Hi Rofgilead,
The biggest thing with Second life is that it really isnt a game in the sense of what we in society are used to.
I think some people label it a game due to it is really difficult to fathom what it really is.
The best explanation that I can come up for it is that it is an obtainable parallel universe.
I know this is sounding cheesy.
However, Second life has it's own econimical structure (and not in the way we are used to in a gameing universe. It also has its own social classes, employment and artistic classes.
Ownership of land and property.
In fact everything that you saw while walking around in second life (with a few exceptions) are all entirely user made.
Think about that..
The creators of second life allow you to do all of your own programming to the point where if you can think of it you are able to create it.
everything you create in the game you own!!! I mean 100%.
It is kind of like at one point the earth was empty of human creations on it. a clean slate. then we found ways to create things and eventually sell and trade them. This is what is happening righ now in second life. A planet was created and you are allowed to build sell and buy all that you want.
The currency is Lindens and the U.S dollar runs parallel to it. Same as if you were in Canada.
In Canada you use their currency but the U.S dollar like most other currencies is accepted and able to be exchanged.
Currently the exchange rate is somewhere between 250- 300 Lindens per U.S dollar.
You are able to echange your "in Game $'s anytime very easily into U.s dollars.
WHY IS ALL THIS POSSIBLE?
Supply and demand, people want Items and people want land and since the $'s in second life are convertible to US any $'s made from the sale of property and land is actual tangible assets.
Sure it may be a pixel but since it is tangible it has value.
Now. what can you do in Second Life.
for one thing. I think most in TFP will aprreciate this.. You can have hard core graphic sex lol!!!
as well as
Go to dance clube, stores, movies, concerts, game showa, schools, churches, self help groups, even the 2006 MLB allStar game was live in second life.
You were able to actually go to the stadium in Second life buy a foam finger
and sit in the stands and watch the actual game inside of a stadium!!!!!! as it was happening real time!
Clubs to me are kind of like really fun chat rooms. Instead of just looking at text you are looking at an environment and sharing an eperience with others while you chat and do what ever.
I own my own property built my own home ( not an easy task) and try and build my own products.
Which is the next thing to do.
You can work on and improve your craft. building what ever it is you build and everything can be made to be interactive. I mean cars with Hydraulics that go certain mph and horns and transmissions and also turn into hover crafts and look like a 1950's muscle car.
Also big corporations such as coca cola, American apparell etc. sell their merchandise in the game.
I'm telling you it is a lot more then it seems on the surface and it is still young enough to explode into something that we cannot comprehend.
You can actually go to a real live college in Second life.
Major Universities that when you go and sign up in them in real life out side of second life give you the option of instead of moving to where ever they are to go to their unvieristy on-line in second life. with a real professor and other students. and you have your virtual desk and everything.
Their is also combat in Second Life. The thing about th ecombat in second life is that it is endless. what ever weapon you can think about and create you can! Their are many areas where you can fight and even assasinate openly!.
Also lotsdof games, and casinos in Second Life that actually pay out US $'s that you can convert into US $.
As well a lot of WHore houses, escort services etc.
Anyhow. it can get borng once in a while until you realize that it many ways it is like your first life.
if you stay home and wait for something to happen you will be board, but if you use their search options you can find things to do or if you work on a skillyou will refine it.
One example is.
I was on a live game show the other day that picked contestants from the audience.
It was like :who wants to be a millionaire" it was a lot of fun!!!!
Anyhow I would love to meet up with some TFP in Second life and go to some clubs!
You can also sell your own books and movies, and paintings and Music in teh game and share it ans sell it. and you can make it so that it cannot be stolen or reproduced.
it is insane.
Kurt Vonnegut the authur lives in Second Life.
As well as many other people you wouldn't even realize that are there.
Anyways Ill stop now.