Shinobar is an independent OpenSim grid that offers visitors a fascinating blend of Japanese culture, interactive scripting and hands-on learning. Rather than focusing solely on beautiful scenery, the grid encourages exploration, experimentation and discovery, making it an enjoyable destination for both builders and casual visitors alike.
Your journey begins in a welcoming central plaza complete with a coffee shop, information points and teleports to the various themed regions across the grid. Before setting off, it’s worth visiting the Tourist Information Office where you’ll find useful guidance on what Shinobar has to offer.
One unusual feature of the grid is its own virtual currency. Visitors can earn currency simply by spending time exploring the regions. Although we didn’t fully investigate its purpose during our visit, it appears to be intended for use within the grid, either for shopping or for testing scripted objects and currency-enabled systems.
The themed regions provide an enjoyable glimpse into Japanese landscapes and culture. Destinations include the tropical beaches of Borabora, the traditional atmosphere of Izumo, the historic Kofun region with its burial mounds and shrines, and Restaurant Eater, alongside several other locations that each offer their own distinctive character. The impressive Canyon region is particularly enjoyable, providing a playground for vehicle enthusiasts where visitors can ride boats, balloons and other scripted vehicles or even bring their own.
OpenSim can occasionally surprise you in unexpected ways. During our visit, our avatar arrived completely bald and entirely unclothed on this General-rated region. Despite numerous attempts, clothing stubbornly refused to appear until much later in the visit. Such are the occasional quirks of virtual worlds, and fortunately nobody seemed remotely concerned as we continued our exploration!
Where Shinobar truly excels is in its impressive collection of scripts and interactive objects. Builders and scripters will find a generous selection of freely available scripts demonstrating moving vehicles, rideable objects and other interactive creations that can be taken away for personal projects. It’s an excellent resource for anyone looking to learn more about OpenSim scripting or expand their inventory with useful examples.
There is plenty more to discover beyond the scripting centre. A working fruit machine, a photo studio and numerous interactive displays showcase what is possible within OpenSim. At one point our exploration was unexpectedly interrupted by the appearance of a giant crocodile, patiently waiting inside the scripting building with its jaws wide open—a memorable surprise that certainly caught us off guard.
Shopping enthusiasts will also find plenty to browse. The general store offers a wide variety of copyable items, while other areas provide dance animations, scripted objects, Japanese-themed clothing, animesh creations, Ruth mesh bodies, classic avatars and complete avatar starter packs for newcomers.
By the time our tour came to an end, our missing clothes had finally decided to reappear, our hair returned to its rightful place, and our dignity was largely restored. Shinobar proved to be an entertaining and highly educational destination, particularly for builders and scripters looking to expand their knowledge while enjoying a collection of attractive Japanese-inspired regions. It’s a grid that rewards curiosity and stands as a fine example of the creativity found throughout the OpenSim community.
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