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Microsoft Rumored To Buy Second Life

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the get-a-first-life dept.

Jamie noticed a rumor making the rounds: Microsoft buying Second Life. Nobody is confirming or denying anything, much less announcing anything sounding like a price. Or a reason why this makes any sense to anyone.

5 of 223 comments (clear)

  1. Would they lock out Linux? by seeker_1us · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The code base for the viewer is GPL, but they have certain terms you must meet before the viewer can connect to the servers. Would MS change those terms to lock out Linux (or MacIntosh)?

  2. Probably not such a bad idea by EoN604 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    It's probably not such a bad idea really. Microsoft are seen as boring, stagnant, and not making any particularly exciting moves in terms of new ideas & new products. Second Life is terrible these days, boring, clunky, ugly and crap, but the fundamental idea is pretty incredible - if Microsoft could take what's there and build upon it/somethow breath some life into it, I reckon it could have some serious potential, a second life if you will. It'll be spare change for MS, so not such a bad gamble IMO.

  3. I know why by spleen_blender · · Score: 2, Interesting

    XBox.


    XBox Live avatar world, like a virtual world with social networking built in. Sidestep gains from any other social network by making it unique (virtual environment) and exclusive (XBox Live).

  4. Re:Second life still exists? by CronoCloud · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Yep, concurrency is about 10x what it was back in 2006. It's not super-huge, but it does have a core of dedicated users, and a small number of new people joining every day.

  5. My guess... by Syberz · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Assuming that this indeed is true, my guess is that they want the technology to develop their own MMO or use Linden's expertise for their cloud based offerings.

    Buying the tech and expertise is cheaper than developping your own after all.

    --
    ~Syberz