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Very random thoughts on a variety of interactive media topics.

I bought a bandwagon in Second Life, but they wouldn't let me park it!

Now, THIS is what Second Life is really about - a Second Life entrepeneur making Second Life money in Second Life with Second Life materials and Second Life skills, and then turning that into a real world living.

You can forget about AKQA setting up an office, or PA Consulting, or Sun and Dell holding press conferences in Second Life. That is simply about corporate entities jumping on a perceived bandwagon in a desparate attempt to look like they're "down with the kids". (I'll tell you later how I bought a real  'bandwagon' in SL and what I tried to do with it - and how I think real life companies should actually be using Second Life!

Ailin Graef joined SL, took an identity (Anshe Chung), discovered a whole new set of talents.  She then applied them in a way that she may or may not have been able to do in RL, in an environment akin to the western frontier in 19th century America. She staked her claims, and then built an empire; and after years of hard work and growth, it starts to pay off and she is worth L$300,000,000 - approximately $1m US.

What many of the companies in my field fail to realise is that Second Life is a real community. Its raison d'etre is that it creates an environment in which its citizens can communicate, socialise, create and trade; and that is what its citizens are interested in doing. The clever ones, just like in real life, are the ones who are entrepeneurial, and make something out of their own hard work and the natural assets and materials around them.

What is made in SL, stays in SL, and until you 'check-out' nothing makes it into RL (real life).

So have AKQA - who have just opened an office in SL - blundered into a world they don't understand? Or are they genuinely finding new ways to find talent?me - a little bored of waiting in AKQA's SL office

Well, some SL'rs probably want to work for AKQA or PA Consulting, but given an audience of 1.6million, of course there are bound to be some who want to work with them. Wouldn't you be better off putting an ad on the London Undergound though?

Ah, no, that wouldn't have the PR impact of an early bandwagon effort thinly disguised as an innovative embracing of a new world.

Sorry AKQA, but I've been to your SL office and stood around. Sat around actually. Nobody offered me  a coffee, or even said hello! Great showreel of course... me - with the rest of the crowd waiting in AKQA's recruitment 'hub' in SL

When, AKQA, you have a debate on the future of the internet in your SL office (my idea, by the way - you heard it here first) I expect my invite! Oh, but no swearing of course - you have set up in a PG land (same as a PG movie - adult things not allowed).

I also had a little trip to PA Consulting - which was a slightly more rich experience. I was met by a greeter - "German Guru" told me not to park my 'bandwagon' truck in front of his reception desk - and I got taken off to see a smart house - well, I would have done, except my greeter host flew off so fast I couldn't keep up! Oh, and they've got a Christmas tree up! Even though it's only November. Nobody I talked to there worked for the RL PA Consulting. Although they did work for them in SL.

 

Simply setting up an office in Second Life with nothing in particular to offer the community is like setting up an office in a small village in Kent that people say is a great place to live and work, just to see if the people there want to work for you.

At least PA are playing the game and running the office like an office though. They've also come up with a rationale for being there, which is that they've recreated a concept they've presumably had for a while which is the 'smart house' in real 3D. Which was nice enough, so I had a little kip on the bed and promptly logged out to come and write this!I try to park my 'bandwagon' in AKQA's SL offices - but they don't let me!

I say, go back to SL basics - communicate, socialise, create, trade, be entertained. Those are the motivations that get people here and keep them here.

If you have something to offer the community, and they have something to offer you, then go for it.

As a minor, and very ineffectual protest, I bought a 'bandwagon' in SL and tried to park it in AKQA's office so they could all hop on. Only, their property wouldn't let me park it! Spoilsports!

We have a handful of clients who I know would bring a lot to SL and their residents, and in return would reap great benefits. Some could entertain. Some would trade. Some would facilitate the SL community through communications and transport, maybe even insurance and financing! Some may even be prepared to set up new business lines in RL in order to create tradeable goods in SL, leveraging their existing skills, infrastructure and supply chains to create a new market for themselves and bring goods and services to SL.

However, the one I've got most respect for is Ailin Graef, sorry Anshe Chung! A 'real' entrepeneur! To everyone else? Stay out until you understand it.

Published 28 November 2006 22:47 by Paul.Dawson

Comments

 

mel said:

I sent this email to Conchango UK, and it prompted a huge wave of responses, so following Paul's advice, I am now posting it as a comment against his blog...

Well, this Second Life stuff has been on the edges of my conciousness for a while, but I only took the time this afternoon to check out what it actually is (as I was utterly baffled by Paul's blog).  At the risk of being called a Luddite or a technophobe, I am frankly appalled!  I can't believe that 1,736,814 people have signed up for a Second Life.  What happened to having a First Life?!  I followed the link about how people 'Have Fun' in Second Life (because I was kind of curious) and discovered that they go to virtual nightclubs.  Where's the fun in that?  Are there thousands of Second Lifers out there, getting on down in their office chairs?  (Here's a thought:  If you have a chat in a virtual nightclub, are the words kind of blurry so you can't quite read what someone's saying to you?  Do you just nod and laugh and smile like you heard them right and then buy another drink?  Are your ears ringing when you step back out into the street?)

If AKQA and PA Consulting don't get this stuff, well, neither do I.  I just don't get this living life through a screen - there's a world out there, with beautiful landscapes, amazing cityscapes, pubs, people, sights, smells, sounds.  Why slump in front of your pc, experiencing the unreal?  Can someone explain?

December 4, 2006 11:57
 

Barry Sherrington said:

It seems that we are becoming more secluded and instead of making the effort to get out in the world.  Are we going to devolve into a race of agrophobes?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6158935.stm

December 4, 2006 19:51
 

ciaran.hanway said:

Great post Paul!

Mel, I don't think this game is supposed to replace your Life 1.0, but rather to supplant traditional media. I'm fairly active, but even I need a bit of slumping time! I'd rather do this than sit slumped in front of the telly watching "How clean is your house", "Bargain Hunt" or, God forbid, "Eastenders".

In fact, I've played a different online game and actually meet the people I have met online in real life twice a year at various cities around the world. Two weeks ago, we spent a very jolly time in Amsterdam and I'm going to Tel Aviv next year.

Agrophobic? I'm more Angoraphobic, to be honest.

Few people think of those who surf the internet as losers, even though this was the mainstream opinion of them 10 years ago. Same goes for people who date online, but 5 years ago they were seen as sad.

Once people appreciate the truly social elements of these games and of forums, blogs (!), photo sharing etc. people will think of making friends online about as weird as having a penfriend.

Having said all that, I don't like Second Life. Many of these games, like a tough, but worthwhile novel, need you to get over an initial "hump" to get really into them. I just haven't had the time.

Found this whilst doing some Web 2.0 research: http://upcoming.org/event/130579/

December 11, 2006 16:48
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About Paul.Dawson

I started working in 'new media' when it was... around 1996, doing websites for people like DHL and Cellnet (remember them?) as well as CD-Roms for people like Doring Kindersley. I joined Conchango in 1999 because I was fed up with the conflicts and overlaps between the companies that we tended to partner with to deliver these things. Usually it was a tech company and a marketing agency. Neither had the user's needs in mind, and both were trying hard to take business away from each other.. so at Conchango I saw the opportunity to create an integrated team, who as a result of all being on the same side, and following good user centred design process, delivered better stuff for both our clients and their customers. So we built an interactive media team who do design, branding and user experience, and in 2006 were rated best in Europe at this by Forrester Research. Which was nice! Now I spend a lot of time evangelising to customers and at conferences, about what Conchango do in the field of Customer and Brand Experience, as well as still working for real clients on real projects!
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