History of Mer Betta
2007 August
Mer Betta™ was established by Opal Lei after several people complimented her on her costume for the Linden Lab Concierge Party in 2007. Read the story here. The first satellite shop was at a corner of the old Mermaid Mall, and the "main store" was Opal's home in Aglia.
The first four tails were released in mid-August 2007:
* Amphitrite Cream Green
* Atargatis Signature Blue
* Galene Orange
* Tethys Red Crown
The second set of four were released a couple of weeks later:
* Eione Midnight
* Ianthe Green Crown
* Kalypso Gold
* Rhodea Dark Red
2008 April
Almost a year later, all tails were upgraded (v2) to incorporate sculpted prims and the SkimSurfaceSimple script. Customers were invited to upgrade their tails for the price difference between the old version and the new version, as well as an additional rebate for filling out a survey.
The main store also moved to a skybox in Amberaldus.
The Pasithea White Moon Bridal tail was introduced, and barechested versions of the tops were made available for mermen at no charge.
2008 June: Mer Betta was among five brands featured in Siren's Mall fashion show, sponsored by Shanna Sungsoo.
2008 November: Several Mer Betta tails were featured in Second Style Magazine's Issue #22, their Halloween issue, in pages 24-25 and 32-33.
2009 March: Mer Betta gets a new logo.
2009 May: Mer Betta Pasithea is featured in the WedEx'09 fashion show.
2009 June
Series 3 Version 3 tails were released to coincide with the RFL fundraising event "Fantasy Faire".
* Byzia Gold Delta
* Halimede Red Halfmoon
* Lilaea Green Rosetail
* Melite Turquoise Halfmoon
Version 3 tails had enhanced scales and four versions of the top: classic, peekaboo (slightly see-thru version of classic), pasties (smaller versions of classic), and barechested.
The main store location again moved; this time to Dunbeath with Linden water.
Mer Betta is again featured in Second Style Magazine's Issue #24, which is their bridal issue. See pages 70-71.
2009 July
The first limited edition is released -- Melite-Polaris Periwinkle Halfmoon, a recolor of Melite.
2009 August
The "Crescent" Intimates add-on packs were introduced and made available for the Series 3 tails.
Harper Beresford blogs about the Mer Betta Halimede.
2009 November
Series 4 Version 3.1 tails were released.
* Chryseis Rose Platinum Halfmoon
* Nemertes Green Patina Halfmoon
* Simoeis Blue Gold Super Delta
* Zeuxo Black Copper Halfmoon
Version 3.1 tails were similar to v3 tails, except the peekaboo top was eliminated and most pieces came in two scale colors.
"Crescent" Intimates add-on packs for Series 4 tails were released at the same time.
2010 March
The Merkini™ + Bettakini™ packs were introduced to match each of the tails in Series 3, Series 4, and the Limited Edition. The Merkini has the scale texture only, and the Bettakini has a fin texture overlaid over the scales. A sculpted wrap / sarong / pareo with matching scale texture is included.
Harper Beresford features the Mer Betta Halimede Merkini in her blog.
2010 April
Series 5 Version 3.1 were released at the Fantasy Faire 2010 on April 19.
* Grenikos Green Patina Crowntail
* Istros Lemon Halfmoon
* Kaikos Aqua Orange Halfmoon
* Sangarios Red Black Rosetail
* RFL2010-Owain Purple Rosetail - available for the RFL only
Also released is the new Mutation Alpha add-on pack, currently available for the Series 5 tails only, but will be available in May/June for Series 3 and Series 4 tails.
Mer Betta was blogged by several bloggers, including Harper Beresford, Jujudoll Dancer, and Divergence Magic, and was featured in Kyota Spiteller's machinima coverage of the Fantasy Faire.
2010 July
Mer Betta Sangarios is featured in Second Style Magazine's Issue #37 (pages 58-59).
2010 August
* Mer Betta celebrated three years in Second Life!
* The first Mer Betta machinima ad was released on YouTube and was first aired in MODA Fashion Spotlight on August 23.
* Mer Betta purchased first full-page ad at Second Style Magazine's Issue #38.
2011 March
Mer Betta Simplicity gowns were released at the Fashion for Life clothing fair. This was the first time that Mer Betta was invited to participate in the Clothing Fair. And these were the first formal gowns that Opal actually finished. :)
* Harper Beresford blogged about it.
* Love Kawaguichi modeled it at the MODA Fashion Spotlight show titled "Favorite Things". You can fast-forward to 17:20.
2011 April
* Mer Betta again sponsors the mer sim at the Fantasy Faire, resurrecting the RFL-Owain tail.
2011 December
* Mer Betta Eddy was released. The HUD had to be re-released after a bug fix.
* Mer Betta SkimSurfaceSimple script was upgraded to 2.0 to accomodate AOs that do not lift the torso higher than normal.
* Opal Lei models Mer Betta products, along with four other designers, at the EGO fashion show, which is part of Mz Marville's rez day celebration on Dec 10.
2015 January
* Mer Betta moved to the Artemis sim.
2015 April
* The Mer Betta Merkini+Bettakini appliers were offered for some of the most popular mesh bodies:
- SLink Physique
- TheMeshProject (any version that can use appliers)
- Belleza Venus / Freya / Isis
- Maitreya Lara
2015 July
* Mer Betta moved again, this time to the Surreal Orange sim.
2016 Mar
* Mer Betta closes the last inworld store. Now only available at the Marketplace.
