Second Life

Second Life is one of the most popular three-dimensional games set within a virtual and user-created world.

Boasting a user base of no less than five million players since its release in 2003, Second Life has proven to be a highly successful virtual reality platform. One interesting factor is that this world is actually created by the players themselves. It is therefore always changing and being upgraded. Those who have been looking for an alternative to other platforms such as Sim City should make it a point to examine Second Life in more detail.

Quick Registration and Ready to Begin

Another great benefit of Second Life is that as opposed to other games, all that is required is a small download and a streamlined registration. One will have to enter in his or her preferred name (along with a fictional surname). Then, an avatar can be selected. As the options are highly customised, the unique needs of the player can normally be accounted for. Once these initial steps are completed, one can begin exploring this nearly endless world. Although the standard version is absolutely free, there is also an option to upgrade to a premium account. The user will subsequently have access to such special features as a three-dimensional home, virtual currency and even areas that are intended only for adults. The user must be at least 18 years of age to access this last section.

A Virtual Marketplace?

The developers had left little to the imagination when initially developing Second Life. The players have intellectual property rights in terms of their digital representations. In the premium version, these creations can actually be bought and sold to others for real cash (as opposed to virtual credits). It is said that millions of dollars change hands every month through this platform.

Amazing Player Interactions

Another amenity that has always attracted players to Second Life is that they are able to chat with users in real-time scenarios. Not only is this an excellent way to make friends within the virtual world, but helpful advice can be procured along the way. This is ideal for anyone who may be new to the genre. IM chat is standard while some "worlds" will also support peer-to-peer voice chat as an option. Handy help guides will teach newcomers basic actions such as sitting, walking, standing and even flying. This is then complimented with the ability to teleport from one world to another through the simple click of a mouse button. It now becomes clear why Second Life has been such a popular virtual reality game since 2003.

System Requirements

The only disadvantage is that Second Life can be a bit demanding on existing hardware. Although the initial download is only 31.3 megabytes, we must recall that the game itself is streaming. So, older computers may find some of the interactions a bit sluggish. It is recommended that a processing power of 1.5 GHz alongside at least one gigabyte of memory are both available. A broadband Internet connection is likewise essential. Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows 8 are all supported operating systems. Please note that older variants such as Windows 95 and Windows 98 are incompatible with Second Life.

Now that we have seen the basics of this game, let us end with a list of the benefits and some potential disadvantages.

Pros

• An amazing interactive world
• The ability to chat with other players
• Customisable characters

Cons

• The Game requires hefty processing power
• Only the premium version unlocks all of the benefits