Five Things You Should Know About the 'Game'

The following is a transcript of "Traveling Avatar's Quick and Dirty Tips for a Richer Life," a podcast from QuickAndDirtyTips.com. The audio program is available via RSS feed here and at TheStreet.com's podcast home page.

Will Ross here. Welcome to The Traveling Avatar's Quick and Dirty Tips for a Better Second Life. On this show, we discuss tips and tricks for the "game" Second Life, created by Linden Labs. "It's not a game! It's a metafabricated virtual livingspace populated by people all over the world!" OK. Let's nip this in the bud right now.

Dear Second Lifers, I've received numerous emails and blog comments regarding my use of the word "Game" in regards to Second Life, and specifically that Linden Labs does not refer to Second Life as a game. Well, any place where I'm a cat man with a rocket launcher, and then fall 1,500 feet and land in a perfect three-point stance without going smoosh, and I can experience all that without the aid of any recreational narcotics, to me, is a game. If it's not to you, that's great.

Some people play poker as a job, some people play it as a game. So from now on when I say it's a game, just note I mean... ummm... it's not a game. Except you can turn it off at any time, play as multiple characters, collect items and fight samurai. But other than all that, it's totally not a game. ...