Virtual_HG

I have rebranded the grid to Three Hills Grid. When we first named the grid we thought to name it after the magazine and since then, I have seen another grid named Virtual Grid, so as to eliminate any confusion I thought it would be best to rename it. I have always thought of Black Hills Gold as Three Hills Gold (the trio color of the gold) so naming it Three Hills Grid seemed right. The virtual-hg.com address is the same, I may also change that in the future. https://virtual-hg.com/JOpensim/index.php

While the heart and soul of Virtual-HG magazine remain unchanged, this rebranding is a testament to my profound passion for crafting intricate jewelry pieces.

Guess what day it is? Sunday, well okay but what does Sunday mean? Sunday Funnies!! BS News by @Fred Beckhusen is hot off the press! https://virtual-hg.com/JOpensim/index.php?option=com_conte...

Welcome to Etheria Grid (E Grid) to the VHG Gateways!!

You will find E Grid in the chain of islands. Next time you visit VHG please check out the gateways to various grids in the Hypergrid! Please contact me if you would like to add your gateway.

@JamieAnnaWright invites you to share in the holidays with her and the Mendel family at Neverworld Grid. https://virtual-hg.com/Jopensim/index.php/2-uncategorised/... Thank you Anna, I look forward to the different holidays that you will be planning in the future.

It was brought to my attention a few weeks back that some AMV residents were having issues teleporting to our VHG grid. We at VHG do not ban avatars-we have no grids banned. Something is preventing teleportation though I just tested it. I was able to teleport to AMV fine from my Mind Odyssey sim, by touching the sign I made Nyx that teleports visitors directly to his AMV exhibit. But trying to return to VHG I was ghosted. It took me several minutes and trying different things to become unstuck or ghosted. I did change the name of the Grid to virtual-hg.com:8002 but HG has been working fine to and from VHG just not to AMV. I have lots of visitors from various grids so it is working, and I have seen Nyx teleport in a time or two. I do apologize to the people who wanted to visit us from AMV and couldn't. I will continue to look and see what the cause could be, as I said we have no grid or avatars banned.

I asked Nyx Breen if he would like to join our exhibit and display his work too at Mind Odyssey, to my delight he has accepted and will be working on his exhibit in the coming days. Thank you, Nyx.

https://continuum.outworldz.net/JOpensim/index.php?option=...

New version 7.2103 is the most secure Opensim anywhere, and has a useful new feature to save your CPU. https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamGrid/comments/1tsk71u/new_ve...

I had the pleasure of visiting Peter’s build at Zweet Zurroundingz, and it truly stopped me in my tracks "again". This is one of the most visually stunning environments I’ve seen—rich with detail, atmosphere, and imagination.

From the lush plant life to the beautifully placed animals and the way the light rays bring everything to life, every corner feels thoughtfully crafted. It’s not just a build—it’s an experience.

You can tell this was created with passion and a deep eye for design. I’ve genuinely enjoyed every visit and find something new each time I return.

Congratulations, Peter. This is magnificent work.

Come check out the wonderful items Peter offers, thank you! 🦢🌺hg.osgrid.org:80:Zweet ZurroundingZ

@FerdFrederix shared this with me. To remind us what virtual means to so many of us. Watch The World by Robbie Dingo posted by SHAREFESTIVAL
https://youtu.be/vV1YbWBSXS8?si=7mD8FnIMCPD7fkCZ
Thank you Ferd, 🌸💗🌸

Did you know that running your own OpenSim grid can be more affordable than renting land from a commercial grid? With an energy-efficient mini PC and Outworldz DreamGrid, you can host your own virtual world for as little as $3.53 per month capable of hundreds of regions?https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamGrid/comments/1j9qcxs/own_yo...

Outworldz Dreamgrid - Create, explore, and own your virtual spaces with ease on a private server. Perfect for roleplay, education, or building your dream universe—no coding required.
Join the community of creators today at Outworldz.com https://outworldz.com/Outworldz_installer/
https://outworldz.com/outworldz_installer/Grid/Dreamgrid%2...
Image featured is @FerdFrederix Alexandria www.outworldz.com:9000:Outworldz Alexandria

When we log into virtual worlds, we step into realms of magic and fantasy, leaving the real world behind, even if only for a few moments. These virtual spaces offer a magical escape, free from the politics and religion of the real world. Let's keep these issues where they belong, and preserve virtual worlds as sanctuaries from everyday problems. 🦄🪄💗

The VHG Exclusive Interview with Cherry Manga has been added to the new website. I will be adding more Exclusive Interviews in the next few weeks. They can be found here:

https://three.hills.grid.outworldz.net/index.php/2024/06/2...

