I still detect (maybe it’s just me?) a disdain about these uses of virtual worlds, but I’m thinking more and more we need to see them as strengths not weaknesses. Think of time spent in Second Life or other VWs as short ‘brain vacations’ and maybe one way forward becomes clearer?

What if VW’s were even more like ‘imagination-resorts’ you visit, or more correctly a collection of resorts for you to choose from, each differently themed – a gay beach resort, a dystopian megalopolis, a medieval court…all imagined and run by residents themselves, pretty much as now except…

You would login, pick your destination and PAY YOUR ACCESS FEE (a revenue stream which would supplement possibly even replace the land rental model we have now) and that little world is yours to explore for as long as you’ve paid for. Immersive avatars could be employed to populate the sim, like a living museum, playing out scenarios you’re invited to join.

Not really much different to parts of SL now, just with a business model that invites casual visitors instead of permanent residents. Couldn’t that work and wouldn’t it be fun? Maybe it already exists and I just don’t get out enough?

However, I see Rezzable are about to introduce admission fees to some of their builds, be very interesting to see if it works for them. It could be one way forward for a lot of VW’s.