Effective uses of SLEffective uses of SLWest Greenwich VillageWest Greenwich Village

- Manages to re-imagine Greenwich village without - Manages to re-imagine Greenwich village without feeling like a cheap copy. The plethora of stores and feeling like a cheap copy. The plethora of stores and attention to detail (everything from posting the correct attention to detail (everything from posting the correct street sign to funky galleries) makes one feel as if they street sign to funky galleries) makes one feel as if they were actually there. were actually there.

-The slight deviations from reality are what make it -The slight deviations from reality are what make it interesting to people who’ve been to New York in real life. interesting to people who’ve been to New York in real life. There are new shops and galleries. Plus, one can’t There are new shops and galleries. Plus, one can’t actually fly through Bleeker Street.actually fly through Bleeker Street.

- Second Life is most effective when it blends reality and - Second Life is most effective when it blends reality and imagination. Greenwich village gives the user an ideal imagination. Greenwich village gives the user an ideal opportunity to do thatopportunity to do that..

Beowulf Beowulf This location is extremely interesting because This location is extremely interesting because

of the level of interactivity. of the level of interactivity. -One can assume a Beowulf avatar-One can assume a Beowulf avatar-Explore a perfect recreation of the Beowulf set. -Explore a perfect recreation of the Beowulf set.

All freeAll freeThis plays on the “magic” of literature of movies.This plays on the “magic” of literature of movies. - One’s ability to cross into what was previously - One’s ability to cross into what was previously

imagined provides considerable user interest.imagined provides considerable user interest.

Fashion MallFashion Mall Manages to be interestingly uninterestingManages to be interestingly uninteresting

Instead of riffing upon the reality of a fashion mall in the Instead of riffing upon the reality of a fashion mall in the same manner that Greenwich Village does, the Fashion same manner that Greenwich Village does, the Fashion Mall is too perfect of a re-creation. As a result it is boring Mall is too perfect of a re-creation. As a result it is boring for the exact same reasons that malls are boringfor the exact same reasons that malls are boring Too much commercialismToo much commercialism No interaction between peopleNo interaction between people Lacks genuine artistry in the displays.Lacks genuine artistry in the displays.

This is fascinating because begs the question “what exactly This is fascinating because begs the question “what exactly are we looking for in a Second Life setting”are we looking for in a Second Life setting” The answer appears to be a slightly tweaked facsimile of The answer appears to be a slightly tweaked facsimile of

reality. Strange enough to make one feel that a shopping reality. Strange enough to make one feel that a shopping mall is interesting, but true enough to form for one to mall is interesting, but true enough to form for one to realize it’s a shopping mall.realize it’s a shopping mall.

What Settings Work and What Settings Work and WhyWhy

Overall, it seems that the true intrigue of Overall, it seems that the true intrigue of Second life settings can be found in its Second life settings can be found in its ability to make everything seem new.ability to make everything seem new. Every shop, no matter how mundane, Every shop, no matter how mundane,

has the potential for interest. This new has the potential for interest. This new format of interaction and experience format of interaction and experience enables one to enjoy old things in an enables one to enjoy old things in an entirely new lightentirely new light

This is why Greenwich Village was suchThis is why Greenwich Village was such a success. It varied from reality enough a success. It varied from reality enough

to feel new.to feel new. The Fashion Mall failed for exactly the The Fashion Mall failed for exactly the

same reason. It couldn’t provide a fresh same reason. It couldn’t provide a fresh imagining.imagining.

Beowulf was able to provide another Beowulf was able to provide another point of interaction with literature and point of interaction with literature and was therefore valuable. It was actually a was therefore valuable. It was actually a re-imagining of a director’s imagining of re-imagining of a director’s imagining of an author’s creation. The mirror within a an author’s creation. The mirror within a mirror effect is enough to hold one’s mirror effect is enough to hold one’s attention.attention.