The Great Tree

Saxy · Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 4:40 pm Post subject: Second Life Boutique

I keep hearing things about it, but now I see it with my own two eyes.

I'm browsing around for wedding dress ideas online when I come across this website.A record of my thoughts for the first minute of viewing the site:

1) "Is this an actual store for Second Life stuff?"

2) "Oh my god, is that an avatar?"

*click*

3) "Awesome graphics for an online game!" (Coming from someone who has played SimsOnline. Much better than that.)

4) "OH MY GOD, DO PEOPLE REALLY PAY THAT MUCH FOR VIRTUAL GOODS?!"

5) "This is disgusting."

6) "Will people really pay $500 for a virtual dress? How long does it take to make one of those, and why am I not supplementing my meager income by doing this?"

Embarassing but true. I'm still shocked by all of it. People can really make money doing this? Seems too good (easy?) to be true. And a bit twisted.
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Saxy · Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 4:51 pm Post subject:

About the money system: I just found out that all the prices are in game dollars (Lindens), which is about $10,000 L = $40 US. So you're really paying around $2 US for the dress, which is much more reasonable. But still... paying actual money for virtual goods? That's crazy.
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Not all who wander are lost... (MJ fixed my sig!)
KI: 38931

Durin Mephit · Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 5:29 pm Post subject:

It gets crazier!

There's now a program that can clone items in the game, so some people are stealing the work that others have spent a lot of time on, and expect to be paid for.

Yay virtual economies! Where insanity is king.
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Durin Mephit * Member of Guild of Messengers - Unless otherwise stated, opinions are mine only and not Guild endorsed.
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BladeLakem · Great Tree Member Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 514

Here's an article from 2002 about an economist analyzing EverQuest based off of eBay auctions of its items:

Dusante · Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 10:02 pm Post subject:

Heeehehe I think I bought a bananaphone on sl boutique, but it didn't work Sad

Some people make a living off of second life, it's crazy! But true.

But the best things you can get in SL I haven't seen in the boutique but in the physical stores in game. Best thing EVAR is the head explode widget thing, ohhh and the body explode, it's awesome. So wish my head could explode in Uru now Razz

Cycreim · Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 12:23 am Post subject:

I tried Second Life today and made a variety of funny objects that other people deleted because they're boring people with no sense of humour.
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Dusante · Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 1:03 am Post subject:

Hahaha! What'd you make? I'm Dusante Pasteur on SL btw.

dcos · Great Tree Member Joined: 21 Feb 2006 Posts: 1174

Rils · Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 11:59 am Post subject:

I think Cosgrove just blew my mind...
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dcos · Great Tree Member Joined: 21 Feb 2006 Posts: 1174

Urk! Nothing like philosphy from a drunk who's just done a 10pm-5am shift Confused

CuzinJohn · Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 1:16 pm Post subject:

Saxy · Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 1:51 pm Post subject:

People can delete your stuff, Cyc? That's awful!

Dan, I had a long convo with Kev last night about virtual economies. It's a very interesting topic, really.

Oh, I made an account, too. Embarassed

Saxy Paravane. My avatar isn't too pretty at the moment. Laughing

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Not all who wander are lost... (MJ fixed my sig!)
KI: 38931

BladeLakem · Great Tree Member Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 514

I have always been interested in Second Life. I like the Sandbox concept. Of course, I think I would probably lose myself completely in making stuff. Wink

CuzinJohn · Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 4:40 pm Post subject:

Kim (aka Mrs. CuzinJohn for those who don't know) is fascinated with the concept of Second Life and the "making of stuff" for sale/trade within the virtual community.

One of her co-workers opened a Second Life Wedding Photography Studio.

She basically takes and cleans up screen captures of a Second Life Wedding, then e-mails them back to the players(?). It's my understanding that they can import them into frames and hang photos on their virtual walls... or some junk like that.

Neat concept... but I think it results in too many folks wrapped up in a cyber-society and they begin to lose touch with the 'real' world.

This coming from a guy who can run no faster in the cavern than he could yesterday, but continually tries to beat his best time on Marker Quests... LOL
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Science is how you talk about the universe with words that bind it to a common reality.
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janaba1 · Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 5:12 pm Post subject:

Very interesting Smile

But on the other hand