Mer Betta™ was established by Opal Lei after several people complimented her on her costume for the Linden Lab Concierge Party in 2007. Read the story here. The first satellite shop was at a corner of the old Mermaid Mall, and the "main store" was Opal's home in Aglia.
The first four tails were released in mid-August 2007:
* Amphitrite Cream Green
* Atargatis Signature Blue
* Galene Orange
* Tethys Red Crown
The second set of four were released a couple of weeks later:
* Eione Midnight
* Ianthe Green Crown
* Kalypso Gold
* Rhodea Dark Red
2008 April
Almost a year later, all tails were upgraded (v2) to incorporate sculpted prims and the SkimSurfaceSimple script. Customers were invited to upgrade their tails for the price difference between the old version and the new version, as well as an additional rebate for filling out a survey.
The main store also moved to a skybox in Amberaldus.
The Pasithea White Moon Bridal tail was introduced, and barechested versions of the tops were made available for mermen at no charge.
2008 June: Mer Betta was among five brands featured in Siren's Mall fashion show, sponsored by Shanna Sungsoo.
2008 November: Several Mer Betta tails were featured in Second Style Magazine's Issue #22, their Halloween issue, in pages 24-25 and 32-33.
2009 March: Mer Betta gets a new logo.
2009 May: Mer Betta Pasithea is featured in the WedEx'09 fashion show.
2009 June
Series 3 Version 3 tails were released to coincide with the RFL fundraising event "Fantasy Faire".
* Byzia Gold Delta
* Halimede Red Halfmoon
* Lilaea Green Rosetail
* Melite Turquoise Halfmoon
Version 3 tails had enhanced scales and four versions of the top: classic, peekaboo (slightly see-thru version of classic), pasties (smaller versions of classic), and barechested.
The main store location again moved; this time to Dunbeath with Linden water.
Mer Betta is again featured in Second Style Magazine's Issue #24, which is their bridal issue. See pages 70-71.
2009 July
The first limited edition is released -- Melite-Polaris Periwinkle Halfmoon, a recolor of Melite.
2009 August
The "Crescent" Intimates add-on packs were introduced and made available for the Series 3 tails.
Harper Beresford blogs about the Mer Betta Halimede.
2009 November
Series 4 Version 3.1 tails were released.
* Chryseis Rose Platinum Halfmoon
* Nemertes Green Patina Halfmoon
* Simoeis Blue Gold Super Delta
* Zeuxo Black Copper Halfmoon
Version 3.1 tails were similar to v3 tails, except the peekaboo top was eliminated and most pieces came in two scale colors.
"Crescent" Intimates add-on packs for Series 4 tails were released at the same time.
2010 March
The Merkini™ + Bettakini™ packs were introduced to match each of the tails in Series 3, Series 4, and the Limited Edition. The Merkini has the scale texture only, and the Bettakini has a fin texture overlaid over the scales. A sculpted wrap / sarong / pareo with matching scale texture is included.
Harper Beresford features the Mer Betta Halimede Merkini in her blog.
2010 April
Series 5 Version 3.1 were released at the Fantasy Faire 2010 on April 19.
* Grenikos Green Patina Crowntail
* Istros Lemon Halfmoon
* Kaikos Aqua Orange Halfmoon
* Sangarios Red Black Rosetail
* RFL2010-Owain Purple Rosetail - available for the RFL only
Also released is the new Mutation Alpha add-on pack, currently available for the Series 5 tails only, but will be available in May/June for Series 3 and Series 4 tails.
Mer Betta was blogged by several bloggers, including Harper Beresford, Jujudoll Dancer, and Divergence Magic, and was featured in Kyota Spiteller's machinima coverage of the Fantasy Faire.
2010 July
Mer Betta Sangarios is featured in Second Style Magazine's Issue #37 (pages 58-59).
2010 August
* Mer Betta celebrated three years in Second Life!
* The first Mer Betta machinima ad was released on YouTube and was first aired in MODA Fashion Spotlight on August 23.
* Mer Betta purchased first full-page ad at Second Style Magazine's Issue #38.
2011 March
Mer Betta Simplicity gowns were released at the Fashion for Life clothing fair. This was the first time that Mer Betta was invited to participate in the Clothing Fair. And these were the first formal gowns that Opal actually finished. :)
* Harper Beresford blogged about it.
* Love Kawaguichi modeled it at the MODA Fashion Spotlight show titled "Favorite Things". You can fast-forward to 17:20.
2011 April
* Mer Betta again sponsors the mer sim at the Fantasy Faire, resurrecting the RFL-Owain tail.
2011 December
* Mer Betta Eddy was released. The HUD had to be re-released after a bug fix.
* Mer Betta SkimSurfaceSimple script was upgraded to 2.0 to accomodate AOs that do not lift the torso higher than normal.
* Opal Lei models Mer Betta products, along with four other designers, at the EGO fashion show, which is part of Mz Marville's rez day celebration on Dec 10.
2015 January
* Mer Betta moved to the Artemis sim.
2015 April
* The Mer Betta Merkini+Bettakini appliers were offered for some of the most popular mesh bodies:
- SLink Physique
- TheMeshProject (any version that can use appliers)
- Belleza Venus / Freya / Isis
- Maitreya Lara
2015 July
* Mer Betta moved again, this time to the Surreal Orange sim.
2016 Mar
* Mer Betta closes the last inworld store. Now only available at the Marketplace.
