elizabeth-taylor-4605460-1024-768.jpg
^^,i enjoy the read Viennese!
Polygamy appears to be legal in home. I haven’t decided whether this is a good thing or bad… or indifferent.
Virtual marriages are hardly new. They had them in the last century even from well known corporations. I did that myself and later we got divorced. Oops! I guess I didn’t do it myself. We did it. I only did it once and I have no idea how many times my VW did. Just once I think. It was different and enjoyable. But that was then and this is now. I won’t do it anymore.
Have fun everyone.