Many of you know that I really enjoy Second Life animals, the non-breeding kind that is, and in first life dogs are my favourite. Well, back in January 2009 I wrote about an SL dog that came running up to my friend and I as if he had his own personality. I thought “I want one” but then visited the creator’s store and learned, to my dismay, that the price tag was almost 8000 lindens. As cool as it was, there was no way I was spending that.
Recently I visited a dog park that sold the Alsatian my friend and I saw back in 2009. He came running over to greet me along with other breeds I liked even more — there was even a wolf! The creators had reduced the prices of the dogs too, selling them for 4800 lindens instead. A considerable cut from 2009, and yet am I just a cheapskate or does that still seem too high?
Don’t get me wrong, I really like the dogs. They interact with their environment and are supposed to have artificial intelligence. In some ways they’re better than my SL dog Pete from Zooby’s (don’t tell Pete), but I can’t in good conscience pay 4800 lindens for a virtual animal even if it’s nearly half of what it used to be. I can’t help but think the owners would do so much more business if they made their prices more competitive.
For now if I want to see the dogs I’ll just go to the dog park. It’s been a while since I’ve been around dogs in first life, so having a group of them run up to me brings back happy memories. Not the same as seeing real ones, of course, but it’s still a fun little fantasy. Let me spend time around animals and I’m happy.
Visit Inworld: VKC Dog Park, Turing Isle
Heh, I do the same. I go and visit occasionally, but I can’t bring myself to buy one.
If they charged about the same as Zooby’s it’s likely I’d have bought a few over the years, spending more in the long run.
The VKC dogs are marvels of design and scripting/programming. The have AI and learn! The follow you, they swim, they learn trick, they cuddle. My gf made an attachment for me so that mine even bark to alert me when a stranger approaches. Their detail is spectacular; their upgrades are free; they can be reclaimed if lost. There are plenty of cheap animals on SL; VKC dogs are companions. I gulped at the price, but I have two now. And I take at least one of them almost everywhere. I can “wear” him on my shoulders, so I can take him even to no-rez areas. You’re not writing about a one-prim chair here, but one of the real miracles of SL. I don’t know if you’re a “cheapskate”, but you don’t seem to have a very good grip on “value”. Judging from the traffic I see on the VKC group, Enrico doesn’t seem to have any dearth of customers.
Yuki thanks for your input on the dogs. It’s good to hear about them from someone who owns one. As to your comment about me not having a good grip on value, though, I’d say that’s pretty subjective. And just to be clear, I mean no offence toward the creator of the dogs. I wouldn’t have written to give the dogs a plug here if I didn’t think they were cool. Happy to hear they do a good business!
For that kind of money I’d expect it to be 1 prim, fluent in Latin, grade 8 ukulele and trained to urinate on passing mods
Hmmm… i used to know someone just like that, Graz!
I used to have a dog avatar when I was on SL. I tried logging in just the other day after years away from it. I couldn’t remember the password and locked it up. They have a process to try and get access even after doing so, which I am in the middle of right now.
If I do get back on and you are still looking for a dog to make your pet…you have my e:mail on the reply form
Thanks Sprulin. I also saw your IM come to my email.
I’m not really looking for a dog that can type (ha) but you’re welcome to roam around Moonletters town. I might put a bowl out for you or something!