Second Life

January 5th, 2009 in Uncategorized, by Head Honcho

http://www.secondlife.com

“On the telephone line
I am any height
I am any age I want to be
I could be a caped crusader or space invader
And you wouldn’t know
The difference…”
- Santa Monica, Savage Garden

The lyrics to Savage Garden’s song would apply not only on the telephone line but also on the internet. In this digital age, you can be anyone you want to be. All the more if you are in a virtual world like Second Life, you can not only become any person but you can also build anything that you can.

But before delving into the world of Second Life, what is a virtual world anyway? As our dear Wikipedia describes, a virtual world is a computer-based simulated environment intended for its users to inhabit and interact via avatars. These avatars are usually depicted as textual, two-dimensional, or three-dimensional graphical representations, although other forms are possible (auditory and touch sensations for example).

Second Life (abbreviated as SL) is a virtual world launched way back June 23, 2003 by Linden Lab. Ever since its launch it had been much used by “second skinners” who, aside from creating an alter ego in the game, used the virtual world to buy and sell various kinds of goods and services.

The Residents, as what the users are called, interact with each other through the use of customizable avatars. These residents can meet other residents and socialize. They can explore the SL world and participate in various activities. Aside from such, they can also create and build anything they want to. The virtual world also has its own marketplace where Residents can earn real money. It is very much like the real world and sky is the limit!

There are also other virtual worlds like The Sims Online, Habbo Hotel and Small Worlds to name a few. There are also those more focused on role play gaming like Runescape and World of Warcraft. But although Second Life users can create weapons and do battle in some portions of the virtual world, this is not the major thing about Second Life. SL is “designed for a more sophisticated virtual citizen”.
A recently written blog article from Second Life mentions that the team behind the game is looking forward to a great year in 2009 and is aiming to “extend a more localized experience” for the residents who are mostly not residing in the US. Second Life, with the events going on global, promises to reach out to more residents and prove that a virtual world can bring people together. Apart from saving on costs for travel, this virtual community can provide a fun experience for its residents who are living the Second Life.