Gaming News - April 2003
San Francisco, CA (April 29, 2003) - Linden Lab announced today that
its private beta test of Second Life is now open to the general public.
From Linden Lab:
Second Life is a burgeoning new online society, shaped entirely by its
residents. Participants can explore a constantly-changing 3D world, create
anything they can imagine, connect with friends and acquaintances, and compete
for fame and fortune. The public beta follows a successful limited beta test
that has been in progress since November 2002. Beginning today, anyone who wants
to become part of this exciting, emerging world can begin their "Second Life" by
registering at
www.secondlife.com.
"To date, thousands of people have been early pioneers in Second Life,
building the foundations of a vibrant online society that has the complexity and
texture of the real world," said Philip Rosedale, CEO and founder of Linden Lab.
"The rapid expansion of the world continues to astound us. Our residents have
built thousands of unique structures to explore - museums, nightclubs, even
entire cities. Over 3,000 people have attended in-world parties, contests,
events, and classes. And the in-world economy is booming - residents have bought
and sold everything from designer fashions to sophisticated weapons in over
30,000 transactions. We are eager to see how the world will evolve and flourish
as we open Second Life to an even broader audience."
Second Life Features
New residents will discover a world of limitless possibilities for exploration,
socializing, creativity, self expression, and fun. They can:
* Create their unique look from scratch. Second Life's infinite avatar
customization allows residents to change their appearance to look like anything
they can imagine.
* Explore an evolving 3D world. Residents can fly through a 3D living landscape
full of houses, stores, clubs, sports arenas, and cities - all created by other
residents.
* Meet and socialize with other residents. Residents can make friends at a wide
variety of fun social events, such as dance parties, treasure hunts, private
get-togethers, and fashion shows.
* Express their creativity. Through simple but sophisticated 3D creation tools,
residents build houses and communities, design furniture, create clothing and
art, and invent weapons and other objects.
* Compete in contests and games. Second Life offers many ways to play and win.
Residents can test their skills in sword- and gun-fights, enter trivia, dance,
or comedy contests, play in sports events, or compete in games of their own
invention. Or, they can try to outsmart the economy or build their reputation to
become the wealthiest or most popular resident.
Beta Participation
Beta applicants can become official Second Life residents by registering for an
account at www.secondlife.com. Once registered, a simple 10MB download of the
Second Life viewer is all they need to get started.
The minimum requirements are:
* Computer: Pentium III 800MHZ or higher, with 256 RAM or more
* Operating System: Windows 2000, NT or XP
* Video Card: Nvidia GeForce 2 (32MB RAM) or higher, or ATI Radeon 8500
(32MB RAM) or higher
* Internet Connection: DSL, cable modem, or LAN connection to the Internet
(256Kbps downstream or higher)
During the beta period, Second Life is available at no cost. As early founders
of an emerging society, beta testers will create content and community that will
remain in the world after Second Life's commercial launch. A consumer version
will be available in Summer 2003. The pricing structure is yet to be announced.
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