Linden Lab late last week released their user metrics and Second Life economy analysis for the first quarter of 2011. Every time I cover this I'm reminded of how much more substantive these statistics used to be, but here's what we've got to work with now: New user registrations: stagnant to a minor decline. Although, as Tateru Nino notes, if you don't read the graph carefully … [Read more...] about First quarter 2011 results for Second Life: steady sailing
General News
The Watch – virtual worlds in the news
1. New York Times (USA) - Keyboards First. Then Grenades. "Brig. Gen. Harold J. Greene only has to look around his house to realize the challenges the Army faces in engaging young soldiers. His children, he says, are always “buried in a cellphone or an iPad.” General Greene, a senior official in the Army’s research and development engineering command, is among a cadre of … [Read more...] about The Watch – virtual worlds in the news
History with purpose: MUDs and MOOs
I've bored friends and colleagues with my stories of discovering the power of MUDS in the early 1990s. I have a massive soft spot for the original virtual worlds (as pictured), but aside from sentimentality there remains a real role for these text-based worlds. Justin Olivetti over at Massively has a great article on MUDs that showcases some of the good ones and the people who … [Read more...] about History with purpose: MUDs and MOOs
Rod Humble: unfortunately we’re in The Promised Land
As Linden Lab CEO, Rod Humble has made an impression in his first few months. He very much needed to given the challenges faced, but I'm actually encouraged by the wider view he seems to be taking on the impact virtual environments can have on all of us. Speaking at what I'm assuming is a recent event , Humble covered a fairly wide gamut on games, games as art-forms and the … [Read more...] about Rod Humble: unfortunately we’re in The Promised Land
Virtual fashion mag Second Style calls it a day
Since 2006, Second Style has produced a glossy, high-quality magazine covering fashion in Second Life. The attention to detail has always stood out for me, so it's sad to hear that the magazine's creators have announced they are calling it quits: Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. The downturn in the Second Life economy has been difficult to combat, and our … [Read more...] about Virtual fashion mag Second Style calls it a day