'Second Life': The promise and paradox

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Second Life: The Seinfeld of Gaming

It's a game about nothing (not that there's anything wrong with that!)

Second Life is what you make of it, and it's not for the technologically challenged. What this report left out is the quality of the people who participate. Second Life has a good cross-section of the world population and it's inherent flaws, but the general nature of people seems more thoughtful and considerate than most other MMO (massively multiplayer online) communities.

I have played more MMO's than I care to recollect over the past 15 years and I have been a Second Life resident for almost 2 years now. It's a far-removed, perhaps evolved even, version of the "MMO genre". Linden Labs would say it's not a game and therefore not in the MMO genre, but a horse is still a horse by any other name, and even real-life is a game.

In MMO games, the objectives usually entail killing some monsters to get some gold to buy better weapons so you can kill more monsters to get more gold, etc... you get the idea. You don't come away with much more than some worthless virtual loot and carpal tunnel syndrome.

In SL you make your own objectives, and you have the opportunity to bring away with you some knowledge, friends, real money, or even a full-blown career depending on how hard you want to work (or play) at it. If you don't want to work at all, no problem, you can use your credit card to buy "virtually" anything you want! It's entirely up to you to grow a thriving business or just hop from place to place jackassing or chatting up the ladies. (and there's no shortage of ladies in SL!)

I don't know if SL will ever become bigger than the internet, but it's a fun place to meet people and create your own 3-D space tailored to whatever it is your into, for better or for worse.

Posted by: SmokeMission   Posted on: 08/27/07 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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