World of Warcraft. Second Life. Two massive multi-user virtual reality platforms with millions of people who have tried them. But which holds more appeal to different population segments on the Internet? VillainTech’s Lionel Houde took a look at both platforms, SL for two years of ups and downs and WOW for 10 days of bliss.

Content: WOW’s graphic content and layout are consistently stunning. SL, while much less of an ad farm hodge-podge, still has ugly user-built spots like overstretched terraforming, half built noob prim piles and poorly zoned worlds that encourage neighbor infighting and pissing contests. Though there are picture-perfect user-created scenes and locales in SL, and the maturing of the user base is giving rise to structures and whole sims that remain largely unchanged for years, I have to give it to WOW for jam-packing its towns, castles and dungeons with the detail its users strive to appreciate. Edge: WOW.

User Revenue Potential:

I suppose if you kept buying a new WOW software package every time you got canned for gold farming, you could still make a decent living selling WOW’s virtual currency. But with Blizzard frowning on item sales for cash, eBay backing away from virtual goods sales, and a $25 character transfer fee, it’s far easier to go into Second Life, spend about 4 cents on a texture upload, make 25 cents on a sale, and send money back to your PayPal with only pennies taken out via Mass Pay. While leveling without bots in WOW is a possibility — one recent fanboy made level 80 in 27 hours with some help from friends — and the average profit per transaction is still higher than SL’s, I like the ability to sell and make pretty much everything and anything in SL and be able to transfer the loot without large amounts of time. Plus, I can resell the content I’ve created in SL. Edge: SL.

Importability: While WOW gives you tens of thousands of character optimization options, you can’t import one single aspect of it, except your name. In SL, you can sing live, upload a napkin doodle, design a goofy dance, make practical jokes… even design a surrealist chicken farm where all the birds have your face and your girlfriend supplies all the noises. Not that I have. Yet. Edge: SL.

Free accounts: SL’s accounts, once acquired, have been free for years, and the only restrictions have been on owning land, a small limitation when you can make it worth SL’s while by paying others for land tier fees via rentals. That, and some landowners may not like to see you around if you don’t have payment info on file (think of them as virtual bluebloods). With SL’s acquisition of XSL, cashing out and buying in have become a little easier for the free account owners in-world, and some of them are the driving forces behind SL commerce.

WOW, understandably, doesn’t let you rule the roost on a free membership, and you get it for 10 days. The only thing I didn’t like was being unable to trade, or talk on public channels (“You do not have permission to speak”), but the quality of my free trial has been excellent except that my Level 15 warlock is stuck in a living death on a perma-loading zeppelin ride (that’s mainly my computer’s fault).

System performance: I spent two years trying to get SL to run smoothly on my computer. I honestly figure I’ve lost a sixth of my productive time to lag, and between asset problems, downtime, cash flow shutdowns, and diminished universal use times, it’s been a nightmare. When SL runs great, it’s a wonderful thing, but from this 3.06 GhZ, 512 MB RAM computer, I have only praise for WOW in comparison, and I will be able to achieve my in-world goals with much greater ease. Edge: WOW.

Character customization: In terms of game balance and flavor, WOW has a ninth wonder of the world. But check out a Tooter Claxton avatar in Second Life and you’ll see that a talented outfit designer/animator/scripter can rival professionally designed content, and the variety

Playing the marginally villainous Lionel Oliva and Saunders Baxton in Second Life, I’ve come to develop some rather condescending habits when traveling across the grid.

First of all, when I see an X-shaped mockup of some badly edited flowers on some snoddy alpha textures, it’s all I can do to keep from doing a /snickerinsleeve.   And when I see a pipe-cleaner orgy of 2 to 4 sculpted prims passing themselves off as “low prim furniture” (instead of the more apt “high-prim amoebas”),  it shakes my belief in market forces to its core.  How do people keep selling this virtual vomitus?

