Virtual Travel: Second Life

Below is a narrated depiction of the various things you can do in Second Life. I am going to quickly supplement the video, however, with some jotted down insights and opinions involving my own experience. I first used this platform in 2010 when I took the class Concepts and Practices at USF. We actually had to create an avatar and meet up during our scheduled class time one day, in lieu of coming to campus. Kinda neat in that regard.

Just as with the SIMS, one of my favorite things to do in a virtual game is create my avatar. Just as with Wii and Sims, I have a tendency to lose interest after I have chosen a hairstyle and outfit. What is interesting about Second Life as compared to other games, however, is that you have the option to create characters of different species. Unfortunately, I had difficulty getting some of the options, including the Avatar customization screen, to load on my computer. It seems to lag a lot in my opinion.

A profound thing about the virtual experience in Second Life is how intricate the world building is. One has the option to purchase a lot of land or room and furnish/design it to their own liking. I believe these premier accounts start out at around $6 a month. So, if you're feeling a little blue about your dismal surroundings, you can purchase a digital oasis for a low monthly fee.

I admit I was a but isolated this go around. I am leery of interacting with people I have never met before. I feel, personally, that anonymity has a way of permitting people to be a bit uglier/meaner than in real-time, so I wasn't too excited about approaching individuals and striking up convos with them. I do believe, however, that if this is something you're doing regularly, and you're employing the community tools like discussion boards, there is a lot of potential for social interaction.

At the risk of sounding short-sighted, I am a bit at odds with the virtual reality games. Outside of the visual dynamic, I don't understand the allure of roaming around in pixelated sand when the real stuff is just outside. I am intrigued to hear other peoples' experiences, though, and how they interact with these environments. I do think it could be a powerful social tool for the right person.