Eloise Pasteur
Articles by Eloise Pasteur
Counting the coppers
Yesterday in Second Life we: Spent US$1,444,000 at an exchange rate of L$267.2 to US$1 Exchanged US$300,000 at an average of US$12,500.0 per hour. Market buys were US$228,000 Market sales were US$71,000 Limit-limit buys were US$800 The busiest time was at 7am when about US$17,000 was exchanged. The quietest time was 3am when about US$7,000 was exchanged. [via Second Life datafeeds]In World of Warcraft average prices [via wowecon.com] for key materials are: Commodity Price Stack of Netherweave 3 g 0 s Primal Air 19 g 90 s Primal Earth 3 g 0 s Primal Fire 21 g 80 s Primal Life 11 g 0 s Primal Mana 15 g 92 s Primal Might 86 g 0 s Primal Shadow 15 g 43 s Primal Water 17 g 50 s Stack of Thick Clefthoof Leather 59 g 0 s
Spying on your activities in Virtual Worlds unconstitutional
Every now and again stories about Second Life and other Virtual Worlds being a breeding ground for terrorism come around. The latest that we've covered here was about profiling in MMOGs in late February. Now, according to Worlds in Motion.biz Professor Juan Cole, President of the Global Americana Institute has commented that this is unfeasible and unconstitutional, since it denies freedom of speech. You can read the WIM article and Professor Cole's original article.Professor Cole, unlike many of these people, has actually spent time in Second Life, and considered how usable it would be as a breeding ground and training ground for terrorists. His conclusion is stated in political terms, but can be summed up as it's a paranoid fantasy, a tool of FUD to try and get internet monitoring pushed through the legislation despite it being unconstitutional. Most people I know consider the use of SL for education and training in many skills as excellent, but by and large regard it as a poor place for teaching "physical" skills (sports for example, and bomb building and assaults on buildings). They tend to regard the prospect of training terrorists in Second Life as risible. However, these people do read a lot, and they managed to include a link to the original discussion document that has spawned many of these more and more paranoid stories.
Counting the coppers
Yesterday in Second Life we: Spent US$1,410,000 at an exchange rate of L$267.6 to US$1 Exchanged US$269,000 at an average of US$11,200.0 per hour. Market buys were US$199,000 Market sales were US$70,000 Limit-limit buys were US$300 The busiest time was at 2pm when about US$15,000 was exchanged. The quietest time was 11pm when about US$7,000 was exchanged. [via Second Life datafeeds]In World of Warcraft average prices [via wowecon.com] for key materials are: Commodity Price Stack of Netherweave 3 g 0 s Primal Air 19 g 90 s Primal Earth 3 g 0 s Primal Fire 21 g 80 s Primal Life 11 g 0 s Primal Mana 15 g 92 s Primal Might 86 g 0 s Primal Shadow 15 g 43 s Primal Water 17 g 50 s Stack of Thick Clefthoof Leather 59 g 0 s
New Release Candidate - html on a prim phase 1 is the big news!
Over on the official Linden Blog, news of the Second Life Release Candidate 1.19.1(RC0) was released a few minutes ago. This combines Windlight into the main RC line, and thus soon into the main stream. It also, in a rather more exciting move to many, includes a change to the media streaming system to let you see web pages IN Second Life. The system is still in an early stage - there are no interactions, no flash and the like as yet (although interacting with web pages and shared browsing will be along sometime in the future), but it works. Look closely at the picture - that's not a mock up, within seconds of being in Second Life with the new RC, I had Massively's website on a prim. That simple.[UPDATE: there are a couple of twiddles too - the "debug" menus (from Cntl-alt-shift-D) have been compressed into a single "Advanced" menu, same keystrokes though]
Counting the coppers
Yesterday in Second Life we: Spent US$1,486,000 at an exchange rate of L$266.8 to US$1 Exchanged US$302,000 at an average of US$12,600.0 per hour. Market buys were US$198,000 Market sales were US$103,000 Limit-limit buys were US$800 The busiest time was at 4pm when about US$23,000 was exchanged. The quietest time was 1am when about US$6,000 was exchanged. [via Second Life datafeeds]In World of Warcraft average prices [via wowecon.com] for key materials are: Commodity Price Stack of Netherweave 3 g 0 s Primal Air 19 g 90 s Primal Earth 3 g 0 s Primal Fire 21 g 80 s Primal Life 11 g 0 s Primal Mana 15 g 92 s Primal Might 86 g 0 s Primal Shadow 15 g 43 s Primal Water 17 g 50 s Stack of Thick Clefthoof Leather 59 g 0 s
Counting the coppers
