Mo' money, mo' problems in Second Life: Where's Trump?

Posted Oct 23, 2006 at 6:04AM EST by QJ Staff

Listed in: MMORPG Tags: Adidas, mmorpg rumors, MTV, Sony BMG, Wal-Mart

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The big wigs are invading your Second Life. And one cannot help but ask: "When will Donald Trump get a (second) life?" As we speak, the said virtual world (population: 1 million and rising) is already home to Sony BMG, Adidas, Sun Microsystems, and other real-world industry giants. Real world companies are eyeing this parallel universe to earn some money. Because as much as 400 Linden dollars convert to one U.S. dollar, companies are now seeing the value of virtual money: it is real.

Here in Second Life, these companies are already launching marketing promotions and advertising campaigns for their products. Nissan just bought an island to introduce its Sentra in-game car. Reuters just put up their virtual headquarters. MTV just launched their Virtual Laguna Beach. The line of the virtual world is thinning and starting to get tangible. Heck, a congressional committee is even looking into taxing people.

Gamers are starting to get concerned. Their virtual life is being invaded just "like a Wal-Mart coming to town or a Starbucks opening in the neighborhood." But others are saying that it's not much of a concern because these intrusions are just there for marketing hype.

Just as easily as you could avoid visiting the Nissan website over the internet, you can likewise give wide berth to the Nissan Island in the game. Mr. Rosedale even says that "there are no advantages from economies of scale for big corporations in Second Life." Companies that get into their second life have a number of issues to contend with. That includes not being able to know who exactly they're dealing with, especially with avatars whose names could be Darkstar Rover or Eiffel Tower. Copyright infringement is also going rampant: online botiques' are being hounded by cheaper spin-offs.

Regardless, this is something worth thinking about. Are you worried about more companies "invading" your second life? Or do you actually think it's interesting? Aren't they sort of spicing it up? I spy with my little eye a "Comment" link below. You know what to do!

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