Yet I have met my match: a low-prim furniture company, run by Victoria Wheeler and Octavian Muggins. The vegetation doesn’t look like escaped .gifs.  the inventory is easy to mix and match, and the  textures, especially the rugs, avoid being contrived and synthetic.  While at the time of this writing I have a bit of an issue with a reclining gesture that doesn’t quite reach to the back of my head, the luxuriantly built VOD Maroon Velour Lounger, with its poses for male and female, takes all my distractions away.

I can’t stand the Second Life nightclub scene. My computer, an aging eMachine, locks up when 40 maxed-out avatars focus their lag-draining abilities in a single spot while doing “V^V^V^ HOOOOOOO! ^V^V^V” gestures ad nauseam.

So when I decided to write on a business owned my someone in my group’s roster, and I picked club owner Zoe Bowie, my spirits sank.

Fortunately, Baker Street Station was one of the best clubs I’ve been to. Zoe and her coterie of entertainers made a trip out a fun hour, and I’ll be back next time I see her on. She was kind enough to provide an interview on a slow night.

At the club part of Baker Street Station.

Saunders Baxton: hello
Zoe Bowie: alrighty then
Zoe Bowie: Obviously, this is the club
Zoe Bowie: We’re a london-undeground/train themed venue
Zoe Bowie: I built it, I’m a bit of a trainspotter in RL lol

Saunders Baxton: ah.
Saunders Baxton: it’s well built.

Zoe Bowie: like our staff
Zoe Bowie: we also have a small shopping centre down here
Zoe Bowie: come and see

Baker St. Shopping.

Saunders Baxton: forgive my computer

Zoe Bowie: Is it just me or is SL really #*&^*&^@ laggy lately??
Zoe Bowie: i’ve not been about for a while…
Zoe Bowie: seems slower

Saunders Baxton: that’s the second thing i was hesitant to say.

Zoe Bowie: I used to be able to claim to be virtually lag free lol

Saunders Baxton: i guess with 70000 users it bogs a bit

Zoe Bowie: not like it was in my day lol
Zoe Bowie: I joined in March 04… v 1.2 lol

Saunders Baxton: i can imagine with havok, sculpts, zany interfaces… and now web on a prim…
Saunders Baxton: something must be giving at the seams somewhere.

Zoe Bowie: oh man, sculpts
Zoe Bowie: they still excite me
Zoe Bowie: and not just coz I finally got decent shoes lol

Zoe Bowie: you want to see the skyboxes?

Saunders Baxton: sure
Zoe Bowie: one I’m quite proud of architecturally lol

The Signal Box.

Zoe Bowie: the best built box and probably of the whole club
Zoe Bowie: is the middle one
Zoe Bowie: this is our Signal Box

Zoe Bowie: a private dance suite, we use it for parties too

Saunders Baxton: looks like a pretty happening place.

Zoe Bowie: bachelor parties etc do well up here
Zoe Bowie: it’s a replica of the one on the wall
Zoe Bowie: my friend Bob worked on this one with me
Zoe Bowie: sadly he left SL
Zoe Bowie: got married or something

Not your mama's sofa. It's the poseballiest!

Zoe Bowie: we also have two skyboxes for escorting and parties
Zoe Bowie: one designed for couples and one for groups, heheh
Zoe Bowie: want a quick peek?

Saunders Baxton: sure, thanks

Zoe Bowie: I don’t know why I let someone persuade me to fit a sex bathroom
Zoe Bowie: but it makes it feel more like an actual house I think heheheh

The Station Master's House.

Zoe Bowie: but I drew the line at a sex toilet
Zoe Bowie: this place very much reflects my standards
Zoe Bowie: my one big rule is no slavery
Zoe Bowie: it’s all pretty straightforward
Zoe Bowie: menu driven

Saunders Baxton: very well decorated.

Zoe Bowie: heheheh thanks I make all my own textures
Zoe Bowie: we call this one “the Station Master’s House”

Saunders Baxton: are the posters from local documents?

Zoe Bowie: London, yeah

Zoe Bowie: come back down and I’ll show you the waiting room

Saunders Baxton: okay.

