In this era, it has become a trend to meet someone online. IM, social networking site, or other online community sites are the medium. Second Life (SL) is one of the popular sites to meet somebody and for a relationship. For me, Second Life is like online community and also a game.
A game is a structured or semi-structured activity, usually undertaken for enjoyment and sometimes also used as an educational tool. Key components of games are goals, rules, challenge, and interactivity. Games generally involve mental or physical stimulation, and often both (Game, 2007).
SL is game where it provides certain enjoyment and makes us feel happy from playing it. But what makes SL is not a game according to Wikipedia is SL does not have a goal, a certain goal that every game has. In SL, we create our own avatar and go around from one place to other places, get a new friend and form a relationship. With this capability, SL is also considering as an online community.
Second Life
What is Second Life? Second Life (abbreviated as SL) is an Internet-based virtual world. Developed by Linden Lab, a downloadable client program enables its users, called "Residents", to interact with each other through motional avatars, providing an advanced level of a social network service combined with general aspects of a metaverse. Residents can explore, meet other Residents, socialize, participate in individual and group activities, create and trade items (virtual property) and services from one another (Second Life, 2007).
Second Life is like World of Warcraft whereas, players of the game enjoy the form of community rarely seen in the real world (Levy, 2007). In SL what the players can do is they can join group that has the same interest or hobby.
SL also has its own economy. Like a real community, if a players (residents) want to build or create something they got to buy a land first before they could sell their creation. At here, money exchange are happening, from real money to Linden Dolar (SL currrency).
Differences
The most significant aspect that differentiates SL as a game and online community is in SL, we do not have any goal. We could go wherever we want to without any certain task to accomplish or meeting strangers without killing them.
Besides that, in SL you can kiss or even get married with strangers. It’s online community that could allow this action to happen.
But many players consider this site is also a game whereas you could use your creativity to gain profit by selling your product. It got rules and regulation in the SL which is the features of a game.
Conclusion
SL is not only a game but also an online community. We use it as a game when we use our creativity and we follow the rules and regulation that come along with the game. SL is an online community when we use it to meet somebody and to form a relationship. The key points that differentiate SL as a game and online community is SL does not have a goal to accomplish like a game.
Refences:
Game. (2007). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved April 4th, 2007 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game
Levy, S. (2007). World of Warcraft: Is It a Game?. Retrieved April 4th, 2007 from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14757769/site/newsweek/page/3/print/1/displaymode/1098/
Second Life. (20007). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved April 4th, 2007 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Life
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