So we’re in early land stake days here with virtual worlds. Gaming platforms can make buckets of cash. But we’re moving past mere entertainment here, or are we? Is Second Life the next Amazon.com or the next Pets.com doomed for oblivion with a model that doesn’t make sense.
First, Second Life is a shared creative and community space, but it’s not Wikipedia because it has a built-in economic model. For users looking to participate in a 3D creative commons, future worlds based, perhaps, on OpenSim will be their home, where everything built is shared. That may represent the future in which collaboration is done for a broader common, creative and perhaps even spiritual purpose. OpenSource, Wikipedias of 3D worlds.
But then there are individuals looking for immersive social environments where they can make a few Lindens doing it, or pay a few Lindens because 3D worlds give an alternate platform for interacting, learning and exploring content. This content might include ‘real world’ content.
So, where’s Second Life at – hype or promise?
The above from a great article by Neville Hobson.
Meanwhile, the Japanese ad company Dentsu has invested $870,000 to purchase 85 hectares of virtual Tokyo.
An article in the Financial Times reports:
[] Dentsu, which spent about 10m ($870,000) to acquire the 85 hectares in Virtual Tokyo, is aiming to recoup its investment by lining up 30 or so blue-chip companies to build a virtual presence within the first year.
[Ken] Aihara [who leads the Virtual Tokyo team at Dentsu] said: Were aiming to create a virtual Japanese Wall Street, where major Japanese financial institutions will have a presence.
For example, users would be able to negotiate a virtual home mortgage with a bank to then buy a virtual flat.
Analysts said the marketing and advertising potential on the Japanese version of Second Life could be enormous. The monetary value of Second Life is expected to grow from 135bn in 2007 to 1,250bn in 2008, according to Mizuho Corporate Bank.
