User-Generated Content in Second Life

Possibilities and Boundaries for
User-Generated Content in Second Life
Two issues today
•”How is it done?” and ”What are the limitations?”
• Linden Lab: ”Your World. Your Imagination”
• Avatars are ”infinitely customizable” —> market for bodies, eyes, skin,
hair, clothes and accessories.
• An environment that can be easily transformed. Everything can be put in
the sky or under water just as easily as on the ground.
Second Life Community Standards
• intolerance
• harassment
• assault
• disclosure
• indecency
• disturbing the peace
”What is Second Life?”
From the moment you enter the World you'll discover a vast digital
continent, teeming with people, entertainment, experiences and
opportunity. Once you've explored a bit, perhaps you'll find a perfect
parcel of land to build your house or business.
You'll also be surrounded by the Creations of your fellow Residents.
Because Residents retain the rights to their digital creations, they can
buy, sell and trade with other Residents.
The Marketplace currently supports millions of US dollars in monthly
transactions. This commerce is handled with the in-world unit-of-trade,
the Linden dollar, which can be converted to US dollars at several
thriving online Linden Dollar exchanges. (“What is Second Life?”)
Competing 3D platforms
• Communication and interaction: Kaneva and Twinity
• Game worlds: World of Warcraft and Entropia Universe
What kind of user-generated content?
• Edit appearance (shape, eyes, skin, hair, clothes, accessories)
• Building tools (to create buildings, objects, environment)
I. Edit Appearance
• The first thing people do
• Underestimated importance
REUTERS
VIKING FARM
II. Building Tools
• Two types: Built-in tools (basic prims) and imported ”sculpties”
”MAINLAND MESS”
NEUFREISTADT
SVARGA
SVARGA
DELTA THREE
CAVE RUA
ICE PALACE
VIRTUAL STARRY NIGHT — VINCENT VAN GOGH SIM
REZZABLE — GREENIES HOME
REZZABLE
REZZABLE
REZZABLE
Sculpted prims — ”sculpties”
• Imported from outside 3D programs like Maya, Blender, AC3D etc into
Second Life. Give a more organic feel to objects inworld.
VIKING FARM
BLACK SWAN
BLACK SWAN
BLACK SWAN
Why do they do it?
• Money/Advertising/Teaching
• Creating for a theme/fantasy/illusion
• Trying it out in order to be able to do something similar IRL
• ”Owning” or feeling at home in the avatar/space
• For the fun of it
• Bringing it outside Second Life — Machinima etc
Pros and Cons
• People feel empowered and creative, an important part of the context
• Amazing environments and avatars are created, things that might not
have occured otherwise
• ”Mainland mess” — the mix of different and competing styles
• Breaking illusions/fantasies
Thank You!
Maria Bäcke, mwb@bth.se, http://miawb.blogspot.com
Blekinge Institute of Technology, Karlskrona, Sweden