Ever since we started posting videos on the metaverse, we have got many questions basically asking, how is the metaverse different from second life? And to be honest, earlier we didn’t know a lot about second life, especially what they have been up to in the last couple of years. So I dug in and did some research. And basically looked at what second life is building, what they’re doing now, and how that compares to the metaverse.
Also Read: What is Metaverse of Things
And the results are surprising if you’ve never heard of second life before.
What is a Second Life
- Secondlife virtual world platform was developed in 2013 by Linden Labs in San Francisco.
- SecondLife allows users to create avatars and then explore this virtual world called the grid.
- Do you all of the things associated with that, including socializing with other avatars, building, trading, virtual real estate and buying user-generated content
- Second life was usually 3D model-based artifacts. It reached its geek popularity in 2013, and had about 1,000,000 users on the platform.
- It even had a cameo on the office, which I’m sure many of you have seen where Dwight has created a digital twin of his real life and sort of.
- The purpose of second life is true to character.
What is Metaverse
- The metaverse, on the other hand, is generally described as the next generation of the Internet.
- And it’s this digital layer that is superimposed over our real world. And people access this layer using some kind of headset, whether that is an AR headset or a VR headset, probably one day it’ll be contact lenses or something equally science fiction sounding.
- The experiences and worlds within that digital layer Network together to give a cohesive user experience.
How Is Metaverse Different From Second Life?
A few years back, accessing the virtual meant opening an account in “Second Life.” But for certain reasons, second life never shot to the popularity that its technology deserved.
However, with the time wave, everything has changed, and virtual reality has taken a new avatar in the form of the Metaverse. Metaverse is not a rival of the second life and certainly not an alternative. But, it is a new way to experience virtual reality.
There is no denying that the concept of the Metaverse vs Second Life is intertwined. So, for you, here this guide will look at the major differences to understand both virtual realities more profoundly. So, let’s get started.
Second Life vs Metaverse?
Most people confuse second life with a game that gives tasks and has to perform those tasks. But, in reality, it is not the game that gives you tasks and you have to pay to get to the next level. Second Life is virtual reality for social networking and it has never been largely adopted. If you love self-expression, the Second Life is a welcoming place according to the Second Life itself. You can check out fresh and new resources to discover more about the various communities in the world and interact with them.
However when needed it can be much more than that, you can also find fashion brands and advertising.
When it comes to the metaverse, there is no doubt they are often compared as they have some similarities. But, they are majorly distinct in many aspects. The first is a commercial platform that has grown into social networking & virtual reality platform. The other is a creative platform. Unlike in the actual world, users in the metaverse can create their material, sell it to others, & start a company. Some individuals have gotten incredibly wealthy as a result of their participation.
Why Does Metaverse Look Similar To The Second Life?
It does not look similar, but it is similar to the second life.
Metaverse enables users to create avatars and interact with them, interact with them, & make purchases with them. But, it looks similar when it comes to the overall concept of virtual reality. Users enter the virtual world and experience the world immersively.
How is Metaverse Different From Second Life?
Besides the few similarities, there are unignorable larger distinctions. So, what is the difference between the metaverse and second life?
Metaverse is interoperable with VR headsets. Its interoperability is what gives power to it. It makes the metaverse more powerful, adaptable, and inclusive and offers more prospects for development in it. But second life does not use VR technology and it does plan to use it any time soon.
And the second major difference is the technologies. Second Life is now a virtual environment for social networking, and the technology utilized in it is not yet ready for widespread usage. Unlike the metaverse, the second works with a webcam to do your avatar. It uses puppetry technology that creates the avatars and makes the entire virtual reality journey possible.
The technology uses inverse kinematics to create the bones and reach the target. On the other hand, metaverse uses an entire bunch of technologies like AR and VR, and AI to make the immersive experience possible for the users. Also, it creates a more realistic world than the second life. The metaverse’s virtual world, for example, includes more items than real life, so you can interact with others. This broadens the scope of the metaverse. Virtual worlds are commonly seen in the metaverse.
What Are The Factors That Make The Second Life And The Metaverse Different?
Here are some of the most prominent reasons why second life is not metaverse.
Users Application
Whether it’s Metaverse or Second Life, the application used in both of the virtual worlds determines the mood of the users towards the technology. Yes, you can get the hang of things in some time, but there is no doubt that the user application plays an important role in engaging the users.
