Second Life

Second Life an internet based virtual world, launched in 2003 by research developers "Linden Research, Inc" referred to as Linden Labs. Second Life became the attention of mainstream news in 2006 to 2007. Second Life is a downloadable client program which uses the internet as its platform, this virtual world allows "Residents" (which are the players) to communicate through the use of motional avatars, providing an advanced level of a social network service available all over the world. Residents can meet, socialise, interact and even participate with group activities alongside other residents. The player can also create, manipulate and sell land and items, and when I say sell I mean it in the literal sense. Within SL there is a currency called "Linden Dollars" which can be traded in for actual American Dollars, to date there have been cases of people becoming millionaires due to their land development within SL. You can buy, rent or sell land and whilst it is yours you can develop on this property to increase value. There is no fee to register with SL, and once you have downloaded the software you are able to create a name for your avatar and then adapt its appearance to suit your desires and requirements.

Although SL is often referred to as a "game", its description does not fit the common references, it has no game play as such, you do not have tasks, missions, levels, there is no ability to win or lose, it is a simple case of interaction if you wish or just fly around (yes you can fly in SL). There are very few restrictions, however if you shot someone you will be punished by the developers of SL, you will be ban for a number of days from the virtual world. This world is full of possibilities, and you are given freedom to do what you wish, you can upload images, film footage. However for me this game has lost all of its innocence, people of all ages can register and there is no ban on what content can be shown, children (because you can be any age to wonder around SL) can walk straight into a strip club or sex clubs which are becoming more common, I have also played SL too much over the last two years to want to carry on for the time being, although this was an option for me I have ruled it out due to those reasons.