Second Life in 2024

Comparing the Second Life of 2010/14 to the way Second Life looks now, more than a decade after the first videos on this channel popped up.

Vic Mornington's Social Media

[solidshadow]

I started about 12 years ago and so much has improved in that time, it makes my head spin!

[kirtandreamrezzer]

Started in 2007. NOT A GAME. 🤓 Some peeps cannot understand this because they only equate 3D with competitive gaming. SL is a virtual world where you can explore, create, showcase, buy/sell, communicate ideas, create groups, etc. One way to explain it is, as a 3D version of the internet, instead of content websites, online stores or (social media) profile "walls" you have 3D buildings, stores, galleries, etc. displaying pictures, video, music, avatars, animations, scripts, vehicles, products, info, etc. Some people spend time "living" in 2D worlds like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc. An curious mind, imagination & a few working brain cells are required to better appreciate the experience. I've met some wonderful creative people. 💙 Have fun. 🤙🏽🖖🏽🙏🏽

[oliverbuhring]

what use is all that if the world is empty and all the interesting spots are gone

[lemagreengreen]

I know the PBR update has caused quite a lot of consternation amongst residents. It does require a moderately-modern GPU from around 2016 onwards.

SL had graphics updates with materials etc around 2014 but it was always optional, you could disable it and run it on just about any potato. This isn't an option now, the advanced lighting model and PBR materials are all turned on and cannot be disabled.

The effect of making advanced lighting optional in the past was that a lot (not all) of content was still being made with baked shadows, baked shine etc and that isn't good for a modern virtual world. It was accessible but had the effect of making a lot of content seem quite dated. I understand the reasoning behind forcing this update, it's not as demanding as many seem to think and GPUs from the Nvidia 10 series and beyond seem to run it reasonably well, 6+GB VRAM recommended.

It's quite nice to see the viewer actually utilizing GPU beyond 50% now, a lot of people are complaining because their GPUs are actually spinning up the fans and getting a little bit of a work out now!

[Ari-Baby]

The developments have led to extinction, it's not like it used to be, I had 3 boyfriends at once. Now I can't get one. Empty romantic places, 3-4 clubs where there are people but they don't date anymore. Places are empty. Second Life has become a sucks.

[bramble-nicky]

Do you remember Ruth, and her dodgy hair? Oh the nightmares.

[kleec]

Second Life is a metaverse. As being such, it takes a lot to run this thing in an adequate manner to be enjoyable. If you don’t have a good gaming computer I wouldn’t recommend it.

[bxl]

During the areal view, there are maybe 15 to 20 fps. That is not really a showcase of good graphics, but will be seen by people from outside SL as unacceptable laggy graphics. It would have been better to limit draw distance and show scenes from a ground view. And the truth is, that other platforms and gaming engines have improved at the same rate as SL has. SL today looks 10 to 15 years outdated. And it looked 10 to 15 years outdated in 2010. However it is already a great achievement that it does not look more outdated than it did 15 years ago.

[JacksonRedstar]

Do miss some of the flexi hair though!

[nopenope]

This is a genuine question, in every video I see of 2nd life, the game seems to be extremely laggy, is 2nd life just a very laggy game in general or is everyone playing it just running it on the same computer they did when the game first launched?

[CarmichaelCaudron]

which estate are u filming, looks great!

[janetgauntt]

I have just recently tried SL again myself after checking it out when it was first hyped. Thanks for a nice overview that provided a nice amount of technical detail without going too deep. Do you think the developers will switch directly to Vulkan, or perhaps use an abstraction library like the open source Diligent Engine (or the older BGFX) which allows for 'easy' switching to other engines (ex: Vulkan, Metal, Diorect3D12, and yes... OpenGL).

[AFKATM]

I want to play again but it always wants me to update drivers when they're updated v.v

[angelwallflower]

nice discovery your channel I subscribe. I am full-time sl user since 2010. it is funny conversation how we refer to this platform. I call it a virtual world. Phillip Rosedale referred to it as a synthetic world. it is more real to me than rl. we get to be who we want not who life forces us to be.

[BarbieSL]

lol i remember emerald viewer back in days.2009

[mpoppins]

When I first joined, I didn't know you could communicate with others, so I just flew around and got banned a lot for trespassing. Nine years later, I returned, as a newbie and people thought I was a pro because my profile was so old.

[tage]

Still looks as stupid as it did 10 years ago. Zero development but still you need a better graphic card. Lot of toxic people with mental issues... No thank you.