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Introduction to Linden Scripting Language
prostoalex writes "Dr. Dobb's Journal runs a lengthy introduction to Linden Scripting Language, the language behind avatars and their interaction in Second Life: "LSL is a scripting language that runs server-side, on a piece of software called the simulator. The simulator does just what it's name implies — it simulates the virtual world of Second Life. Each simulator runs everything for 16 acres of virtual land — buildings, physics, and of course, scripts. While you manipulate the script text in a form that is somewhat easy to read, the actual code that runs on the simulator is compiled. A compiler is a piece of software that takes the text version of the script and converts it into something that can actually run. In the case of LSL, the compiler exists within the Second Life viewer itself. In the future, it is likely that the compiler will move from the viewer into the Second Life simulators, but where the code is compiled isn't very important. What matters is that the text is converted into a form that can run on the simulators.""
But what is real currency? All money is fake, on a basic, fundamental level. Online games simply use faker money than usual, but with real world transactions becoming increasingly virtual, the difference between the two is becoming much more uncertain over time.
It is in the best interest of any online world to convince the government that their money is fake, since that means they won't have to subject their servers and source code to government oversight, which would ultimately make the game much harder to implement. Most games are content to let it rest at that, since they see their money as play tokens themselves.
Linden Labs is one of the first companies to realize that there is a value in allowing the public, if not regulators, to think otherwise. All L$ cashouts are probably, technically, at LL's discretion; to give players a true, real-world legal right to convert money would mean the government would ultimately start taking a hard look at them, since from a real-world standpoint they would start looking like a bank at best, and a potential tax dodge at worst.
It is important to note, though, that Linden Labs' business requires that the illusion be maintained. If they actually did refuse to cash out L$, it would shake user faith in the system. Trading between real-and-virtual money may be ultimately by permission only, but to exercise that authority would be dangerous to their business, and they seem like they're in this some degree of foresight instead of hoping to make a quick buck, so L$ are still, practically, safe to buy and sell. Mostly.