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Second Life04.25.08 |
Second Life, which can be downloaded for free, allows users to build avatars and interact with each other on the many public and privately owned virtual islands in the Second Life world.
Launched in 2003 by Linden Research, Inc, Second Life has 13 million registered accounts. In Jauary 2008, there were 38,000 users logged on at any given moment. Avatars can buy virtual land as well as virtual objects with Linden Dollars, which are sold at a rate of about $226 Lindens for one US dollar.
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Basics
Publisher: Linden Labs
Launch Date: June 2003
URL: http://www.secondlife.com
Number of registered accounts: Over 14 million
Target Audience: 18+ for the Main Grid, 13-17 for Teen Second Life
Cost and subsequent subscription fees: Second Life is free to download and use. Premium membership requires a monthly fee; $9.95 a month is the base fee, which can be discounted to $7.50 a month if paid quarterly, or $6.00 a month if paid annually. Purchasing land over the given 512 square meters allotted requires additional fees according to plot size.
General Description: Second Life is a 3D social world where Residents can interact with each other using fully customizable avatars. Residents can own land, create and sell items, and create groups for other Residents to join and meet. With few restrictions on content, Second Life is one of the most popular social online worlds, where Residents are free to express themselves and their interests as their second life.
Technical
Platform: PC, Macintosh, and Linux
2-D, full 3-D, or other: 3D virtual world
Special hardware required (upgraded video card, sound card, etc): None
Language availability: English, German, French, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, with more in the works
Option for authoring (can users create and build?): There are areas where all users can build temporary objects. Premium members can build on their own land or group owned land if permitted by the group.
Design tools available: Second Life uses Linden Scripting Language, developed by Linden Labs. Design involves an in-world 3D modeling tool that is built into the Second Life viewer. Users can create geometric shapes, move and resize them, and then upload and wrap textures around their creations.
Search (does the world offer a way to search users and/or places?): Second Life has a sophisticated Map system where users can search for stores and buildings and teleport themselves there. Search is also available to find other Residents, groups, and events taking place in Second Life.
Security (is there protection against hacking, identity theft, or theft of IP?): Security of items is controlled by creators; there is a copy/modify/transfer system in place where users can control if their creations can be traded, copied, or altered. If a user does not want their creation to be sold or copied, they can restrict permissions on the copies of their item that they sell. However, what users and Linden Labs cannot control is creative IP capture through use of third party tools such as video or audio recording.
Can the virtual world be accessed through mobile devices: Several companies, including Sun, Inc. and Vollee, have created a mobile client for Second Life where users may access the virtual space through their cellular phones.
Can the virtual space be accessed offline: Partially, through the web users can access auctions and sales.
Is the world persistent? (Does the world continue when the user logs off): Yes
Legal & Management
Entry (what personal information is required?): Resident first and last name, Gender (can be different from actual gender), Country, Birthday, Email address, Credit Card info and/or paypal account name for premium accounts
Is a free trial account available (if so, what are the account restrictions)? Users begin with a free account and are never required to upgrade to a paid account. Free accounts cannot own land and must purchase Linden dollars to have in-world currency.
Are there age restrictions: All users must be 13 years of age or older.
User Profiles (what do they contain?): Users can input photographs, Second Life partner, interests, favorite places in Second Life, classified ads, and comments about themselves. You can also find out what groups a Resident belongs to by viewing their profile.
Privacy management (protecting personal data, information sharing with other companies): Personal information is not shared with other companies. Users control how much or how little info they wish to share about their real information.
If a premium membership exists, what benefits are there to upgrading? Premium members have the right to purchase up to 512 square meters of land. For an additional fee, they can increase the size of their land allowance. Premium members also receive an immediate L$1000 bonus on account upgrade, and also receive a monthly stipend of L$300.
Can access be restricted to designated groups? Premium members can create and invite others to groups. Groups can own land which can restrict access and building privileges to group members only.
Intellectual Property management (who owns users' creative works?): Content creators own and are responsible for their own creative works.
Are there in-world moderators: There is 24 hour moderation in Second Life.
Management of abusive behavior: Users can be banned or suspended by in-world moderators depending on the severity of the offense.
