Criminals thriving in the virtual world

Mar 11 2009 by Andrew Mernin, The Journal

Second Life in first position

SINCE its launch six years ago, Second Life has rapidly developed into the most well-known virtual world available through the internet and has received coverage and endorsements from a varied range of sources.

Last year Liverpool Hope University claimed a world first by revealing plans to host a virtual open day in Second Life in a bid to attract students from around the world.

And stand-up comic Jimmy Carr has staged a gig in front of a virtual Second Life audience while the phenomenon has been well documented by the literary world. In Sam Bourne’s 2007 thriller novel The Last Testament, Second Life is central to the story.

Similarly the 2007 novel Another Life by Peter Anghelides, based on the TV sci-fi show Torchwood, features a virtual world known as Second Reality.

Hip-hop artist Jay Z held a virtual concert in Second Life while rock band Beyond the Void became the first outfit to tour Second Life and perform at various locations across the virtual world.

Second Life revolves around the Linden Dollar which allows users to buy and sell anything from small virtual items to virtual land in a free market.

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