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Second Life (abbreviated as SL) is an
Internet-based virtual world launched in
2003, developed by Linden Research, Inc
(commonly referred to as Linden Lab), which
came to international attention via
mainstream news media in late 2006 and early
2007.[4][5] A downloadable client program
called the Second Life Viewer enables its
users, called "Residents", to interact with
each other through motional avatars,
providing an advanced level of a social
network service combined with general
aspects of a metaverse. Residents can
explore, meet other Residents, socialize,
participate in individual and group
activities, create and trade items (virtual
property) and services from one another.
Second Life is one of several virtual worlds
that have been inspired by the cyberpunk
literary movement, and particularly by Neal
Stephenson's novel Snow Crash. The stated
goal of Linden Lab is to create a world like
the Metaverse described by Stephenson, a
user-defined world of general use in which
people can interact, play, do business, and
otherwise communicate.[6] Second Life's
virtual currency is the Linden Dollar
(Linden, or L$) and is exchangeable for US
Dollars in a marketplace consisting of
residents, Linden Lab and real life
companies.
While Second Life is sometimes referred to
as a game, this description is disputed. It
does not have points, scores, winners or
losers, levels, an end-strategy, or most of
the other characteristics of games, though
it can be thought of as a game on a more
basic level. It is a semi-structured virtual
environment where characters undertake
activities for the purpose of personal
enjoyment.
In all, more than 9.8 million accounts have
been registered, although many are inactive,
some Residents have multiple accounts, and
there are no reliable figures for actual
long term consistent usage. Despite its
prominence, Second Life has notable
competitors, including There, Active Worlds,
and the more "mature" themed Red Light
Center.
English Version
Second Life, virtual world, Linden, L$,
Linden$, Residents, secondlife city,
secondlife cars, secondlife university
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