Cátia Ferreira, CECC | UCP
November 18, 2011Second Life | UTAD (Portugal)
SLACTIONS’11
18 November | SL & UTAD
Second Life has 25 million registered users
In this platform players are invited to actively participate in
its development, not only in space construction, but also in
its social development
Intellectual property
Linden Dollar
Building tools and Linden Scripting Language available to all
players
SLACTIONS’11
18 November | SL & UTAD
To verify if Second Life’s development may be
considered a remix of the chasing of the American
Dream
To accomplish this goal we analyzed several in-world
locations in order to see how users are taking
advantage of the building tools available
SLACTIONS’11
18 November | SL & UTAD
A qualitative methodology was used based on a
multimodal netnographic research (Kozinets, 1998,
2002, 2006, 2010)
“[netnography is] a specialized form of ethnography adapted
to the unique computer-mediated contingencies of today's
social worlds” (Kozinets, 2010: 1)
SLACTIONS’11
18 November | SL & UTAD
Data collection methods:
◦ Detailed observational data collection of 64 locations
◦ Auto-netnography (Kedzior and Kozinets, 2009)
Data analyzed through an inductive approach
SLACTIONS’11
18 November | SL & UTAD
Objective: To observe the different selected spaces, as well
as avatars’ behavior
Observation categories:
◦ Logged in users Place Region Owner General place
characteristics Traffic Number of avatars in the visited
place Zones of higher avatars concentration Complexity
level Interaction potential Sub-locations Avatars
description Avatars interaction
SLACTIONS’11
18 November | SL & UTAD
Observed locations
◦ 64 organized in 10 thematic groups
SLACTIONS’11
18 November | SL & UTAD
SLACTIONS’11
18 November | SL & UTAD
Second Life world map in June 2003
SLACTIONS’11
18 November | SL & UTAD
Second Life world map in April 2009
SLACTIONS’11
18 November | SL & UTAD
SLACTIONS’11
18 November | SL & UTAD
Players have a close relationship with territory and are the
main contributors to in-world development
Both space and place are culturally produced through player
generated space narratives
◦ Space – empty land available to be bought
◦ Representational spaces and places – complex locations,
compound of different elements, highly interactive
SLACTIONS’11
18 November | SL & UTAD
Places seem built not only to entertain, but to make visitors comfortable
◦ Sitting places are available throughout the world
◦ Houses have kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms
◦ Public spaces offer many different activities and ways of
interaction
The majority of destinations available were created by groups of residents and some of them are the official space of specific communities
SLACTIONS’11
18 November | SL & UTAD
SLACTIONS’11
18 November | SL & UTAD
SLACTIONS’11
18 November | SL & UTAD
SLACTIONS’11
18 November | SL & UTAD
SLACTIONS’11
18 November | SL & UTAD
SLACTIONS’11
18 November | SL & UTAD
Second Life may be seen as a remix platform
◦ Lawrence Lessig conceptualized remix as “the mix [that] provides
new creative work” (Lessig, 2008: 69)
Virtual space is being transformed into a network of places and representational spaces through the mix of simulations of ‘real’ world with fantasy
The effort made by players to transform ‘empty’ land into a prosperous one may be considered a remix of the American Dream
SLACTIONS’11
18 November | SL & UTAD
"The American dream is that dream of a land in which life
should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with
opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.
[…] It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely,
but a dream of social order in which each man and each
woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which
they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for
what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of
birth or position." (Adams, 2001: 414-5)
SLACTIONS’11
18 November | SL & UTAD
‘Your world, your imagination’
SLACTIONS’11
18 November | SL & UTAD [email protected]
Melissa Finley, my avatar, in The pot healer adventure,Numbalculla Island Project