Yesterday in Second Life we: Spent US$1,622,000 at an exchange rate of L$268.7 to US$1 Exchanged US$327,000 at an average of US$13,600.0 per hour. Market buys were US$204,000 Market sales were US$122,000 Limit-limit buys were US$600 The busiest time was at 4pm when about US$27,000 was exchanged. The quietest time was 7am when about US$7,000 was exchanged. [via Second Life datafeeds]In World of Warcraft average prices [via wowecon.com] for key materials are: Commodity Price Stack of Netherweave 3 g 0 s Primal Air 19 g 90 s Primal Earth 3 g 0 s Primal Fire 21 g 80 s Primal Life 11 g 0 s Primal Mana 15 g 92 s Primal Might 86 g 0 s Primal Shadow 15 g 43 s Primal Water 17 g 50 s Stack of Thick Clefthoof Leather 59 g 0 s
Counting the coppers
Yesterday in Second Life we: Spent US$1,701,000 at an exchange rate of L$272.3 to US$1 Exchanged US$324,000 at an average of US$13,500.0 per hour. Market buys were US$228,000 Market sales were US$95,000 Limit-limit buys were US$1,200 The busiest time was at 0pm when about US$20,000 was exchanged. The quietest time was 8am when about US$8,000 was exchanged. [via Second Life datafeeds]In World of Warcraft average prices [via wowecon.com] for key materials are: Commodity Price Stack of Netherweave 3 g 0 s Primal Air 19 g 90 s Primal Earth 3 g 0 s Primal Fire 21 g 80 s Primal Life 11 g 0 s Primal Mana 15 g 92 s Primal Might 86 g 0 s Primal Shadow 15 g 43 s Primal Water 17 g 50 s Stack of Thick Clefthoof Leather 59 g 0 s
Can you fight stress in Second Life?
Can you fight stress in Second Life? This is the question that Dr. Daniel Hoch of Massachusetts General Hospital is going to explore. There are, of course, many organisations within Second Life that already do things such as this: Support for Healing being one of the better known ones, but this is the first time that I'm aware of that we've had a full clinical trial of the potential benefits of Second Life as a stress reliever, quite possibly the first clinical trial in Second Life altogether.The group will be looking for volunteers from the Boston region, so that the inevitable real life paperwork can be done, and is being conducted under the auspices of the Center for Connected Health and the Benson-Henry Institute of Mind Body Medicine. Two anticipated benefits they expect to see, even if the rest of the trial proves disappointing, are feedback through the IM system to the therapist, without disrupting the session; and the ability to aid visualisation by creating virtual environments that support the guided relaxation.It will be interesting to see how the trial turns out, and doubtless we will report it here. Thanks to Pathfinder for the tip and link to the original article in the Boston Globe.
Counting the coppers
Yesterday in Second Life we: Spent US$1,605,000 at an exchange rate of L$268.9 to US$1 Exchanged US$301,000 at an average of US$12,500.0 per hour. Market buys were US$211,000 Market sales were US$87,000 Limit-limit buys were US$2,700 The busiest time was at 3pm when about US$25,000 was exchanged. The quietest time was 6pm when about US$4,000 was exchanged. [via Second Life datafeeds]In World of Warcraft average prices [via wowecon.com] for key materials are: Commodity Price Stack of Netherweave 3 g 0 s Primal Air 19 g 90 s Primal Earth 3 g 0 s Primal Fire 21 g 80 s Primal Life 11 g 0 s Primal Mana 15 g 92 s Primal Might 86 g 0 s Primal Shadow 15 g 43 s Primal Water 17 g 50 s Stack of Thick Clefthoof Leather 59 g 80 s
History of Earth in Second Life
Thanks to my friend Graham I found out about an exhibit covering the history of the Earth, both geological and biological in Second Life, so I went to visit it yesterday. Pictured above is part of the display for my favourite organisms of all time: the weird and wonderful animals from the Burgess Shale and the Cambrian Explosion.The exhibit is attractively put together, and instructive. According to the NMC teachers buzz (that I missed in August) it was created solely by the students at the University of Arizona. Despite being instructive, I came away with a strong feeling of having visited a traditional museum, rather than an immersive exhibit in Second Life or an interactive science museum, or something moving towards Museum 2.0. There were certainly elements of the display, such as the exhibit about continental drift that I have seen done in an interactive fashion (I think at both Te Papa in Wellington and Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie in Paris), which could have been done in a more interactive fashion here. Where were the chances to walk through the core, mantle and crust of the Earth rather than look at cut-away models that I remember from when I was at school, over 20 years ago?Despite, in my opinion, missing a trick or two that could have made this an excellent place to visit, it is still well worth a look. The SLURL will not take you straight there most of the time - you will land at a hub and be offered a teleport up from a large, almost impossible to miss, sign.