💗Thank you @CherryManga💗 Each piece you create challenges the norms and brings a new perspective that is thought-provoking.

@LillySparks contributions not only advanced the technology of virtual surfing but also brought people together, creating a more vibrant and cohesive community. Her work remains a testament to the power of innovation in enhancing virtual worlds and the experiences they offer. I feel my dream is finally realized, to have quality surfing in opensim is a beautiful thing but the cohesive community is just heartwarming. Seeing Hyacinth creating her new surf region gave me total goosebumps because in SL in the beginning that is how it was, everyone was creating their surf sims, creating their teams and all coming together each month for a surf comp, we can do this too! We can create our surf sims, our teams, and have fun competitions. Lag right now might be a thang to overcome if we have lots of action other than surfing on the sim, we might have to have the competitions in a stripped down sim with just the waves and boards but there is so much hope for this!! I am over the moon excited about our future! Get out there and surf everyone and thank you, @FerdFrederix, Kayaker, Hyacinth, and Lilly and team! 🏄‍♀️💕 https://three.hills.grid.outworldz.net/index.php/opensim-s...
Image is @JamieWright shreddin'

When people post private conversations it does get complicated and mixed up. It was never about stealing a texture it is about coming to my Grid long enough to see the idea and take it back with you. Sure you say everyone does it and it is a form of flattery. Luna's texture is not what this is about. Perhaps the most significant aspect of this issue is the theft of ideas. Textures and assets are not just passive elements; they contribute to the overall narrative and aesthetic of a piece. When someone replicates these elements without permission, they're not just copying pixels—they're co-opting the creative vision and storytelling of the original artist. They're diluting the integrity of the work and robbing it of its unique identity.

In the digital age, where content is easily accessible and infinitely replicable, it's crucial to uphold principles of respect, integrity, and ethical conduct. Instead of focusing solely on the act of stealing textures or assets, let's shift our attention to the broader issue of respecting creative ideas and the individuals behind them. Let's foster a culture of collaboration, attribution, and appreciation—a culture where ideas are celebrated, not stolen. Because ultimately, it's not about the texture—it's about the idea. It is not okay to take free items found online and sell them on the Kitely market either. The terms say for personal use, not for commercial. To say well my clients don't know how to create the models so they buy from me, I add my purple textures and they love them. Makes no difference. Not for commercial use means just that. I see one model being sold that is questionable https://www.kitely.com/market/product/50022077/Couple-Figu... Luna shows a license and creator there which conflicts with this https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/art/the-dance-3d-model which clearly states for Private use so which license is accurate? When there is a question as to where the original came from ethically you should not resell it without knowing the original creators TOS.

A friend of ours passed away over the weekend. Those of you in the SL surfing community please surf a wave for Flynn Sheridan, Cie posted this:

Sad News...
Tue, Jul 25 2023 6:47:48 AM PDT

I'm sorry I have to share the news that Flynn Sheridan passed away over the weekend. Many of our friends know that he was fighting a decade long battle with cancer. Please remember him with joy and happiness. Surf a wave in his honor and consider supporting RFL. Love to you all.

RIP Flynn https://virtual-hg.com/JOpensim/index.php?option=com_conte...

Have you heard of the Opensource Blender Video Game Yo Frankie!? Fred has created a game using all the parts of Yo Frankie! Please read about it here -------> https://virtual-hg.com/JOpensim/index.php/2-uncategorised/...

The next time you visit VHG region you will likely hear a cow moo or a lion and dragon roar! I have added the Outworldz gateways to VHG making it a 2x2 with Gateway to Dragons-Gateway to Outworldz-Gateway to Africa and we added the BS News office to the VHG Headquarters-please check the lounge while getting tanked you can get caught up on all the BS! Located on the 3rd floor
virtual-hg.com:8002/Virtual_HG/56/84/48

Wishing you a happy and prosperous New Year! May this be a year of joy, success, and good health for you and your loved ones. Remember a New Year is a new 365 page Novel, the first day is the first page. So this year, write a good one! 2023!!

@JoeBuilder has created really cool .oars that @FredBeckhusen @FerdFrederix is releasing to DreamGridders. The latest .oar just released is Dark Wood. A perfect build for your Halloween themed sims this year! If you own a DreamGrid you will find this in the Free Oar list. The OAR is licensed exclusively for use in DreamWorld Grids. CC-BY-NC, Outworldz, LLC. https://continuum.outworldz.net/JOpensim/index.php?option=...

