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I must admit that I was impressed when Linden Lab released the new mesh avatars, they looked better than the very old ones we used to have and looked pretty decent.
However we soon realised that there are a few big problems with them.
One problem was that the faces were stuck like a Beverly Hills ex starlet who’s had too much botox, they couldn’t speak, smile, nothing.
But a bigger problem was and unfortunately still is, that new users find it very hard to figure out how to change these avatars.
Because there really isn’t that much you can change about them and changing your avatar, customizing it to look just the way you want it to look is one of the best features of Second Life.
It is the first thing most new users want and try to do and as I’ve written before, I think that letting new users do this easily helps them bond with their avatar and understand the appeal of Second Life sooner.
I was reminded of this problem today when I spotted one of those brand new avatars in 1920s Berlin today.
Poor chap, turned out he was a 3D creator with years of experience, but Second Life offered quite a challenge when he was asked to change into 1920s clothes for his visit to my sim.
He didn’t quite manage it, ended up wearing part of the free 1920s outfit we offer combined with the modern mesh outfit he got when he joined SL.
Eventually he had to go into his library folder and replace his complete avatar with one of the old ones, it was the only way he could change his outfit.
I fear that this is making things even harder and unwelcoming for the new visitors to Second Life, add this to the horrendous welcoming island experience and its a wonder people still join Second Life.
Luckily the chap in question was so excited by 1920s Berlin that he didn’t think of leaving.
Nevertheless this is turning out to be a serious problem that is damaging SL every day a little bit.
I would consider taking the mesh avatars offline all together and bring back the old ones, although better looking perhaps.
At least till mesh avatars can be improved and made easier to adjust.
I feel that getting new users an avatar they like, they’ve customized and have a bond with is an important part of making them stay in SL a little longer.
Jo Yardley's Second Life 
Amen!
As much as a long for an improved avatar, I want one I can customize to look like me, not to mention dress like me!
Major improvements are much needed, I would move this from Major to Showstopper priority.
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Agreed! I was trying to help someone else the other day who had a mesh avie who tried to change into clothing.
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Thanks to Caledon Oxbridge’s LarkyLouz, there is now a complete online tutorial for new Second Life wanting to get out of the starter mesh avatars at:
http://www.caledonoxbridge.org/gazette/2014/08/02/avatars-reload/
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It was one of the things commented on by several of the people in the Japanese community who work with newcomers to the grid. On top of resolving problems with the new mesh avatars, they have a lack of information in Japanese to contend with.
I should imagine this goes for all non-English-speaking communities.
The show about the Japanese new user experience is here: http://treet.tv/shows/designingworlds/episodes/japan-residents
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To tell the truth I have tried entering 1920s Berlin before mesh avatars and failed clothing my character.
I think that the customizing system is completely horrible and have always (except once when I managed getting it right by accident and actually had the fortune to explore 1920s Berlin) ended up using one of the default avatars unmodified.
It’s unintuitive what parts should/could be replaced and if so by what and I’m surprised every time I’m reading someone talk about the old system as ‘easy’.
It’s a bad state when you do have to find a thirdparty guide do be able to do what, as you say, is one of the best features of second life.
I will take a look at the guide Carl posted and give it another go, maybe I’ll see you in Berlin. =)
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Honestly, I have more trouble with LL avatars than I do with Mesh avatars.
The Customization of the LL Bodies are completely Off. If I want more Rounded hips to put some Meat on the LL Body… The Customization puts it all in the Wrong places. If I want a smaller torso in Width, I can only change the Shoulders and the size of the Torso in Length. Which.. Looks… horrible.
When I first officially began my journey on Second Life, Figuring out the LL Avatar took me exactly 3 full days to understand. And I still was not satisfied. With all that work I put into it, I still did not feel as if this was MY avatar.
So, I looked towards a new route and saw that the people I had made friends with had Anime Styled Mesh Avatars. Much cleaner, and better than the one I was trying to sport and asked what it was. Once they explained and gave me the Landmark where to go, I was on a grand and Easier Journey. Within only 15 minutes I was able to put together a decent Anime Avatar made out of Mesh. This FELT more like me, and made me feel more attached to my avatar. This was me. This made me happy.
I Don’t wish for Mesh Avatars to go away, because then a very big community will vanish. Just because Mesh Avatars does not seem great to you, does not mean other people dislike it. There are ANIME avatar communities that use Mesh, because it is a product that gives the exactly what they want in terms of looking ‘Anime.’ If SL took that away, they would loose a lot of profit and SL users. Do you know How Many Kemono Mesh outfits are sold? Do you know how many M3 Mesh Heads are bought from Utilizator stores? Don’t forget the 2.0 Avatar, ZS Anime Mesh Body and Head, so on and so forth. These are great products that creators have worked so hard to make it look great for us consumers. I? Love it. I have never had an issue with wearing Mesh and was always able to put my Creative flick into whatever I wear or however I look.
If SL wanted to take away mesh, they should at least UPDATE their LL avatars to where people can Better customize them in the right spots. People shouldn’t have to buy a MESH behind to give the poor Female avatar some Decent realistic curves. And for those who say they have managed it? Prove it. That Excludes using SLINK!
With a Mesh body, I am able to be that cute little Anime girl. With LL Avatars I look like a torn up can of meat with a fake paper head with a anime girl’s face drawn onto it. :T SO Thank you to the Mesh creators out there who have put in their hard work in order to provide us mesh lovers with what we the ‘anime mesh’ consumers want.
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