Extropia emerged onto the Second Life Grid in 2007, bringing a positive outlook, engaging events and retrofuturistic design to like-minded residents and visitors. It was a home and a venue, for talks by thinkers including Wagner James Au, Kim Stanley Robinson and David Brin.

Overview

Extropia is a privately-run plot leased upon Second Life's Grid. It endeavours to serve as a haven and a home, inviting visitors and residents to:

• engage in a retrofuturistic 'theme park' of ideas and experiences, based upon the raypunk 'World of Tomorrow';
• attend and participate in discussions and salons with futurists, authors and other guest speakers - with past guests including journalist Wagner James Au, author Charles Stross and artist Grace McDunnough;
• build and collaborate on projects amongst Extropia's bold, 3D cityscape.

My Role (Director of Architecture)

I contributed to the region through my then-avatar, Vidal Tripsa. I was responsible for:

• designing the region's layout and core buildings (e.g. Central Nexus, McQuarrie Mall, Planetarium, Odyssey Harbour);
• supporting those residents looking to build and create within the region's aesthetic;
• community management through a wiki-based site, Tumblelog and Flickr galleries;
• website and graphic design across Extropia's web platforms and inside Second Life;
• founding the Extropia Book Club, which played host to authors such as David Brin, Kim Stanley Robinson and Charles Stross.

Press About Extropia

• Microgovernment "Extropia" Opens in "Second Life"; Focus on Creative Expression and Community - Virtually Blind by Benjamin Duranske (12/12/07)
• Governing Extropia: A New City-State Rises - New World Notes by Wagner James Au (21/12/07)
• Foreign Relations with Extropia! - Africa in Virtual Worlds by Alanagh Recreant (29/12/07)
• Extropia Core Expands - Ambling in Second Life by Aleister Kronos (15/2/08)
• The Extropians' Delayed Democracy @ Hanashi by Patroklus Murakami (18/3/08)
• Speaking About "Making of Second Life" with the Extropians @ New World Notes by Wagner James Au (23/4/08)
• Sociologists Want Your Brain in Cyberspace @ The Sci-Tech Heretic by Mark Baard (16/5/08)
• Happy Anniversary, Extropia! @ Prim Perfect by Qwis Greenwood (11/11/08)

Sophrosyne's Saturday Salon

• Charlie Stross in Second Life this Saturday @ Boing Boing by Cory Doctorow (17/6/08)
• Charlie Stross in Second Life- The Immersion Advantage @ New World Notes by Wagner James Au (30/6/08)

Travel Blogs & Photography

• On Real Gems in Virtual Spaces by Centrasian Wise (18/3/08)
• My Second Life- The Future is Now by Alesia Markstein (20/3/08)
• Yoa Ogee Avatars and Roaming Extropia Core @ Eladrienne's Other Life! by Eladrienne Laval (6/8/08)
• Prim Perfect Issue 11 (Summer 2008) Now Available! @ Prim Perfect (10/8/08)