SL's future? Merely a game? or the BIG ONE ?

I cannot really agree with the "its only a game" people.

I see this model as growing into the most significant development since the web itself.
People occupying, trading, working and socialising via an avatar in a second virtual world will come to make up a huge part of the economy. Certainly I think 10%, probably as much as 30%, possibly much more. Most online shopping for real goods could eventually be done thisy. Sony and even Chevrolet will have virtual stores.

Not a question, I think, of IF, but of WHEN.

We need faster smoother clients and communication. We are very far from having arrived, but we have just edged above the threshold, its just usable enough for us to sense whats coming.

The questiion is - 20 yrs from now will SL have fallen back, seen perhaps as merely a good first try ? A try that need such reworking before it could advance that a restart was necessary?

Or can it advance and adapt fast enough to hold onto its advantages, and go on to be the dominant force, like Ebay. I dont think, after the big shake-out, there'll be room for more than one or two.

If they have brains, Linden are already building SL2 - a complete code rework- assuming 2MB adsl minimum and 5GB clients, aimed for introduction 3-4 years from now. With backwards compatibility so that we can all migrate when the time comes.

So - if it can make it- its FUTURE is NOT as a GAME.

Even now - if it was a game, there would be no land ownership. There would only be rent. Though rental might be determined in auction. But there would be no residual value if you relinquished a tenancy (as in most of RL).

Once you can own land, and pay US$1600 for a sim-sized piece of it (which effectively purchases your server after all). Or build up a business with a RL turnover of thousands of dollars based on that capital investment, it can no longer be a game. Its an economy - its a world.

It needs laws. It needs business confidence. The Lindens need to be careful and trustworthy, like a government.

As their system grows, these things must grow too, if it is to make it through to being the BIG ONE.

So - the exchange rate matters. The Linden economy matters. It is no longer a joke.

Mind you - the future is scary. I see nothing in the TOS forbidding advertising of RL products. How soon before Coca-Cola catch on? Or Dell? What then ?

The Lindens will need to be brave, and clever, and careful. Lets wish them luck.

And hope to heaven their motives are good. One day we'll want democracy.

It's inevitable that down the line, SL itself, as it has been inspired by the metaverse and other predecessors, will birth children that are either later iterations (future versions) or unconnected but still very much a "we stand on the shoulders of giants" situation.

There are some parts of SL that will be "merely" a game. And that's fine, for those to choose that, becaus what is a game? A game is to be played, to be fun. Sometimes, there need not be any deep social ramifications in an isolated capacity. But an amazing thing about the current SL is that already, in 2004 A.D., it contains such a rich plethora and diversity of many people doing many things, all in one world. Sure, there are conflicts (i.e. lameass forum drama and hatin'). Sure, there's aversion to change and growing pains and problems. But heck, you look back on your life -- your first life, your Second Life, all of your lives -- and there are glowing moments that stand out that hopefully make it all worth it.

Sure, some may reminisce about the "good ol' times", and times are a' changin', as Dylan (Bob not Thomas) might say. But we do not know what is yet to come, and a year from now, we'll look back again.

The multitiered approach is the best, IMGO. This way it will not fall on any single strand but stand balanced enough so that if any one pillar crumbles, the building will consider to remain strong.

Chalky - I think that kind of vision is needed a lot more around here.

I think everyone is entitled to sum up SL as an experience unique to themselves. For some people, it's nothing more than a game. To others, it's much more than that. What someone else thinks is kind of irrelevant unless you let it ruin your experience personally.

For me, I don't really care how other people choose to use or define this "world." I think the nice part about SL is the fact that you can define your own experience here, and are not bound by a preset way of playing/using this system. (IE- your next quest is ... you just gained a level ... selling rares!)

You can basically make it what you want it to be. And some people choose not to take it too seriously. Fine by me. Doesn't affect my time in world at all.

But as for the future of SL: Yeah. I think the possibilities are exciting, and definitely merit a 'more than just a game' tag because the ambitions here are far and beyond most online game. Yet, even years from now there will be a good share of people that just come on out of curiosity and don't necessarily consider it anything more than "just a game." And if that's all they want to consider it, that's their choice.

My thoughtline runs parallel to yours -- well said. Indeed, fellow Torgeson. Hehehe.

After all, isn't that the point of calling it Second Life? It's your life to live. And life is what you make of it. The same could be argued for Second Life.

There are personal truths in this world.

Absolutely, and I think chalky certainly sees it in a way I want to hear more about!!

SL isn't a game. It's a "thingie".



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