Dragonrealms revisited
Just over two weeks ago I wrote my first impressions of Dragonrealms, a text-based MUD that was recommended to me. Here I am, knowing a bit more about the game, and more importantly still engaged, still having fun, plotting my next steps, and interacting with a range of characters on a regular basis. Following on from the comments to that post I plan to dip into Gemstone soon as well.Dragonrealms has a lot of subtle design features under the hood, many of which I am still getting to grips with to be honest. However, a few things have emerged quite clearly since my first post: things that make the game quirky, interesting and good in my eyes - your mileage may vary.
Counting the coppers
Yesterday in Second Life we: Spent US$1,822,000 at an exchange rate of L$268.1 to US$1 Exchanged US$360,000 at an average of US$15,000.0 per hour. Market buys were US$274,000 Market sales were US$85,000 Limit-limit buys were US$1,100 The busiest time was at 3pm when about US$26,000 was exchanged. The quietest time was 1am when about US$9,000 was exchanged. [via Second Life datafeeds]In World of Warcraft average prices [via wowecon.com] for key materials are: Commodity Price Stack of Netherweave 3 g 0 s Primal Air 19 g 90 s Primal Earth 3 g 0 s Primal Fire 21 g 80 s Primal Life 11 g 0 s Primal Mana 15 g 92 s Primal Might 86 g 0 s Primal Shadow 15 g 43 s Primal Water 17 g 50 s Stack of Thick Clefthoof Leather 59 g 80 s
Counting the coppers
Yesterday in Second Life we: Spent US$1,824,000 at an exchange rate of L$266.3 to US$1 Exchanged US$371,000 at an average of US$15,400.0 per hour. Market buys were US$282,000 Market sales were US$87,000 Limit-limit buys were US$1,500 The busiest time was at 2am when about US$24,000 was exchanged. The quietest time was 3am when about US$7,000 was exchanged. [via Second Life datafeeds]In World of Warcraft average prices [via wowecon.com] for key materials are: Commodity Price Stack of Netherweave 3 g 0 s Primal Air 19 g 90 s Primal Earth 3 g 0 s Primal Fire 21 g 80 s Primal Life 11 g 0 s Primal Mana 15 g 92 s Primal Might 86 g 0 s Primal Shadow 15 g 43 s Primal Water 17 g 50 s Stack of Thick Clefthoof Leather 59 g 80 s
Counting the coppers
Yesterday in Second Life we: Spent US$1,430,000 at an exchange rate of L$268.3 to US$1 Exchanged US$314,000 at an average of US$13,100.0 per hour. Market buys were US$233,000 Market sales were US$81,000 Limit-limit buys were US$900 The busiest time was at 5pm when about US$22,000 was exchanged. The quietest time was midnight when about US$7,000 was exchanged. [via Second Life datafeeds]In World of Warcraft average prices [via wowecon.com] for key materials are: Commodity Price Stack of Netherweave 3 g 0 s Primal Air 19 g 90 s Primal Earth 3 g 0 s Primal Fire 21 g 80 s Primal Life 11 g 0 s Primal Mana 15 g 92 s Primal Might 86 g 0 s Primal Shadow 15 g 43 s Primal Water 17 g 50 s Stack of Thick Clefthoof Leather 59 g 80 s
Counting the coppers
Yesterday in Second Life we: Spent US$1,340,000 at an exchange rate of L$268.2 to US$1 Exchanged US$261,000 at an average of US$10,900.0 per hour. Market buys were US$196,000 Market sales were US$64,000 Limit-limit buys were US$900 The busiest time was at 5pm when about US$16,000 was exchanged. The quietest time was 2am when about US$5,000 was exchanged. [via Second Life datafeeds]In World of Warcraft average prices [via wowecon.com] for key materials are: Commodity Price Stack of Netherweave 3 g 0 s Primal Air 19 g 90 s Primal Earth 3 g 0 s Primal Fire 21 g 80 s Primal Life 11 g 0 s Primal Mana 15 g 92 s Primal Might 86 g 0 s Primal Shadow 15 g 43 s Primal Water 17 g 50 s Stack of Thick Clefthoof Leather 59 g 80 s
The Daily Grind: Is Second Life the internet of the future?
