IBM marketing is just trying to justify not having their budget pulled (and be fired) and 2ndLife is trying anything to keep the hype train moving hoping that Google buys them and add it to GoogleEarth

IBM ‘groping for tomorrow’

Unfortnuately, regarding this announcement, the same things that make it hard for SL to scale up also make it hard for SL avatars to be portable to systems that don’t, for example, support 3D prims on avatars, or scripts, or physical simulation. That means any of three things:

1. Linden may push its simulator technology out there, resulting in other VWs having more Linden-like capabilities (but perhaps some of the same drawbacks)
2. Linden may streamline its avatars and put some limits on how creative people can be to improve cross-world migration
3. To avoid “lost in translation” errors, avatars will use a central internet repository to store the “complete” multi-purpose avatar which could enter any world with appropriate temporary loss of capability, depending on the destination.

If #3, then who owns it? If Linden, then they would seem to benefit no matter the path, so it’s a pretty smart move IMO.

Next Playstation3, is just a game platform – you win, get killed and keep score, yes the graphics may be better sometimes, but it is very limited in it’s dynamics as many other games like WOW you are kind of stuck on a specific server and can’t see your friends on other servers. Second life allows total freedom to play the games people have created in the I love Gorean role play myself or do what every your heart desires, dancing, romance shopping, hang gliding, building, scripting, surfing and there is always another exciting spot to visit with just one click you can go anywhere all of the time. The graphics are really great for such a complex environment.. There are few limits; it is a virtual life, freedom and creativity on Steroids without having to drive anywhere. It is a great hobby to have as long as you remember there is a real life too. *laughs*

Okay getting off m soap box, thanks everyone.

Best regards
Mads

First, this field is still new, and rapidly evolving, with many new services and innovations announced every day. Second Life deserves tremendous credit for inspiring so much interest in the possibility of rich and meaningful experiences in virtual environments, despite the well-known limitations of its current user interface, grid performance, etc.

We see a future where there will be a virtual universe of platforms, services and business opportunities, and are investigating many different fronts.

Given the incredible renaissance in Web 2.0 types of applications and services, and the natural way in which people seem to enjoy and gravitate toward 3D and social spaces, I think the future intersection of these releated fields is very bright, and that we have only begun to scratch the surface of how 3D innovations will contribute to the evolution of the internet.

Check the post:
http://www.lost....com/blog/?p=43

[These articles all came out just after midnight, indicating that Linden pre-released this news under embargo until today, meaning this is meant as a giant coordinated shot across the bow at the Virtual Worlds conference beginning later today…]
F…

I’m disappointed IBM would waste time on this. Sounds like something Irving Wladawsky-Berger had his hand in (if not, I apologize to Irving).

Two thumbs down for IBM. BTW, if Google really is launching their own version of SL (as some are claiming), I hope it’s a lot better than SL. And I’d rather see IBM work with Google (cf. Symphony/OpenOffice) versus wasting time with LL.