Step into the creative world of artist and virtual-world pioneer Hella Yver in this exclusive interview featured in Virtual-HG. https://virtual-hg.com/index.php/2024/08/21/hella-yver-an-...
Images courtesy of Hella Yver . nadej dae/hella yver copyright 2024
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nadej/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/200746523@N07/

Outworldz Hypermall is a solid resource.

Lots of content from OpenSim creators, all in one place and easy to use. If you build, you’ll find something here.

Thanks to Fred for keeping it available. Thank you Cute for the great building!

outworldz.com:9000:Outworldz Hypermall

More content here: https://outworldz.com/

three.hills.grid.outworldz.net:8002/NewSilverStirrupStables/128/128/22 Put this url in your map and check out the Silver Stirrup Stables! Pig ridin too! Silver Stirrup Stables has a beautiful barn with horses to ride!

Across the grid, you’ll find special roses placed just for you.
Touch a rose, receive a gift—simple as that.

This February, and all through the year, these roses are here to celebrate love, kindness, and small unexpected moments that make a place feel alive.

Keep an eye out.
Follow the roses.
And if you find one—know it was meant to be found. 🌹

New Year, New Skills: Ignite Your Inner Creator in OpenSim This 2026

As the calendar flips to 2026, there's something electric in the air—a fresh start, a blank canvas waiting for your bold strokes. In the vast, ever-evolving grids of OpenSim, where imagination knows no bounds, what better time to challenge yourself? This year, let's make a pact: commit to learning one new skill that elevates your virtual world-building game. Whether you're a seasoned grid-hopper or a newbie dipping your toes into hypergrid adventures, picking up a fresh ability isn't just about adding tools to your inventory—it's about unlocking doors to entirely new realms of creativity.


Think back to those early days of OpenSim, when resources were scarce and ingenuity was king. Creators didn't wait for the perfect mesh import or the latest PBR shader; they dove in with what they had, turning simple primitives and scavenged freebies into masterpieces. It's that spirit of resourcefulness that still fuels our community today. If you've ever marveled at how a discarded texture or a forgotten sculptie can transform into something extraordinary, you're already on the path. But why stop at admiration?

2026 is your invitation to become the alchemist. One skill that's ripe for the picking—and perfectly suited to OpenSim's DIY ethos—is the art of modding. It's not about starting from scratch; it's about seeing potential in the overlooked. Remember that full-perm lamp gathering dust in your inventory? With a bit of tweaking, its base could become the foundation of a futuristic throne.
Or take a humble plant asset: stretch it, tint it green-blue, and suddenly you've got alien foliage for your sci-fi outpost. As I explored in a recent piece on turning "found parts" into new worlds, modding is like virtual recycling at its finest—it breathes life into old items and sharpens your eye for innovation.But modding is just one gateway.

Maybe scripting calls to you: imagine crafting interactive objects that respond to avatars, like a door that whispers secrets or a fountain that dances to music.

Or dive into texturing—mastering UV mapping and bump maps to make your builds pop with realism. For the bold, there's even world management: learning to tweak server settings or set up your own region could turn you from visitor to visionary host.

The beauty of OpenSim is its openness; skills here aren't locked behind paywalls. Free tutorials abound on forums, YouTube channels dedicated to virtual worlds, and even in-world classes hosted by fellow creators.Here's how to get started without overwhelm:Set a micro-goal: Don't aim to master everything at once. Pick one skill and dedicate 15 minutes a day. For modding, start by deconstructing a freebie—unlink its parts, experiment with rotations, and reassemble into something wild.

Build a "skill scrapbox": Just like a modder's inventory of shapes, curate resources. Bookmark guides, join OpenSim Discord groups, or follow creators on OpenSimWorld for inspiration.
Share your progress: Post your experiments on OpenSimWorld. Feedback from the community isn't just helpful—it's motivating. Who knows? Your first modded creation might spark someone else's journey.
Embrace the fails: Every twisted prim or glitchy script is a lesson. In OpenSim, "mistakes" often lead to the most unique discoveries.

Learning a new skill in 2026 isn't about perfection; it's about growth. In a world where we can fly, teleport, and shape reality with a click, why not level up your own abilities? You'll not only enrich your grids but also connect deeper with our vibrant community—sharing knowledge, collaborating on builds, and inspiring the next wave of creators. So, what's your new skill going to be? Grab that inventory, fire up your viewer, and let's make this year legendary. The hypergrid awaits your spark!

