When virtual worlds hit mainstream culture, they hit hard. First, it was a recent episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, featuring a fictional game called "Another YOUniverse" (we know, we know). Then, it was last night's CSI: New York, which had a criminal investigation taking part inside Second Life.

Now, it's NBC's The Office, featuring video games prominently in an episode for the second time as the annoying beet farmer / paper salesman Dwight K. Schrute explores Second Life amidst the other office hijinks.

The episode airs tonight at 9/8c on NBC.
» Read More 

Here's the situation: Warner Bros. have recently created a film with Will "Childsafe Negro" Smith based on the 1954 Richard Matheson novel I Am Legend. His novel relates a story of a world in which humanity has been all but wiped out, and the last man alive has to deal with the threat of insanity, isolation, and deadly, deadly vampires.

Last night Destructoid received some info on the Warner's interesting attempt on marketing the flick: they've created a game based on the film within the Second Life universe in order to promote the whole thing. While it looks like a low-definition Left 4 Dead -- without the crap title -- the gameplay experience is sure to have that most essential of all Second Life features: sexually deviant post-teens.
» Read More 

Austin-American Stateman reports from the Silicon Valley (San Jose, California):

At the Virtual Worlds Conference and Expo in the Silicon Valley, Daniel
"By next year, you'll probably know more about why I'm up here," Schiappa, general manager of strategy for Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division, hinted that Microsoft could launch its own entry into into the virtual realm of "Second Life" or "Ultima Online" in one year. Schiappa suggested that Microsoft's virtual world would likely involve its Virtual Earth 3D service (pictured) and span across its PC, Xbox and mobile platforms...
Schiappa told attendees at the conference. "If a year from now we don't have anything, then we probably won't have anything," he added.

[Notes: Austin360.com/Statesman is the online site for the Austin American-Statesman daily newspaper in Austin, Texas; the screenshots were taken from Microsoft Virtual Earth 3D.]
» Read More 

Avatars are important, but confining. One avatar in one game won't necessary be usable in another. IBM and Second Life developer Linden Labs have joined forces to figure out a way to make avatars interoperable. An open avatar would allow individuals to keep their same basic appearance and data. Says IBM vice president of digital convergence, Colin Parris:

"It is going to happen anyway. If you think you are walled and secure, somebody will create something that's open and then people will drain themselves away as fast as possible."
» Read More 

Japan Industrial Design Promotional Organization (JIDPO) has announced this year's Good Design Award or the so-called "G-Mark." Design-wise, this is a pretty big deal. Almost 3,000 products were screened, and this year a total 1,043 products were given the coveted G-Mark. Out of those, there is a Good Design Award Best 15. Think of it as the cream of the crop, best of the best. The Nintendo Wii (and Wii-mote and Nunchuk) snagged a spot in that 15. The Wii wasn't the only gaming entry as Second Life also made it into the Best 15. Congrats Nintendo and Linden Lab.
» Read More 

Boston-based research firm Yankee Group's note, "Wither Second Life?" states that the virtual world Second Life is stagnating, with the user growth rate reaching its peak in October 2006.

According to the study, users visit Second Life for only 12 minutes on average -- per month.

Yankee Group said that the lack of growth may be attributed to the fact that people are opting to go mobile instead of sitting in front of a PC.
» Read More 

Internet security company Symantec's latest "Internet Security Threat Report" warns that organized criminals are using virtual worlds like Second Life and World of Warcraft to launder money and spread key loggers and ID harvesters.

The report says: "... a criminal enterprise could open several thousand MMOG (massive multiplayer online game) accounts. Each could be used to trade with other players in the purchase or sale of in-game assets, the funds from which would ultimately be withdrawn from the accounts. Since thousands of accounts may engage in millions of transactions, each with small profits or losses, it would be difficult to trace the true source of the funds when they are withdrawn. These transactions can be conducted worldwide without the oversight that typically accompanies international bank remittances..."

In additional to using virtual credits to illicitly transfer real money across borders, criminals are also using virtual worlds to spread malicious software under the pretense that it improves functions of the games. The malicious programs install keystroke loggers and ID harvesters that attempt to steal information and passwords from players.

The entire report, "Symantec Internet Security Threat Report Volume XII: September, 2007" in the PDF document format, is available at the first alternative source below.
» Read More 

What's the latest trend among the elite Fashionista groups of Second Life this week?

Tiny, adorable baby unicorns that you can hold and cuddle... but they come with a price.

