Just a week ago, I started using Second Life (SL). The signing up procedure for SL was interesting and fun. I think I enjoyed the name selection part the most. As the days went by, everyone in class was hooked up on SL and had started exploring its virtual land.
Second Life is a 3-D online virtual world where avatars do the kind of stuff real people do in real life: Buy stuff, sell stuff, gamble, listen to music, buy property, and flirt.
Second Life is a 3-D online virtual world where avatars do the kind of stuff real people do in real life: Buy stuff, sell stuff, gamble, listen to music, buy property, and flirt.
BUT IS IT A GAME?
To be honest, when I first started in SL, I thought that it was a game. Furthermore, this week’s topic for Com125 is “Online Gaming”. So I simply assumed it to be the latest ‘technological game’ (if there’s such a term?). However, it is not a game (shocked!!!)
WHY IS SL NOT A GAME?
The mainstream press has struggled with how to characterize Second Life. The term “3-D online virtual world” doesn’t roll off the tongue as easily as the term “game”. Linden Lab, the company that created the platform that is
Second Life, is definite that their creation is not a game.
“There is no manufactured conflict, no set objective,” says spokesperson Catherine Smith (Second Life, 2007). I agree with Catherine Smith. SL has no objective, scores, winners or losers, levels, an end-strategy, or most of the other characteristics of games. In my opinion, it is an entirely open-ended experience. Everything is totally under your control or decisions.
WHY IS SL NOT A GAME?
The mainstream press has struggled with how to characterize Second Life. The term “3-D online virtual world” doesn’t roll off the tongue as easily as the term “game”. Linden Lab, the company that created the platform that is
Second Life, is definite that their creation is not a game.“There is no manufactured conflict, no set objective,” says spokesperson Catherine Smith (Second Life, 2007). I agree with Catherine Smith. SL has no objective, scores, winners or losers, levels, an end-strategy, or most of the other characteristics of games. In my opinion, it is an entirely open-ended experience. Everything is totally under your control or decisions.
Communication
I feel that the means of communication itself sets it apart from being deemed as a game. Avatars converse either through local chat and global "instant messaging" (also known as IM). IM is used for private conversations, either between two avatars, or between the members of a group. This is not exactly a characteristic of a game.
Creation and Copyright
Another thing that makes SL to be beyond entertainment is this ‘Creation and Copyright’ feature.
It is true that Second Life lacks a designed conflict and end objective. Nevertheless the real difference between games like “World of Warcraft,” “The Sims” or any other game Second Life is compared to is this: Linden does not create the content. The residents build everything there. The residents themselves are an example of user generated content.
I feel that the means of communication itself sets it apart from being deemed as a game. Avatars converse either through local chat and global "instant messaging" (also known as IM). IM is used for private conversations, either between two avatars, or between the members of a group. This is not exactly a characteristic of a game.
Creation and Copyright
Another thing that makes SL to be beyond entertainment is this ‘Creation and Copyright’ feature.
It is true that Second Life lacks a designed conflict and end objective. Nevertheless the real difference between games like “World of Warcraft,” “The Sims” or any other game Second Life is compared to is this: Linden does not create the content. The residents build everything there. The residents themselves are an example of user generated content.
The primary source of activity in this economy is the residents building virtual buildings, landscape, vehicles, furniture, and machines to use, trade, or sell using the 3-D modeling tool. Once the creation is in the world of SL, the system makes efforts to help protect the exclusive rights of the ‘content creator’. This is exactly what happens in our real lives too. The creator can mark an item as "no copy," which means that no copies of it can be made by others, "no mod," which means that others may not modify the item's characteristics, and "no trans," which means that the current owner may not give it to another.
Business Oriented
SL has its own economy and a currency referred to as Linden Dollars (L$). Residents create new goods and services, and buy and sell them in the SL virtual world. There are also currency exchanges where Residents can exchange US$ or other real world currencies for L$ through their credit card lines. Residents (avatars) also gain a certain amount of net income from this economy. Residents also engage in buying and selling off land. This demonstrates a real form of business taking place in SL as legitimate transactions are taking place. SL allows users to create an economy of their own.
Furthermore, a combination of Linden Lab granting Second Life Residents the copyright over their content, and legal trading of the in-world currency "Linden Dollars" (L$) has encouraged the creation of solely in-world businesses and the creation of legally registered companies that were previously solely in-world. In addition there is also the in-world participation of previously unrelated companies and organizations.
For example, the Swedish Institute have mentioned of wanting to set up an Embassy in SL (Second Life, 2007). Once again, this shows how SL not only reflects but is merging and becoming one with the real world.
In Conclusion
In my opinion, the business world created in SL is the most crucial factor that points out that SL is more than a form of entertainment.
For me, it is just like another life. Another world, where I can choose my location, appearance and actions. It is not a game but a place where I can erase the current and start afresh!
For me, it is just like another life. Another world, where I can choose my location, appearance and actions. It is not a game but a place where I can erase the current and start afresh!
References
Second Life. (2007, April 4). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 11:40p.m, April 4, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Second_Life&oldid=120268909
Second Life (2007). In Second Life What is Second life?. Retrieved 1.15a.m, April 5, 2007 fromhttp://secure-web11.secondlife.com/whatis/
Second Life (2007). In Second Life What is Second life?. Retrieved 1.15a.m, April 5, 2007 fromhttp://secure-web11.secondlife.com/whatis/
Business Week: My Virtual Life (2006) Retrieved April 3rd 2007 from http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_18/b3982001.htm
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