About the Author
TJ Nelson
A web publisher for the past 4 years. TJ Nelson
shares his findings and knowledge in real estate, business and health related issues.
Secondlife is a relatively new phenomenon that has risen in the last few years. Online virtual communities are not new. Take for example the popular game World of Warcraft, where people gather together to battle the forces of evil. The Second Life game is not a war game but instead it is a virtual community where people gather together to live their virtual lives in peace and harmony. If you have questions about where to start, then this article is for you. It will guide you through the basics of what you need to know.
Your Second Life guide begins with your system requirements. The best bet for running the simulation is having a broadband or cable modem connection. A dial-up connection will work, but you will experience very slow lag times and your avatar will have very jerky motions. What is a Second Life avatar? An avatar is an online representation of your physical self. It does not have to look like you and can actually look like anyone you want it to look like. It does not have to be your gender, race, nationality or even have your hair color.
The scripts Second Life runs on were created by Linden Labs. You need to have Operating Systems 2000, XP or Vista in order to run the Life software. Your processor must be 800 MHz or faster and have a 512 MB of memory or better to run. Remember, the higher the processor and memory, the better your Second Life game will run, so consider using a faster computer when playing your game.
You do not have to purchase a membership plan in order to be a part of the Secondlife community. The Basic membership package is free, but the downside is that you cannot own any land. The best value is the Premium package, and then you can own as much land as you want to purchase. If you intend to own a lot of land and want a great deal of technical support, then your best deal is the lifetime membership package. The real estate Second Life offers is a big selling point for this package.
Do not expect to log onto Secondlife occasionally. This is not an occasional kind of game. It is not a warrior game either. You will not be slaying dragons or going on quests to rescue princesses from wicked witches. This is a community of virtual avatars and it requires maintenance and money. You will need a bank account and plenty of free time, so carefully consider these things before you sign up.
To Learn More About Second Life Visit: TopicCluster.com
Published by TJ Nelson on January 18, 2008 09:54 PM
