The Metaverse Journal - Latest Comments in Four Corners on SL: it’s good, bad AND ugly

Re: Four Corners on SL: it’s good, bad AND ugly

Daniel — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:43:56 -0000

Hi Sardionerak ,

I think Second Life has loads of potential...

Sure, the current releases could do with shaping and improvement..

I think you most likely haven't heard that the frontend is becoming open-source, and that within a year, the backend will also become open-source...

Also , there will be improved physics engines used in the future I'm told, with better programming structures, which will open SL up with loads more potential.

That is, if any of the competitors don't get there first... At the moment, Second Life is by far the leader of the pack and it'd take any other competitor years to catch up..

Re: Four Corners on SL: it’s good, bad AND ugly

martin — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 19:06:10 -0000

funny..my wife as about to get up and not watch. But the first few mins had her planted. Shopping...magic words they be.

Thought the program was well handled, well paced and gave enough info for a complete newbie to jump on and buy a penis...Not a lot of mention of other Australian activity which was a shame. Melb Banker boy grate'd me in a big way!

See you at the party

Sabs Moo

Re: Four Corners on SL: it’s good, bad AND ugly

Earnest Candour — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 06:44:41 -0000

5 Comments, that's a new record. I had a sinking feeling in my stomach when the start of the story focused on the more sensationalist aspects, but I have to say towards the end there was a bit more balanced analysis.

Favourite quote of the program, (when Ticky's walking on Orientation Island)"this is a bit trickier than it might look"

I'm just glad its getting more mainstream now.

Re: Four Corners on SL: it’s good, bad AND ugly

Sardionerak — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 04:02:18 -0000

I only saw bits and pieces of the program but will watch it later on on the web. However, it seems to have made a big impact: at my university, I received over a dozen emails asking me for advice on Second Life in general. Kind of frustrating, because I've been talking about it for over 6 months now, and nobody took me seriously.
It seems that the hype (and yes, I use this word deliberately) has now reached a stage where Second Life is becoming the new buzzword after YouTube and MySpace. I am absolutely convinced that the future of the internet lies in 3D technology, but I am just as convinced that it won't be Second Life that makes it in the end, there are just way too many unresolved usability and performance issues, and as soon as somebody else solves them, people will leave SL.

Re: Four Corners on SL: it’s good, bad AND ugly

Jane — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 23:28:19 -0000

I found the program informative and interesting.
I recommended viewing the program to others who asked "What do you do there", and "What is it all about". It at least gave them a look into the world of Second Life. Although now they will just be interested in the adult industry potential.
Funnily enough I went to sleep trying to think of some money making scheme involving the potential of the Second Life world
that no one else has.

Re: Four Corners on SL: it’s good, bad AND ugly

Simondo Nebestanka — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 21:01:04 -0000

I know where you are coming from Sean, but I think the story was more about the reality of what most people are doing in their 'second lives' than about the virtuous ideals of the platform. The report did touch on those positive aspects though.

I wish the reality of this 'virtuality' was a little different.. I wander around countless artistic spaces that push the boundaries of what is possible in SL, and am amazed that I'm amongst a very small number of people exploring those creations. Then I TP to a dance club, and the places are packed.

It doesn't mean that's *all* that people are doing in SL, but I don't think the Four Corners report was pushing that angle. Unbalanced? Try for a second to imagine the same story in the hands of say "60 Minutes". Ugh. And in fact *don't* try and imagine the story as covered by "ACA" or "Today Tonight", or your head may just explode..

Peace

Re: Four Corners on SL: it’s good, bad AND ugly

Sean FitzGerald (aka Sean McDu — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 18:28:39 -0000

I couldn't get in because of computer problems, but would have loved to ask Ticky why they chose to focus on the more sensational and controversial aspects of Second Life and didn't pay much attention to all the positive uses, such as the educational, non-profit, health and business uses (as you point out).

I don't think it was a very balanced report at all. All the interesting, creative and useful spaces they could have shown and they showed shot after shot of avatars dancing in nightclubs. I've never seen so much dancing in a report on Second Life!

Re: Four Corners on SL: it’s good, bad AND ugly

Simondo Nebestanka — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 11:17:53 -0000

I think the show was excellent - very well balanced. It showed some of the 'virtual sex' side of SL but didn't overly focus on it.

It's a shame we Queenslanders don't have daylight savings - I didn't want to go to ABC Island until after the show (which would have been 10.30pm NSW/Vic). Everything seemed over by then. Also it took me a while to figure out I had to be a Group member of 'ABC Friends' before I could get on to the island.. would have been nice to have mentioned that on the ABC/SL site I think!

Good summary Lowell.
Cheers