Here today, inexplicably deleted tomorrow

Earlier I discussed the pitfalls of Second Life's clunky and overcomplicated interface. My opinion hasn't really changed.

But what's even more distressing are the reports of unreliable servers. Many Second Life users dump countless hours into creating and acquiring different items, including physical objects and clothing (see a particularly hideous example on my avatar here). Many users make and sell objects through the game's economy, meaning that people have invested real US dollars into their Second Life experience.

So imagine the anger of thousands of seething users whose inventories have abruptly disappeared. While the last documented instance of this happening was about a year ago, that doesn't guarantee that future problems won't arise.

In my experience with massively multiplayer environments, the integrity of one's avatar is essential above all else. People will slave away for days, weeks, even months to acquire particular physical traits to distinguish their avatars from the masses. World of Warcraft, for example, has driven some of my friends to spend dozens of hours combing the fields and forests of the in-game world in search of rare clothing and equipment. It's not just an aesthetic issue; it's a matter of pride and distinction.

But at least you can't break your wallet over WoW; the player-driven economy is driven by in-game currency which cannot be purchased with actual money.

But when Second Life can't even keep track of its users' belongings, it doesn't bode well for the developer's commitment to its fans.

Phone shopping in SL

Since Second Life's got a reputation for being the big marketing hotspot, I decided I ought to go check out how those sales types utilize Second Life to sell their real-world products.

So what better place to go than the Sony Ericsson island?


As soon as I arrived, I was bombarded by a garish, hovering "I heart ____" sign. Seems like the Sony Ericsson people thought it'd be clever to replace the heart with their logo. I'm not so convinced.

I found that if I clicked on the sign, I could add this island to my list of places to visit. Rather than having to search for the island again, I could just select it from a list of places. I suppose it's about as useful as bookmarking the Sony Ericsson website, but it feels more like they're trying to get me to treat them like a friend. That's a little spooky.


Inside the store, various phone models were on display. If I clicked on one of them . . .


. . . a web browser popped up with specifications, promotional photos and video, and details on how to purchase the phone. It's a clever connection to an established website, and the transition is totally seamless. Maybe there's something to be said for using Second Life as a virtual shopping center after all. Being able to look at high-resolution images and manipulate three-dimensional versions of products is pretty cool.


Of course, what marketing campaign would be complete without free virtual swag? I decided I'd pick the best color of the bunch - orange, clearly - and see what kind of reactions other Second Lifers would give me.

Unfortunately, there weren't any around to ask. The island was completely deserted for the approximate 20 minutes I spent there.

Too bad there isn't a shirt that proclaims "I heart selling out."