It seems like I've written that before... In fact, just over a year ago when I was a very new blogger on Second Life Insider I wrote "Is the future of the internet on course?" But it's close. I am not claiming in this piece at all that Second Life is perfect. I'm not going to pretend there aren't major changes I'd make in it, as well as major changes in the pipeline that we report on. I'm more thinking from a developmental point of view.Let me tell you a quick story. You'll probably recognise parts of it. About 25 years ago there was this geeky thing called the internet. No-one but the really hard-core used it. About 10 years later it started to become more commonly available. There was a mixed reaction. Some people leapt in. Some dithered. Have a look at www.nissan.com if you don't believe me - it's not a car-manufacturer. Take the example of bookstores - most traditional bookstores didn't do much, but a few people tried, and a few new people got into the mix. Many of the new ones, and many of the traditional ones fell by the wayside. This totally radical new company started to establish itself. Who hasn't heard of, and almost certainly used Amazon (either in the US or in their own country or both.Let's assume the next major evolution of the internet is a 3D virtual environment - like Second Life. Someone will become the Amazon, the Google of the 3D internet. We keep hearing that there is a competitor to Second Life coming along - but they keep failing to actually manifest. The odds suggest that the longer this carries on, the more likely it is that Second Life will be the basis of the 3D internet. It's not a guarantee of course - anyone remember Netscape?So, what do you think? Is 3D internet the next big thing? Is Second Life the Amazon and Google of 3D internet, or is it the Netscape? If it is the Netscape, who is the Firefox? The Internet Explorer? The Safari?
Counting the coppers
Yesterday in Second Life we: Spent US$1,465,000 at an exchange rate of L$268.7 to US$1 Exchanged US$264,000 at an average of US$11,000.0 per hour. Market buys were US$190,000 Market sales were US$73,000 Limit-limit buys were US$600 The busiest time was at 10am when about US$18,000 was exchanged. The quietest time was 2am when about US$6,000 was exchanged. [via Second Life datafeeds]In World of Warcraft average prices [via wowecon.com] for key materials are: Commodity Price Stack of Netherweave 3 g 0 s Primal Air 19 g 90 s Primal Earth 3 g 0 s Primal Fire 21 g 80 s Primal Life 11 g 0 s Primal Mana 15 g 92 s Primal Might 86 g 0 s Primal Shadow 15 g 50 s Primal Water 17 g 50 s Stack of Thick Clefthoof Leather 59 g 80 s
Counting the coppers
Yesterday in Second Life we: Spent US$1,451,000 at an exchange rate of L$266.5 to US$1 Exchanged US$258,000 at an average of US$10,800.0 per hour. Market buys were US$179,000 Market sales were US$78,000 Limit-limit buys were US$700 The busiest time was at 11am when about US$16,000 was exchanged. The quietest time was 12pm when about US$5,000 was exchanged. [via Second Life datafeeds]In World of Warcraft average prices [via wowecon.com] for key materials are: Commodity Price Stack of Netherweave 3 g 0 s Primal Air 19 g 90 s Primal Earth 3 g 0 s Primal Fire 21 g 80 s Primal Life 11 g 0 s Primal Mana 15 g 92 s Primal Might 86 g 0 s Primal Shadow 15 g 50 s Primal Water 17 g 50 s Stack of Thick Clefthoof Leather 59 g 80 s
Money laundering in Second Life: get real
According to several of my real life friends who have jobs in the financial sector, Second Life has a reputation in the UK-financial and computer professional industries as a haven for money laundering. About 10 seconds worth of research suggests this is total bunk.The official line is that amounts of about £25,000 (roughly US$50,000) constitute the bottom end for money laundering. This is easy to lose in the US$1.5 million that changes hands in Second Life daily (see Counting the coppers for daily information). This is true. It also ignores one rather critical element.
Sun entering virtual worlds market, maybe aiming at educators?
The Sun Worldwide Education and Research conference, which starts today and runs until Wednesday has an intriguing entry on tomorrow's agenda entitled Project Wonderland, Darkstar and Immersive Education. If you follow the link to their (long) video about the session you will see that it isn't quite ready to roll yet, but they have taken a number of the issues with Second Life (which they identify at the 800lb gorilla in the room) and they are deliberately aiming to circumvent them.I have to say that, being hard of hearing, I found the video really hard to watch and understand - the audio quality isn't the highest, but I think from what they said, they are working, deliberately, with open source code wherever possible, or code that is going to be open sourced soon. Many will regard this as an improvement on Second Life, although Linden Lab are aiming this way. However, it also appears that there are some high cost outworld tools required - for example outworld modelling is possible, but only in Maya if I understood their too quiet speech.At first, and second take, this is not yet ready to go live, but it is looking like it could be a real contender, and it does look like they have learnt the lessons from Second Life.