On Insufficient Documentation of a Virtual World's Economic Development: A Retrospective of Second Life From 2003-2008

On Insufficient Documentation of a Virtual World's Economic Development: A Retrospective of Second Life From 2003-2008

Sandra Boric
Copyright: © 2021 |Pages: 15
DOI: 10.4018/IJGCMS.290825
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Abstract

Literature on Second Life (SL) was retrieved, reviewed, and aggregated. Although it was found to provide sufficient information about SL's social, technological, business model, and legal issues, and although SL received overall dense media coverage, the literature was found to be lacking when it came to a thorough documentation of its economic development in 2003-2008. Using the retrieved literature, the attempt to reconstruct the development of the number of avatars, active users, prices and fees, and monetary development exposes the limits of reconstructing the economic development of a virtual world years after its popularity peak. This article serves as an argument and a reminder for a proper documentation of such developments. Future documentation of virtual worlds in academia should thoroughly track the economic development of next-generation virtual worlds. Otherwise, post-analysis, economic development reconstruction, and trace backs might prove difficult, costly, or infeasible.
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Background: Sl’S Business Model In 2003-2008

This chapter serves as an introduction to SL’s business model with a focus on 2003-2008. It includes membership fees, an own virtual currency, the sale of virtual land, and the collection of virtual land use fees. It also includes marketing possibilities.

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