According to its creators (the good folks over at Linden Labs), Second life is a fully immersive 3-D virtual world “entirely created by its Residents” (Linden 1). While it is often classified as an MMORPG (massive multiplayer online role playing game), Second life is less about users interacting with their environments than it its about allowing users to create their environment. Interaction between users is certainly remains a cornerstone of Second Life, but fighting and direct competition aren’t emphasized, because in spite of having some whimsical elements, Second Life is intended to live up to its name. It’s supposed to simulate an alternative life to the user’s own, and that’s precisely what’s made it so overwhelmingly popular. Since its inception in 2003, Second Life has grown exponentially. As of March 2008, over 13 million accounts have been registered with Linden Labs, and over 38,000 on average log in every day (Wikipedia 1_.
But Second Life has evolved in terms broader than simple numbers. Over the past 5 years, users have constructed a world that simultaneously parallels and deviates from our own. Presently, two countries have government-endorsed and funded embassies in Second Life (Sweden and the Maldives). Reuters has its own news desk to cover happenings in the Second Life universe (ironically, it broke the story about Philip Rosedale, the former CEO of Linden Labs, being fired) (Reuters 1). Harvard offers supplemental instruction in Second Life classrooms. The Second Life economy, based on its currency of Linden Dollars (which can be exchanged for US dollars) and its Lindex stock market average has bloomed into a commercial entity that has proven quite profitable for real estate moguls in SL. At the same time, Second Life is peppered with individual tributes to the world of Star Wars and other fiction (Wikipedia 2).
My own experience in Second Life was a bit overwhelming. I quite literally bumbled my way through Orientation and Help Islands, due in large part to the poor quality of my internet connection. Afterwards I navigated my way to some of the “Hot Spots” recommended by the Second Life website, namely a stunning reproduction of Mayan-era Mexico. I did my best to interact with my fellow Second Life users, but the perpetual lag I experienced made things a bit cumbersome. Nevertheless, it was an enticing experience, and the scope of opportunities and endeavors being undertaken in Second Life was certainly awe-inspiring. So much so that it got me a little worried. I know that personally, there are plenty of occasions when problems in my life come to a head, and there’s a nagging voice in the back of my mind telling me to just run away from it all. To escape and start over. I’ve never humored that voice, and thankfully so. The thing about Second Life is that it’s so realistic I could see it tempting me to do so. After all, what’s the point in working my tail off and starving for four years to get my name on a psych diploma when I could be an advertising magnate in Second Life?
That’s not to say I wouldn’t take a class if it were offered on Second Life. I think Second Life could offer a nice compromise between the convenience of online classes (such as this one) and traditional lectures. Though I can imagine myself being constantly tempted to wander off and explore.
Reuters, Adam. Rosedale to Step Down as Linden Lab CEO. Retrieved April 6, 2008 from Reuters—Second Life
http://secondlife.reuters.com/stories/2008/03/14/exclusive-rosedale-to-step-down-as-linden-lab-ceo/
Unknown Author, Second Life. Retrieved April 6, 2008 from Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_life
Unknown Author. What Is Second Life? Retrieved April 6, 2008 from Linden Laboratories
http://secondlife.com/whatis/
2 comments:
I agree it is nice to have a change of pace with an internet class or a cyberspace class in our case. When discussing money made in the virtual community..how much time do they spend to make what they do in Second Life? I bet if you take your Psych degree and spend umpteen hours making a difference in the real world the money will follow as well. I tend to view this experience like a pyramid scheme. Those who get in on the ground floor will benefit more than those who wait and are at the top of the pyramid. Typical as well everyone is bragging about how much money they are making but there are those who lose money as well. When this type of game loses interest then what? Where will the investments be then?
Good post and as you can tell it got me thinking.
Perhaps you'll take your psych degree and open a therapy practice in SL for the people who are living, working and forming their bonds in there?
Villanova claims that there are people now 'living' in virtual worlds and coming out only to eat and sleep.
They'll need counseling!
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