Never heard of it before, but what a concept. Anyone ever read "Snow Crash"? (Same guy that wrote Cryptonomicon? Add VR and we're there...

Ah yes, the Metaverse

Both man. Both.

Uh oh.

Tabs is running for the shelter of his mother's little helper.

I used to date a woman who was involved in the team that developed ARPANET (aka the proto-internet). So unlike Al Gore, she actually DID invent the internet - or at least some of it.

I recently asked her why I should care about Second Life. She said the reason is that immersive online worlds will become the next revolutionary interface. Your avatar will replace your keyboard and mouse and the internet will become a 3D experience. I believe she concludes that the technology isn't there yet, but that World of Warcraft and Second Life point the way to the future.

White Rabbit...:cool:

I watched the same show - Rise of the Video Games. So far, there have been seven "levels" starting with the origin of Video Games - "tennis for two" on an Oscilloscope to Pong, Space Invaders, Atari, etc. Moving into the home gaming age of Atari, crash of home gaming int he '80's 3D graphics, etc. Then came storylines in games to keep us captivated...
It's been an interesting series. I highly reccomend it.

Within second life, can you then logon to the internet? And if so can you then see your real life?

Some additional tidbits I recall from the TV show:

Gaming: You can go to ebay and purchase character's at 'upper levels'. What I took this to mean was people have spent (hundreds/thousands?) of hours getting to a high game 'level' with their 'character' (don't know the actual term) and selling it to the highest bidder. Comments in the show indicated the other gamers resent this and eventually find out you are a fraud because your gaming skills are not at the level your 'character' is?

Second Life: Apparently it's about $10 per month to participate at the lowest level. Wow ...so assuming they have 5 million players world wide, cash flow = minimum of.... $50 million dollars PER MONTH!!!!!!????

I can see how this is a fantastic business model for the sites developer. But I hope someone else can give us more details about how the individuals participating can make money (monthly). What do you sell in a FAKE on-line store, in a FAKE world ...to other FAKE individuals?

What does Nike, Pepsi, McDonald's, etc. sell in such an environment and how is it profitable?

Still confused.:confused:

My understanding is they sell "real estate" in the form of IP addresses. So you can "rule" over your own domain of sorts.

That one is easier to explain: it's all about advertising. You've got 50 million folks in their virtual world. Eventually, these folks will get hungry and thirsty. So they wil recall that McD's has an all new triple-patty bacon infused lard-meal, and they are of to that fast food joint for some "nourishment." But not before they done their Nike work out shoes.

-Z-man.

World of Warcraft charges $14.95 (last time I saw) and they have over 9 million users...

I'd never heard of this type of thing before, but took a quick look at Second Life - I do think they are onto something very, very big.

So no one here is a participant (or will admit it)?

I am just floored by the cash flow potential of this 'virtual world'. Amazing.

Some info I looked up:

Launched in 2000, SL counts among its largest backers Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos and eBay founder Pierre Omidyar. Mitchell Kapor, the founder of software pioneer Lotus, was the first outside investor in Linden Labs.

Founder Philip Rosedale is CEO of Linden Lab.

Linden Lab has about 130 employees.

Opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by millions of Residents from around the globe.

You pay $9.95 a month plus a Land Use Fee proportional to the amount of land you own. Whether it's a modest nook for a relaxing cottage, or an entire island to build your dream amusement park, land is for everyone.

This commerce is handled with the in-world unit-of-trade, the Linden dollar, which can be converted to US dollars at several thriving online Linden Dollar exchanges.

There are at least 3,000 entrepreneurs making $20,000 or more a year on SL businesses.

I have a (virtual) bridge for sale in Brooklyn if anyone is interested.

Note to "gamers": While you're banging virtual chicks, I'll be banging your "real" g/f...

My brother is deeply hooked in one. Girlfriend in France. Dancing, gifts, house. The whole bit. But I will admit it’s probably not a bad thing for him. He’s single, 50s, no job, no real life (ever) & he’s been slowly dying of prostate cancer for 10 years.

In his case, a virtual fantasy life is probaby good.

Ian

So here's the next million dollar idea...

There will obviously be a number of these things out there as they gain popularity. Write a transport protocol between virtual worlds to start. Then virtual weapons... Drive your tank into the other guys world. Blow stuff up. Start a virtual war between worlds.

I'll call it "War of the Worlds" and I'll be famous.

(Though I like Chuck's idea the best.)

A guy I know owns rental property in 2nd Life.
-Chris

I downloaded Entropia last night to check it out because there are no subscription fees.
So far, I've walked around a bit and gotten killed a couple times.
The graphics aren't great, but I've seen worse.


If I understand correctly, in Entropia, you earn money by doing various things. It's my understanding that you can get an Entropia Debit Card and withdraw that money in the real world.. (10 Entropia PED = $1?) ...so you do "jobs" in Entropia, and...hmmm...wierd...


From the website:

Entropia Universe Cash Card

The Entropia Universe Cash Card is a reloadable debit card.

By simply transferring your PED to the Cash Card using the Transfer Center in the Entropia Universe, you can use the Cash Card to to pay for goods and services in retail outlets, or to withdraw real cash from millions of ATM machines around the world.

How much are virtual hookers and blow in 2nd-life?