The theme of SL10B is looking back and looking forward, it’s far easier to look back because the information is there, some hidden, but it’s there, I could write a book with this, actually I’m surprised someone hasn’t, or that the Lab haven’t released a commemorative screenshots magazine inworld with old pics, there are some in Governor Linden’s mansion. I’m going to take a very brief look back to 2005 here, but first, let’s look forward.
The Second Life blog has recently reminded us that there’s more to SL10B than bear avatars, they’re also giving away T-Shirts, baseball caps as well as competitions. However the bears are cool, admit it. Now ten years is a long time for an online experience, especially these days.
Personally I feel they should do a Doctor Who type special event where three version of the CEO all meet in the same space, causing potential mayhem with the laws of physics, so we’d have Rod Humble, Mark Kingdon and Philip Rosedale on stage at the same time, all wary that something may explode if they get too close, actually Philip may be there twice as we’ve had two versions of Philip as CEO.
Now looking back at Second Life is more fun that looking forward, largely because you have depth to the backwards glance. I’ve taken a very quick and random look back to 2005, a year when people were complaining about not being able to login, Linden Lab were announcing plans for a teen grid, people were asking what exactly Second Life is, Magellan Linden was exploring new land and there were eBay auctions for billboard space in welcome areas, Catherine Linden was asking for people to let her know what they used Second Life for so she could post it on the website and a nifty new way of posting snapshots from Second Life to a blog were being plugged. Let’s start with an old classic, Problems logging in anyone?
Usagi Musashi posted in that thread, and it’s as confusing a post as I recall Usagi posting, I wasn’t here in 2005, but I remember Usagi posts on the forum. I was going to do a tongue in cheek list of ten years of problems logging in forum posts, but I figured that might sound too negative, even by my standards, although it is actually fun reading them, honest!
There’s another thread from 2005, that from its title I thought was another old favourite: Second Life article on News.com – Game or Metaverse? However it’s not the usual “It’s a game“, “Oh no it isn’t!” type thread, it links to a very interesting post on Cnet regarding what Second Life is:
When tens of thousands of people can gather in a fully 3D environment to buy and sell fanciful clothing, defy gravity by flying, make friends from all over the world, build residential communities, speculate on land prices, and create and license software, what do you call it?
For three years, Linden Lab, the publisher of “Second Life,” has grappled with that question.
Interesting stuff with people wondering why Second Life was flourishing when it wasn’t based on weapons, armour or nation states …. and that question still gets asked today.
Back in 2005 Catherine Linden was asking people:
What are you using Second Life for? Teaching classes? Running a business? Research? Gathering place for far flung friends and family, creative expression, social hub, making movies, place to try out new ideas?
Marketing/PR are looking for the various ways that people use Second Life. The goal will be to have rotating list of people and locations on the webpage and it will be a great opportunity for PR to uncover all the things that are happening in world.
This sounds like an idea that eventually became the destination guide. 2005 also brought us the intrepid explorer, Magellan Linden, who began recording his advenutres in a blog and seriously, surely Magellan will make an appearance at Sl10B?
Meanwhile Catherine Linden was telling people that SLUniverse allows you to blog your snapshots instantly, that would be Snapzilla then.
Reuben Linden was posting something about auctions being up on eBay …. there’s another one about eBay auctions for billboard space in welcome areas, interesting concept, this is the first time I’ve ever read about this.
Robin Linden, who was tagged as a “Linden Lifer” was informing people of the next steps for the teen grid:
I wanted to let you know we’re starting to build the Teen Grid. In planning these next steps, we’ve taken very seriously the feedback that you’ve given us over the last several months regarding Teens in Second Life, their safety, and the need for a special, separate place inaccessible to the adults in the main grid.
Ah how times change, there’s loads more information in the old forum archive, lots of fun stuff, lots of interesting stuff, I’m so glad that archive still exists, I’d go on and on but I think this is already too long!