NOTES ON A WORLD FOR THE MAKING...

Originally published April 22, 2003 here.

Here's the thing: ordinarily, I cover computer games for magazines like Salon and Wired. But for the next few months, Linden Lab has invited me to set aside my journalist cap, and instead, don the digital beanie of their in-house virtual correspondent. I'll be writing about the creation of Second Life, their upcoming massively multiplayer online game, as it goes from Beta test to official launch, with frequent posts in this space.

Because what is happening now in the Beta test of Second Life is very much a social experiment in the making. Literally, "making": thousands of volunteers are already in there now, buzzing around in Linden Lab's servers, shaping their world out of thin air. From a default canvas of wide oceans and rolling hills, they're cramming the place with coffee tables, exotic swords, sunglasses, ride-able rockets, electric guitars, readable books, soaring Japanese pagodas-- pretty much anything you might imagine, and a lot more you wouldn't dream of-- to create a playspace as vast and varied as creativity and enthusiasm allows.

At the same time, they're figuring out how they'll get along with each other, too. Already, there are social networks and membership guilds springing up, with rules and traditions that are as complex and detailed as the world they're constructing. Some groups want to stick with their own, others want to reach out and befriend everyone they come across; others, it looks like, are too busy building to worry too much about either.

So as the Second Life Beta goes I'll on, I'll be in the field-- Linden Lab's embedded reporter, as it were-- following the progress of this new, unique society that's developing before us right now. So I'll be putting down my thoughts and observations here, on a near-daily basis.

Why me?

Well, this partly has to do with my writing the mother of all articles last year, on the state of massively multiplayer online games (or MMOGs). Like many who've played these games, enjoyed them somewhat, but always seen the potential for so much more, my main question there was: where's the game for everyone else? Can there be an online space for folks who might be interested in something other than endless dungeons to explore, and trolls to tangle with? (Nothing wrong with that, of course, but must that really be the only variation?) I was about to give the MMOG genre up for dead, when the Linden folks brought me in to have a look. I was so impressed, they ended up bringing me on, too. If any game has a decent chance to become the future of massively multiplayer games, in my (not unbiased!) opinion, this could well be it.

And in any case, I want to be on hand, to see what happens on the way. What will they build in there? What kind of societies will they have? How will Lifers from one part of the real world get along (or not) with others?

The kind of questions I'll be asking right here, the kind of answers I'll be looking for, in there. If you're already a resident, or you're just a curious passer-by, I hope you do, too. In any case, come by often, and keep in touch. (And if you're already a member, be sure to drop by this journal's discussion board, too.)

Comments

[Jean Liberato]

Wagner,

congrats for this great work for Virtual World. You are my inspiration in Brazil!!!! I see your work and like very mch, after this I made my blog, in portuguese, and now is the biggest in world about virtual worlds in this language.

Ty for your pionnerism!!!

Greatings from Brazil!!!!