Second Life Boom, First Life Recession

There was a recent New York Times article about a hardcore MMOGer who was very successful in his game-- and offline, had a bankrupt computer business. Reading it crystallized something I've been wondering abot, recently: how the recession has impacted Second Life. Here we have thousands of people in this game, a lot of them in the high tech industry or a related profession, while that particular sector of the economy has been hit hard, in recent years. I know people in programming or technical support, for example, who were making very generous salaries in 2000, who've been on unemployment for a year or more, or have even taken jobs as waiters or in retail. (Nothing wrong with that, of course.) They bought high end computers and broadband connections during the boom, and suddenly, they're unemployed or under-employed, and they have a lot of time to play, say, a game like Second Life.

How has the recession influenced your gameplay style in SL? Do you play it longer or more intensely, than you would have, if we were still in the boom times? Do you think you're more focused on earning Linden dollars, than you'd otherwise be? Or interested in turning 3D modeling or LL scripting skills you learn in here into a new profession? And so on. Post your experiences/observations/contrary opinions here...

There's the possibility that his business went bankrupt because he spent most of his time playing online games. They don't call it Evercrack for nothing. Marriages can be damaged, friends lost, businesses run down. Online games can really be life-ruiners if not taken in moderation.

But, the same can be said for anything.

It's just the fact, a hazard of our passion. I hope I didn't bring anyone down so early in the morning.

LoL, my parents say they forget they even have a daughter anymore.

I'm not influenced by it... partially because I have a reasonably stable state job.

The main influence on my time in game and what activities I do in game are based on my past EQ addiction. I was so bad that I would not see relatives or friends for days... I would research EQ at work, think about EQ at school, and play EQ when I got home.

I am not sure what snapped me out of it... maybe all the work I had to do the last semester of college to graduate. I watch my gaming time now, because it's oh so easy to be sucked in.

Ask Ama... heh even now it takes me 20 min to get off after I intend to. (;

Since my main influence is another game, not RL, I tend to do what I did in that game more in SL than anything- chat and socialize. (:

I've met more starving students, out of work professonals, stay at home parents and homeless persons (past and present) in beta tests than I can shake a stick at. Beta tests are a chance to be a part of something, meet people and have fun FREE.

The challenge to developers is hooking them to stay (or hoping the can afford it at golive).

> I've met more starving students, out of work professonals, stay at home parents and homeless persons (past and
> present) in beta tests than I can shake a stick at.

Well, send 'em all my way, I wanna interview them! If they'd prefer to not post on the board, please have them IM me in-game-- all inquiries confidential.

Starving student here... well, actually, obese student with zero money in the bank
I don't think a recession that has been happening for a few years already has impacted a game that I started a few months ago. Besides, things in America are different. I didnt notice any big boom or crash here in Portugal... and I dont know anyone who recently got a web job and then lost it either.

Wow, Eggy, connecting all the way from Portugal! That's
very cool. What's that like? And what part of Portugal,
if you don't mind me asking?

Wolfgang Bach is a stay at home parent, LOL Talk to him ;p