Nebula to Close

It is with some regret that I announce the closure of Nebula of Extropia, effective immediately.

It will be clear to anyone who’s visited the store that there has been no new product development of late, and this comes as a result of busy priorities elsewhere. I would like to keep the shop’s presence up, but it goes without saying that a shop which is uncared for is not going to attract much custom, and maintenance of the premises now presents a drain on my rather limited resources.

I would like to personally thank those who’ve bought from Nebula in the past, be it for chasing the futuristic dream in Extropia or for propagating a small slice of retrofuturism overseas. It takes a big step for someone to support a fellow resident in this manner, and I shan’t forget it.

~ Vidal Tripsa

“Moore” Towers

Nebula’s had a quiet period recently as I’ve been on holiday, but its catalogue is refreshed again with some offshoot follies from Extropia itself. The “Moore” towers, named after astronomer Patrick Moore, project a raypunk, observatory-inspired silhouette onto the developing skyline of tomorrow. They were designed with Extropia’s communal public spaces in mind but would, I hope, fair just as well in public spaces beyond its shores.

The emphasis here is on light purpose. It’s a lightweight building, at only 34 prims including its shadow bases, and is constructed with only two unique textures for a speedy load. The habitable, lower half of the tower is well-suited to park functions, with room for a modest tree or sculpture within.

The tower is sold with ‘modify’ privileges in tact so it can be rotated and repurposed to your means, too. You can pick a “Moore” tower up in-store at Nebula’s demo vendor, in-world at the Extropia Follies and at Nebula’s OnRez store.

The ‘Questi’ Range

New to Nebula, following an extended period of commissions and community architectural work, comes the ‘Questi’ range direct from Botgirl Questi’s Extropia home.

The ‘Questi’ home is a one-off custom commission for Miss Questi, undertaken by Vidal Tripsa in Summer 2008. The house may be seen on Vesta Isle in Extropia’s Future Current sim.

It’s been designed as a private home and public gallery, inspired by The Jetsons. Its furniture shares this retrofuturistic theme, and Nebula is proud to be able to share the work done here. The ‘Questi’ range stands for 1960s styles of varnished wood furniture as well as the halo-ringed, curving forms of lounge furniture associated with the hit cartoon. By keeping these two styles under one banner I hope the range can offer both practical and fun options for your home decorating.

The range continues to be expanded, however a wide range of furnishings is now available to buy at Nebula’s store and soon on its OnRez branch. Here is a selection of recent new products:

A marble-topped, gold brushed metal drinks bar designed to be placed against a wall. Ideal for placement in the corner of a lounge or small club. [M/T, L$200]

A golden, brushed metal shelving unit with four slots for whatever bottles, glasses and ornaments you may desire to display. [M/T, L$180]

A single, copiable stool suitable or bars or general use. The stool is designed with ‘Jetsons’-inspired halo rings and includes a unisex sitting pose. Idea for larger clubs which require more than two seats. [C, L$280]

A set of two bar stools designed with ‘Jetsons’-inspired halo rings and a unisex sitting pose. [M/T, L$180]

The complete ‘Questi’ bar set; all you need to set up up a cosy bar in your lounge or small club, with gold brushed metal furnishings and unisex posed stools. [M/T, L$400]

A non-interactive turntable to add a retrospective musical slant to your home. Radio station version coming soon. [C, L$240]

A ‘Jetsons’-inspired ceiling lamp with a simple uplit design. [M/C, L$200]

Inspired by ‘Jetsons’ designed, this more ornate chair seats one, is designed with a unisex seating pose and draws attention to parts of your lounge. [C, L$240]

A three-tiered, white marble-topped design of table ideal for placing drinks, magazines and ornaments on at seperate levels. [C, L$190]

A simple, formal glass table design inspired by space age decor. Ideal for placement in lobbies and hallways. [C, L$180]

A non-scripted TV set set up to display your parcel media with ease. Simply add the packaged media texture to your ‘about land’ media pallette and you can display web and video content in seconds. [M/C, L$250]

Announcing the Prefab Imaging Deck

Nebula has taken a bit more of a decisive leap into the future today, offering you the chance to see demonstrative models of the homes on sale before you buy. Until now I’ve been rolling with the more ideal solution of having show-homes, however now that Extropia’s suburbs have become more vibrant it’s easy to see where other customers have erected their own, personalised homes and I can concentrate more easily on Nebula’s own premises rather than faffing with new plots elsewhere.

Pay a visit to our Eastern wing, formerly a stock room for Extropian starter kits, and you will see the holo-imaging deck. Touch any of the panels in front of the device, each of which is decorated with information about the building, and it will ‘rez’ on the main device. The models rotate, too, so you can take your time and glimpse every angle of the home without moving. Each panel is also ‘tabbed’ with a handy notecard dispenser and a tab for payment, from which to receive your full-sized home.

The imaging deck is a gadget that was built entirely from scratch with the help of Galatea Gynoid. If you have any problems or suggestions for the device, please feel free to drop me (Vidal Tripsa) a notecard. I invite you to do the same in regards to any of Nebula’s products or displays.

The “Connell” House

At last, Nebula’s first prefabricated abode is completed! Visitors to Extropia may have seen early versions of this home set up in Neovenice, and there it remains as a show home for all to see (until the land is sold and I have to move on!). Now, though, you can actually buy it! Pop by the showhome plot in Extropia, or visit via a landmark vendor inside the store, test out the space, and make your choice based on that!

Please note that the plants included in the showhome are not by Nebula’s creation. Most are by Fallingwater Cellardoor, from her fabulous Shiny Falls nursery. The furnishings inside are available from Nebula, however, and will be added to as more products are made.