In all my years of working with it, the thing I like most about the Internet is its ability to make me continually rethink and change my mind.
Rather annoyingly my attendance at tonight's Chinwag Big Summer Party was curtailed by the need to go home and sort out a leak in my bathroom. While I was waiting for the plumber to arrive I started to write an article about Second Life for the blog. It was basically along the lines of how bored I was with the endless press releases about various companies launching in there, how few people were ever in there at one time, how difficult it is to find anything and the fact it gave me motion sickness the last time I spent any time in there!
However at that point an ex colleague who now works at Web 2.0 experts Cheeze IM'd me and invited me into their parallel Chinwag Big Summer Party.......in Second Life! Considering I was sitting at my PC waiting for a plumber I surreally had about 20 mins of fun dancing like a fool and drinking virtual cocktails. Some nice branding in there for Chinwag Jobs as well. I'm still far from convinced but there could be something in this Second Life thing yet!!
Click the links above to take a look
I guess this ties in to what a lot of us are saying around this though - it was an 'appropriate' use of an 'appropriate' platform - it wasn't trying to be something big and corporate (although it was) but it worked.
And that's what it's about. Good on them for going for it in such a way, and making something that works.
Yes, they are replicating what they're doing offline, online, but it looks like it could have been fun, and was just right for the target audience.
Oh, and good to see that the old adage is true - people end up creating an avatar that is a spitting image of their real self... Mine started off with a beard, broad shoulders, narrow waste. It's since changed to a more realistic image of me...
Posted by: Ben | 06/07/2007 at 12:40 PM
Mines not changed. I still look like a stud muffin. I'm sure my avatar will end up looking like Al Murray pub Land Lord in the end though. I was sent a letter from IQPC the other day re Second Life. "80% of active internet users will have a Second Life by the end of 2011 - Analysts say Business Leaders must take the initiative to innovate" "Sweden plans Second Life Embassy" www.iqpc.com/uk/secondlife
Some people say it's full of pervenerds from the Benelux regions and Germany but I'd like to think it's not all tight leather trousers and Hoff lovers with suicidal tendencies
Posted by: Ciaran | 10/07/2007 at 10:32 AM
Read this article and thought of the agency generated hype around Second Life in the digital recruiting space right now.
"Second Life, Lemming like" http://clickz.com/showPage.html?page=3626469
I'm sorry I truly believe is pretty inappropriate budget allocation. Or at least will be once the PR benefits have dried up (which surely they must have by now).
Don't get me wrong - I quite like the environment myself and think it's got potential in the future, but get Web 1.0 right first people - then, if your budget allows have a dabble. Just don't be blinded by false profits selling such a far off virtual dream.
Posted by: Alex | 20/07/2007 at 10:04 PM