Sketchfab
One of the largest repositories with hundreds of thousands of free downloadable 3D models (many under Creative Commons).
Excellent for interactive previews, scans, cultural heritage, characters, and environments.
Filter by: "Downloadable" + "Free".
→ https://sketchfab.com/3d-models?features=downloadable&sort...

CGTrader (Free Section)
Over 150,000+ free 3D models in formats like OBJ, FBX, MAX, C4D, and more.
Great for game assets, PBR materials, rigged models, low-poly, and architectural items.
→ https://www.cgtrader.com/free-3d-models


Free3D
A dedicated free site with thousands of models in various formats (BLEND, OBJ, FBX, 3DS, C4D, etc.).
Categories include vehicles, architecture, furniture, fantasy, and low-poly game-ready assets.
→ https://free3d.com/
TurboSquid (Free Section)
Professional-grade models with a substantial free collection (search for "free").
High-quality assets often suitable for rendering, visualization, games, and film.
→ https://www.turbosquid.com/Search/3D-Models/free

Thingiverse
Primarily for 3D printable models (STL format), but many are useful for virtual worlds too.
Huge community-driven library of objects, tools, characters, and props.
→ https://www.thingiverse.com/

Cults3D
Excellent for 3D printing and general models (many free STL, OBJ, etc.).
Focus on detailed, printable designs, but great for props and assets.
→ https://cults3d.com/en (filter for free)

NASA 3D Resources
Free high-quality models of spacecraft, planets, astronauts, and space-related items (great for sci-fi builds).
→ https://nasa3d.arc.nasa.gov/models
Smithsonian 3D Digitization
Free museum-quality scans of artifacts, statues, historical objects, and cultural heritage items.
→ https://3d.si.edu/
itch.io (Free 3D Game Assets)
Indie-focused site with thousands of free 3D assets and packs (characters, environments, low-poly).
Perfect for game development and virtual worlds.
→ https://itch.io/game-assets/free/tag-3d

Quaternius
Completely free stylized low-poly assets (characters, nature, buildings, vehicles).
High-quality packs ideal for games and quick prototyping.
→ https://quaternius.com/

Always respect licenses — CC0 (no attribution) or public domain are safest for unrestricted use.

These sites are community favorites and regularly updated with new free content. Happy modding and world-building in the new year!

In OpenSim, people don’t really vanish.
Sure — the avatar logs off, the profile goes still, and the regions they touched fall a little quieter. But the truth is, no one who poured their creativity into this world ever truly leaves it behind.

Every builder, scripter, artist, designer, and dreamer who passes on becomes something more permanent than any prim or mesh:
they become a new star over our metaverse.

A bright point of light watching over the worlds we keep shaping.

Their work, their ideas, their imagination — those stay woven into the grids, the stories, the landmarks, and the communities they helped grow. And every time we rez a prim, sculpt a landscape, or chase some wild idea just to see if we can… we’re carrying their spark forward.

We honor them best by continuing to build boldly.
By creating freely.
By keeping OpenSim vibrant, weird, beautiful, and alive.

Because the metaverse doesn’t forget its creators — it turns them into constellations.

And we look up, keep going, and make sure our worlds shine even brighter. #Luna #Mal #Torben #Triz

Step into Virtual-HG.com, the official story window into the Three Hills Grid.
It’s where explorers, creators, and the just-plain-curious come to see what’s growing, glowing, and evolving across 3HG. https://virtual-hg.com/

There’s a new cop in town! Officer Judy Hopps from Zootopia has hit the grid, and you never know where she’ll turn up next. Better keep it clean—she’s watching, ears up and badge shining. Big thanks to Fred for bringing her on patrol! 🐰💓

Outworldz: Build Bigger, Create Freely

Looking for the tools to power your virtual world? Outworldz offers one of the largest free libraries for OpenSim creators. Explore thousands of resources ready to drop into your build:

Scripts – tested and shared by the community, covering everything from vehicles to NPCs.

Meshes & DAE files – detailed models you can customize and re-use without cost.

Animations & AOs – bring avatars and objects to life with smooth, ready-to-use motion.

Textures & Sculpt Maps – endless variety for landscapes, clothing, and objects.

Every resource is free, contributed by hundreds of creators who believe in open sharing. Whether you’re designing a region, building interactive games, or just experimenting, you’ll find what you need at Outworldz.

Discover the collection. Create without limits.
https://outworldz.com

Thank you @ferdfrederix !