Second Life backlash gains momentum
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Jan 6th 2007 at 3:00PM }
Second Life had a backlash coming. The overhyped virtual reality world with amazing public relations and highbrow academic love is now the focus of an increasing number of reports calling foul to their claim of 2.3 million residents. American Public Radio's Marketplace says it's actually more like 250,000.Clay Shirky, a reporter for Fortune says, "So these aren't terrible numbers, but it's certainly a much more modest success than we've been led to believe by the business stories saying 'there are millions of people using Second Life and it's growing by leaps and bounds.'"
Linden Labs refused to comment on the Marketplace piece, which is par for the course at this point. Expect more stories like this in the near future because it's been a long time coming. Although it is good to see Linden Labs beginning to release some actual data to help diminish the backlash.
See also: Second Life millionaire pummeled with penises
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ryan @ Jan 6th 2007 3:31PM
Why does anyone even talk about second life? Nobody uses it. Articles like this, and all the other hype are what led people like me to install it once to see what it was all about, and then walk away when it was clear that it was an ugly boring waste of time.
If some people like it, and use it to keep in touch with friends, then great, but it isn't anything special.
v1cious @ Jan 6th 2007 3:35PM
Anshe Chung is a real bitch. there are numerous that she has threatened to crash the economy in Second Life, because she didn't get her way.
scott @ Jan 6th 2007 4:31PM
Definitely had it coming. How much is Mr Linden paying these academics and no-name comedians to promote this crap? It's not even a game. It's chat with prettier avatars.
Erik @ Jan 6th 2007 4:37PM
Second Life is often compared with Entropia Universe. On some levels I can understand why. But what I have never gotten is what Second Life is all about. Is there some game element, or is it a chat in 3d or Myspace in 3d?
RedWolf @ Jan 6th 2007 4:43PM
Yes, it's true: Second Life is the most overrated piece of software of all time.
Reality rears its ugly head.
Picklesworth @ Jan 6th 2007 4:50PM
Another sad part is that a web site called Cybertown did something similar to this /aeons ago/. (And it still exists, though it isn't the same any more since they went to a subscription service).
I'll admit that SL is significantly more technologically advanced and it has some neat ideas, but the idea of stagnant 3d chat is old.
Now, actual interactive 3d worlds available in as quick a manner as browsing a standard web page... /that/ would be cool.
jayntampa @ Jan 6th 2007 5:13PM
yay! another of my tips got picked up :)
And, yeah, the hype must die.
Jeremy @ Jan 7th 2007 1:59AM
I got interested after I heard of some attack they had near Xmas. I played for 10 minutes and deleted it, it was horrible.
William Burns @ Jan 9th 2007 5:56PM
I've been in this field for over ten years now. And yes, Second Life is the Paris Hilton of VR: A lot of media attention, and a lot of money involved. But in the end, it's famous for simply being famous.
Over hyped and generally nothing more than a virtual environment akin to a global Chuck E Cheese. I mean, I've managed to create better content in Active Worlds making stuff in SL look like child's play.
Second Life is a joke.