Winning Second Life ~ what's your criteria 4TW?

I think the epitome of winning SL is becoming this guy...

http://mantiddesign.com/imagearchives2005/cybersex461456487.jpg

Hmm.. For me "teh win" is beating Torley, the final Linden Boss, in an epic battle. This will follow shortly after I defeat the mid-boss, M. As I sit upon my throne of sculpted prim bones, I will decide the fate of the Lindens depending on what they accomplished in SL. The ones that encouraged the use of the Tao shall die in a toilet. The ones that opened the flood gates without preparation shall be trampled by faceless hordes. The ones that decided moving all the adult stuff to one continent that requires age verification shall be forced to listen to the chants of "savez teh childernz!!!!" and Barney songs day in and day out, until they find the adult toy that will set them free...*

Actually, I'm not sure what I define as a "win" for me. It could be the when I've mastered my graphic skills in such away that I'm actually satisfied with what I'm doing. It could be turning my little shop into a major business, so I can help support my family.

* Umm.. on the off chance a Linden is actually reading this.. I don't really want to control LL, so the chances of this actually happening are pretty darned slim.

I'd love to hear the soundtrack to that level! The most intense techno scene ever...

It might also unlock the secret Watermelon level, too... I've heard rumours, but have never actually seen it myself.

I never came at this as a game- games keep score - maybe the little L balance there going up daily means i am not loosing? Goal perhaps might be a better description of what i am shooting for though never had a plan- it wd be nice if i could cover tier don't care and havent cared in three years but its one of those, "wouldn't it be nice". I am bvery happy with m SL experience as it stands and wdnt change a thing.

To have the largest inventory of dresses in SL -- and I think I am winning.

Well, I personally think SL is like life, you live it, not win it.

But in the spirit of the thread, If I had to make a criteria for 'winning' SL, it would be to to make the system LL has set up work for you. If making a lot of money is what you want, and you succeed in doing that here, then you won. If making friends is what you want to do, and you succeed in making many here, you win. If gaining influence with LL and being a big shot is what you want, and you do that here, gratz, you win.

I think it's hard to say with certainty what constitutes 'winning' in a 'game' with no set goal.

Question is, though Darien... what are *your* goals? You get to set them.

* * * * *

Do so many simply return to see what's happening, and be a sort of tourist day after day?

Do they have short term goals, like making it though the day or do they have their sights set upon some far horizon?


* * * * *

I have a confession to make.

About three or four months ago, I signed back up to Lineage2. It didn't really cut into my SL hours at all; rather it cut into some other procrastination time (and a bit of sleep). It had been years.

Clearly I knew there was *no* possible way I could get deeply into it; the life of an MMO clannie is active, many hours a week and completely off the table for me. Anything more than an hour a night maybe and it *would* start affecting more important things (I have some major projects brewing, as usual).

So I set some different goals. Deeply missing that world, I decided to a) actively remain a loner and b) simply sightsee as much as I could.

It was interesting. Knowing the game mechanics and the country of Aden fairly well, plus the fact that they nerfed the lower level challenges meant that I hit level 40 easily, within a couple of weeks casual playing. No botting *at all* ~ just regular gameplay.

A couple of times, I ran across some familiar SL names... I was *not* expecting that.

Clearly they were the people I thought they were, too, due to who they were hanging out with. For fear of being recognised (I am not terribly original with avatar names!) I simply went the other way. L2 does have some constraints so as not to allow noobs to get *too* far, but if you know level 70something people it can make a huge difference, regardless.

Social interaction would have drawn me in... and I simply have too much else going to be part of a clan or chase the typical goals. I also noticed that the higher level one was in an MMO, the less fun it was. Ever notice that? Maybe it's just me.

Following my goal there, I utterly avoided social interaction and gave up the chase of power once I had enough running speed to get by (a matter of days). And had a grand time touring the lands far and wide... sometimes with a few hostile creatures trailing me, but that's the great thing about a fast running character, they generally don't catch up

Goal met (seeing most of the new content there) it's been something like a month since I've bothered to log in to L2. I shall definitely go back... in a few years.

It was an amazingly liberating experience... a virtual summer vacation of sorts.

