Second Life & ATS

Hey Guys,

Had a suggestion for the board -
Have you guys heard of Second Life?
It's a free, (yes, seriously free) virtual world where we can meet, collaborate and basically create anything we want. I really think ATS could benefit from having some land and a - so to speak - base of operations in SL.

It's not hard and doesn't have a lot of seriously demanding hardware/software requirements, is easy to use and really cool.
Plus, it'd give a chance for us memebers to really interact with the Mods/Admin/Amigos and collaborate on ideas real time.
You can even do things such as post SLurls (Second Life URLS) that can point you to something in SL, or you can click on in SL to show you on the web. I think it would really add a "3rd" dimension to ATS and its fellowship. I just wanted to know what the consenus was and if you guys (Fellow ATS'rs) then lets let the mods know and maybe we can make it happen.

I'm sure springer can spring (forgive the pun) for the funds needed to get a special "ATS" island for us to get started (its not expensive, you can get prices in SL or use their website to get an idea). But please, before any negative posts, check out the secondlife website and try it out ! It's pretty cool

I tried 2nd life, its kinda silly, but I guess some people like it. This idea, beleive it or not, has come up before.

www.abovetopsecret.com...

Interesting post - thanks for that. I searched for posts on second life but couldn't find anything so I figured it hadn't been mentioned yet.

I would like to point out that sL isn't a "game" its a multiverse so to speak. You CAN play games inside, but that definately isn't all.

It has alot of uses, and alot of corporations are already utilizing sL for meetings, collaborations, and business.
I think if companies can utilize sL for their benefit - can't a global community such as ATS also utilize it?

Also - at the date of that post SL was really new, and it was very unstable. Nowadays the Grid is alot more stable, there are over 1 million people using it, and it actually has a working economy.

So, in lieu of that other post, I think we should re-consider SL as a viable extension of ATS.

Can I shoot, explode, or impale others in this SL?

or is this just another form of The Sims?

No way. I've played Second Life. No way will I ever play it again. Heres why...


The first time I saw a post about it I searched it and downloaded it. I played it once and had this cool character, and had a car and a house and all this cool stuff. I sold cars to make money in the game then I would go to a casino to play blackjack. It was awsome. It was so addicting though. I played it for so long at a time. No way will I ever play it again.

I saw it advertised by the BBC...tried it out, and couldn't even get the character to set up properly...the features didn't work well.

Also it was sluggish, and quality wise, reminds me of MySpace.
I did a blog about it (though its not there anymore) calling it the MySpace of virtual worlds.

Seems somewhere I read that Bill gates told steve that he just didn't get it.
Meaning, its not about quality...its about doing the least you can, which is just enough to get the people used to it and not demanding more or caring for more. (complacent.)

So in short...wish it looked better, worked more fluid, etc.

Peace

dAlen

[edit on 19-2-2007 by dAlen]

You're not going to catch me on 2nd life. I have a life you know... I've heard that it can be very addicting. ATS is addicting enough for me.

Originally posted by TheBandit795
I've heard that it can be very addicting.

Yes! Very very addicting.

Well I'm sorry the feedback is so negative.

Just because someone gets addicted to it doesn't mean everyone will - I'm not. Especially when you just use it to go to online meetings or collaborations. I think you guys are just full negativity.
I haven't heard one positive aspect of using SL with ATS, and I know they are there.

Why are you guys so resistant to just add another aspect of ATS? Its not like I'm saying MOVE ATS to SL, but just add a place in SL that represents ATS - so us Second Life users have a place to meet and talk in SL about ATS related topics. This is what I meant in the beginning, in case any of you guys thought I meant to literally MOVE ATS into SL.

This is an excellent idea for the upcoming ATS Presidential Elections. Rather than some boring debate on a forum (no offense to any offended), the candidates could all create avatars and who ever wanted to spectate the debates could jump into the game to check 'em out. You don't have to make a career of it, just create an avatar, meet at the assigned area, spectate the debates, and then never return to that forsaken realm.
And of course there would be full coverage of it here at the forums for anyone who doesn't want to deal with the game. This could potentially be awesome





[edit on 2/19/07 by Calm Anomaly]

Originally posted by Calm Anomaly
This is an excellent idea for the upcoming ATS Presidential Elections. Rather than some boring debate on a forum (no offense to any offended), the candidates could all create avatars and who ever wanted to spectate the debates could jump into the game to check 'em out. You don't have to make a career of it, just create an avatar, meet at the assigned area, spectate the debates, and then never return to that forsaken realm.

And of course there would be full coverage of it here at the forums for anyone who doesn't want to deal with the game. This could potentially be awesome

[edit on 2/19/07 by Calm Anomaly]

Thats a great Idea ! Finally something positive I really think thats a good idea - the technology is already in place, all it takes is for ATS users to download the client, create an avatar (which isn't hard, seriously) and jump in to the designated ATS place and literally be a part of the debates. I feel it would add another great aspect to ATS.

SO I guess I can't kill others in SL... bah!

