You've been sentenced to life...Second Life!

After watching 3 seasons of OZ on DVD (saw most of the episodes on HBO originally, but wanted to go back and do some more time via DVD w/ special features, lol) recently, and thinking back to an old MMORPG of mine, I've had an idea!

The old game I played used to implement a system where when an account was banned/suspended, their character was taken to quite literally, "the hole." In this place, they couldn't do much. And until their suspension was lifted, every time they logged in they were stuck in this virtual jail. Non suspended players could also go and visit their buddies while they were doing time. But that's about it. They couldn't do anything except stand around and chat, I believe.

So... Imagine this:

An Island Estate devoted entirely to a Prison System, where banned/suspended avatars are sent to do their time. Yeah, they can log in, but they are unable to perform most normal in world functions. And perhaps chat would be limited to say/whisper distances. No IM's from convicts spamming CC buddies. But you, as an unbanned avatar, could go and visit them (during proper visiting hours of course, and taking into consideration whether or not said convict has been sent to solitary, or "deep lock".

Hmmm. I can almost picture how it'd look too. Complete with mess hall, various gen. pop cell blocks, shower rooms, isolation, and maybe a coffee room for the 'hacks'.

I take it back about most in world functions being limited. I think prisoners should be able to create some of the necessities for life behind bars. For example... Perhaps they could be allowed to upload .tga files to give themselves and their "prags" (aka bitches) nice and wholesome prison tattoos. Along with being able to perhaps construct various stabbing weapons for self defense or retribution against various gang members during shower time or while lifting weights. But that's where it ends, 'cause hell, the Warden can be pretty unforgiving. Besides, you don't want to be sent to 3m x 3m x 3m prim deep lock. I suspect it'd be dark and badly textured in there.

So that's my idea.

If you're wondering why this isn't in feature suggestions...then you probably didn't catch onto the sarcasm I intended in this post.

...and they'd all be stuck in Toad avatars...

Just logging in is punishment enough.

I think he left out soap on a rope and the cigarette based economy that replaces the free trade of Lindens.

We've toyed with this idea in informal discussions at Linden Lab.

There are a few main takeaways that I remember from the conversations:

(1) If we could provide some space/system in which griefers would have an opportunity to redeem themselves, that would be really cool.

(2) The code of community standards in "Prison" should be largely the same as those in the main grid -- we wouldn't want to provide a space where newbie greifers are sent to a lawless land to be harrassed by the profesionals. In other words, going to "prison" would not indemnify anyone from permenant banishment -- it would merely be a second chance for those who wanted it.

(3) We wouldn't want "Prison" to be interesting, myserious, or rewarding enough to encourage bored SL residents to engage in grief just to be able to experience it. So, there would probably have to be some sort of "send me to Prison, no I *really* want to go to Prison" option available.

It's a fun idea to think about, however we have no plans to work on such a system.

LOL Andrew, that was awesome you put it. By the way, by "informal discussions", do you mean "had a good laugh" over it? I myself have long liked the idea of THE SIMSHANK REDEMPTION and even if not done by Lindens, if there was a "Community Service" project set up in part for fun but in part for serious anthropological studies and inquisitive incursions into the psyche of the imprisoned avatar, that would be a stern hoot indeed.

I'll say it again...

THE SIMSHANK REDEMPTION: A tale of virtual salvation

Sheee shee copper shee? there aint no sim dat can hold me shee?

I see a future market in harmonica's - packs of smokes - and 'whoopsie I dropped the soap!' anims!

Siggy.

I haven't seen a comfortable harmonica in SL yet -- nor soap-on-a-rope.

That might be a lucrative niche market.

Fran already has the shivs.

I was sent to Jail once in Ultima Online along with some of my guildmates

For retaliating a little too harshly against some newbie PKers.

Ooops!

Wasn't that bad, was just a few hours, and I got to BS with a couple of GMs.

Warden Andrew Linden: "The roof of the license-plate factory needs resurfacing. I need a dozen volunteers for a week's work. As you know, special detail carries with it special privledges."

If I have some way to break out, hell yeah!

Way out of any sim:

1) Tie a rope to James Miller.
2) Hold on.

Heh, JMiller will never live this one down.

I hope it's presented in popupbook format someday in the SL Historical Archives.

lol. I love it.

would we be allowed conjugal visits? o.O

I would *love* a system like this. It's just so neat.

Yeah, with your cell-mate.

Yes. With your cell-mate.

!

*covers behind*

Escape - verb - logging on to your alt.

It'd be fun if we sent all these people to some Prison island, then years later they turn out to be really nice and make good beer and have weird accents with kangaroos, koalas and digeridoo's (Lordfly and Jack not inclueded).

I always wanted a digeridoo!

*Slides Nolans Bread and Water under the bars.*

*entertain creating an alt named "Bubba" *

A prison would be cool ; maybe someone will make one on an island, even if it's not official it's original and would be as interesting to visit as anything else (plus it could host prison themed events)

I have been to prison quite a few times in the real world!