Second Life To Remove Need For Client, Having Removed Need For Gameplay And Customer Service Long Before

Linden Lab is partnering with Gaikai, a cloud-based client system similar to OnLive, to deliver Second Life in a web browser. The current implementation, which launched today, is fairly beta and difficult to actually launch (no feedback is given for how a client session is ‘approved’ – presumably it involves latency to the Gaikai servers) but it’s an interesting turn. More on this at New World Notes.

In a completely unrelated development, Walletin, a startup founded by Cory Ondrejka (former CTO of Linden Lab) and Bruce Rogers (former CTO of Cryptic) was acquired by Facebook today as well.

  • http://kddr.blogspot.com/ Your Obedient Serpent

    You know, snarky title to the contrary, most of the people who frequent the service consider “no gameplay required” to be a FEATURE, not a bug.

  • http://Website JuJutsu

    Sure, gameplay would interfere with furry snogging.

  • http://Website Peter S.


    JuJutsu:

    Sure, gameplay would interfere with furry snogging.

    Hey, don’t hate the playa…

  • http://dwellonit.taterunino.net/ Tateru Nino

    Darnit, Lum! I can’t beat the end of level boss on your blog! Gameplay is generally only required for games :)

    Anyway, yes, the system removes the need for a dedicated client, but for trial users only. Gaikai is specifically intended for demos and trials, and there’s no sign that this is going to become anything more than that.

  • http://Website JuJutsu

    “Darnit, Lum! I can’t beat the end of level boss on your blog! Gameplay is generally only required for games”

    Well Geldon is a tough one…..:)

  • http://www.muckbeast.com Muckbeast

    From the announcement on Walletin’s website:

    ==================
    “When we met with Facebook, we expected the same result. Instead we met our people. Engineers focused on getting shit done. Moreover they recognized the disruption we were betting on and saw how far we could run with it at Facebook.

    And they moved like they were still a startup.”
    ==================

    If you view the source, you’ll also find:

  • http://www.muckbeast.com Muckbeast
  • http://www.muckbeast.com Muckbeast

    (begin Html comment syntax)

    And they gave us a huge bag of cash.

    (end comment syntax)

    (damn blog software snips out EVERY variation of “less than”, “exclamation point”, and “-” no matter how many pieces I leave out thinking it will work).

  • http://www.emcouncil.org/gamersatwork/ Morgan Ramsay

    Fun fact: The second iteration of Second Life was very similar to what Minecraft is today. The first iteration was a haptic, motion-control interface.

  • http://Website Ironwood

    That GaiKai stuff is fascinating. It’s where I expect things to go.

  • http://geldonsgaming.blogspot.com/ geldonyetich


    JuJutsu:

    “Darnit, Lum! I can’t beat the end of level boss on your blog! Gameplay is generally only required for games”
    Well Geldon is a tough one…..:)

    I tried flashing my weak spots, but it only got me a citation for indecent exposure.

  • http://Website Peter S.


    geldonyetich:

    JuJutsu:
    “Darnit, Lum! I can’t beat the end of level boss on your blog! Gameplay is generally only required for games”Well Geldon is a tough one…..:)

    I tried flashing my weak spots, but it only got me a citation for indecent exposure.

    That’s why most bosses only do so in the privacy of their own lair, behind a locked door or two.

  • http://Website Otis


    Peter S.:


    JuJutsu:

    Sure, gameplay would interfere with furry snogging.

    Hey, don’t hate the playa…

    We have to; it’s not possible to hate the game since there isn’t one.

  • http://Website Prokofy Neva

    Lame, blocking me on Facebook. You’re the one who “friended” *me* first, remember?

    Second Life customer service is much better. You’re out of date.

  • http://Website JuJutsu

    Uh oh. The ultimate level boss on Broken Toys has spawned. Wall-of-text AOE attack incoming.

  • http://Website Peter S.

    Dammit, and I just blew my “Wry Wit” and “Double Entendre” cooldowns, too.

  • http://Website Rich Bryant

    Ooooh, boy. I see we still get use one of Jeff Freeman’s immortal expressions – “Time to Prok” was guaranteed low on this one.

  • http://Website Arkazon

    Despite market attempts to the contrary, I do not determine my list of friends based on who has me “friended” on Facebook. If others take a contrary approach, to each their own.

  • http://Website Boanerges


    Morgan Ramsay:

    Fun fact: The second iteration of Second Life was very similar to what Minecraft is today. The first iteration was a haptic, motion-control interface.

    So Minecraft is SL without furries and Prokofy Neva drama?

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  • http://Website Viz


    Boanerges:

    Morgan Ramsay:
    Fun fact: The second iteration of Second Life was very similar to what Minecraft is today. The first iteration was a haptic, motion-control interface.

    So Minecraft is SL without furries and Prokofy Neva drama?

    Sounds good to me.

  • http://Website Pai

    Oh, Minecraft has Furries. They have their own thread on the Skins subsection on the community forum. =P