Zoe Bowie: this next skybox locks lol
Zoe Bowie: so don’t miss the time window

Saunders Baxton: ok
Zoe Bowie: ugh there’s so much LITTER in the skies these days
Zoe Bowie: this is our waiting room
Zoe Bowie: fun for two, three or more, lol
Zoe Bowie: the bed and the middle rug have tons of animations
Zoe Bowie: and the sofa and chair set is the same as the house’s

Saunders Baxton: here’s something i’ve not seen ever, poseballs that aren’t the default pink and blue balls… lol

Zoe Bowie: We have staff meetings up here sometimes, lol

The Waiting Room.

Zoe Bowie: back down then
Zoe Bowie: well now that’s about it
Zoe Bowie: we don’t have the whole sim here, just about 8 sq km of it

Saunders Baxton: still nice and spacious, it doesn’t seem like anything to box one in.

Zoe Bowie: I’ve tried to make it interesting with texture rather than clutter

Saunders Baxton: would you or scarlette like your pictures on the blog?

Zoe Bowie: sure, I’ll hop on the pole
Zoe Bowie: this is basically a labour of love for me
Zoe Bowie: it used to be back in the day I made enough money from my fashion business to pay my tier
Zoe Bowie: but I’ve not been able to keep that up, people aren’t buying like they used to
Zoe Bowie: but I don’t mind, I love SL lol

Zoe Bowie: and it’s important to have nice clubs that aren’t the huge moneymaking efforts
Saunders Baxton: yes, true.

Zoe Bowie: this is all about having great japes, not profit

Zoe Bowie: mention in your blog, there’s a shortage of decent event hosts lol

Saunders Baxton: will do.

Zoe Bowie: trivia is our specialty here
Zoe Bowie: but I’d love to get more diversity of events
Saunders Baxton: i see… have you heard of primtionary?
Zoe Bowie: Is this the latest game fad?
Zoe Bowie: I remember Tringo, does anyone still play that? that was cool lol
Zoe Bowie: remember in SL years I’m likje a pensioner
Saunders Baxton: like a circular back and forth monopoly
Zoe Bowie: our big game here is Strip Trivia

Zoe Bowie: the Thinkers meet here too

Saunders Baxton: I’ll have to look them up…

Zoe Bowie: my original account founded the Thinkers, lol
Zoe Bowie: we were the first and still are the biggest philosophy group in SL
Zoe Bowie: I’m actually quoted by Hamlet Linden in the official SL book, pr something
Zoe Bowie: we have brains and boobs here lol

Zoe Bowie twirls round her pole with glee

Zoe Bowie: I realised pretty early on that SL sex is unique
Zoe Bowie: it’s got a comedy value to it that chat room cybersex just doesn’t have

Zoe Bowie: and you retain the privacy you lose when you cam
Zoe Bowie: long time no see guys how you been?

Landis Allen: been good thanks so much

Kessa Corvale: mmmm, fandamned tatsic, and you hun?

Zoe Bowie: Saunders is going to write about us on his blog

Landis Allen: thats cool

Zoe Bowie: have you guys heard of avatars united?
Zoe Bowie: it’s like facebook for virtual people
Zoe Bowie: that’s how Saunders heard of us

Kessa Corvale: hello Saunders

Zoe Bowie: where you from, Saunders?

Saunders Baxton: Maine

Saunders Baxton: my ex-boss ran an antique shop
Saunders Baxton: this was supposed to be her avatar

Landis Allen: i see

Saunders Baxton: i swiped it back
Saunders Baxton: her last name was saunders

Zoe Bowie: you look like someone who would have an antique shop

Landis Allen: hehehe yes he does
Landis Allen: or an appraiser off of antique road show

Saunders Baxton: hehe, thanks… for a while i was trying to hire myself out as an SL butler

Zoe Bowie: OMG you know what I forgot when I rebuilt?

Kessa Corvale: hmmmm a butler eh

Zoe Bowie: SIR JIMMY!!!

Landis Allen: omg

Zoe Bowie: how could I?????????
Zoe Bowie: I’m going to hell for that

Saunders Baxton: what did you forget?

Zoe Bowie: our patron saint
Zoe Bowie: Sir Jimmy Saville

Kessa Corvale: get off you big bloke

Landis Allen: mine….

