Blogdigger Media search for Other Japanese, Anime
Blogdigger Media search for Other Japanese, Anime

I’m Loco about these Pocos: Damien Fate evolves tiny avatars

Video courtesy of my gorgeous wife, the exquisite Ravenelle Zugzwang
 

I love experiencing exceptional stuff in Second Life, and this is an exception among exceptions! Disclosure: I’m beta-testing Damien Fate’s newest creations, the Loco Pocos, which effectively translates to “Crazy Tinies” from Spanish. What a catchy name, and a nice guy: he graciously gave my wife and me a tour of the forthcoming Loco Pocos Island, and you can learn more at the Loco Pocos website.

So why I am I gushing so much over these beautiful creatures? Simply put, they excel on many levels: I’ve known many SL products which were great in some ways, but felt like they were missing quality in others, and would benefit from a collaboration or further development on the part of the maker. For example, a well-crafted club which lacks event hosts so it’s always empty, or a brilliantly-scripted device which looks like crap. (What I say: can’t do it yourself? Team up with a friend… or friend-to-be!)

When evaluating Loco Pocos, let’s start with the base judgement of an avatar: how they look. In two words, they’re fantastic. Sculpted for maximum adorability and loaded with potential personality you can infuse more fun into, it’s hard to gaze at them for longer than a few seconds without going, “Awww!”

Loco Pocos are severely easy-to-use and come in different animal varieties: the Heads-Up Display allows you to easily customize your accessories, which is going to be mighty handy for both (1) newcomers and (2) non-English speakers. Damien even went to great lengths to translate the manual into 7 languages (incl. English), but the HUD itself is primarily visual and works across any tongue. You can even click a part of your body to show its options on the HUD, and wearing an accessory will also bring up the relevant palette. Soon enough, I had gone watermelon (as I’m expected to).

Next! Within seconds, I was clicking the HUD to activate my body animations. I used to lament why Second Life was missing the particle-enhanced gestural fun that There has, and there’ve been scant leaps forward over the years, but the Loco Pocos package makes animations so simple and rewarding to use: again, just click the HUD to make your Loco Poco emote. From a good belly laugh to bawling your eyes out to Zzzing lazily on the ground, there’s a fine assortment. And there are both facial and full-body animations.

Loco Pocos also make sound when emoting, and there’s currently a basic male/female selection. Damien’s planning to do more voice packs, and that’s got me intrigued. (Since I’m an aspiring voice actor.)

In a move that’d make Popeil proud, BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE! Loco Pocos have a story. That’s right, Damien put a lot of thinking into crafting a plot, and Loco Pocos Island will include not just a store (with more accessories), but games to play in mini-modular worlds, too. I tried 3, and while I can’t reveal the surprises, each had a different mode of play and was reminiscent of 3D action platformers. One of them did heavily engage our powers of observation, and the end result led to more curiosity — always a good thing if you want your audience to engage the product.

That being said, it looks like the Loco Pocos marketing is similarly awesome. On top of all the preceding elements, how is anyone going to enjoy your creation if they don’t know about it? The packages in the store were well-designed and evoke memories of the cartoony fun I had in Taco years ago. I hope word-of-mouth spreads massively here; it really deserves to, like how it benefited the spread of the earliest tiny culture.

Tiny culture is an abundantly cute part of Second Life, but it’s also overflowing with innovation. From Wynx Whiplash & ExtroVirtual’s initial accomplishments, to the advanced Japanese refinements of form, to these Loco Pocos — there’s a lot to celebrate!

^ Oh, and that points to why I hope fantabulous machinima is made with them. My wife remarked, “They look so 3D!”, referring to my post-processing having brought out the cyber-natural sheen of the Loco Pocos such that they could be in a Pixar film. Sculpted prims are really suited for these curvy, plush avatar bodies, and I’m eager to see what creations come in kind.

OtakuGeneration (Show #159) Anime Themes

 

NOTE: This was also cross posted in the otakugeneration LJ community.

Shownotes :: (show 159) :: (website) :: (podcast feed) :: (direct download) :: (direct iTunes link)

With Anime Soundtrack Themes, recorded live June 23rd, 2008.

This week we talked about just a few of our favorite anime soundtracks and theme openings & closers; but we focused mainly on the music verse the animation. So get your pause trigger-fingers out this week... because we have a lot of links! We also introduced a new segment (full of "AwesomeSTUFF"), had regular segments and more! Sp, join us this week for another installment! ...full of win and "AwesomeSTUFF" (Alan's new favorite fake word).

Google Desktop users zOMG HARK there's a OG RSS Google Gadget! (O.o)?! Download it here!

We introduced a LIVE video stream while we record... for all of you stalkers... as well as talkshoe. So now you have a couple options to interact with us while we record the weekly show.

NEWS: Vas built something unique for IE7 and FF 2.0 users... a search option for OGlink (click here) and shortner (also click here) that will let you get to the shortner/oglink redirect pages quicker! Check it out!

Call Us!

