TwoCredits

I don't think there's an object to the game so much as it's a way for you to interact with other people on a faux-physical manner. In fact, I've heard it described as an operating system more than a game, where you can build you own tools, places, and do things you wouldn't do in your first life, like try to outrun a swarm of flying penises, or go to an island to have sex as an ostrich/fox/human hybrid.

Wired just had an article talking about the very thing you're feeling, which is people going into the game, looking around, learning to use the controls, then never coming back because they never really found anything of interest to do AFTER they learned to use the controls. Other than, you know, outrunning swarms of flying penises.

By the way, a quick search on Wired should give you an indication of how much time they spend on the subject. Of second life, I mean, not, you know, swarms.

Wrote a post some time ago that you might enjoy, on what's cool about metaverses like Second Life, and what they really need to do to improve them.

I like the place. First tried it out shortly after they launched. But unfortunately there are still things missing from their implementation that are required to make me visit it regularly.

Gnorb and mejo are absolutely on it, it isn't a game. It's an online universe, MSN on steroids. You can find games in there if you want, though, just do a search for 'games'. They have RPGs and FPS', all made by users like yourself. Pretty cool, but again, a lot's missing.

They're inching in the right direction, though, and've already fulfilled about two of the six features I originally thought they needed to improve upon (see the post I linked to). One was open-sourcing parts of their system [but they didn't go all the way], the other is their recent addition of real-time audio chat capabilities.

I too have tried it, and found it all a bit pointless so left again. Personally I think calling it a game is rather strong. It's more of a chat/ social network.

I still go into SL from time to time. It IS more of an online universe than anything.

I detest Second Life with a passion. I prefer a REAL MMORPG over this.

Second Life is THE ONLY game where I was harassed by in-game admins when I typed 'this sucks' and logged out when the controls weren't working for me. Shortly after I received emails from admins-- its amateur.

Like I said, it not much of a game but it IS a universe unto itself. If you've ever read the book Snow Crash by Neal Stevenson, SL reminds me of the metaverse in that book.

I ask you what MMORPG stands for? Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game. It might not be much of a game but it IS Massive, it's Multiplayer, it's definitely online, and it's certainly role playing.

The only trouble with SL that I've had is with lag. I need more memory. Other than that it's been good. I don't spend a lot of time there because I'm not cruising for arse. The only way I'd get more into it is if I found a bunch of games that I could play.

I want to try the new Pirates of the Burning Sea MMO, and Mythos.

You know, I'd love to get into this... but I've not found a computer that runs it well enough for it not to be a chore. I've tried it on my macs, some high end (at the time,) PC's, and it's just been disappointing.

There was an episode of Law and Order: SVU that was about Second Life, and ever since then I've wanted to play. I'm too addicted to The Sims to play anything else, though.