Linden Department of Public Works
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What is it?
The Linden Department of Public Works (LDPW) is a program focused on improvements related to the experience of living on, or visiting the Linden Mainland. The LDPW will organize teams of Resident builders, artists, and scripters (the Moles!) to create new content on Linden Lab's behalf and to the benefit of all. Rather than divert company resources from areas of development that contribute to important issues like stability and usability, Linden Lab is choosing to go to the experts...
It should be no surprise that when it comes to creating compelling SL content, it's the Resident population itself that serves as the best talent pool. In order to hit the ground running, the LDPW has approached a number of content creators who's credentials are well-established, but from the start, its intentions were to make application to the program open to all residents. So if you're a skilled content creator, please consider applying! If you'd rather not join the build crew, but would still like to participate, then please help to name the new city sims by adding your suggestions below, and don't forget that you can always attend a LDPW office hour to discuss your thoughts on the subject.
Lindens in the LDPW
Michael Linden is the Senior Content Specialist, and holds the department's office hour in the Shamon Region on Fridays at 3PM SLT.
Former Lindens of the DPW include:
Jack Linden was capo di tutti talpids and official Grand Mole Poobah.
Ekim Linden was Program Manager of the Department of Public Works.
Brent Linden came to the Linden Department of Public Works by way of the Resident Experience team where he honed his skills in creating usable content for the world. Brent was the Inworld Content Lead, responsible for whipping motivating the Moles and creating awesome content for Linden Lab.
Molly Linden was the newest Linden-branded Mole, until ...
Sejong Linden came to us from the Concierge unit.
Blue Linden Was part of the glorious early days of LDPW.
Residents in the LDPW
Hard working city and country moles, these are the Residents that make up the illustrious ranks of molekind.
- Barnesworth Anubis
- Chance Abattoir
- Charlotte Bartlett
- Canolli Capalini
- Dee Firefly
- Goran Matzerath
- Leah Salome
- Lilli Field
- Betlog Hax
- Moundsa Mayo
- Alisha Matova
- Neil Robinson
- Prad Prathivi
- Nephilaine Protagonist
- Stella Costello
- Treacly Brodsy
- Vittorio Beerbaum
- Yeti Bing
- Zyrra Falcone
- Caliandris Pendragon
- Peter13 Peterman
- Jane Hall
- Ilse Mannonen
- Itazura Radio
- Lonewolf Switchblade
- Grandma Bates
- Ravenna Soothsayer
- Kat Claxton
- Miriel Enfield
- Elfod Nemeth
- Talia Tokugawa
- Grace Loudon
- Nerolus Mosienko
- Atashi Yue
Past and Present Moles of the LDPW
- Abnor Mole
- Ani Mole
- Auspicious Mole
- Avogadro Mole
- Bloomin Mole
- Buhbuhcuh Mole
- Crafty Mole
- Crazy Mole
- Dark Mole
- Deep Mole
- Delicious Mole
- Earthy Mole
- Freerange Mole
- Garden Mole
- Glamorous Mole
- Guaca Mole
- Holy Mole
- Hyper Mole
- Igneous Mole
- Inconspicuous Mole
- La Mole
- Macho Mole
- Maladaptive Mole
- Mighty Mole
- Milk Mole
- Mini Mole
- Misty Mole
- Mouldy Mole
- Multi Mole
- Myopic Mole
- Mysterious Mole
- Mythic Mole
- Naughty Mole
- Opti Mole
- Princess Mole
- Protean Mole
- Railway Mole
- Secret Mole
- Silent Mole
- Smokey Mole
- Sneaky Mole
- Squishy Mole
- Stoic Mole
- Sunny Mole
- Sylvan Mole
- Undercover Mole
- Vanity Mole
- Whacka Mole
FAQ
Here are some common questions from the various blog postings and LDPW office hours, as answered by LDPW Lindens.
- Is this a volunteer position?
The moles are paid an hourly rate.
- Do I have to be good at design, building, texturing, sculpting AND scripting to apply?
Fully rounded content creators are certainly encouraged to apply, but we will be asking you to indicate your core skill, assuming that most people are not Leonardo DaVinci and specialize in certain areas.
- What if I can't do any of those things, but still want to help somehow?
Feel free to attend office hours to discuss LDPW projects, and definitely contribute your ideas here on the wiki! Suggest Region names and builds, or future LDPW projects, or even other ways for individuals to participate.
- Are builders going to using any 'megaprims'? I love/hate those things
No, megaprims will not be used in any Linden or LDPW builds.
- Do the contractors keep the rights to their content?
In order to maintain the rights to reproduce the content and to make some of it available via the Library, Linden Lab is purchasing full rights to content created by the mole builders.
- Aren't you supposed to be fixing lag and stuff?
The LDPW project has no impact whatsoever on engineering or development efforts to improve Second Life. You REALLY don't want the the LDPW folks mucking about in the code. Trust me.
- So this LDPW thing is all about making new city sims?