Virtual Space
Avatar description (are they customizable?): Avatars are fully customizable, and can be any shape, size, or creature. Avatars do not need to be human in form. Features, size, shape, and clothing are all malleable by the user.
Is in-world property ownership available? Residents can own land, from the smallest plot at 512 square meters, to whole islands that require the purchase of a server.
What are the common meeting spaces (and how many do they accommodate)? Popular hangouts are night clubs and shops. There are places replicating or building upon popular culture, such as Little Silent Hill, which replicates the town of Silent Hill from the popular video game series.
Video or animation capabilities: Users can integrate video, sound, or animation in their owned land, or even in their avatars through scripting.
Are there any restrictions on what users can create in their "owned" space? Certain areas are marked PG-13. The only restriction on creative content exists in these areas. Certain obvious restrictions (no gambling, no child pornography) are also in place.
Example of a prominent corporation present in the virtual world: Many corporations have entered Second Life: CNET.com, Adidas, Reebok, American Apparel, Sun Microsystems, Toyota, IBM, Starwood Hotels and Nissan.
Socialization/Communication
Does the world include in-world instant messaging? Yes
Out of world instant messaging? Messaging not received in world is sent to the user’s email.
In-game email? Second Life does include in-world email, however the functionality is limited so use is not widespread.
Blog space? No
Screenshot or photo albums? Users are able to add photos of themselves and their avatars on their personal profile page. Photos taken in-world are saved in inventory and can be emailed or used as textures.
Can other users be blocked or ignored? Yes
Is there language filtering? No, however zones marked Mature are to warn users of potentially inappropriate content.
Economy
Does the virtual world have currency? Second Life’s official currency is the Linden dollar or L$.
How does the user obtain currency in-world? Users can purchase currency from Linden Labs at a fluctuating rate, from other players, or by selling created objects in-world.
Can a user convert real world cash to in-world currency? Yes, users can purchase currency from Linden Labs on the Second Life website.
How does the company assist with in-world trade? (Official commerce sites/auction sites/etc): There are in-world classified ads, item auction websites, official land auction websites, and the Linden dollar exchange site.
Does it cost money or currency to upload user created content? It costs L$10 to upload each file, whether through individual upload or bulk upload. Users do not receive a discount for a bulk upload.
Educational Presence
Prominent educational, government and corporate organizations known to be using this product for educational purposes: Harvard University, Texas State University and Stanford University have all set up virtual in second life. Additionally, there are over 200 educators from many educational organizations using Second Life for classes, research, learning and projects.
Examples of areas in which instruction is currently offered: Architecture is a perfect example of ease of learning in Second Life. Students can learn by building and testing their blueprints in a 3D space.
Are there special privileges for instructors? Yes, discounted land rates and group mailing lists are available for educators.
Are there virtual classrooms or meeting areas? What types of useful objects are in these areas? Classrooms, meeting spaces, and open land for building.
Strengths of this product as an educational or learning tool: The ability to design, create, and experience without limit. Also, Second Life gives students the ability and accessibility to reach out beyond borders to other cultures to learn.
Links to some institutions or organizations currently using this product for learning:
* Harvard University
(slURL) http://slurl.com/secondlife/Berkman/105/74/35
* Stanford University
(slURL) http://slurl.com/secondlife/Esperance/66/136/31
Opportunities for Philanthropy
Prominent educational, government and corporate organizations known to be using this product for philanthopic purposes: The American Cancer Society, TechSoup, Global Kids, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society have virtual counterparts in Second Life.
Are there zones or areas reserved for promoting real life issues? Besides the special interest organizations with a virtual counterpart in Second Life, Residents can set up their own space if they wish.
Do users find the virtual world an appropriate place for philanthropy? A majority of the fundraising in Second Life is user driven. Whenever a disaster strikes the real world, Residents who were touched by the tragedy of others have created in-world memorials, fundraisers, and general support for the victims.
Links to some institutions or organizations currently using this product for philanthropy:
* ACS Relay for Life in Second Life
(URL) http://www.cancer.org/docroot/GI/content/GI_1_8_Second_Life_Relay.asp
* Global Kids in Second Life:
(URL) http://www.globalkids.org/?id=30