Linden Labs' now-infamous virtual world known as Second Life gets a pretty bad reputation. Of course, this is in part with good reason if only because the program indeed contains numerous sex simulators and other, even more gruesome, forms of virtual debauchery, but there is much, much more to this virtual world than meets the eye. In fact, Second Life is actually a robust, often beautiful virtual environment, rather than the animated version of the Casual Encounters section of Craigslist as detractors claim.
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| "Spirit", a 3d installation by Second Life artist Claudia222 Jewel |
While most virtual worlds are simply recreations of real-life spots or simply just open-world style cities pre-determined by a team of game designers, Second Life is entirely user-built. In the most simplest of terms, the programs is another version of the planet Earth. Like in real life (or "rl", as many Second Life users put it) there are no goals, no limits to building, no pre-set places to visit, and, most interestingly, a limited amount of resources. Like in the real world, there is only so much "land" in Second Life, and buyers must purchase wisely before beginning to build. In fact, the land in Second Life is even zoned out by intended use, with commercial, public, and residential areas marked as such. Some land sits abandoned, remaining ownerless and empty but remaining a visitable part of the virtual universe nonetheless.
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| Entrance to the now-closed Madpea Carnival |
Despite the similarities between the physical environment and the digital environment contained in Second Life, the limits to creativity within Second Life are endless. In a computer-based environment, your "avatar", or the character you create and play as, can visit and explore the sort of places many people can only wish exist in the physical realm. For instance, in 2012 game design company Madpea released Madpea Carnival, a gruesomely beautiful amusement park with working rides and games for horror aficionados to explore. This is not the only beautiful and imaginative simulation to populate Second Life's landscape, however. In fact, this program is robust with beautiful creations that both replicate and cross the boundaries of real-life environments. In the coming weeks I intend to continue this series of posts on Second Life, with particular attention paid to fascinating spots within the universe and comparisons to the limitations, contents, and even treatment of the physical world.
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| Tribe Island virtual estate |
In the meantime I encourage readers who show even a hint of interest to take a half an hour to download Second Life, check out the "destination guide" chosen by Second Life staff (signified in the program as a magnifying glass), and go exploring. I assure you that the world will be even more beautiful and fascinating than these photos can express.
