Virtual Worlds Introduction: Second Life and Beyond

Slide 1: Alja Sulčič (iAlja Writer) An Introduction to Virtual Worlds Second Life and Beyond http://ialja.blogspot.com

Slide 2: Virtual worlds defined http://ialja.blogspot.com

Slide 3: A virtual world is a computer-based simulated environment intended for its users to inhabit and interact via avatars. Wikipedia http://ialja.blogspot.com

Slide 4: Virtual worlds: evolving from ‣ social networks ‣ online games ‣ simulations ... towards a 3D Web? http://ialja.blogspot.com

Slide 5: World of Warcraft is a very popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMOG) that takes place in a fantasy virtual world... http://ialja.blogspot.com

Slide 6: ... but there are also more realistic virtual worlds, which don’t focus on gaming. These virtual worlds can be used as effective real-life communication, business, education and social tools. http://ialja.blogspot.com

Slide 7: why and how! ... let’s see http://ialja.blogspot.com

Slide 8: Living a Second Life http://ialja.blogspot.com

Slide 9: Second Life is one of the most talked about non-gaming virtual worlds right now... how it works! ... let’s see http://ialja.blogspot.com

Slide 10: Users download the Second Life client to enter the virtual world http://ialja.blogspot.com

Slide 11: Client/Server architecture open source client connects The to Second Life servers... ... that do most of the maths for the client. http://ialja.blogspot.com

Slide 12: Makers of Second Life Second Life servers are hosted by one company: ‣ SL development ‣ SL “central bank” ‣ SL “law” makers and enforcers ‣ financed by users purchasing virtual land on LL servers http://ialja.blogspot.com

Slide 13: ... but it’s the residents that make the world come alive! http://ialja.blogspot.com

Slide 14: User Stats > 5 million unique residents > 1,5 million logged in the last 60 days ≈ 40 000 users in-world at any time > 90 000 premium residents Demographics all users must be over 18* average age 33 43 % female users active users: 44 % EU, 26 % USA http://ialja.blogspot.com13 to 17 can use a more secure version of SL: Teen Second Life * teens from the age

Slide 15: Residents have different tools within Second Life... http://ialja.blogspot.com

Slide 16: Communication tools private in (Instant Messages -IM) - or - public in verbally (places or group IM) (text or/and voice chat) - and - non-verbally (visual appearance, proxemics, gestures and animations) http://ialja.blogspot.com

Slide 17: Tools for travel You can walk and fly... ... or teleport anywhere in an instant! http://ialja.blogspot.com

Slide 18: Tools for creating and shaping the world //pic ‣ 3D prim building ‣ Linden Scripting Language ‣ texture, sound and animation import http://ialja.blogspot.com

Slide 19: Berkman Sandbox Abbots Aerodrome Virtual Morocco Second Life is a user-created world! Second House of Sweden Teaching International Spaceflight Museum http://ialja.blogspot.com Little Roma

Slide 20: “You create it, you own it.” ... users retain full IP rights over content they create in Second Life http://ialja.blogspot.com

Slide 21: ... but what can we do with our Second Life? http://ialja.blogspot.com

Slide 22: Living a Second Life: Business http://ialja.blogspot.com

Slide 23: Linden Dollars Second Life currency real money trading (RMT) US$ L$ ≈ (1 US$ 270 L$) L$ can be used on the web or in-world http://ialja.blogspot.com

Slide 24: Business opportunities (for individuals and companies) ‣ selling virtual goods (C2C, B2C, B2B), ‣ building communities, ‣ costumer support,