Second Life: how much hype?

LincLinc OwnerDetroit Icrontian
edited November 2006 in Science & Tech
Fortune's senior editor predicts this virtual reality engine may be the <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2006/11/09/technology/fastforward_secondlife.fortune/index.htm">future of the Internet</a>. The BBC is also running a story see <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6137424.stm">how much is hype</a> 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

  • GargGarg Purveyor of Lincoln Nightmares Icrontian
    edited November 2006
    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.
  • BuddyJBuddyJ Dept. of Propaganda OKC Icrontian
    edited November 2006
    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.
  • RADARADA Apple Valley, CA Member
    edited November 2006
    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.
  • LincLinc Owner Detroit Icrontian
    edited November 2006
    RADA, have you read Snow Crash?
  • RADARADA Apple Valley, CA Member
    edited November 2006
    General Keebler wrote:
    RADA, have you read Snow Crash?

    Keebs,

    No, never heard of it...
  • LincLinc Owner Detroit Icrontian
    edited November 2006
    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.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited November 2006
    I don't buy Second Life. I think it's another .COM v2.0 BETA bubble burst waiting to happen. Mark my words.
  • RADARADA Apple Valley, CA Member
    edited November 2006
    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..... :nudge:


    :)
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited November 2006
    It doesn't. It's a Communist plot to ruin capitalism by draining our wallets.
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