Many of the reviews written by participants under Second Life indicate a difficult application for beginners. Many returning users report that they spend more of their time explaining how to establish microphones and other equipment to new occupants.
On the other hand, metaverse applications are much easier and more user-friendly for users. Metaverse focuses more on providing a more immersive experience to the users. So, the avatars can receive the proper help and support inside the metaverse.
Connection To The Reality
It is probably one of the biggest second life vs metaverse points in the history of both technologies. The second life does not offer a strong connection to reality. This is because you can only speak with other avatars and make actions when you are online. While the same factors stay a bit same for the metaverse as to enter the metaverse users have to have an internet connection, but in the future users may consider the possibility of connecting each other offline with the help of the metaverse. The factor restricts both the metaverse and the second life significantly.
Updates
Second-life users receive constant updates. Many users report that the updates prevent them from using the application. Every time users revisit, they upload so many updates each time.
The whole update scenario can look incredible at first, but you soon realize that you will inflate the spec as you go. Which turns out to be quite annoying. Progressively, you will also note that technology advancements surpass a typical PC owner’s natural updating budget. This can prove costly, which is also why most of the users have left Second Life’s virtual reality world.
The metaverse is the connection between the virtual world and its technology that is continuously growing. With the user-friendly hype, there are chances that users receive the updates without having to even notice them. However, it is just the meantime till we find out.
When it comes to Second Life users, some complain that they can’t
get out into a broader region, and even if they can, they can’t move further since there’s no guidance.
As a result, Second Life did not provide sufficient tutorials about how to participate in the initiative. Furthermore, navigating the application is also impossible.
Metaverse offers the complete opposite of SecondLife. Navigating in the metaverse is much easier than in Second Life. Navigating the metaverse feels like diving down into manageable pieces. The metaverse feels like the real world, so the users inside it will walk through the world as they would in the real world.
However, the metaverse may become the rat’s nest of uncertainty and contradictory notions. In which the book is easy to read and the ideas are delivered with clarity and confidence.
Limited Device
Consoles do not support Second life. However, some developers might argue that Secondlife is not a game. Some might say it will work on consoles. However, why Second Life is not on most devices also depends on the other social media apps. Social Media is a crowded place. They launch new apps every day. The great presence of other social media platforms makes it almost impossible for users to notice a virtual reality. Especially the virtual reality that is hard to access and utilize.
Unlike Second Life when it comes to the fundamentals of equipment to access the metaverse, you need three fundamental pieces of equipment.
Which of the two pieces of equipment are required while the third is optional? To access the metaverse, the following essential pieces of equipment are required: a high-end computer PC with a stable internet connection.
Can Second Life Ever Become The Part Of The Metaverse?
Yes, Second Life can become a metaverse in the sense that it is a virtual world where individuals can interact. However, you can also consider that second life is already a metaverse.
However, in terms of interconnection with other virtual worlds, it is not yet. The overall concept is to create a virtual environment in which one can create an avatar and communicate with others. In the Metaverse, one can construct, create, shop, and trade. All of these elements you can already find in Second Life.
For users who want to skip the real world, they can always visit Second Life as an ideal escape. It might stay behind the metaverse, but second life has immense potential, particularly shortly.
Facebook and other social media platforms together can explore virtual reality, such as the Metaverse, which offers an extraordinary experience.
Wrapping Up!
So getting back to second life, after doing some research and kind of seeing where they’re at now, I have to say, second life is and was a pioneer of the metaverse. They have digital money that you can trade for the real US. Dollars. They have avatars, and they have virtual real estate. And they were doing all of this back in 2003. And I am in no way hating on second life. But what made me take a second and decide To this further, if the metaverse is, in fact, just a souped-up version of second life. So that means there must be some key differences here that separate second life from the Metaverse.
Nowadays, the metaverse might seem to be a new concept when it is not. You can recall the glory days of Second Life and you will find yourself extremely connected with the concept of living in a virtual world.
Hope through this guide, you have found the answer to the most asked question: how is metaverse different from second life, and how will it be similar?
You might find the answer to their question by wearing haptic suits, which pump electrical currents to your muscles so you can “feel” the virtual world. Isn’t it amazing? Feels like a different future here. Well, that’s what the metaverse and second life are here for. Immersion, interactivity, and creativity join for an immersive VR experience. All the other questions can only be answered in the future, till then we should see the brands entering the metaverse every day.
The business is entering the Metaverse, with some experts projecting that 10-15% of business projects will be digital in the future.