You can only get them by having sex with an adult unicorn (although the unicorn isn't age verified) located at the bel Highland sim in a shop called Sensual Stoneworks. This week pictures of baby unicorns (and some pictures of the sexual act) have been popping up on Snapzilla.
» Read More 

Kevin Alderman, the 46-year-old entrepreneur recognized four years ago that people would pay to equip their online selves - which start out with the smooth anatomy of a Barbie or Ken doll - with realistic genitalia and even more to add some sexy moves.The $45 SexGen animates amorous avatars in erotic positions. It is software code, written in the scripting language of "Second Life" and placed in virtual furniture and other objects. Avatars click on the object and choose from a menu of animated sex acts. Alderman filed a civil lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Tampa, Fla., last month alleging an avatar named "Volkov Catteneo" broke the program's copy protection and sold unauthorized copies...
» Read More 

Habitual Second Life users will recognize Ginko Financial ATMs as a fixture in the virtual world. These days, though, the long lines of avatars assembling around these contraptions aren't very likely to be reveling in the novelty of a virtual-yet-cash-backed economy. At the moment, the prevailing sentiment in regards to Second Life banking seems to be more along the lines of "take your money and run."
» Read More 

Aussie Security experts claim that Second Life and online games such as World of Warcraft are being used to train terrorists.

"On the darker side, there are also weapons armouries in SL where people can get access to guns, including automatic weapons and AK47s. Searches of the SL website show there are three jihadi terrorists registered and two elite jihadist terrorist groups.

Once these groups take up residence in SL, it is easy to start spreading propaganda, recruiting and instructing like minds on how to start terrorist cells and carry out jihad.

One radical group, called Second Life Liberation Army, has been responsible for some computer-coded atomic bombings of virtual world stores in the past six months.

On screen these blasts look like an explosion of hazy white balls as buildings explode, landscapes are razed and residents are wounded or killed.

With the game taking such a sinister turn, terrorism experts are warning that SL attacks have ramifications for the real world. Just as September 11 terrorists practised flying planes on simulators in preparation for their deadly assault on US buildings, law enforcement agencies believe some of those behind the Second Life attacks are home-grown Australian jihadists who are rehearsing for strikes against real targets."
» Read More 

Catholic missionaries have always trekked to remote parts of the world to spread the word of God. Now they are being encouraged to go into the virtual realm of Second Life to save virtual souls.
» Read More 

Many real world retailers are starting to abandon Second Life after finding overinflated residental stats, no real viable markets there and in some cases facing flat out hostility from Second Life residents.
» Read More 

Comcast announced today it has opened a new destination in Second Life. Called "Comcastic Island" it is a virtual theme park that includes a track for cars, jet skis, and jet packs. There is also an entertainment center, which will host concert performances by Second Life and real-world artists.
» Read More 

Madeleine McCann, a British toddler of just four years of age, went missing several weeks ago at a Portugese resort when her parents left her sleeping alone to go and have lunch elsewhere. And now police officers are now putting virtual posters up in Second Life.
» Read More 

Hugh Hefner's adult entertainment empire becomes the latest high-profile company to set up shop in the virtual world.

A variety of businesses have already pitched up virtual offices in Linden Lab's social networking game Second Life, including Reuters, Dell, American Apparel, and Sky News. Recently the Swedish Institute also announced that the country was planning to open the first virtual embassy in Second Life, to raise awareness of Sweden amongst young people.
» Read More 

MP Kan Suzuki decided to set up an office in the virtual world from which he could discuss policies and give speeches to Second Life's politically minded users in a bid to deliver his message and ultimately boost his popularity.

However, according to a BBC report, Suzuki's actions may be illegal as they appear to infringe upon Japan's 50 year old Public Office Election law. The law contains strict stipulations relating to campaigning practices, stating that that websites cannot be created or updated during the official period of campaigning for elections. The distribution of text and images during campaigns is also apparently limited to postcards and pamphlets.
» Read More 

A judge has ruled against online world Second Life's TOS, continuing the saga between Linden Labs and a user who sued the company to re-open his suspended account, in which he had invested thousands of real dollars on virtual property - legal commentary within.

According to a statement from earlier this month, written by the plaintiff, Marc Bragg, himself a lawyer, the case began with a virtual land deal Bragg made in April of last year.

After Bragg had, of his own admission, "learned of a way to purchase virtual land significantly below market values," he began investing thousands of real world dollars in virtual property, hoping to resell the land at a profit.
» Read More 

Second Life may face a new threat, the need to apply and enforce real law in its virtual world. A Pennsylvania court has denied two requests by Linden Lab, which would have effectively ended the first legal challenge, Bragg v. Linden, to the Second Life creator. Instead, the decisions may grant greater rights and control of the online world to the users. Maybe that can be viewed as validation, but it also spells trouble for the online fantasy world.

The case stems from Linden Lab removing "property" allegedly acquired using an exploit by a SL user, Bragg, and then closing his account. The deciding factor being that real rights to virtual property are being observed and marketed by Linden Lab. Exactly what their CEO Rosedale has been trumpeting as Second Life's redeeming value!
» Read More 

The BBC is to broadcast its first ever full programme in a virtual world this Friday, when The Money Programme is shown in Second Life's Rivers Run Red Cinema, GamesIndustry.biz is reporting.

Virtual World, Real Millions will also be simultaneously pumped-out on BBC 2 at 7pm.
» Read More