What is Second Life? Second Life Review

What is Second Life? Second Life Review

Visit Second Life on the web at http://secondlife.com/

Second Life – Where Imagination Becomes Reality

Have you always wanted to visit different worlds? How do you like visiting a snow-filled world then suddenly jumping onto a beach? Well, all of that is possible with Second Life.

In Second Life, you get to design a world that is completely your own, one that you’ve been dreaming about. Plus, you also get to visit other worlds created by other creative minds. Aside from visiting, users also get to socialize with other members, as well as participate in individual and group activities.

So, if you’ve got a feel for creating your own world and seeing others’ dream land, Second Life is a platform that you will enjoy.

History of Second Life

Second Life was developed by Linden Lab, which was established in 1999 by Philip Rosedale. The intention of forming the company was to develop computer hardware that would allow people to immerse themselves in a virtual world. The first iteration created was called Linden World where people participated in task-based games and also socialized in an environment that was three dimensional. This version would eventually turn into Second Life.

It was in 2005 and 2006 when Second Life started to receive a lot of media attention. In fact, they were featured in a cover story on Business Week. From there, their user base continued to grow.

As of November 2010, there were 21.3 million accounts registered in the site. The 10th anniversary of Second Life on June 2013 was marked with parties, dances, and live music by users.

Other Second Life Information

• Second Life is proprietary, free, and open source software. It runs on the Microsoft Windows platform (Windows XP SP2, XP SP3, Vista, and Windows 7), Mac OS X (versions 10.6 or higher), and on Linux i686 x86-64.
• Its official release date was June 23, 2003.
• Users need to register online, but need to download and install the program called Second Life Viewer to create a virtual world.

Second Life Features

• Avatars

When you join Second Life, you can choose from a variety of forms. You join the virtual community as a person, a vampire, animals, robots, vehicle, or any random object. Basically, it gives users the creative freedom to be whoever or whatever they want to be in the world they will create.

Second Life Avatar Options

Create a 3d avatar with any appearance you choose

• Communication

The avatars you create in your world can interact with others. They can communicate via local chat, group chat, global instant messaging (IM), and voice and video communication. Chats are public and can be seen by two or more avatars. IM’s are used for private conversations between two avatars or members of a certain group.

Second Life Chat Features

Chat with text, audio and video with full controls

• Grid – World Map

This is basically the term used for your world and the other worlds created by Second Life users. There are lots of themes that can be used for your world such as Adventure & Fantasy, Beaches, and Fashion & Style – just to name a few.

Second Life Map

Navigate around an enormous grid with many offerings

• Role Playing

There are lots of destinations in Second Life where uses can role play. What’s interesting is that some destinations have a certain set of rules that need to be followed, whether it be dress code or behavior.

If a visitor doesn’t subscribe to these rules, they can be booted out by the administrator. Second Life users are provided with several themes they can role play in such as fantasy, history, science fiction, and many more.

Second Life Combat

You can roleplay in combat or any other interest

• Events

Just like real life, you can also attend a variety of events in Second Life. You can participate in activities such as conferences, fashion hunts, live music performances, and much more.

Second Life Dancing Club

Go dancing or attend among many types of events

• Land Ownership

This feature is available for premium users. There are four types of land regions: homestead, mainland, private region, and openspace.

• Virtual Currency

Second Life has its own commerce system and makes use of its own currency. What is notable here is that the currency can be converted into real money.

• Real Business

In Second Life you can start a business and make real money. You could work as a DJ, you could be a model, you could develop artwork, you could buy and sell or buy and rent virtual real estate, or you can design and create virtual objects and sell them in your own store.

Stores And Businesses In Second Life

Create goods, build & open a store – make real money!

If you love creating virtual worlds and interacting with other virtual players, then you will enjoy what Second Life has to offer. If you are interested to learn more about the opportunities for making real money online at Second Life take a moment to go and read our article entitled, “Second Life – Making Real Money In Virtual Worlds“

Video: What is Second Life?