Saunders Baxton: never heard of him….

Zoe Bowie: maybe one for the brits lol
Zoe Bowie: it’s an old advertising slogan for british rail
Zoe Bowie: sir jimmy is a bit of a legend in the uk
Zoe Bowie: he used to present this show called “jim’ll Fix it”
Zoe Bowie: in which he granted kid’s wishes and you didn’t have to be dying or anything
Zoe Bowie tucks the tip into her stocking top and grins at Saunders, “thanks!”

(Author’s note: TIP ZOE!)

Zoe Bowie: it was brilliant

Saunders Baxton: yw.

Zoe Bowie: I grew up with sir jim
Zoe Bowie: he’s like 100 now and he still runs marathons for charity
Zoe Bowie: maybe even 200
Zoe Bowie: was senile to begin with

Zoe Bowie: lol

scarlette Cooperstone: i have too many things

Zoe Bowie: pshaw
Zoe Bowie: you’re only a month old
Zoe Bowie: you don’t know what a cluttered inventory is

Landis Allen: ummm lol scarlette

Kessa Corvale: hmmm how many items you got Scarlette

Zoe Bowie: in MY day, lol….

Landis Allen: exactly zoe, lol

scarlette Cooperstone: still i found a lots of freebies
scarlette Cooperstone: couldnt resist

Zoe Bowie: I got over 6000 items in this inventory and this is one of five accounts, and only the third oldest

scarlette Cooperstone: 10000

Landis Allen laughs

Kessa Corvale: hmmm, back up to 41,500

scarlette Cooperstone: too much..

Zoe Bowie: lol, 10,000????
Zoe Bowie: that’s amazing for a newb
Zoe Bowie: I am in awe

scarlette Cooperstone: yey

Zoe Bowie: you’re so l33t

scarlette Cooperstone: ??

Zoe Bowie: you may have 10,000 items
Zoe Bowie: but do you have a feather duster?

Landis Allen decides to not give scarlette a new freebie LM

Zoe’s Feather Duster: Zoe whips out the tickler!

scarlette Cooperstone: hehe
scarlette Cooperstone: gimmiigimmi!!

Zoe Bowie: oh here I have something feathery you’ll like scarlette

Landis’ Feather Tickler whispers: Landis whips out the tickler!

scarlette Cooperstone: its a shopin disease

Landis Allen: hehe

Kessa Corvale: saunders needs that for the butler job

Landis’ Feather Tickler is now aimed at Zoe Bowie

Zoe Bowie: LOL Landis

Landis Allen: hahaha

Zoe’s Feather Duster is now aimed at Landis Allen

scarlette Cooperstone: whats that zoe?

Landis’ Feather Tickler whispers: Landis runs the feathers up and down Zoe Bowie’s thigh.

Zoe Bowie: it’s a kick ass dancer’s outfit, scarlette
Zoe Bowie: best feathers on the grid

scarlette Cooperstone: ty hun

Zoe’s Feather Duster: Zoe stares at Landis Allen’s body and taps the tickler against her hand.

Landis’ Feather Tickler is now aimed at Saunders Baxton
Zoe Bowie: ah it’s lazy dancing using these things
Landis’ Feather Tickler is rubbed erotically against Saunders Baxton’s ass.
Author’s note: ( o_O )
Zoe’s Feather Duster is now aimed at scarlette Cooperstone

Saunders Baxton sneezes

Landis Allen laughs

Kessa Corvale: lol

Landis Allen laughs too

Zoe’s Feather Duster: Zoe runs the tickler along the bottoms of scarlette Cooperstone’s feet.

scarlette Cooperstone: yey!!

Zoe Bowie: it’s sooo lazy

Landis Allen: no music zoe?

Zoe Bowie: I should be ashamed

Zoe Bowie: nah I wasn’t planning on being on long enough to dj

Landis Allen: kk

Zoe Bowie: lemme get some radio

Kessa Corvale: no you shouldn’t Zoe

Saunders Baxton: nice to meet you all…
Zoe Bowie: cool beans
Landis Allen: cya man
Kessa Corvale: tc Saunders
Saunders Baxton: and thanks for the dusting, i’ve been gathering a layer. lol
Zoe Bowie: man my pc is slow tonight
Teleport completed from http://slurl.com/secondlife/Baker/142/86/38

Zoe invites Second Life users to check out her Baker Street Station group.

