About the Author
In my first life, my name is Sean Percival, a mild-mannered web developer and blogger from Southern California. I live in a nice (albeit overpriced) apartment, drive a fine German sports car, and have a beautiful wife. Sounds pretty good, right? With a setup like this, you might even wonder why I have a Second Life at all.
In my Second Life, my name is Sean Voss, an explorer with a perfect physique from Landmark Island. I have my own private island and drive an even nicer German sports car. However, who really needs a car in a world where you can fly and, even better, teleport? My virtual existence is much of a fantasy life for me as it is for the millions of others who have tried Second Life. Here we live and do what we please with almost no limitations; we build what we can’t find and share it with the community. To me, Second Life is much more than a game; it’s a revolutionary new way to communicate and immerse yourself.
For the last 10 years, I have been developing websites for various large and small businesses. Although a rewarding experience for the most part, my passion for the work was fading with each launched website. For me, the flat landscape of the web limits its potential for true immersion and interactively. Awash in a sea of poorly designed MySpace profiles and search results full of spam there has to be something better.
My honest hope is that Second Life is just that–a new way to look at and engage content. In 1994, bright-eyed dotcom moguls promised us 3D shopping malls and flying cars. Second Life now offers both, with the trend of mixed reality between the real and virtual worlds continuing. We can only imagine what the final results will be.
Making the leap into such an environment can be challenge for many–including myself. Upon arrival, I was unsure of where to go; hopelessly, I wandered through the world until other residents offered to help this lost avatar. After more than a year of extensive research and countless conversations with some amazing residents, I have collected some of the best destinations the metaverse has to offer. If this book helps you find your way or you experience an unforgettable moment, I’ll feel my contribution is complete. I hope you’ll return the favor to fellow travelers you encounter so that Second Life can continue to grow and be shared by all.
Sean Percival’s official website can be found at www.seanpercival.com.
