A literary review of ALDO THE ALIEN
The Second Life Adventures of Aldo the Alien is a satire of the behaviour of individuals who interact with each other in an inconsequential environment. By using "handles" (internet nomme de plumes) in place of their actual names and, from the apparent safety of their homes, internet users often behave in a manner much more aggressive and verbally abusive than they would in a real life face to face confrontation. Unfortunately much of this bad behaviour filters into virtual worlds such as Second Life and, in lieu of any kind of mediator to step in to ensure people behave in a civilized manner, MAGE Magazine has unleashed the satirical bite of Aldo the Alien.
The very first episode of the Second Life Adventures of Aldo the Alien actually appeared 2 months before the release of MAGE Magazine Issue # 1 in a publication known at "The Beaux Arts of Second Life".
The second episode reveals an improvement in the art work and format. Epsiode 2 was based on the discrimination that exists in Second Life towards "non human" avatars as there are some virtual night clubs and restaurants that are known to have policies against serving and allowing non human avatars to enter these establishments.
The episode was photographed in an establishment that discriminates against "Noob" avatars and refuses to hire employees that can not afford to buy upgraded mesh bodies and clothes. Although this type of discrimination is not nearly as shameful or malicious as that exhibited in the United States prior to the civil rights movement, ironically the establishment features images of Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, B.B. King and Stevie Wonder, who had to deal with discrimination early in their careers.
In episode number 3. Aldo explores the world of role playing. In this episode the format changes slightly as ALDO is not portrayed as the victim of intolerance as he is the perpetrator. As a role player, ALDO is so rigid in his interpretation of the rules that he forgets to enjoy himself. This episode was inspired by encounters with several Second Life role playing groups who spend so much time fixating on the rules of role play that they forget the key word in role play is "play".
THE SECOND LIFE ADVENTURES OF ADO THE ALIEN Episode 4 is based on an actual event in which Ozymandius, a MAGE Magazine Photographer and Writer, for an assignment with a publication called the "SL Newser" wrote a negative review about a virtual game called "UNIA" produced by the Second Life company known as "MADPEA". The owner of MADPEA's response to this negative review was to organize a group of people to send hate mail to the editor with the hopes of pressuring the SL Newser into firing Ozymandius and printing a retraction. Fortunately the SL Newser held its ground and the threats of Kiana Writer, the owner of MADPEA, where ignored.
A few weeks later MAGE Magazine released the following episode.
One of the criticisms of the MADPEA game was that the sim generated too much lag.
In the back ground of Episode 4 is a billboard which is a design based on MADPEA'S advertising poster for the UNIA game.
