Created by Stroker Serpentine, and his able partner Fyre Raine, sim Amsterdam started out as a single sim, that has since grown into a network of 11 sims, with no apparent end in sight. One of the first things that really stands out about Amsterdam is the attention-to-detail. It feels very much like a real place, with signage, advertising, imperfections and litter.

Benja Soon said it made him miss the real Amsterdam, and lauded the accuracy of the design, "If the map went two more blocks to my right, I could visit my old apartment."

Within a week of it opening the stores were already beginning to fill up with hopeful sellers, and the streets and skies started to fill up with visiting avatars. Throughout 2006 the inhabitants, visitors and vendors of Amsterdam have refit and reinvented themselves again, and again. Amsterdam is always busy. In fact it is one of the busiest places in Second Life. Not just because of the realistic feel, but because of the undeniably mature atmosphere.
(Mature content below the fold)

In my last post, I discussed creating and refining your avatar. One of the main points of that post was to mention my belief that it's best to find friendly, helpful faces before tinkering too thoroughly with your appearance. Certainly, your mileage will vary, depending on your personal acumen and temperament. However, if you do decide to follow my advice and search for help, there is one place in particular (besides the official Help and Welcome areas) that you may want to visit: The Shelter.

The Shelter is mainly run by Travis Lambert, who resembles Family Guy's Brian the Dog. Travis is kind and generous, and fun to be around. Here you will find a big pile of freebies, a dance floor with a line-up of residents dancing in-sync, a second floor upon which many events and games are held (see previous posts here and here), and most importantly, newbie-friendly residents who love nothing better than to help you get started on your Second Life. I well remember the confusion I experienced when I first logged in, and the daunting task of figuring it all out. I think I can safely say that had it not been for the help and kindness shown by the amazing folks at The Shelter, I may not have stuck around long enough to realize the potential of SL.

That's my recommendation, and I'm sticking to it. Part of what keeps SL a fun place in which to play is the continuing efforts on all our parts to treat newbies well, and educate them on proper behavior; The Shelter is the first place a new user ought to visit. Next Newbie Tip: Exploring the Inventory.

P.S.: although it's obscured by a big table, the bottom part of the large sign on the back wall reads 'Welcome Home'. See? That tells you everything you need to know.