Second Life by Linden Labs

Game Type: Online virtual world

Cost to Play: Free for Basic Account;
$9.95 one-time fee for additional Basic Accounts;
$9.95/month for Premium Account (discounted prepay plans also available)

Okay, I’m going to come clean. One of newest distractions that is eating up some of my time is Second Life. If you don’t know what that is, Second Life an online, virtual world. People can interact with each other, create virtual objects, own land (if you have a Premium Account), build houses and decorate them, attend live concerts, and much more - all online.

I’m not entirely new to Second Life. I originally created my account back in December of 2005. I think I may have logged on all of two, maybe three times back then. I couldn’t figure out what I wanted to do with it, so I just never went back.

Until recently, that is. I have a First Life friend now who is an avid CG artist, and who has been playing in Second Life for a number of months. I’ve been hearing her stories about the house she built, the objects she created, and the fun she has in there for all this time. Finally, she guilted me into logging in to actually see what she’s been talking about.

I think a big part of why I didn’t do much back in 2005 was that I was learning the interface entirely on my own, trial-and-error pushing buttons and clicking on options and not having a clue what I was doing. This time, having my friend Arondelle as a guide, I felt like I could get some control over what was happening.

Gryphon and I used to be very active in EverQuest - I was even a guide for a short time - and we were beta testers for Star Wars Galaxies. What I loved best was exploring the virtual worlds, and making use of the crafting skills available in each game.

Unfortunately, the most important part of most such online games is getting together in groups and going out to kill critters and monsters. Which is fine. But I really, really wanted a world I could just wander around in, discovering and doing cool things.

I think Second Life may be that world. For me, it’s all the best parts of EQ and SWG (the well-detailed world to explore) and the offline game The Sims (a virtual dollhouse), without the annoying parts like being obligated to spend time killing things to make any progress, or having to monitor your Sims’ health and social activities when you’d rather be decorating the house.

So what are some of the cool things to see and do in Second Life? Lately, it seems like just about anything you can imagine from First Life can be found there!

Recently, for instance, Suzanne Vega played a live concert in Second Life, streaming the audio from the real world, and with an avatar with a custom-built guitar performing on a virtual stage. Republican Newt Gingrich will be holding a virtual workshop in Second Life later in September.

Politicians, marketing departments of large corporations, and universities have all been looking at Second Life as a forum for advertising their causes or products, holding conferences, and providing online education. A glance at the Community Events calendar shows upcoming Al-Anon meetings, more live concerts, dance parties, workshops on life in SL, and more.

A recent issue of TV Guide reported that the hit CBS television series, CSI: New York, will be creating a virtual CSI Lab on Second Life later this year. Viewers will be able to register to participate, then can visit the lab to solve a different virtual murder every month.

All these real world tie-ins are cool, and show that Second Life - which opened to the public in 2003 - has made a mark on our First Lives. Ultimately, though, the real magic in Second Life is entirely created by the people who inhabit the virtual world. Nearly everything you will ever encounter, every object you will ever use, every building you will visit, is created by the users of the world. Not by some programmers sitting in the corporate headquarters for the game somewhere, but by people just like you who are living an extra layer of life online.

Content in Second Life is, therefore, constantly changing and improving - and without forcing you to buy new software to continue playing! There are new, exciting objects to discover wherever you go, and when you re-visit someplace you’ve been before, odds are it will not be the same-old same-old that you saw last time.

That’s what is drawing me into Second Life at last - the possibility that I, too, can be part of creating a new world.

My Recommendation: Different strokes for different folks, they say. Shoot ‘em up, kill the monster games weren’t for me. Nice thing is, Second Life can be all things to all people - for those who like the combat or hunting, there are even options for you! And if you’re more the Sudoku type, there are games you can play in SL, too. Since it’s free to sign up and free to play, why not check it out?

If you’re not lucky enough to have such a great personal guide as I do, in game help is plentiful, with tutorials and educational locations that teach you everything you need to know about navigating the world. The best advice - just get out there and look around, and don’t be afraid to ask questions!

Final Note: If, by chance, you’re already a Second Lifer, my online name is Probably Perhaps. Yeah, you heard me right. It was, back in Dec. 2005, the best I thought I could do with the choices of last name I had to pick from, and I wasn’t too happy with it. Now that I’m going into the game more often, I’ve been receiving a lot of compliments on my name, and I think I’m glad I picked it. Anyhow, feel free to look me up and add me as a friend. And one of these days, I just might pay for that Premium Account so I can own a piece of land, and invite you to my housewarming!

If you’re not a Second Lifer yet, but think it sounds interesting, it’s absolutely free to try. That’s right - free. If you want to, you can play forever in the game without ever having to spend a First Life penny. So what’s to stop you from checking it out? If you decide to come in, look me up!

Related Links:

• Main website for game sign-up and information: Second Life

Posted: September 19th, 2007 under Online Gaming.
Comments: 1