Given that Linden Lab did not send one of its representatives to discuss the matter with us when we requested a forum on the topic, I feel it is about time that I "columnize" about it.I want to underline an important aspect of the future for virtual worlds. I believe that in the long run, Linden Lab is doomed to become marginalized. Forget our usual gripes about the way LL runs Second Life. There are deeper reasons than that.
The most important thing to keep in mind is how technology revolutions often get out of control for the pioneers who made them popular. The best example to illustrate my vision is how the World Wide Web was created.
When it "hit the streets" in the mid-1990's, the Web had a major player in the United States. It was called AOL. It was hugely popular as an access provider and had its own, closed system of sites to access with keywords. Many companies had chosen to use AOL's site system instead of the Web.
Over time, however, these pesky things such as standards came in full force. The Web, with its HTTP protocol and worldwide accessibility with national control for domain names, became the standard way to publish sites.
I see the same thing happening with virtual worlds. Instead of having an AOL-like closed grid where content in Second Life cannot be exported anywhere, I believe that virtual worlds will standardize and boost creative freedom.
It's rather simple. Grid standards could develop as protocols did on the Web. People could have sims just as they currently have sites with Web hosts. Software companies could release clients as they do with browsers today.
When you think of it, this long term evolution only makes sense. How do you see one company controlling a worldwide grid all alone with millions of avatars online simultaneously? LL has problems running a grid on which only 50000 or 60000 are connected at the same time.
I love Second Life and LL currently is a leader in virtual worlds. But that won't last forever.
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