Is Second Life a Game?

The question was asked in tutorial a few weeks ago "Is Second Life a video game?"

The class seemed quite divided in the answer, here is my opinion.

I think it is, there is just too much in it for it not to be. You have an avatar; you control that avatar through controls in a virtual space dealing with a virtual programed world. The main argument against it was that it didn’t have a point, there was no goal you can achieve at which point you win the game.

Does there need to be a goal for it to be a game?

Let’s compare Second Life to the massive indie success Minecraft, arguably the biggest and most successful indie game to date. In the most recent versions of the game, and the stage which I have interacted with it the most players can play together online, creating buildings, stadiums and worlds. This is done through collecting blocks which can be dug up, mined or chopped from a tree. You can then use these blocks to create whatever you want. This version of Minecraft in my experience was a very social one. I played on a small server that had about 10 regular players, they had built their own homes and would show these creations off, they hang out at their friend’s virtual pad and help each other get the items they needed. A game you can’t “win”, yet a game all the same

This is very similar to Second Life, or what I have heard and seen of it as I have only played it briefly. You can make friends in this virtual life; you can create building and cities for you and your friends to hang out in. You can customize your avatar to look like you, or something you want to be, like an alien or a monster, another feature Second Life shares with Minecraft

What do you think? Is Second Life a video game?