Linden Lab celebrates 16 years of its most successful product

Second Life’s 16th Birthday: Main Stage

As this post appears on Second Sighting, the celebrations of Second Life’s 16th anniversary (ok, let’s call it birthday, since it’s known as SL16B, anyway) will be officially starting – yeah! From today, June 20, until July 8, the party in the SL16B sims will rock the grid in an event that’s already a milestone: after seven editions organized by Second Life’s residents (from SL9B to SL15B), the event is back on Linden Lab’s hands as a yearly awaited occasion, which shows that the community succeeded in keeping the tradition of commemorating SL’s birthdays alive and vibrant.

SL16B Welcome Area

A Diner at SL16B: inspired in the 1950s

A toy store at SL16B

As SL is celebrating its “Sweet Sixteen”, the sims are decorated following a retro 1950s theme. The fact that the event has been conceived and organized by the Lindens and the Moles (contractors working for Linden Lab) doesn’t mean that the community isn’t involved (as volunteers, artists and exhibitors – I myself will work as a greeter there), as in the past LL had different degrees of involvement when the party was driven by residents themselves. There will be music concerts on June 21 and 22 (Friday and Saturday) at the main stage (the complete lineup can be found on this post by the Lab).

Arriving at SL16B’s Main Stage

SL16B’s Main Stage seen from above

Ricco looking at the event’s map

Exhibitions will be open for the entire period of the celebrations (one can use either Astonish, Sparkle, Incredible, Captivate or Enchant regions as starting points for exploring them). There are creations by the Bellisseria Citizens Group, Boudicca Amat, Bryn Oh, Cica Ghost, the Fantasy Faire team, Fiona Fei, Instituto Español, Loki Eliot, Myra Wildmist, Patrick Moya, Randy Firebrand, the Second Pride team, Virtual Ability and many others. And DJs will play on a specific stage for them. Now, for fully exploring the sims, I would suggest people to arrive at the Welcoming Areas One and Two (which are located side by side).

Exhibitions will be open for the whole period of the event

Pod tour: for exploring the sims

The stage for DJs

As many already know, there will be programmed Meet the Lindens sessions, from June 24 to June 27, always at 2PM SLT, at the Auditorium. This year’s conversations will be with Patch Linden (24), Oz & April Linden (25), Ebbe Linden (26) and Xiola & Strawberry Linden (27). Besides that, there’s also a gift hunt and a separate shopping and gift event.

The Auditorium’s entrance

SL16B’s Auditorium

The heart-shaped lake and the Auditorium

It’s interesting to notice that near the Tapestry of Time the Lab is displaying the newest Linden Homes already deployed in the new continent, Bellisseria. Together with them, there are also some Trailer Homes, which are in the oven for a future launching.

Trailer Homes at the display area

Tapestry of Time

Tapestry of Time: entrance

I understand that during the “dark days” LL chose to distance itself from the organization of the party and that, in recent years, it got more involved again with the event even if residents themselves were still organizing Second Life’s birthday celebrations until last year – but i think it’s positive that the Lab decided to take it in its hands again. It’s a sign that Linden Lab recognizes the importance of commemorating the launching of its most successful product to the date, which first opened to the public on June 23, 2003. The internet was significantly different back then, and a number of important players of that time have disappeared now – but SL is still here and keeps vibrant. May many other birthday celebrations come – and now let’s party!

SL16B: the “residential” display area

Parking lot

PS: A complete guide to the celebration can be found on Second Life’s official SL16B webpage.

Beach area at SL16B