Second Life - simply explained

Back then, Second Life was the new big thing that triggered huge hype. Today there is little left of Second Life. In this practical tip, we explain exactly what it is.

Second Life: what is it actually?

Second Life is an online community that has existed since 2003. The community meets in a large animated 3D world.

• After registering for free, you need to create an avatar in Second Life. The avatar can look like you do it in real life or according to your wishes.
• You will then come across other users in the huge virtual world. Here you can chat, flirt or simply live your way in the fantasy world. Like-minded people can meet in chat groups, as you know from other online chat rooms.
• In addition to interacting with other users, you can also deal with the virtual world itself. You can buy houses, build houses or design objects yourself. Everything you own in Second Life can be traded with other users.
• The currency used is the Linden Dollars, which you can buy for real US dollars. Anyone who wanted to lead a swanky life in the virtual world had to pay heavily. A separate island cost $ 300 a month.
• Back then, the hype around Second Life was so great that companies also invested in the virtual world. The users could not only trade with other users, but also use goods and services from real companies like Amazon. Companies like Samsung presented the latest products in virtual branches.
• The opportunities to network the world with one another were almost endless in Second Life. The archbishop's ministry of Freiburg has founded the virtual church of St. George in Second Life. The Volkshochschule Goslar offered cooking courses in Second Life. The Dresden State Art Collection opened a museum. Numerous artists and musicians have organized exhibitions and concerts in the virtual world.

That's why Second Life is extinct

Back then, Second Life was the new big thing. 10 years later, the multiplayer versions of Minecraft and GTA 5 offer significantly more modern approaches to an online community that communicates and interacts in virtual space.

• At Second Life's weddings, up to 34 million users worldwide plunged into the virtual world. The hype has long since passed. If you take another look at Second Life, the hotspots of that time are dead. Only here and there is a lost avatar standing around in the room.
• As new and revolutionary as Second Life was, it was quickly overtaken. Facebook started in 2004, where friends could find each other much more easily and comprehensively and interact with each other. The dating portals were also becoming increasingly popular.
• The successor Sansar has been tested since 2017. In addition to better graphics, there should also be more options. The big hype has so far failed to materialize.

In the next practical tip we will show you on which websites you can play old board games online.