VR in the Cloud

Our previous episodes  described a new player the table, Onlive. 

• Future of SL is beyond e-tech. Now on to s-tech
• Future of SL Beyond e-tech (continued)

Onlive offers the prospect of a major change in the infrastructure used to deliver online games and the virtual reality that they live in.    In this episode, we examine the prospects for this change and some of the futures it may offer.

Recon Report

According to the Onlive website here is how you will use virtual reality (VR) environments in the future:   

Connect to OnLive with your TV, PC or Mac and start a game.   The software and hardware you currently have on your powerful gaming computer will be running on a server farm somewhere.  Your connection to OnLive will be by a plug-in to your browser or by a game controller on your TV.  You send control signals to that server.  It computes the results and sends you a video stream of the results.    There is no big change to the process except that the tasks your computer does now are transferred to a server somewhere.   But that delivery system makes for big changes in what we will do with VR.  Starting with "Massive spectating"

"Massive spectating”    That’s their term.  I call it big audience.  Either way, that video stream that is coming down to your computer can be streamed live to anywhere.  You can expect to see World of Warcraft tournaments live on the web.  And that could be called “massive spectating.”  But you will also see musical performances and plays live on the web.  No need for a special term there.  You have already seen live performances delivered by internet.  You may not have known it because your local TV station picked it up and retransmitted it on their regular signal. 

The performances and plays, of course, will not be done in games.  They will be done in some VR: SL or  the OLs.    Actually, these things are all being done right now in Second Life.  SLCN (now Treet-TV) has been streaming video on the web and back into Second Life for years.    Of course, it also has an archive—you can find links to that at the Treet website.  Streaming has been technically difficult in the past.  With the arrival of OnLive and “mass spectating,” the technology will become transparent.  Anybody can do it. 

Second Life already has many potential sources of live streams.  We have large numbers of musical acts, a few good comedians, and an increasing number of theater groups.  To see some of what has been recorded and archived, look on my site map for some of these channels:  

• Cultural Channel
• Comedy Channel
• Business Channel
• Education Channel
• Music Channel 
• Hobo Channel

Many of these were shot as videos with editing, so they don’t fully represent what you would get in a live stream.  Geo Meek usually does make video as you would a live stream (no cuts, no editing).  His videos show what will readily be available for live streaming from Second Life to a large audience. 

And now a word from the YesButters --

Yes, but how do you make money out of all this video streaming? 

My bet is that OnLive is well aware of what is happening at YouTube, Blip.TV, and Hulu.  The basic model is the same as Television.  You offer video that will entertain some people.  You put ads in it, on it, or around it.  You charge for the ads.  If Onlive can stream, they can archive.  They can deliver it themselves or the can let Hulu deliver it and handle the ad revenue.  Then Hulu, Onlive, Second Life, the producers, the performers, and the writers can fight over the revenue. 

Yes, but there will be a big fight.

If there is revenue, there will be a fight.  But all these people will be glad they have revenue  to fight over.

Other related news items

Thanks to Butch Dae and his VIT World Knowledge Base Updates for alerting  me to these items

IBM Releases Virtual Collaboration for Lotus Sametime

The product offers two differentiating selling points compared with Second Life and other virtual environments. First, users are seen using their real names (there are no unrecognizable nicknames), and second, the program exists behind the company's firewall. Users can communicate using voice or chat protocols and can share presentations or write on virtual flip charts.

Computing in the cloud -- Just Another Online Fad--or the Biggest Revolution Since the Internet?
By Stephen Cass

No elaborate construction or development program is needed to kick-start such technology--the infrastructure is already in place and making money. Existing data centers, built to support the likes of Amazon and Google, can rent spare capacity, creating a collection of services that provide the illusion of infinite computing power and storage on tap.

Entertainment in Second Life

So now I have said it.  Entertainment in Second Life is on the verge of becoming entertainment for the public.  Or just part of the entertainment business.   Meanwhile, back at Second Life, what is happening now?

On Stage

I GAVE AT THE OFFICE (An original farce written and directed by Lailu Loon)
Concluded a successful run. 

Upcoming: the REZiversary of St Leo University's Virtual Campus

How do performance artist Vaneeesa Blaylock and  16 female avatars celebrate the REZiversary of St Leo University's Virtual Campus?

Find out at the Main Gallery at St Leo's to find out during the premiere of her newest performance artwork, VB05-Golden/Red, on  Tuesday, 7 July, 2-4 pm SLT. Vaneeesa Blaylock is a performance artist who challenges you to stop and consider your virtual identity during her series of new performance artworks created in and for Second Life. 

For more information, contact Vaneeesa Blaylock in Second Life.  

Comedy

 'Mariner Trilling: Below the Waist' on July 6th at 6PM SLT. 

A half hour comedy monologue based on articles written for the SL Herald about romance, sex and dating in Second Life.  It isn't vulgar but it is ADULT.   There is one anatomical reference to a bratwurst.

At the Archon Theater on Cookie.

Mariner Trilling has been a member of many different writing communities and has written for many SL publications such as Anon Literary Magazine, RezLibris and the SL Enquirer.  His comedy is fresh and funny, from social satire to bawdy humor.  He has also written comedy scripts for the stage show, Saturday's Wild

Video

Speaking of live streaming video from Second Life, as I was just a few paragraphs ago,   Lauren Weyland (Lauren Live) got a double shot of that kind of  coverage last week.  She was interviewed as the featured She was interviewed as the featured guest on Tonight Live with Paisley Beebe (6/28/09).  Watch Video

Lauren also appeared on Pooky Amsterdam’s show,"The 1st Question"  6/23/09  (Watch Video)
The 1st Question is the quiz show to the stars in Second Life.  “The fast-paced, fact-based, fun hour of science related merrymaking, audience participation, prizes, wit & wisdom.” 

News for writers

Jilly Kidd (Written Word) just announced that group member Dennis Tafoya has a book out with a major publisher.  The book, The Dope Thief, is a crime novel published by St Martins    Dennis says contacts made in SL led to him finding his publisher.

Life to Life Magazine is a new Second Life magazine carrying stories and articles related to Second Life.   It includes event coverage, humor, announcements, tips, how-to's, interviews, entertainment, advertisements and more! 

Life to Life Magazine has also issued a paid writing call:

Calling all writers!  We need writers to entertain us, instruct us and inform us.  For each article published, we will pay L$250.  Articles and stories must be 700 to 1000 words in length and must pertain to any aspect of Second Life.  Second Life photos must accompany your story or article.