I am not sure the best way to do this but, I really want to rope in the comments from Adotas.com and begin a new conversation.
Here are three comments on Adotas that I will address in the next post:
But what’s the avatar represent? Does it respond to the same stuff my real ego does? Like in “real” life, I’m a committed environmentalist and wouldn’t touch an SVU if someone gave me one, but in Second Life, where it’s no more real than I want it to, why not have some fun and tool around in that gas guzzler — a return to the halycon days of childhood where I could afford to occasionally irritate the world (mainly may parents) for the pure fun of it. I have enough trouble figuring out real world motivations, let along virtual ones presented through some second(?)party persona whose relationship to reality is literally an enigma wrapped within a mystery.
GREAT article and kudos to Starwood Hotels for launching a hotel chain in-game that seeks to enhance Second Lifer’s experience. I’m always fascinated when anyone, especially marketers, would be hesitant about getting their virtual feet wet and signing up for an online phenomenon like Second Life. We are not in a time any longer where playing it safe is an option. Having a presence on portals like Second Life, MySpace, and so on is a must. Having a podcast/videocast for your company is a must. Long story short-you may not like or even “get” what Second Life is all about, but you’d better start learning since your competitors will.
-John C. Havens
http://podcasting.about.com
Nice article Adam. I think you’ve hit the nail on the head with the paragraph towards the end about 2L not claiming to be a ‘reality’. It is whatever we make it out to be: a sandbox to try new things, a place to launch a new product or idea, an on-line world that is merely an extension of our off-line life, a place to learn (like your CC Chapman example), a bridge to connetions around the world, or whetever else our imaginations will create. As for me, I have enough trouble staying on top of my first life, so I’m not sure how well my second life will keep up with this new world.
Tags: John C. Havens, Collete Vogele, David Beckert