Not exclusively, no, although a new city area (Bay City) was the first LDPW project -- it entails numerous elements for future projects which will help us to define best practices and implement the structures needed to expand.
- So there will be road building then?
Yes, LDPW creates roads and bridges on mainland sims, and considering a number of other infrastructure projects from planting trees, to new Infohubs to region-wide builds. We'll be taking all suggestions into account, so please stay tuned and join the continued discussion.
- What's all this about moles?
The contractors use accounts with the last name Mole, which references a bit of graffiti that appeared in the original city sims long ago ... Beware the Mole People! Of course, those moles who wish to make their primary account names known are certainly free to do so.
LDPW Projects
Bay City
LDPW's first project was the creation of a new type of city sim and its use to define a new urban space to the west of the existing city Regions. Here's a sneak peek behind the scenes...
The History of Bay City in Maps
The Bay City Builder's Scrapbook
Visit Bay City at http://slurl.com/secondlife/North%20Channel/193/17/29
Nautilus
Magellan Linden has found an ancient city, which the LDPW is presenting for SL Residents to live in. http://slurl.com/secondlife/Nautilus%20-%20Shalim/227/109/25
The Second Life Highway and Transport System (directory)
Exploring the world and linking up communities through a network of highways and byways - details and maps here :
Second Life Road Network Directory
LDPW Parks and Recreation (directory)
The LDPW is constantly beautifying the mainland by adding unique builds, natural spaces and fun little bits and pieces for Residents to use as social, meeting, or event space. Set your home point to the Mole Mart, park your butt in a scenic park, or just spend the afternoon enjoying the view from Rivulet. Your World...expanding daily!
Parks and Recreation Directory
Second Life Railroad
The SLRR is several miles of track on the [[Heterocera Atoll][1]]. Nigel Linden, Eric Linden, and Michael Linden created the first portions and systems; most of the stations were created by Residents in a contest; and the moles of the DPW have been extending and improving the right-of-way since then.
The SLRR right-of-way is open for the use of all Residents. Residents or groups with parcels adjacent to the SLRR tracks can request interchange trackage. We can't really guarantee that an interchange will be provided; approval will be based on terrain, prim availability, number of other interchanges in the area, and of course the nature and suitability of the Resident's build. Interchange tracks may be removed by the Linden staff if the Resident or group controlling the adjacent parcel don't seem to be entering into the spirit of the thing.
-- graphic by Myopic Mole
Blake Sea
Check the recreation listing at:
http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Parks_and_Recreation_Directory#The_Blake_Sea
And see Jack's blog post about the creation of the zone:
Zindra
See Jack's blog post for this one, too:
http://community.secondlife.com/t5/Land-and-Sea-General/Welcome-to-Zindra/ba-p/645232
The Second Life Coastal Waterway
Sailing is a fabulous way to travel Second Life, learn about the Second Life Coastal Waterway.
Contribute!
How to Apply
Are you a skilled Second Life builder, scripter or artist and interested in being part of the LDPW?
SORRY, WE'RE NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING MOLE APPLICATIONS. WATCH THE BLOG AND THIS PAGE.
Eligibility Requirements
- You must reside in one of the following countries:
- United States (including Puerto Rico)
- Canada
- United Kingdom
- Singapore
- France
- Germany
- Belgium
- Spain
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Luxembourg
- Poland
- Hungary
- Switzerland
- Sweden
- Norway
- Denmark
- Iceland
- Russia
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Applications from outside these geographic locations will not be considered.
- You must be 18 or over (no Teens, sorry!)
- Your account(s) must be in good standing with Linden Lab
Application Process
WE'RE NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING MOLE APPLICATIONS (plus, all of this process needs to be adjusted to match the new support 'case' system)
- Go to http://secondlife.com/support
- Log in using your account name and password and create a new Support Ticket
Verification of Eligible Geographic Location
We must have your real name and current address on file for us to process your application. If you need to update this information do the following:
- Select Ticket Type: Special Questions - Basic account or Guest Login.
- Don't select anything in the second drop down menu.
- Enter a Summary of Address Change.
- Put your real name and current address in the Details text box.
- Submit the ticket.
- Write down the Ticket Number. You'll need to reference it in your Application Ticket.
Application Ticket
- Select Ticket Type: Special Questions - Basic account or Guest Login
- In the second drop down menu select Contact the Linden Dept of Public Works. Provide details as requested.
- Include snapshots of your work. Applications without examples of builds, textures or SLurls can be closed without reply. You can attach image files to your application or include a URL to their location on photosharing sites like Flickr or Picasa. You may also include SLurls to your work inworld.
- If you are a Builder or Texturer please attach large, clear images of work you have done in Second Life. We are looking for outstanding examples of architecture, build quality and prim conservation from Builders and baked shadows and details, tromp loei'l to save prims and realism from Texturers.
- If you are a scripter, please send SLurls where we can interact with your work. We are looking for efficient scripts which do not tax the servers unnecessarily, are well-documented with comments in the code and work correctly. Indicate what your scripting strengths are. For example, vehicles, automated vehicles, math (including vectors, rotations, quaternions and trig functions for prim movement/placement/animation), communication (including object to object and object to outside world (http requests or XML-RPC), game scripts, etc).
