ScienceSim is currently in beta development. Participation is open, but you should expect to encounter bugs and server instability. Set your expectations appropriately and let us know when something breaks. We are very interested in working with content developers and those interested in experimenting with hosting ScienceSim regions. Please send a note to scisim-support@googlegroups.com if you have any questions.
Check the current issues list for solutions to known problems.
If you don't find the answer you need, post a message to scisim-discuss@googlegroups.com
Create an account using the ScienceSim administration tool. Note that ScienceSim is intended for serious (and fun) collaboration. We encourage you to use your professional identity for your ScienceSim avatar. Most of us use our real world names.
You need to install a Second Life® client. You can install any of the variants of the client. Directions for the standard Linden Lab client and the Hippo OpenSim Viewer are listed.
The standard Windows Second Life® Client available from Linden Labs is the most stable client. Download and install it on your desktop or laptop computer. You will need to \edit the shortcut used to start the client in order to access the ScienceSim server. Create a shortcut by right clicking on your desktop and selecting “New” then “Shortcut” from the menu. Copy the following into the location dialog:
"C:\Program Files\SecondLife\SecondLife.exe" -loginuri http://grid.sciencesim.com/ -loginpage http://sciencesim.com/scisim/loginscreen.php -helperuri http://sciencesim.com/scisim/
For Mac OS X, install Second Life® in the Applications folder, open a terminal window and type in the following at the prompt:
/Applications/Second\ Life.app/Contents/MacOS/Second\ Life -loginuri http://grid.sciencesim.com/
To set up a copy of the Second Life® client on OS X to use with ScienceSim (without having to launch it from the terminal) follow these instructions.
An alternative to the standard client is to install the Hippo OpenSim Viewer. When you start the Hippo viewer, click on the “Grids” button to select one of the grids. The first time you run Hippo, you will need to click on the “Grids” button. Click on the “Add” button at the top, enter the URL http://grid.sciencesim.com/ in the Login URI field, then click on the “Get Grid Info” button to fill in the details. If you will be using Hippo exclusively to access the ScienceSim grid, then make sciencesim the default.
Once you have successfully logged into the ScienceSim grid, you will find that your avatar, a fairly uninteresting female character commonly referred to as “Ruth”, standing at the orientation point on the ScienceSim mainland region. At the orientation point, you will find information on how to get around in ScienceSim including information and content to customize your avatar, find interesting places, and how to create new things.