Second Life To Get Cyber Hotel
First, we got a (sparsely attended) faux U2 concert, then the promise of a “real” Duran Duran concert, and now a virtual hotel. Starwood resorts which oversees some of the largest hotel chains in the world, including the Sheraton and the W, is venturing in to the world of popular MMO Second Life. Starwood has purchased an island in the game where they say “construction” has begun on their new hotel named Aloft. The virtual hotel will be used to gage people’s reactions to the space while Starwood builds its real world counterpart using players suggestions.
From the article:
“We think the SL world is a specific community of early adopters, of tech-savvy people who like to voice their opinions…”
Gamers like to voice their opinions? I…I…don’t believe it! If you play Second Life and are interested in getting a sneak peek at the new building, you can see its development at the Virtual Loft Blog.
While Second Life does seem fascinating to me as a concept, I am curious what it will turn into given this new way to “advertise” The game has apparently already incorporated big names like Major League Baseball and Wells Fargo, and one can almost imagine a Blade Runner like metaverse filled with floating advertising blimps and ubiquitous neon billboards everywhere…
I think I’d rather spend my second life fishing, collecting bugs and decorating my big pink house in Animal Crossing: Wild World.
Second Lifers get first look at new hotel chain [CNet News]
Fruit Brute
Posted to Video Games on 14 August 2006
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