Web Comics-Con in Second Life

[Eirwenes]

Call for Presenters: Second Life Web Comics Comic-Con and Conference

Proposals are invited for presentations at the Web Comics Convention to be held in Second Life on October 3, 2008.

Sponsored by The Center for EduPunx, The Comic Book Bin, and The Institute for Comics Studies, the conference will bring together practitioners, educators, academics, students, journalists and others for a day-long event aimed at lively discussion and fruitful exchange. Participation from all over the world is avidly sought, while conference organizers and tech support will work in English.

Proposals of roughly 200 words are solicited from:

Web Comics Creators

Display samples of your work in our galleries, mingle with conference attendees, and participate in roundtable discussions about web comics creation, self-promotion, career goals, etc. Play with your avatar, come as your comics character!

Second Life Artists, Designers and Builders, Educators and Researchers

Demonstrate the potential of Second Life for web comics creators and students interested in making and promoting their own comics. We are particularly eager to receive a proposal from you if you are making comics in Second Life, or have designed or created a build based on comics. If you are in the planning process, please also submit a proposal.

Educators

Are you using web comics in the classroom? Educators using web comics are invited to lead and participate in workshops designed to explore the pedagogical possibilities of web comics, especially if you are encouraging students to create web comics for course credit.

Comics Scholars, Bloggers, Twitterers, Academic Journals on the Web

Share your research into comics history, web comics or comics in Second Life in presentations or roundtable discussions.

Journalists and Comics Professionals

Share your insights into important trends in web comics in presentations or roundtable discussions. Sit with creators and Second Life artists, educators and researchers to explore the potential of virtual worlds for comics and the industry.

Please direct all inquiries and proposals to Beth Davies-Stofka, Ph.D. at Beth at Front Range dot edu. Proposals are due no later than August 15. All proposals will receive a reply by August 30, 2008. Technical support will be provided by the Center for EduPunx, and training will be available by appointment in SL September 17-19.

We hope to hear from you!

Notice approved by STrRedWolf.

[Warofwinds]

I'm going to ask a REALLY STUPID question here, because I'm not too familiar with Second Life. I don't play any MMORPGs, 'cause I just don't have the time.

Is this a VIRTUAL convention?

[Tim]

Second Life isn't technically an MMORPG. But yes, if it's taking place there, then it is a virtual convention.

Seems interesting. I may take a look into this.

[Redtech]

I dunno, I'd rather get mobbed by weirdos in real life.

[Levi-chan]

Time to get my flying penises sorted.

[Jekkal]

I remember trying Second Life. Building stuff in it was just so confusing.

... then again, I remember part of my reason for checking it out was so I could run around as my character. Problem is most decent bodies are expensive... or you needed to know a lot more than I was picking up from just playing about.

[Eirwenes]

Thanks for all the questions! It is a virtual conference, and please note that we are providing one-on-one training for presenters in September, so this is a great opportunity to see a part of Second Life that doesn't have to involve flying penises, or getting mobbed! The conference will be held on Front Range Community College's private island, which will be made public for the event only.

Going to a virtual convention is cheaper than going to a regular convention. There won't be any way to sell your comics, but we will be able to link to your web site, meaning conference visitors can read your comics during the convention. If they like what they see, they'll come back.

The Comic Book Bin will have tie-in features, too. I plan to do feature articles on each presenter. That could be another way to drive visitors your way.

We don't have any grants available for avatar-building, nor are we charging for attendance. But you might get to meet experienced SL designers who could give you tips on how to make your avatar look like your character, if you don't already know how to do it.

Beth Davies-Stofka, Ph.D.
beth@comicbookbin.com

[STrRedWolf]

Of course, I'm in Second Life (as "Drake Bacon"). Signing up is free, but for the furs... you get a human avatar. You can customize it extensively, or just switch species with a bit of money called Lindens -- which run about $1 for 300, so $5 will buy you enough Lindens to get a decent avatar from many vendors such as Luskwood, Lost Furrest, and the Werehouse (which specializes in more accurate characters).

[Deathbringer]

Ahh Second Life, been meaning to get that for ages. And now i actually have a decently fast connection i may have to try it (then promptly vanish for months on end while at uni with a non-good connection). Fortunately the main character of my currently worked-on comic (i make far too many) is a human secret agent who dresses in very ordinary clothes .

Is it very easy/even possible to build yourself cars to tool about in? i can turn up outside in a nice mk1 Zody...

[Tim]

Is it very easy/even possible to build yourself cars to tool about in? i can turn up outside in a nice mk1 Zody...

Possible? Yes.

Easy? Depends how good you are with modeling and scripting. But if you've "been meaning to get into it", then probably not that easy. Still, you could always try the "purchase it" route.

[Leafdiaries]

Sounds real~ interesting. I don't play Second Life, but I might just pick it up.

[Xwhy]

I might be interested in this. I'm a teacher and I try to use some of the comic images in class and in lessons. I'd like to get my students to participate more online and get creative, but unfortunately, too many of them just want to do the barest minimum needed to skate by.

I'd love to get more ideas.

[Warren]

Hmmm... I will have to look into this "life" thing.

[Eirwenes]

Hey people! It's taken some time, but we're finally there. The Web Comics Conference and Comic-Con happens tomorrow, in Second Life. We'd love to see you there! All you need is an avatar. Teleport to Front Range any time tomorrow.

The full schedule is here:

http://www.comicbookbin.com/SecondLife001.html

If you have any questions, shoot them to me at beth@comicbookbin.com.

And I'm always looking for news about web comics, or interesting angles to report on!

Thank you,
Beth Davies-Stofka
The Comic Book Bin

[Tim]

I'm actually listed to be on one of the panels in the afternoon, so you should all stop by for moral support, at least.