- Provide the names of at least 2 other Residents who can attest to your skills and reliability. No alts! :-)
- If you had to update your name and/or address put the Ticket Number from that ticket into the Reference Ticket Number section.
- Submit the ticket.
Suggestions
Not a skilled Second Life builder, scripter or artist but still interesting in contributing the the betterment of the Mainland? Add your suggestions here!
Island Theme
LDPW is dedicated to completing the gaps around and between the various continents. Most of the "fill" will be low-prim sea Regions, but a few islands will occur. We could just throw down some palm trees but that's no fun so we need suggestions, what could we put there?
- Tiki huts
- Big wave surfing
- Some old house Ruin
- A shipwreck re-used as house
- Lighthouse
- Exotic plant and wildlife preserve of never-before seen SL fauna and flora
- Coral reef
- Spectacular fireworks venue
- SL National Park
- Volcanic island
- Full-featured, dynamic weather
- Scuba diving with cool underwater caverns to explore
- Ski down volcanic lava
- Amusement park with never before seen ride experiences
- A terraformed spacious low volcanic crater (diamond head type) that can be used as an amphitheatre with natural rock seating around around with the center lava floor area being the "stage"
- Underwater builds in: Miramare Bay, Straits of Shermerville, Barcola Sound & Cape Haven (these sims border each other)
Unique Builds
In Bay City will be found a number of unique builds, serving as social space and thematic inspiration. Please add your suggestions for individual builds based on the city theme...here's a few to get you thinking.
- Theater [done]
- Greasy spoon diner [well, there's a diner, not sure how greasy!]
- Blue Linden Admiration Society meeting space
- Museum (although may need regular updating)
- Philip Linden Sculpty Statue (to be revealed when Philip officially opens the city)
- Bus Stop complete with a Bus (scripted? Qu Qi wants to know)
- Connection to the Nova Albion trolley system
- Subway system under the roads [unlikely]
- Billboard with a Graffiti type image of all who worked on the build (Moles, Lindens)
- Dutch Windmill
- Canal houseboats
- Ruin part of a mediaeval city wall defence.
- Sculpture park
- Large public rolling grassy park with huge fountain pond, surrounded by huge trees
- Airport / Airfield sims for all kind of airtravel [done]
- Sky City theme: tall, floating city in the clouds
- Railway tunnel on the border of Epirrhoe and Rivata
- Railway connection and extension in Crumbi
Generic Ideas
- Areas with a rising sea level, maybe 1 meter per year, forcing Residents to move, and submerging beloved landmarks.
- Fewer damn rectangles. Everything is SL is so rectilinear. More odd shaped land holdings.
- Linden Wildlife, sort of like Linden trees. Release some Svarga-like ecosystem that spreads across land.
- Mining. If prims had to be discovered, and dug out of the ground, or grown on trees, then newbies could hunt, mine, and gather them and sell to builders. A real economy 8-)
- Forests that grow, expand, put out seeds, hook onto passers-by and germinate elsewhere...
- A proper set of sculpted cliff faces on a strip of LL coastal land. With caves and splashing seas.
- A sim or two that has only natural looking prims: trees, plants, water, and some wildlife.
- Caves. Underwater ones too. these should be well marked as "national" parks
- The SLRR, an existing mainland rail system, hasn't had working Linden trains since Havok 4. A good task for a mechanically minded Mole would be to restore some periodic train service. Remember to consult the train experts out in the community!
- A continent with nothing but 16 square meter plots (plus lots of roads) where adfarming would be allowed. (I would like to see the existing small-lot sellers moved to that continent, if possible.)
- A forest sim with Trees, streams, flowers, mushrooms, all wild and open. A place for Animal AV's, and others to go, gather, and enjoy the wilds of SL. Think about the back areas of Yellowstone or Alaska. All wild and free!
Future LDPW Projects
Thinking long-term, what should the LDPW consider as it moves forward to work on mainland improvements, in addition to the Bay City Regions? We're already slated to look at new roads, so no need to add that here. I'll get the ball rolling.
- A park system...more green spaces in SL! (some open and natural, others with well-planned landscaping and gardens)
- More themed sims - Undersea city, space stations, other planets
- More peacefull greenland and animals! (Hippos, Sheep lol)
- Eco Type Builds, For example Wind Farm, Solar Power, Wave Power, Mega Linden Power and so on... Let's make some of our Virtual World and Example of what we should be doing in our Real World : )
- Educational Project(s), possibly with things like:
- Museum, teaching about art history and art styles
- Museum, SL history (SL Smithsonians)
- Excavation area, teaching about different dinosaur periods and prehistoric human pottery and stones and stuff
- QuantumWorld, where all physics are quantum physics :P (Prospero Linden gave me this idea though: User:Torley_Linden/Office_Hours/2008-02-08)
- Make Sansara continent and Bay City accessible by boat from Blake Sea + Nautilus area