This article comes from a great friend of mine in-world on Second Life, Remmie Lipponen.  She’s normally full of fun, but this time, lends a “word to the wise” to new residents on Second Life.

Ok, you’ve got your basic account and you’re ready to explore this crazy game that your friends have told you about, but I’m sure your friends forgot to give you a few words of advice for getting started.  Allow me to be your guide in your new journey into your Second Life. Below I’ve listed a few things you should and should not do to get acclamaited  more smoothly into the game. Second Life is full of wonderful and not so wonderful people. And just as in real life, people get annoyed by other people. The longer you stay in the game, the more you find the things you used to do when you were new and annoying…when done by other people of course.

Let’s start with the “Should Not’s”:

1. When you log into the game you really need to spend as much time on Help and Orientation Island.  This is where you first “rezz”.  Follow all the tips and tricks that have been laid out before you to inform you how to operate within the game. If you hurry too quickly out of these areas with a million questions, you will surely find yourself being abused by older players.

2. As much as it seems funny to you, do NOT attach anything to your body that you wouldn’t attach in real life. For example: a house, a car, a boat, and a chair. Players who have been in the game for years have seen this schtick a million times….it’s not amusing.

3. Do not log in and immediately ask where to have sex and where to get money. These things will come in time. If you are in a hurry, you can use the search tab at the bottom of your screen and click classifieds to find work.

4. Do not walk around naked….. I don’t care if you are a nudist in real life!

5. Do not use the voice option without a microphone and earphones. You will give off an awful feedback that will surely aggrivate those around you.

6. Do not play music over the mic. Nobody wants to hear what songs you like…. really. I’m not kidding. If you are interested, there are plenty of DJ jobs available in the game.

7. Try your best to get used to the navigational tools. Walking into people (even if they are avatars) is considered rude.

The list can go on, and I’m sure you will be told in your first few days that you are doing something rather “noob-ish”. Don’t worry, we all have gone through it!

And now the “Should’s”:

1. Get some money quick. The best way to do this is to register your credit card on Second Life’s web page and buy money in the game using the following option (World>Buy L$). The quicker you look less like a noob (the standard, generic avatar you are born with) the better. For some reason when you are new, you are always the target of some aggression. I would say that 4000 Lindens (about 16 Bucks) would be enough to really get you started. 

2. Get an animation overrider. These are little devices that make your avatar stand more naturally with poses and animations that run on a loop. You can get them all over, just search using your search tab for them. A good starter one can be found at Vista Animations for 50 Linden.

3. Get some skin. 

4. Get good hair! Hair makes the avatar. I must admit if you are a lady you have more choices than men. But there are plenty out there for both.

5. Clothes, clothes, clothes! Second Life is a shopping Mecca! You can dress up as anything you dream of, but it costs money. Spend your first few days wandering around the world and check out the stores.

6.Make a friend. Friends will always help you when you need it most. Easiest way is to just pick a place with a nice crowd and sit and listen for a while. Make your presence known quietly by being there. When you feel comfortable, just jump in the conversation. Than brooch that you need some help.

7. Build, start a business, own your own land…. all these things are wondering and there are a number of tutorials on Second Life’s webpage that will guide you further. 

So that’s it. The quick and dirty of it all. You can check you tube for Second Life videos to get a feel for the game as well.  Remember, it is just a game, but you are dealing with real humans in the world…so there is a sense of reality as well. Enjoy and be safe

Remmie Lipponen

Have an idea for an article?  Submit to Genieva Slade at genievaslade@metaversenow.com!