Total Virtual World Domination, though I already have total contol through my organisation the Rooilati with Phillip and M as my puppets (possibly they may jus even be my alts nowdays, it's hard to keep track of my whole network when my C64 floppy files are getting a bit dodgey), I can't think of any bigger challange than taking over my own world

I remember, not to long ago, being the very first customer at a little shop...a stall actually. All it had were a couple of dresses in it. Now, that shop has grown, and what is for sale there has gone on to cover all sorts of wonderful things. all made by one of the nicest people I've met here. I'd say she's already "won".

To find and pee on M Lindens couch for not giving us more AV attachment points!

To be able to define an environment in which people wish to participate and that interests them imaginatively, rather than simply having it judged externally and strictly in terms of prim positions, texture cuts, script time, and % chance of free money and/or sex.

to win a game of Go vs the lindens using the world map as a playing field.... I'm gonna play red =)

(kidding, I'm only kidding)

I win every day I can connect and accomplish something... whether it's cajoling the scripting engine to do what I want, or hanging out with my friends.

Win all you want. I'm in it for the LULZ. (^_^)

That said... I WIN!!! \(^o^)/

I put in $10 of my own money for the premium membership when I first joined (with my other avatar).

Within 6 months I was taking $250 a week out of the game. That's USD not L$.

A couple months ago (wow I guess it's been almost a year now) I sold my business for a total of $4500 USD.

I won. =)

Now I'm happily retired (SL & RL), set up this alt, and though I still have a little prefab store and sell some naughty space RP stuff I basically just build and play for my own enjoyment.

Highest ARC wins

i cannot win at SL. for i already know i cannot have that which i most desire. however, that doesn't mean i won't keep trying different tactics, just in case. if i'm nothing else, i'm flexible, creative and tenacious. i mean, what if? you know?

World domination, now if I could just get my underpants layer to swap with my pants layer i'd be well on my way to getting this costume ready for launch!

I've always been on the margins of the mainstream since my life was always about being creative so winning and losing are alien concepts to me at this point.

But I would really love it if my children and grandchildren remember me as someone who showed them that you can always be exploring, growing and learning.

I like to think of my being in SL as part of that.

Fair point. There was a time when I could have said building my business was a my goal. I did very well, and I suppose in my own mind, I won. But after that, I have to admit I have lost sight of any real goal in SL. Not surprisingly, I don't do much in-world any more as a result. When I do, it's to keep in touch with friends and poke around at what's going on.



I recently returned to World of Warcraft, after a 3 year absense. It's changed a lot, and I'm enjoying discovering what's new. So I can totally relate. I'm sure at some point, my interests may shift back to SL.

so flexi hair sellers get your vote? =)

How about a nice game of chess?


"Winning" for me would be to cover my expenses and make a little extra so I can have more land/ less worries over putting money into sl. Over and above that is to enjoy myself and hopefully have those I'm with enjoy the moment too. So far I seem to be sort of doing OK on the latter, and absolutely nowhere close to the former.

Lot of great/funny responses here.

Hmmm let's see. Well are you talking ideal, pipe dream type of stuff - or workable reality? My working class roots must be showing. To me they are not the same thing.

Reality/perfectly fine/enjoyable/keeps me hooked in, are: Helping people, meeting lovely people, seeing and participating in a Stone Soup type of atmosphere. Contribute something needed (read: practical) to the SL community.

Also: Because I'm a gurl, shopping, changing clothes, dressing up or casually-down. Because I'm curious, exploring, seeing new things and places. Because I am creative, learning to create new things, build things, learn from others if they are willing to share 'the process' and then put it all into practise, seeing where it takes me creatively. Seeing how good I am or am not at various new skills and hoping for something cool at the end of it.

Pipe dream? Well okay who wouldn't want to: Have at least one entire sim. Have a business that at least pays for all SL expenses with some shopping pocket change left over. Or even, have a business that pays for all RL expenses with some shopping pocket change left over. Think up/contribute something new to the SL culture.

The ideal, of course! Believe in yourself!!! It's so powerful!

Do you think Madonna is 'all that'? She didn't get where she is because she's the best singer! How about Simon Cowell... why does *anybody* care what that fellow thinks?

Is Arnold the Governator in office today because of his proven lifetime of political expertise?

That's the power of believing in yourself... and why not? All these special people really aren't that special.

A working class person is someone who actually knows they can get a job done ~ it's an incredible advantage! That belief in oneself ~ so long as it's not putting on airs, or vanity, it just shines. You can feel it ~ even a ditch digger with a sense of purpose and dreams will give you that prickly sensation: "this person is going somewhere!"

^ Thank you. ^

Not to sound pitiful but I have never been good at that.