Monday, September 24, 2007

Second Life Is Not A Game

I‘ve see people and media refer to Second Life as ‘a game’ and often compare it to actual games like World of Warcraft, Lineage et al.

The problem is that this perception is not accurate. While there are some game elements to Second Life, usually genuine games created by the users themselves, Second Life as a whole isn’t a game. Second Life is a medium for collaboration, creation and socialization and is no more a game than the World Wide Web is a game.

If you look at Second Life as a game, then yes, it can be quite boring when compared to genuine online games. Unlike conventional games, it’s completely unscripted, open-ended and the player is free to do anything they want. People have to shift their perception of Second Life if they wish to enjoy it and take advantage of its full potential.