Social Web 3.0

Recently I used Second Life again. The first time I used it was nearly 3 years ago, and unfortunately, I’m still not sold. I know, I’m probably the only one — just like I’m someone who can’t stand MySpace unlike the millions of people who use it everyday — but there are some legitimate problems I can see.

I’m a gamer

Right, no one is sure if Second Life is a game. I’d even argue that it isn’t, unless you count an open sandbox as a game (possibly). But there is certainly no denying that the closest thing to the physical experience of Second Life is a video game. Video games are something I know; I’ve spent more time playing video games in my life than I’d probably like to admit. I’d like to think I’m pretty proficient at navigating around these games, as well.

Why then is it so hard for me to interact with Second Life? Most of my time spent in Second Life was trying to figure out what the heck I was doing. In fact, I spent a good amount of time stuck in a maze because I simply couldn’t navigate the camera to see where I was. Don’t even get me started on the time I discovered a trap.

Get a Life

The second big problem I found in Second Life was that there wasn’t any content so compelling to take time out of my first life for. I did enjoy the “exhibit” on being schizophrenic, done be UC Davis, however I couldn’t find anything else built with the same quality.

Actually, I should take that back. Wired had put together a pretty compelling space; unfortunately I only found one other person there, who was sitting 5 feet away from me. It seems to me that the attraction of having a “second life” is that it could be better than your first life, and Second Life didn’t provide that for me. Most of the time I felt like I was performing a chore, to be honest.

Some Honey to go with my Vinegar

Despite my complaints, there were a few things that I did enjoy in Second Life. One of my first experiences was with a character in game that was sponsored to help people new to the world. I chatted with her for a while and asked about what she did and why, and it was generally interesting. I could compare it to meeting a friendly new person in a new country; you’re interested in their way of life.

I also like the idea of an expandable virtual world. I don’t think it’s something that I can put time into currently, but I think I’d have been more intrigued by the whole idea if the system had felt at all accessible.

It’s certainly possible for Linden Labs to create an easier to use system and even add features — MySpace has managed to get better in the past 3 years, though there wasn’t much room to go anywhere but up.