
I bumped into Jo at an event in Etopia, a very nice eco-minded community in SL. Later she agreed to let me interview her. She has wearing a very nice, Halloween-themed avatar.
[9:46] You: I like your outfit; when you alter your appearance, what do you take into consideration? Why do you chose a certain look?
[9:47] Jojogirl Bailey: i want to look different than the other av's and i want to look beautiful
[9:48] You: Ah, well, you look very nice. =) I only have two more questions:
[9:48] Jojogirl Bailey: ty LOL
[9:48] Jojogirl Bailey: I've worked very hard on my avatar.
[9:48] You: Do you think you portray a role with your avatar? Does it help bring out some of your personality?
[9:49] Jojogirl Bailey: I have a couple of avs and each one is a part of me
[9:49] Jojogirl Bailey: but no matter what role I try to play
[9:49] Jojogirl Bailey: there is alot of me that comes out anyway
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[[9:50] You: Thanks jo, I just have one last question: Do you have any tips on improving my avatar?
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[9:51] Jojogirl Bailey: just me personally...I like to be taller and I like a more defined skin, but it depends on what you like and the look your are going for!
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[9:51] You: thanks Jo. =)
Jo is a very nice hostess of Etopia (not officially, I think, but if she's around, she'll have a warm welcome for you!), and her nice fun outfit I think also reflects a welcoming personality. I'm rather new with Etopia, but I do recommend it highly.
(Pre-interview picture) I did adjust the height on my avatar after this. I don't really like darker skin on my avatar, however. (I think it looks much better on Jo anyway!)
Before when I created outfits for my avatar, I usually just tried to make something that would look cohesive in the real world for the event I was going to on Second Life. As time went on, I felt more comfortable with the functions and I started experimenting to get a more fantasy-like avatar. Also, learning about textures, and building accessory items (the staff and the skirt item are both items that are built and cannot be done within the parameters of "appearance" as far as I know). Although I cannot completely change myself from head to toe yet, I still feel I need an item or two that I could not create at the time I took the snapshot, I feel I am still making my own avatar, and not completely relying on just a re-built outfit. Or I can put together items from my inventory to make an outfit, still. Yet, I'm coming to the middle of being a fan of fantasy (mainly from animation and video games) and also wanting to build such items. So perhaps my role is fantasy item builder?
Overall, to me, my avatar is important because I always want the correct impression. That even takes priority over a 'good' or 'nice' impression. Also, I'm not the silent protagonist. The first impression might be sight-based, but I want what I look like to go with what I 'sound' like as well. I know as I learn more about Second Life, I will adapt my avatar more and more to show an accurate, but reserved, reflection of myself.
1 comment:
I wanted less of a transcript and more of your thoughts about what we do when we design an avatar. OK, you discuss a "fantasy like" avatar. What does that mean to you?
Yes, what is the "correct impression"?
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