Second Life MMO Attracts Commercial Land-Buyers

Posted by ryuzaki0 on Sunday February 8, 2004 @11:32AM from the second-life's-top-model dept.

Thanks to Terra Nova for its discussion of PC 'virtual world' Second Life's auctioning of an in-game continent, and its purchase by a possible commercial interest. The piece explains: "Second Life began auctioning its virtual land for $US in December.. [the winner was willing to] pay 2L $1200 plus $200 monthly in perpetuity, in order to make software objects that would live only in the virtual world. It turns out that [island auction winner] 'Fizik' is [related to] a marketing agency with clientele in the fashion industry. Not everyone was happy at their arrival." The piece also links to a Second Life forum thread with user opinions, from the positive ("I've never had an problem with a small-scale commercial interest getting involved"), to more guarded ("It is my hope that my in-world experience will never be ruined by corporations trying to make a buck off me.")

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The company's website by eggstasy · 2004-02-08 13:26 · Score: 2, Informative

http://www.riversrunred.com/
Re:Why? by eggstasy · 2004-02-08 13:32 · Score: 3, Informative

Each 256x256 meter region takes up a whole server. Servers arent cheap, you know, neither is bandwidth, and this is a VERY small company.
Having too much empty land would drive them bankrupt. Currently there is a massive shortage of land but a whole new rack/continent is coming on feb 10th.
Players need to pay monthly fees proportional to their land usage so while you can theoretically own an entire continent, it would cost you $5000 a month to do so.