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Now here's a concept that will get you thinking about the use of 3D worlds.

http://tinyurl.com/pupqj

I like the idea...but we need to take it one step further.

Offer the rooms for rent in the virtual world. Sell it as the vacation getaway without leaving your home!

But avatars don't sleep, nor do they need roofs to keep out the rain and snow.

The point here is that this becomes a way to proof your building concepts allowing users to walk through the model.

What I haven't found out yet is whether or not SL can import 3D models developed with software other than their own.

'Living it up at the Virtural Hotel California' doesn't have the same ring to it.

Yeah, okay, I agree that's funny, but I think we need to look at this seriously as a means of showing and experiencing virtual buildings. This has potential as a means of presentation and gathering feedback.

There are real-world companies using SL as a virtual meeting place for their employees and obviously others are seeing it as a means of marketing real properties. You can own the land and put different buildings on it at different times. It's not unusual to visit a place in SL and find it completely changed from the last time you were there.

Do they offer virtual blacklights?


-Redd

I read some of the articles and saw where they plan to allow you to import a 3d model from Maya.

So far the only reference I've found to it is this:

You can also go a step further and recreate your entire build in a 3D program such as Maya, render realistic shadows and lighting, then import the textures that Maya creates into SL.

They're talking about importing the textures, not the model.

aaaah yes, I seen that now

It's a great concept and for starting out in Second Life is fine and dandy, but for this concept to go anywhere, they are going to have to building a world that is a copy of the real world. A more professional world then waht Second Life has to offer.

It seems they are trying to create an exact replica of when they intend to build, but that is a very hard thing to do. With the 3d programs people know and are using now, you can give your clients the same feeling.

I think it needs a lot of thought before anybody puts to much time into it.

For those interested, here is a response I received on the subject of importing models into Second Life.

http://www.virtualaloft.com/

There are other links that can take you to an area in SL adjacent to the hotel construction site.