Reader Submitted Pictures: Firestorm Anniversary Party

 

On Saturday September 7, the Firestorm team celebrated their anniversary with a party. While the Newser couldn't be there, Panterapolnocy sent the Newser a number of pictures. 

It should be reminded that at the scene of the party, some free gifts were left. It is unknown how much longer they will be there.

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Firestorm%20Dow%20Forest/237/238/3903

Pictures from Panterapolnocy

Scenes From The Firestorm Anniversary Party

 

 By Bixyl Shuftan

 

 Saturday Sept 3 was the twelfth anniversary of Team Firestorm, or Team Phoenix as it was known back then. And they celebrated with a big party, "This is the biggest giveaway event we have ever done!"

 

 Taking place in the intersection of four sims, close to 150 residents were there at peak times. Dropping in, this is what I saw for the first minute.

But things would slowly rezz.

The party started at 4PM with Euphonious Productions.

 

At 5PM was a performance led by Savannah Rain (the two avatars on stage, neither of them Savannah, never did fully rezz during the show).

Among those there was Firestorm leader Jessica Lyon. 

So was Pantera Polnocy (Panterapolnocy Resident), who's also known for documenting a number of Linden meetings on film. 

ScentualLust of Luskwood and Trotsdale.

There was at least one Linden, Vru Linden. 

The party was scheduled to end after two hours. But it kept on going with DJ Trick (Trick Rembrant) playing the music.

And they had a lot of gifts available. Usually they have one, two or three. This time they had twelve, "HOLY SMOKES! 12 (TWELVE!) AMAZING GIFTS for our 12th anniversary!"

Many were gifts from previous years available once more. 

One I hadn't noticed before was this firey squirrel.

The gifts are still available, at least for now, at

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Firestorm%20Dow%20Forest/219/229/3901 .

Jessica credited Teresa Firelight for the party, "I must ... give credit where it’s due. This whole event, all that you are going to ... , ALL THE GIFTS and performances, ALL OF IT, has been painstakingly organized by Teresa Firelight over the last several months. She is one of our Community Gateway Managers in charge of Role Play in our new user regions. Teresa: I cannot thank you enough for all of this hard work."

For a look at the events that led up to the creation of Team Phoenix/Firestorm, check out "Looking Back At Emeraldgate." For a look from the point of view of one of the team, check out this "Interview with Tonya Souther" (since then, Tonya has resigned from the team).

Bixyl Shuftan

Happy Birthday Firestorm - Interview With Tonya Souther

By Cyfir (Cyfiremmerich)

I got the chance to check out the Firestorm Ninth Anniversary Party today and briefly interview Tonya Souther who is the Mac developer for the Firestorm viewer. The turnout was amazing with well over 150 people there supporting the Firestorm team’s work. “I think the event's fantastic. I hadn't heard Savannah before, and she's a great singer. I'm pleased to see as many folks out here on a September as there are.” Tonya remarked, “I'm constantly amazed at the support that Firestorm gets from the user community.”

I personally have been using Firestorm for years and I absolutely love how customizable the viewer is. I have my Firestorm viewer extremely customized with chat notifications, a purple theme, and graphics settings. It’s a power user’s dream and I wouldn’t be able to go back to another viewer at this point. “Me either!” Tonya said “We make Firestorm to be the kind of viewer we want to use ourselves. We're pretty demanding of what we expect. If we want to use it, then others will too.”

I also got to ask Tonya how Firestorm will handle “Bakes on Mesh” and she had this to say. “We're in the process of gearing a release ready right now. In fact, after I get done here, I'm going to go back to fixing MacOS bugs.”

So there seems to be plenty to look forward to from the Firestorm team in the near future and beyond thanks to their tireless support of the viewer and it’s fans. Here’s to another nine years!
--
-Cyfir

Scenes From Team Firestorm's Fifth Anniversary Party

By Bixyl Shuftan

It was five years ago since the formation of Team Firestorm, originally known as Team Phoenix as that was the name of their viewer then. Thursday September 3 was officially their fifth anniversary, and they celebrated with quite an event which including live and DJ musicians, a live performance act, and gifts for those stopping by.

Join us today as we celebrate crossing into our 5th year of providing the most popular viewer in Second Life and virtual worlds! Five years we’ve been together as a team developing and supporting first the Phoenix Viewer and then the Firestorm Viewer used in Second Life and on other grids. It is a testament to the character of each individual on the team as they have all donated their time on a volunteer basis to provide the best experience possible for our end users.

We have a huge party planned starting at 1pm Sept 3rd (regions open at 12:30, so come early!) We have some amazing gifts to give out too!

When I first came by, a half hour after the event started at 1PM SL time, the place was full and laggy, despite being in the crossroads of four sims.

Jessica Lyon, the head of Team Firestorm, was there, along with several others from the team.

Among them was Chakat Northspring, instantly recognizable with her taur avie.

For the first hour of the event, Seth Regan (Mankind Tracer) sang for the crowd. He also gave a free CD of his songs to at least one lucky member of the audience.

At 2PM came the "Chang High Sisters" with their "Fireshow of Light, Life, and Love."

 "These folks have created and designed a unique and extremely powerful fire-dancing show, full of lighting effects of many different kinds, all created, scripted and available inside Second Life, using fire balls, prims, particles and poofers, lasers, sparks, smokes and other kinds of realistic light displays."

There were a few freebie gifts to be had. One was a motorbike, a "modified 1941 Cafe style racer" by Desert Morning Motors.

 There were also a couple pets. One was a limited edition "FireFlurry" from Kittycats, one that was maintenance-free. For Fennec fans, there was a special Fennux pet. It came in two versions, one for being held, the other for walking (and running) besides it's owner. Several people at the party had their new pets with them at the party, mostly Fennuxes, as the Fireflurries started virtual life as little kittens.

DJ Quad began performing at 2:30, followed later on by Ed Merryman.

A look at the Skybox from outside.

 Avariel Falcon, the black unicorn of the Relay was there, along with Catboy Qunhua, and a few other SL noteables outside the Firestorm team.

 A mermaid who got a little "tanked" at the party.

It was quite a show by Team Firestorm.

For those who couldn't make the party, the gifts were still there when I checked the following day, and they may be there all weekend. One can also pick them up from links on the Firestorm blog.

Happy Anniversary Team Firestorm

Bixyl Shuftan