SecondLife is one of the most remarkable Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) games I’ve ever played. I’ve played quite a few too. In many ways it’s like what the Sims Online should have been only better.
Better because it’s more freedom oriented and not nearly so slow and also better because anyone can contribute to creation in the game world. Therefore it has a plethora of objects, clothes, houses etc and if you’re not happy with it you can make your own.
To some people calling it a game is unwarranted and they take the idea of it being a true second life quite seriously but most people are more casual participants. To those that desire this rebirth into a new digital life there’s an escapism experience that is relatively rich compared to anything I’ve seen before, the closest being Project Entropia. In a sense this is a bit like the Matrix and in many ways even more insane. For the severe escapism naturally attracts people with issues who want to leave them behind to be happy.
There are actually quite a few things to do in SecondLife (SL) and I’ve given a few of them a whirl myself. Anybody who is at least slightly aware of this MMO knows that the optional sexual element is very strong in it. Let’s face it, it’s a risk-free way to explore any fantasy you like, even ones which are simply not physically possible on this planet. But you know once you pass 18 or so sex can’t really fill the whole day any more, can it?
To alarmists it would seem sex is all there is on SecondLife but actually the main activity is social networking. It’s like a 3d Facebook really letting you connect and chat and share with other people online either anonymously or matching the real you.
Another thing many do is shopping. Both sides of the coin. Which means buying the stuff other people make as well as selling the stuff you make and actually creating it and the shops you flog it off in. In case you didn’t know already everything bought in game is done so with ‘Lindens’ which are currency exchange matched with real US dollars. The shopping is truly extensive. In some ways even more than the real deal on Planet Earth. The marketing ideas I’ve seen are really rather advanced.
There’s also exploring which I enjoy thoroughly because I like to see the clever, flashy or beautiful things people can create in such a medium. And I have indeed seen some wonders. Holodecks, theme parks, a model of a computer, hypnotism balls and a remarkable project showing you how a schizophrenic experiences life. These are just a few.
There’s a strong presence of education here and even some real employment. I haven’t delved into that such. So far it seems to me the education aspect is too quiet and they are building it up in the hope of bigger things to come. A kind of online classes experience where you can become educated anytime anywhere.
During my time I’ve also delved into religion which has long been of interest to me. Many are represented. Universal Unitarianism, Paganism, Wicca, Christianity in various forms, Buddhism, Hinduism and Judaism for example. These are seriously spiritual places where people attend services, pray, preach, meditate and connect to others of their religion, especially where the religion is not locally popular enough for real life interaction. Some of the places of worship are spectacular.
There’s also quite a strong presence of dances and DJs. The dancing is naturally clever animations, no sweat broken but the DJ activity is real, streamed live via the internet.
However for me it’s true like the Sims there’s a point where it gets too shallow and boring and real life beckons. I have no idea where things will go for me in SecondLife but I can say without doubt that it’s been one of my most fascinating experiences.
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