I agree with Lysergic I would need a smiting option. Seriously though, it sounds like a good idea to me. I've never played it but it would definitely be nice to put a "digital face" with the names I see everyday. I think it would definitely make ATS more personable.

But if the addictive part is true I'm going to be in trouble. ATS is bad enough, I keep on trying to thing of a slang for it like Evercrack for Everquest; so glad I'm on my own and can't afford that horror that was worse than Cigarettes, Crack, Booze, and Heroin combined.

Originally posted by Calm Anomaly
This is an excellent idea for the upcoming ATS Presidential Elections.

I would not be a candidate if the ATS elections were on SL instead of the forums. My candidacy is predicated on my interest in discussing, exploring and proposing new ideas that are applicable in real life. To that end words and ATS work really well for me. Obviously SL must be inadequate in some manner, otherwise why come to ATS and attempt to hijack ATS users.

I've tried SL, come back in 5 to 10 years when its a finished product.


[edit on 19-2-2007 by df1]

Just a word of caution to those running vista. Second Life software does not run on vista. Ive tried it on 2 different computers, one running ultimate and one running home premium. NO GO. I was gonna check it out but alas, i cannot for now.

Originally posted by df1

Originally posted by Calm Anomaly
This is an excellent idea for the upcoming ATS Presidential Elections.

I would not be a candidate if the ATS elections were on SL instead of the forums. My candidacy is predicated on my interest in discussing, exploring and proposing new ideas that are applicable in real life. To that end words and ATS work really well for me. Obviously SL must be inadequate in some manner, otherwise why come to ATS and attempt to hijack ATS users.

[edit on 19-2-2007 by df1]

Wow, take it easy. It was just a suggestion. One outside the box, unlike your platform - Marxist. Get your own idealogy. No, I won't join your Commie-Cult! Good day to you Sir.... I SAID GOOD DAY!











[edit on 2/20/07 by Calm Anomaly]

wasnt that the game that actualy caused the government to consider taxing people for game money that they earned on the game?

I don't know about this. I think it may actualy detract from the quality of ATS... Besides they dont have the last name KNO

[edit on 20-2-2007 by whatukno]

Originally posted by df1

Originally posted by Calm Anomaly
This is an excellent idea for the upcoming ATS Presidential Elections.

I would not be a candidate if the ATS elections were on SL instead of the forums. My candidacy is predicated on my interest in discussing, exploring and proposing new ideas that are applicable in real life. To that end words and ATS work really well for me. Obviously SL must be inadequate in some manner, otherwise why come to ATS and attempt to hijack ATS users.

I've tried SL, come back in 5 to 10 years when its a finished product.


[edit on 19-2-2007 by df1]

First off I don't appreciate you accusing me of "Hijacking ATS Users". If this is the kind of attitude we can expect out of our candidates on ATS - we have some serious problems.

Secondly - ITS NOT A GAME. I don't like using Caps, but everyone keeps refering to SL as a game, which it is not. Maybe if some of the ATS users could get around this concept, they would see how many other useful functions can be accomplished with SL.

My candidacy is predicated on my interest in discussing, exploring and proposing new ideas that are applicable in real life.

Okay great ! NO BODY is suggesting you shouldn't - but why can't you even acknowledge the idea of being able to represent yourself in another way?

In SL your "voters" could see you real time, discuss things with you on a personal basis, as well as "official", etc etc. I'm not saying replace the board with SL, I'm saying make an ATS space inside of SL.

You may be on to something here..I've spent sometime on Second Life back when it was in beta quite a few years ago..Its come a long way since then I just saw how Toyota was getting there toes wet.

www.springwise.com...

And some other big companies as well..If I'm not mistaken there were a few articles in the Wall Street Journal about Second Life

[edit on 2/20/2007 by gotanybob]

[edit on 2/20/2007 by gotanybob]

There are many other examples of how Second Life is being utilized as a medium for communication and collaboration (something ATS swears up and down about) on the second life website. The articles are all listed in a little scroll box on the left side of the main secondlife webpage.

Thank you gotany for a positive response. It's amazing to me how some people can be so negative and resistant to anything new.

Again I'd like to restate that I'm not in any way suggestion ATS be moved INTO SL, but however put an extension of the website inside SL.

And, believe it not, SL has over a million members, so its also a new place to reach new audiences and increase website membership/readership.

I still have not heard any convincing argumenst of why its a bad idea to create an place in SL that represents the ATS community.

Just to list, I've heard -

1. One member is addicted so will not continue to engage SL. Thats fine, but it doesn't speak for the entire community.

2. One 2007 ATS Presidential Candidate (df1) just thinks I'm trying to hijack ATS membership to SL.


There were two arguments that had some legitmacy to them -

1. SL doesn't work on Windows Vista. This is a valid concern and I on the SL forums is already being addressed. A working version will be out soon.

2. Slow, sluggish, poor graphics, and hard to set up character. This is also a legitmate concern - sometimes the "Grid" on SL slows up or has problems, but this happens along with all other web technologies. It's actively being worked on and improved upon, and has been getting better in stability month to month.

I invite anybody with any more legitamate negative concerns about why starting an ATS presence within Second Life is a bad idea, then I'm all game.