Chimera Industries’ Wolf [Freebie]

Sunday, October 12, 2008	Avatar Creator: Chimera Industries	List Price:

SLURLS (Click to Teleport)

Mainstore:	Satellite Stores:
[CI] Mainstore	Dealer's Den @ Rocket City Furmeet Central Av. in @ NorthStar Polaris -"Find Yourself, Here."

For a long time, wolves were low on the list of avatars that avatar creators were interested in updating or creating. Following a departure from a former employer, Wingless has released a number of their avatars as freebies. This wolf is a very strong contender among full-price avatars despite its freebie status.

Out of the Box:

• Price: Free
• Customisable by “Customization” HUD (Heads up Display)
  • Eye colour
  • Ear and Paw-pad colour
  • Claw Colour
  • Show or Hide Teeth
• Customisable by Wolf “Control” HUD
  • Ear and Tail Placement (Up, Down, Folded for ears, Wagging, up and down, etc. for tail)
  • Eye state and Blushing Control
• Multiple included hair styles
• BOTH male and female versions of the avatar in the package
• Multiple skins; (Explained later)
• Multiple shapes for whether one wishes to use the provided hand paws or not
• Digitigrade and Plantigrade feet and legs
• Prim-based or Flexible tail

Build and Skin

From the start, the avatar is well done. While it lacks many of the increasingly popular sculpted prims in most of the avatar, (save for side-details such as digitigrade legs and the ears) the workmanship is strong in the construction of the muzzle. The head has well done textures, clean lines that match up with each individual prim to give the head a clear-cut and completed look.

Given how some criticisms must be given out, I would find that given the strength of the texture work, the options for the eyes could have been better designed to make the avatar more life-like. But then again, it must be remembered that this avatar is more than several months old; let alone a freebie. The pupil is either too large, too thin and cat-like, or fairly non-existent in the eye options the user gets.

Two other minor criticisms arise, however. The variety of hair is commendable, however their quality can be considered lacking. Especially for female users of the avatar, it may become a necessity to shop for better prim hair. As well, the Digitigrade stance attachments for the legs is less than nominal; looking much like they don’t fit with the overall design of the avatar. While decently done, the style of the legs clashes with the rest of the avatar.

However, the actual feet and hand attachments are excellent. They give a strong impression of canine paws while not being disproportionately sized against the rest of the avatar. For some, however, the handpaws may prove too thick.

Customisability

This avatar is indeed customisable, what with the standard mod-copy permissions assigned to it. Like any other avatar, it’ll need it’s picking and poking to truly make it unique; with the exception of the ear placement and eye colour, the user it left to fend on their own, meaning that while this av is great for newcomers to Second Life or people who have long await a mid-level wolf in terms of detail and realism, it’ll be more difficult for people who aren’t adept builders to truly customise the avatar.

Conclusion

No doubt a keeper and worth too much to be sold for a mere 0L. But alas, it is sold for that much; it’s a good avatar for anyone to want to acquire.