In Second Life, how are you doing financially?

Made $US250+ profit after expenses in 4 months of running an in-world business.

Felt successful, but did not really enjoy the running an in-world business experience. Too much like my RL without the same level of RL return...

In the last month I have tiered down, closed shop and am now just a bum playing SL for the fun of it and enjoying things much more.

As an aside, I think that adding the "mature" checkbox in Find and making it default to unchecked may have made a significant difference in sales for businesses in mature areas - especially those who cater to newer players.

I've had a half-sim tier for so long now that it would take around a million L$'s for me to break even.

I'm not that broken up about it though. I get a lot of enjoyment and satisfaction out of my time in SecondLife. The amount of effort necessary to scoop up roughly L$2000 a day would detract enough from the parts of SL that I really enjoy that I haven't bothered.

I have done pretty well.
The problem is that the hours of play (anybody that thinks this is work is seriously brain damaged) that I put in each month relative to the amount I make each month does not make it a worthwhile business. If I really wanted to put in alot of hours in front of a computer (risking my health), I could probably make alot more money. But it would take too much time to really make money playing this game. I had fun while I did it, but I find business projects in RL to be far far more lucrative.


Month 1:
Expenses> $27.90
Revenue> $88.63
Profit> $60.73

Month 2:
Expenses> $115.58
Revenue> $217.28
Profit> $101.70

Month 3/4:
Expenses> $109.70
Revenue> $730.63
Profit> $620.93

My significant activity here isn't at what I'd call a financial level.



What's your take on the prevalence of the gaucho and capri pants in this spring's fashion parade? They show more leg than dress trousers but when worn in place of a skirt show less leg. I'm so confused.

I like them, especially when tight and showing off the calf. With a red silk blouse and a black leather jacket: irresistable.

Skirts: love to see those too. Especially in a strict business environment. So formal, yet so teasing. I share your confusion in choosing.

Economically speaking, both are good - makes me forget all about money entirely and remember what life is really all about.

My financial activity here isn't at what I'd call a significant level.

I'm rather new here. I have a premium account and my bit of first land in a new area, with all the flashing gizmos and crazy neighbors, which I find rather fun and am content with owning. I don’t need a lot of land, though more prims would be nice.

I don't try to earn $L as I make a heck of a lot of money in RL and can buy all the $L I need so I don't see the need to toil away in SL. That being said, I haven't bought any $L as the need has not yet arisen, though I do spend freely.

Though I'm rarely in world, I do find the time to read the forums and I find the endless arguments in the forums over the economy, land and platform v. game to be very entertaining so I'll probably keep my account just to enjoy that.

My views on the tenacious arguments? I see this as a game. I appreciate the ability to fund your playing via in-world activities, though I have chosen not to. I think you're a fool to base your RL income on SL, at this point in time, given the lack of control an individual has due to LL’s ownership of the world. The value of the $L doesn’t really matter to me - if I need them, I’ll buy them. I believe the FIC debate, e.g., who is a member of the "cool kids club" is rather ridiculous.

As far as all of these arguments go - to each their own, just don't jump all over me if I don't share your opinion. However, that seems to be the case and I worry about the LL’s ability to entice new people and keep them in-game for the long haul.

Edited as correct spelling is important!

Business is good so far for me. The challenge now is to constantly be producing new and interesting products that people want and will pay for...same challenge as IRL.

There are always ups and downs in the short term markets, and wider swings over the medium term...and SL is not any different than RL in that there are never any truly reliable methods of predicting those changes and challenges. In the real world, a choice made tomorrow by a world leader or a common citizen can completely shift the economic currents for good or bad with no notice...and in Second Life, a policy change by the Lindens can do the same. In the end its all about how well we all adapt and change with those shifts and movements of policy and politics.

Its nice to see a bit of a positive trend to your poll so far, Mr. Shang...however, I must admit to feeling that it's being in the Land and Economy forum skews the outcome. Rather than showing the feelings of the average "Man and a Woman on the Streets", it likely more shows the feelings of the "More Dedicated Forum Watching Business Person in the Know". I sincerely doubt many "Average" citizens bother to visit this forum. But perhaps I am wrong.

I am doing mostly ok..... my financial services is providing a stable stream of income for me, and my property development business gives the firm some extra padding to expand into. We purchese 3 sims, 1 each month, and it has been running at near break even with some returns each month. At this pace we should be able to prosper and possibly incorporate in RL.