::: Skype Voicemail :::
You can leave us voicemail using Skype, at: otakugeneration or call: (610) 628.3154 -or- (206) 965.8154

::: GoogeTalk Voicemail :::
You can also leave us voicemail with GoogleTalk, at: otaku.generation@gmail.com

::: Gizmo :::
You can also leave us voicemail with using Gizmo, at: otakugeneration

Mentioned Stuff and Link(s) (during the show)

• OG Link
• Shortner
• the OG twitter
• OG talkshoe site
• OG LIVE "Studio Cam"
• Bacon Salt (ringtones)
• S.T.E.A.M. the movie torrent (DISC 1 & 2)
• Dan and M.A.'s Amazon Wedding Registry

Kyle's Cartoon Corner (1.0) by TV's Kyle :: (toons@otakugeneration.net)
Kyle corrects, educates, molds, massages and broadens our knowledge about cartoons!
Send us or Kyle names of the cartoons you always wanted to know more about but were fraid to ask!
...and he'll answer your questions only the way TV's Kyle can!

Dan's News Recap (0.1) by Bryce :: (news@otakugeneration.net)

• Street Fighter...
• Shueisha-Shogakukan Productions
• Dokuro-Chan
• Kadokawa USA orders halt on fansub links...

Promos / Break

• Ever Since :: by Mike Errico (now on music.podshow.com)
• Danger To Wake You :: by Blake Morgan (now on music.podshow.com)

Jefferson's Wierd News (1.0) by Jefferson
This week Jefferson brings us some news that interests him...

• Otakugate: Geeks wage war against Nintendo
• Suspect stabbed 12 people within one minute in Akihabara
• U.S. Navy tries hand at "Propamanga"
• Japanese lawsuit exposes relationship between managaka and publishing editors

Weekly DVD Releases (1.0) by Albert :: (releases@otakugeneration.net)
2008-06-24

• A Double Scoop of Vanilla: Timeless Ecstasy
• Death Note Vol. #5+Limited Edition
• Emma: A Victorian Romance Season One
• Freedom Vol. #6(DVD/HD DVD combo)
• Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time Vol. #3
• Kujibiki Unbalance Vol. #2
• Otoboku Vol. #1
• Papuwa: Complete Collection
• Pokemon Battle Frontier Box Set Vol.1
• Red Garden Vol. #5
• Shattered Angels Vol. #2+Artbox

2008-07-01

• Mistreated Bride Vol. #3
• Cosplay Complex/My Dear Marie DVD Double Pack
• Gakuen Heaven Complete Collection
• Kanon Vol. #6
• Lucky Star Vol. #2+Limited Edition
• Naruto(Edited)Vol. #25

Figurine Review (1.0) by vas@otakugeneration.net :: (reviews@otakugeneration.net)

Figurine Give-a-way(s)
• (contest) :: rules / details
• (gallery) :: the goods

Fanboy Forecast (1.0) by Bryce :: (fanboyforecast@otakugeneration.net)

• (game) :: Metal Slug Anthology
• (music) :: AKFG

Nickname ME! by Alan :: (nickname@otakugeneration.net)
Nothing new this week... but don't let that stop you from letting us torture YOU... I mean from you emailing us and telling us something about yourself... than we'll give you a nick! This way you can be uniquely identifiable among the other OG listners!

Last week... we nicknamed Fisty-G's anime club! He asked and received! So check out his anime clubs' nickname logo-mashup! Email us for your nickname and you'll get one as well!

The Mystic Order of Dinosaucers (requested) logo mash-up...

...and now you get your own logo-mashup for your nickname...
If you send us feedback, and you want us to nickname you, email us, at: otaku.generation@gmail.com

With somewhere in the subject:

• NICKNAME ME

NOTE: If we've already nicknamed you, you can't be re-nicked... unless you plead... lots! ...and we mean LOTS!!! =D

For Podcast promos or MP3 Feedback, email us, at:

• otaku.generation@gmail.com

With the exact subject:

• MP3 PROMOTION :: (for podcast promos)
• MP3 FEEDBACK :: (for audio feedback)

In the body of the message, put:

• Your Name
• Your Podcast
• Your website
• Brief copy about your podcast for us to read

NOTE: No copyrighted music, or clips! We won't play promos with this kind of content! Unless you own the copyright, and have given us written authorization!

Join us next week... for something... vague and non descript. Cause we like it that way! A new show every Wednesday, so "podcast-in" with us! Download us, snear at us, but give us a listen... and maybe we won't respect you in the morning... *meh*

It's June! Give us your votes or we will take pictures of Pyson in a Lain Bear top Hat! [insert OG-bribes here... it's late ((>.<)) ...] We appreciate the votes, donations, and comments even if we don't read them on the show... and iTunes reviews... at any of the following places: www.PodcastAlley.com and/or www.DigitalPodcast.com. Word-of-mouth advertising is also appreaciated. Thanks for the support, and the people who have been voting for us! Z4H VOOOT3Z...they melt in your click, not in your vote!!