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It was around 15 years ago that I stumbed into the world of real-time virtual interaction in the context of MUDs. Back then, it was simply disembodied text floating by on a black background, as I banded together with other adventurers to hack away at monsters for fun and xp (experience points of course). A lot has happened since then, and these days, it’s evolved into things like the hugely popular MMORPG World of Warcraft. But it was from those roots that I became interested in the possibilities of the internet, virtual communities, and useful applications of the virtual experience.
So it was with some interest that I observed the rise of communities like Second Life and other similar ventures. In some respects, it’s extremely exciting: as the space continues to mature, the possibilities it presents are genuinely intriguing. However, I can’t help but think that at this stage, tremendous amounts of energy are going into things that don’t really add true value to your real life. As Second Lifers are spending and earning their virtual dollars to buy clothes, animations, houses and land, dancing their avatars in virtual nightclubs and concerts to flirt with other pixels, a feeling gnaws at me: so is this it?
This should and could be so much more that just a giant game of “The Sims”.
Are you doing something cool in Second Life? Let me know! (SL: Kaiman Oh)