Which Virtual World Will Rule 1 Year From Now?
September 04 2008 / by Christina
Category: Social Media Year: 2009 Rating: 4
Millions of users log on to virtual worlds, such as the highly sophisticated and popular Second Life and the user-friendly Lively every day, positioning virtual worlds to become the future of internet browsing.
A recent Rezzable poll asking “Which virtual world will rule one year from now?” concluded with an overwhelming vote for the already popular Second Life, while Google’s new platform Lively came in a distant second; other platforms barely made the chart.
Second Life is the most developed platform right now, with almost 15 million total residents. By far the most stable and capable of the flock, SL has become a meeting place for many adults, especially appealing to gamers, artists, and entrepreneurs.
According to self-reported data, Second Life users are primarily male, with an average age of 33. Features of SL that set it apart from other Virtual Worlds include sophisticated avatar customization, the ability purchase land, and a large and thriving economy. Linden dollars allow users to create, market, and sell virtual products and services, a feature similar to that of World of Warcraft – which has kept WoW users shelling out the big bucks for years. There are currently over L$ 5 billion in supply, with an exchange rate of approximately L$ 250 to the US Dollar.
User generated content (UGC) is probably the most important feature keeping SL at the top of the list. The Second Life platform allows for creative users to design an infinite variety of content (i.e. objects, clothing, buildings, real life recreations, virtual businesses, etc.).
In its current state, Google Lively is just a glorified chat room. Its basic avatars and very limited options are mostly appealing to younger users. While SL is focused on giving users exactly what its title says, a second life, Lively seeks to integrate its platform with the user’s first life – or at least their internet life. Lively plans to let users add to their existing lives by connecting their photos, YouTube videos, and social networks to their “rooms,” keeping them very connected to their gmail accounts. Despite some serious criticism, anything backed by Google has potential, and one year from now, it’s possible Lively could incorporate UGC and an economy. But for now, Lively simply isn’t looking so lively.
While other platforms are emerging, most are not bringing much to the table, and fierce, veteran companies such as Multiverse, Areae, VastPark, Vivaty, and Twinity are all competing for second place.
Among the main contenders, Vivaty shows serious potential, with improvements arriving every two weeks. Fewer customization options actually make the platform more user-friendly, resulting in less set-up time and more in-world exploration and chat. Best of all, Vivaty allows users to enter the platform via Facebook or AIM, connecting an avatar to the user’s photos, videos, and social network sites, making Vivaty a much more socially complete and connected program.
If there is to be any major rival to Second Life, my money is on Vivaty. While SL definitely has a head start, Vivaty’s commitment to improvement may help it surge ahead of the pack, offering a different take on the function of Virtual Worlds.
One year in the real world is even longer in a virtual world, so nobody can be sure which platform will come out on top. But one thing is for sure: whether you’re looking for an escape from real life, or an extension of it, there’s a virtual world for you.
Comment Thread (1 Response)
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How about Sosauce Mesa?
Posted by: jamlin423 September 05, 2008
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