Second Life has been ramping up in popularity over the last two years. It routinely makes the national news, but you probably don't notice if you don't know what it is...Basically, it's a game-like online graphical environment. If you seen anyone play those games where you control a little character or avatar as they walk around through a cartoon-like world, Second Life is similar...except that it is just the virtual world, there is no built-in game. All the content is user-generated, which means that people can use SL for whatever they want to. Some people sell virtual or real items (SL has its own money, the Linden dollar which can be traded for US dollars), others use it for education or job training, others for recreation (gambling, virtual sex, or gaming). Artists like Jayze and Suzanne Vega have given virtual concerts. We will be exploring SL from the point of view of our class focus, technology and popular culture. One thing to consider, in terms of Hill's essay and the context of our writing class, is that because the content is user-generated everything is a text. No matter what you're looking at (except, perhaps the very ground itself), looks the way it does because someone made a conscious decision to make it look that way. The whole world is rhetorical. Have you ever played a video game or used an environment similar to Second Life? Drop a comment.
Friday, April 06, 2007
Second Life
Second Life has been ramping up in popularity over the last two years. It routinely makes the national news, but you probably don't notice if you don't know what it is...Basically, it's a game-like online graphical environment. If you seen anyone play those games where you control a little character or avatar as they walk around through a cartoon-like world, Second Life is similar...except that it is just the virtual world, there is no built-in game. All the content is user-generated, which means that people can use SL for whatever they want to. Some people sell virtual or real items (SL has its own money, the Linden dollar which can be traded for US dollars), others use it for education or job training, others for recreation (gambling, virtual sex, or gaming). Artists like Jayze and Suzanne Vega have given virtual concerts. We will be exploring SL from the point of view of our class focus, technology and popular culture. One thing to consider, in terms of Hill's essay and the context of our writing class, is that because the content is user-generated everything is a text. No matter what you're looking at (except, perhaps the very ground itself), looks the way it does because someone made a conscious decision to make it look that way. The whole world is rhetorical. Have you ever played a video game or used an environment similar to Second Life? Drop a comment.
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17 comments:
I've never done anything like second life, but i have played several computer games as a kid and video games on PS2 and Sega Genesis. My favorites would include Guitar Hero, Mortal Kombat, and Sonic the Hedgehog.
I don't believe I've played anything quite like Second Life before. I have played Sims and Rollercoaster Tycoon before, but those are not exactly the same since I am the only one controlling the very limited environment.
Have I ever played a video game like second life?
Well, second life reminds me of the Sim games. I love Sim games!
I used to play videos games when I was younger. Like Nintendo systems, old school. I probably haven't touch a video game since I was 12. I played Sims on the computer which could be a little similar to Second Life. I have never heard of Second Life till this class.
The only game that I have played that is similar to Second Life would have to be a computer game called The Sims. I don't really play video or computer games...I'm not really that good with technology :-/
I was actually really excited to hear about second life because i used to love playing the Sims game and Roller Coaster Tycoon. I would always build little areas and sidewalks and change the prices on everything. I also thought it was cool that the people would change facial expressions. I think the concept of Second life is really clever because you don't have to buy the software from a store.
I don't think I've ever played something like second life but i have seen and heard of games like it. One of my friends down the hall in my dorm sits in his room and plays a game called Diablo. When I looked at his computer screen I saw him basically controlling a character around through a virtual community. So I would think that would be very similar to second life.
The closest I've come to anything like second life is Oregon Trail. I'm more into the tetris-like video games so second life will be a little different. It's hard for me to even really imagine how it works so I"m just waiting to see what its really like.
I think that Second Life has some similarities to the Simms games that are available for computers. They involve you controlling a virtual character and environment, but Second Life gives you more direct control over your character and the environment is altered through interaction with other characters. I really don't spend much time at all playing video games, so I can't relate a lot to the concept but I can see how it appeals to that population. There are no direct goals, though. I think the point of playing a video game is to "beat it" but that doesn't appear to be an ideal of this site at all. It basically sounds like a way for people that aren't satisfied with their lives to live another one, or several other ones, and to take pride in how successful they might become online if they are not in real life. Or they could be a delinquent online if they feel they are too law-abiding in real life. People can also fight for their cause on Second Life, so they can be anonymous in their cause, enabling them to make an impact without the social consequences that come with it.
Second Life kind of reminds me of the video game The Sims where players create their own people and whole worlds around these made up people. Second Life however, is connected through the great world wide web. If it were more like a video game, it would be like the game World of Warcraft where players are connected online. Second Life also reminds me of the movie The Matrix, the matrix being a hidden digital world. It freaks me out.
Yes I have played video games before and still do quite often. However, I have never played one of the online massive multiplayer games like second life. When I was back in middle school I remember playing the sims a few times which is what I thought of after reading what second life was about. Since it seemed to have the same kind of virtual world, just on a larger basis.
The only experience that I have that is close to Second Life, would be the "Sims". I think that these virtual world/ "games" are very fun but can become addictive.
I'm not really much of a video game person. My older brother used to make me play video games with him when we were younger. (Basically, he wanted to make sure he played someone he could always beat.) Losing isn't any fun and it's kind of an ego killer...so it's no wonder why I still hate it.
I have, however, played the Sims. It sounds very similar to Second Life...I actually like the Sims. There's something satisfying about controlling someone's life...haha.
I'm excited about trying Second Life. I looked at the website last night and it looks cool...or at least I hope it is.
I have not played a MMO game like Second Life before. I usually only play one player games. Some RPGs I have played are sort of like Second Life, except for the interactivity between real people and the realisticness of the Second Life environment.
For the past five years I have been OBSESSED with the Sims. I have dedicated countless hours of my life to this game where I create and control virtual people.
Yes, I have the Sims game for my computer at home. Its not exactly the same but it comes from basically the same idea. From the reading though SL seems be a lot more specific and more in depth, it sounds like a lot of fun.
Second Life isn't like anything I've ever seen or been a part of before. My brother currently is intoxicated by some sort of war game... though all I can think of is "War of Worlds" which my sister tells me is a Tom Cruise movie, not a video game. Anyway, I have been shocked by the obsessive behavior of my own brother about this video game. It basically consumes his life and though I tried to understand, I just couldn't. After creating my own little character and flying around in my own little world, I think I'm starting to get it....
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