Navigating ComplexLand 2020
I have been
ONE thing I haven't been able to discern (and quite frankly had given up trying to find out), is that if folks outside of the U.S. are able to purchase items and have them shipped out to them (*Brought on by the "exclusivity" of items for DesignerCon), which to me is a consideration for folks' engagement around the world, IMHO.
Getting unto the front loading page of complexland.com, you will be prompted to log in via Google, Facebook or Email. I chose "Google", and it linked directly with my Google Account, and name and email partially filled in the registration field.
COMPLEXLAND is a open source world, where anyone could enter without the need nor requirement to pay for admission, but in return you'll trade in some personal sign-up info.
As per the pitch, ComplexLand is a virtual-meets-IRL five-day event, starting 11 a.m. PST Monday, Dec. 7, through 7 p.m. PST Friday, Dec. 11. And while I am in no way a gamer or experienced online gaming, this feels exactly what it is, to navigate said virtual world.
"Over the course of the week, you—in the form of a custom avatar—will be able to roam a digital landscape where you’ll find e-boutiques from your favorite brands, limited releases, performances, panel conversations, scavenger hunts, conversations, art, and even food (yes, IRL food).
ComplexLand is made up of four neighborhoods. There, you’ll be able to check the day’s agenda through a ticker on top of your screen, a menu on the upper-left-hand corner, the Showtime theater, or the signpost in the middle of ComplexLand."
Upon "entry", you will be provided an avatar, where you could choose fashions / skins to represent "you". Then you are proved "maps" of the different virtual landscape AKA "ComplexLand", and you click forth to travel around, which proved to be a PITA for a non-gamer like myself, but I'd grudgingly gotten used to it(ish).
Featured here are also "video guides" to navigate ComplexLand (via their Insta @complexcon), which are hella "useful", but for the severe lag I had experienced on my own desktop LOL - How to "run" for drops, man? I would've be pissed if I needed to buy stuff LOL
Prior to logging in, specific retailers - in this instance, Martian Toys & 3D Retro has provided information on WHERE to find them and their offering (Versus my issue with DesignerCon navigation) - so it was a decent way to track them via their designated neighbourhoods, clickable to "enter" their "shops", whereby products will be listed and clickable.
MARTIAN TOYS is located in THE BOROS, while 3D RETRO is in SUNSET LAGOON. Here are a few screen grabs of their pages. At the time of my visit, the FORTRESS EDITION of DR76 had been Sold Out (Unknown if its a day's allocation, or the entire inventory - check in with @martian_toys), while as per my earlier blog-feature, @3dretro had staggered their drops per day.
Not necessarily ALL sales page were within ComplexLand tho, as I randomly clicked on Greg Mike's "store" and was directed to his bigcartel page to purchase his BEARBRICK+PRINT set.
And this was as far, and as patient I had been with navigating ComplexLand (:p). Alas, I had not clicked thru to attempt purchasing, so I do not what specifically is required (Paypal? Credit Card payment?), nor availability outside of USA. Do share with us your experience in ComplexLand in the comments section, or on my socials? Thanks!
I certainly hope this has been helpful, and worth your time reading. I certainly managed to (somewhat) sate my curiosity, for what is to be an "eventful" year of folks adapting to the global pandemic.
Cheers,
Andy TOYSREVIL
