The more astute among you will have noticed a new ad to the right of the posts: it's for the upcoming Virtual Worlds Conference and Expo, which runs October 10 and 11 in San Jose. All manner of industry leads will be there, with many of them speaking, including Adri Saarinen from Metaversatility; Corey Bridges from the Multiverse Network; Giff Constable from ESC; Edward Castronova; Jeska, Robin, and John Zdanowski from LL, and a bunch of other MMO players.

I plan on being there as well, so anyone in the area or already planning on going to this event, drop me a line and let's have our own mini-SLCC right there in SJ! For those of you planning on going but without your ticket yet can take advantage of this great discount code when registering online. The code is VIPATTENDEE, and it will save you 10% on the registration rate! You can check out more information at the conference website.

I'm excited; are you excited? I can't wait to meet representatives of MMOs that I've made fun of! If I don't return from this event, you all know why!

(Thanks, Tim!)

Sometimes we can't win for losing. ABC has chosen the SLCC Masquerade Ball as the focus for their article on SL. It figures. Rather than any of the great speeches or panels, the pick the thing that's going to show the wilder side of residents. Sure enough, check out the first paragraph and the accompanying photo. Pure sensationalism, just the way the readers like it!

I'll stop my rant there, and just comment on two things: 'For people who lack the social skills, good looks, and life of luxury they crave, Second Life is a way to satisfy their urges.' That's a rather sweeping generalization, don't you think? Didn't this writer take a look around the convention at all? Beautiful people, socializing, regardless of financial status. That's what it was all about!

"Second Life isn't for everybody, right now,' says Constable. That may be true, but 1) Does it really need to be? People who use Macs are in the minority among the nation's PC users, but are they suffering because of it? 2) What if it were for everybody; what would that look like? Many things thrive as niche items. It's a perfectly acceptable way to exist. Let's just concentrate on our own happiness and not worry about our status among the Great Unwashed, shall we?

(Via abcnews.go.com)