At Marrowstone Island in Second Life, it’s the darker side of Halloween year round.  The grim and occasionally gruesome are focused through owner Loki’s Ball’s SL lens, dropped into a bucket of blood and grime, and slathered over stone, flesh and rusted metal skeletons.

Loki’s creations are all shapes and sizes, from burning piles of you-know-what and crows picking at half-finished meals to massive churches, warehouses, jails, morgues, mausoleums, asylums, and sweatshops.  Loki’s sim is a sinister ecosystem on a grand scale: it’s chock full of interactivity and you will rarely if ever see a gap in the action in the main area.  The buildings for sale are all connected by power lines (don’t touch that high voltage box), a system of crumbling roads allows easy navigation, and the ground is littered with things to test out.  I was able to warm my hands at a burning barrel, see how I’d look as discarded parts in a garbage can with a clever sit animation, and dig my own grave in the space of 20 meters.

Earlier builds tend to be more sedate, like the sweatshop (“I’m just a small sweatshop owner… larger sweatshop owners would charge 10 times less”) and warehouses, but everything has its own scripted personality, and as of late his work has taken on a fiendishly fun interactivity.  His motel is the ultimate in Psycho-style roleplaying, with ominous guest rooms and a tub I wouldn’t be caught dead in.  The unsettling front desk, with a phone receiver knocked off its cradle, holds a trio of disturbing s– AAHH! I just checked in the safe for the first time.  Okay, four disturbing secrets.  Maybe more.  For now I’ll just say the manager’s computer lets him or her keep an easy eye on the guests, and he’s got plenty of food stashed away for when he’s hungry.

Two other recent builds of note are his swimming pool, a tribute to litter and pollution, and his “I Gots Gas” garage, which shows some amusing gas prices and rezzes two of Loki’s vehicles in the vehicle bay.   Under construction, and sure to promise more demented detail and interaction, is a massive jail.

For those more faint or kind of heart, Loki also has a barn, trees, and animals for sale in the approximate center of the sim.  You can easily forget everything you’ve seen in his dismal urban nightmares by watching the animals graze, walking through the farmhouse (complete with beds and loft), or having a seat on the working swing.  Um, just don’t check out the fires too closely.  Or peek behind that tree in the corner.  Trust me.

So, whenever you’re in a Halloween mood, whatever time of year it is, Fluid Creations welcomes you.  For a leaden, fearful atmosphere, with just enough black humor so as not to be too serious, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better sim than Marrowstone Island.

Some people claim that Second Life is an exponentially more self-indulgent, obnoxious version of The Sims. Maybe, but has anyone ever controlled a Sim with the power of their mind?!

According to Tokyo’s Associated Press, researchers at Japan’s Keio University conducted an experiment in which they attached headgear and three electrodes to a patient, monitoring brain waves that corresponded to the movement in his arms and legs. But this was no ordinary patient with free-range of movement. It was a 41year old man who suffers from a degenerative paralysis disorder, one that has rendered him incapable of moving his fingers and unable to control a mouse, let alone walk.

He was then introduced to the game Second Life. The researchers claim that the man was able to envision his character walking up to another character and conversing. This action caused his character to actually move, and using a microphone, he was able to converse with others.

They expressed that this was “the first time a paralysis patient has succeeded in meeting a person and having a conversation in an Internet virtual world.” Junichi Ushiba, associate professor at the biosciences and informatics department of Keio University’s Faculty of Science and Technology, adds that researchers are now studying a system of communication that allows a person to mentally select letters to form text messages. Ushiba claims that this, along with the Second Life study, could help to motivate paralysis victims who are otherwise too depressed or traumatized to undergo rehabilitation.

It is amazing that it’s taken this long for such an event to occur. Now that it has, the possibilities of this technology are endless.