This sky environment (a virtual version of a modern city, with three different texture setups) instantly makes your place part of a 3D panoramic town.
NEW: This landscape makes use of the new Materials in Second Life. In order to see it properly, you should use a Materials-enabled viewer and switch on the Advanced Lighting Model (Graphics settings in the Preferences menu, CTRL+P; consult your viewer's documentation if you don't know how). The Materials make it possible to have additional detail on the buildings and to prevent the trees from bleeding through textures (trees, windows) on your land.
NEW: Because of the Materials, this environment is set to 'Physics type NONE', which means it does NOT cause and lag to the physics system (no interaction with moving animals or vehicles) and it does NOT cause any problems with sitting scripts (no problems with unscripted sit and multi-sitters). Unfortunately however, each sculpted prim has a land impact of 2 because of the Materials and use of Physics Type NONE.
Properties:
• Change the surface textures of all landscape parts (254 textures available in the HUD, selectable on some landscape parts), and you can even use your own textures
• Change the trees to 18 predefined different types: winter pines, fir trees, deciduous trees (both summer and autumn), palm trees… New types of trees will automatically become available in the HUD
• Switch to a different texture setup (materials)
• De-rez landscape sections, if you want to leave out the trees and rez them again later
• Allow others to change the scene and surface textures
• Copy-permissions: you will always be able to replace an item when it’s lost, or rez one at a friend’s place
• Advanced menu to remove redundant scripts to decrease script load on sim
You can read the User Manual here:
http://docs.google.com/open?id=0B86Ma9OH0IR4c2xtWDRmYUx2YnM
Other characteristics are:
• Its size is 1000x1000m. A region measures 256x256m, which means it covers your island and extends way beyond its limits. However, it cannot be seen from other islands that do not share one full border with your island. Islands that just touch at the corners are no problem to use this item.
• A script takes the landscape to the best position on your land. You can rotate and move it afterwards like any other object in SecondLife. Do not drop it too close to the edge, it may go off-world and end up in your Lost and Found folder.
• You can combine this landscape with other off-sim elements.
• Matching terrain textures for your land are available in the in-world store, close to the landing point.
To your viewer this landscape is a set of sculpted prims with textures. Technically there is not much difference from, for example, a detailed set of furniture. The textures do not contain an alpha channel, and are not animated. There are no particle systems in this item. The surface and sculpt textures take some time to load, but after that they cause no lag and do not obstruct your movements.
See item in Second Life- This sky city landscape surrounds your sky build w/ highly detailed skyscrapers
- It is made of 250 office & appartment buildings and towers plus roads and trees
- New rich textures show lights behind the windows at night + sun reflections
- Customize all texture properties by HUD: color, glow, repeat factor, brightness
- Rez it in the air above your land. Uses materials
I wish it was different
Need to give credit where credit is due. I love the sim surround. It brings my city to life. Unfortunately, I expected more textures of the buildings. The buildings are too colorful. I was looking for a more grungy feeling. I thought the full version would come with more textures. Still gets the job done with 0 glow and brightness set to 50%. However, the sim surround needs to be set to night in order to get the full effect of a grungy looking city. Also, there is a gap in two sides of the center. Not necessary. Should close it all off. All around, good job on the surround. I like it and hope in future updates there is a texture pack for a more grungy look.