Second Life: how much hype?

Lincoln Russell 13 Nov, 2006 at 10:00am ET Article published in Tech

Fortune’s senior editor predicts this virtual reality engine may be the future of the Internet. The BBC is also running a story see how much is hype and analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of the system.

From CNN:

Yes it’s cartoony, but one of the great things about Second LIfe is that whenever you are doing anything, you can see the other people who are nearby as well. This brings a dimension of social life – so elemental to how we live our lives offline – to the Internet in a way that up to now the Web has not. In Second Life everything you do is done in a social space, though you can get privacy if you want.

Anyone here played in Second Life yet?

Comments

13 Nov 2006 ~ 10:14am Garg The BBC gives tons of coverage to Second Life. It must be big in Britain or something. But honestly, the news media are the only people I hear talking about it. I don't even know if people in the US can play it. Not that I've bothered to check.

I'd say it's impact in the US is minimal. From the descriptions I've read, it's hardly revolutionary. Take any MMORPG, subtract the combat, and add rampant commercialism.
13 Nov 2006 ~ 10:25am BuddyJ Toyota's Scion brand will be pulling ads from TV and things like MySpace and moving to Second Life where they can have a virtual showroom. There must be some data showing that it would be a worthwhile venture.
13 Nov 2006 ~ 11:19am RADA I have always prescribed to the theory that while some peole wil use this as a tool to do business, meet people, have an occasional fantasy fufilled, some people will "Jack-in" to a VR and cease to exist in the RW.

These people due to a perceved, or real flaw (IE: overweight, disabled, shyness, plus 1000s of others) will do whatever they can to stay in VR. In 15-20 years, I wouldn't be surprised to find out someone has put themselves(their real body) into a Matrix-esque environment, so they can stay in VR all the time.

I also see others getting addicted to their prescribed VR enviroment in the same manner as an individual gets hooked on drugs. Think of it, in VR you can be anyone, doing anything. You could be a superhero\supervillian, a rockstar, have (insert favorite celebrity's name) fall madly in love\lust with you, the possibilies are endless, and for some to temping to resist. VR-junkies will roam the streets looking for $$$ so they can get back to their other life.
13 Nov 2006 ~ 11:46am Linc RADA, have you read Snow Crash?
13 Nov 2006 ~ 12:02pm RADA

General Keebler wrote:

RADA, have you read Snow Crash?

Keebs,

No, never heard of it...
13 Nov 2006 ~ 12:11pm Linc I highly recommend picking it up. It deals with a post-USA future (now a series of independent commercial entities) in which many people spend a significant amount of time inside a virtual reality. It's a very widely known and highly regarded work (one of those books where you'll get more references after you've read it and go "OH, that's what they were talking about"); it was actually required reading for a course I took.

The parallels between it and Second Life are astounding.
13 Nov 2006 ~ 12:23pm Thrax I don't buy Second Life. I think it's another .COM v2.0 BETA bubble burst waiting to happen. Mark my words.
13 Nov 2006 ~ 12:29pm RADA

Thrax wrote:

I don't buy Second Life. I think it's another .COM v2.0 BETA bubble burst waiting to happen. Mark my words.

Yeah, yeah Thrax...

..This comming from a man so skeptical he doesn't even believe the light goes off in his fridge when he closes the door.....
13 Nov 2006 ~ 1:02pm Thrax It doesn't. It's a Communist plot to ruin capitalism by draining our wallets.