|
|
| |
 |
|
| | | Second Life is a massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) in which members interact with other residents, create, sell and buy items, and more. Launched in 2003 by Linden Lab, Second Life currently has over five million registered users from all over the world. | | |
| Typical costs: | - Free, for a basic Second Life account. Users can create one resident with unlimited access to Second Life's tools, events and communities. New accounts receive a one-time signup bonus of L$250 (Linden Dollars, the currency of the Second Life world). Creating a second resident costs $9.95.
- Players 13-17 can join a Teen version of the game.
|
| What should be included: | |
| Additional costs: | - A premium Second Life account is $9.95 a month, or $22.50 quarterly. Premium account holders receive a one-time signup bonus of L$1,000 plus a small weekly stipend of L$300.
- The Premium account comes with up to 512 square meters of land, which needs to be purchased from other residents or directly from Linden Lab (the land cost varies depending on the market). Recent land auctions include $2,101 for 63,024 square meters on Clement and $118 for 7,760 square meters on Igbo. If your land area exceeds 512 square meters, you will need to pay a monthly Land Use Fee (in addition to your monthly Premium account fee). The fees can start at $5/month for an additional 512 square meters, or up to $195/month for an additional 65,536 square meters.
- You can purchase your own private island in the Second Life world for a one-time $1,675 set-up fee and a monthly $295 island fee. Residents can use an island to build a large project or to start up a community. While a luxury, as of April 2007, there are over 6,000 owned islands.
- Linden dollars can be used to purchase goods or services in-world from retail shops or other residents, including clothing, hairstyles, jewelry and real estate. Second Life goods and services include hairstyles and tattoos for L$1 each; an evening dress for L$500; or a leather sofa for L$279. Players can also purchase Linden dollars on eBay, L$10,000 usually runs for around US $40.
- Linden dollars can be converted to U.S. dollars and vice versa using in-world ATMs"--the exchange rate fluctuates but as of April 2007, it is relatively stable at around L$266 to one U.S. dollar.
- A high-speed internet connection is required.
|
| Discounts: | - Discounts on islands are available to verified real world educators and academic institutions such as universities and schools, or to nonprofit organizations with 501(c)3 status, who plan to use the land to support their organization's official work. For these organizations, small islands are $980 for 65,536 square meters (about 16 acres), and monthly land fees are $150.
|
| Shopping for second life: | - Before you take the Second Life plunge, it's advisable to first learn how the virtual world works. Strategy guides such as Second Life: The Official Guide, available from Amazon.com for under $35, can help you get the most out of your time online. Free online guides such as Second Life Wiki, the Second Life Knowledge Base and the Second Life Blog are also available.
- You can join at the Second Life website.
|
| |
Article updated June 2007 |
|
|
Digg this
del.icio.us
E-mail
Post