This is the 18th in a series of interviews that are being conducted with new residents, in order to gauge the effectiveness of the orientation process, and to gauge disparities between the preconceptions and the realities of Second Life. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

I bumped into Footsy Furse at NCI South in Hamnida. She was willing to talk in detail about her early experiences and was able to articulate them clearly and distinctly.

Second Life Name? Footsy Furse

Second Life Age? 23 days

Where did you hear about Second Life? (Be as specific as you are able.)

Read about it in a newspaper article.

Why did you decide to try Second Life?

It was in a serious broadsheet newspaper, and it sounded fun - the main emphasis was on shopping (for clothes, etc.). The girl who wrote seemed to have produced an avatar that looked like herself - glamorous rl and sl pictures side by side.

Which portal did you come through, if you did not come through the standard process? (for example, "The L Word", NBC, Azure Islands, Mainland Brazil, Big Pond, NMC Campus, Anshe Chung Dreamlands (chinese), Second House of Sweden, etc)

Standard entry (Orientation Island/Help Island)

Which aspect of orientation do you remember best?

Aside from finding a new shape for my avatar, I didn't find Orientation Island very helpful.

The first impression I got of Help Island was that it gave me some open space to escape into and experiment with my avatar without being pestered/chatted-up!

What did you like/dislike about about the orientation process?

Orientation Island was a bit simplistic. I moved on to Help Island quickly - maybe that was a mistake because of my inexperience.

What I did do, though was to buy some books.

Firstly the "official" Linden SL handbook - not for beginners - its more like an intermediate level (who wants to know about advanced scripting when they have only just joined ?) and it misses out a lot of fundamental stuff that you need to know early on such as how to use the pie!

Second: "A Beginners Guide to SL" - much better - written for beginners, but strangely concentrates too much on building.

Third: "Designing for SL" (by Rebecca Tapley) bought it a few days ago via Amazon - by far the best book of the three - concentrates on building/molding your avatar before introducing building. I have to say an excellent book.

My first impressions of Help Island didn't hold up when it came to Help Island Public. It was more violent than I expected - and rather juvenile. I thought the kids had a place of their own, but it was obvious just listening in to conversations that most of the avatars were driven by male teenagers. Especially on the crowded central platform - lots of testosterone showing off.

I was surprised by the amount of griefing there and I didn't know what to do about it or how to defend myself.

I was attacked almost every day by a giant mesh tin can, that "captured" me and dragged me around and eventually dumped me far out to sea. I almost abandoned SL after a few days of that.

When I asked Helpers there for advice I was laughed at at first, mainly by the other avatars around. My main impression of the helpers there was that the helpers were not too interested in newbies! I found a much better place to get help a few days later.

The place I go for Help is Fishermans Cove (NCI Beach). It just seems to attract a nicer, more mature bunch of avatars.

Is Second Life different to how you expected it to be, in what way is it different?

None in a gaming sense - I'm not a gamer. I was expecting it to be more mature. Also the whole net seems to be rather fragile. [Prophetically, the simulator crashed at this point and it took us some time to get logged back in and connect to each-other again]

There are some very nice, very helpful people around. It's just pot luck whether you bump (no pun intended) into them. I would like to send very special thanks to one avatar - Afon Shepherd - who has been consistently good and mature.

One thing I cannot yet comment on is the social life in sl because of the limitations of my technology (Slow PC and connection) I haven't had any yet, and I think that is a shame.

What do you like/dislike about the user interface for Second Life?

The pie menu is ok - it's just that there doesn't seem to be any explanation anywhere of how it works. The books I mentioned earlier do not explain it. and I can't open/download many notecards. [There's a notecard bug going around at the moment, readers - hopefully fixed in an upcoming release]

[Footsy had a couple more things to add]

I think it has terrific potential - but the technology (not just mine) is not there yet e.g. I read in the books about the the very small prim limitations, etc. Presumably Linden are working on a much more robust and less limited SL mk2 ?

I have met so many people form so many other parts of the world that I would not have got to interact with in such a small timeframe.

This is the 17th in a series of interviews that are being conducted with new residents, in order to gauge the effectiveness of the orientation process, and to gauge disparities between the preconceptions and the realities of Second Life. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

I bumped into Lilla at the Shelter, where she was dancing with some other residents, both old and new. Being Danish, she wasn't sure that her English would be good enough, but it was more than good enough for her to communicate.

Second Life Name? Lilla Biedermann

Second Life Age? 46 days

Where did you hear about Second Life? (Be as specific as you are able.)

Danish Television. There have been a number of spots on SL.

Why did you decide to try Second Life?

Curiosity, mostly. My best friend (a rabbit in Serenity Woods) invited me to give it a try.

Which portal did you come through, if you did not come through the standard process? (for example, "The L Word", NBC, Azure Islands, Mainland Brazil, Big Pond, NMC Campus, Anshe Chung Dreamlands (chinese), Second House of Sweden, etc)

Standard entry (Linden orientation).

Which aspect of orientation do you remember best?

Setting up/changing avatar appearance - but soon after that I got a shape/skin from someone I met, anyway. I went through orientation really quickly. Too quickly. Then tried to get back, and I couldn't. I also remember that there were friendly people there to answer questions, but I didn't know enough to ask any at the time. Some people told me about the Shelter, and that helps, but I don't always understand all the slang and special terms.

Do you remember anything about camera controls from the orientation process?

No. I learned it later, at the Shelter.

What did you like/dislike about about the orientation process?

It was a lot of information all at once, and hard to take in - which is why I left - so I could go back later and learn more. Then I couldn't get back! I wish I had known that I couldn't return. If I'd known I would have at least taken notes. So many different words, SL, TP, rez. There is so much to learn before you can start to learn! Everyone forgets that, when they try to help, we don't know the words they are using.

Is Second Life different to how you expected it to be, in what way is it different?

I didn't really know what I expected. I was told about how beautiful the graphics are, but it still amazes me to see them. It's amazing to see the beauty, the creativity, the fantasy. What I find strange is that so many places are so empty - except for the people who don't talk (camping chairs/dance mats). Everyone else is just so friendly and helpful, though, and nobody tells you that your English is lousy. They really try to understand and be friendly.

What do you like/dislike about the user interface for Second Life?

Sometimes it would be nice to log on and be hidden from my friends. Of course, they IM me anyway, and then they know that I'm online. Sometimes I just want to be online without feeling like I'm being watched.

I also don't like it that some places are so damn laggy!

Oh! One more thing. I've got a bike - a motor-cycle. I can't actually rez it on the roads. So what are the roads actually for then? Sometimes finding places where you can actually rez something is hard.

This is the 16th in a series of interviews that are being conducted with new residents, in order to gauge the effectiveness of the orientation process, and to gauge disparities between the preconceptions and the realities of Second Life. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

I ran into Glitch at the Ross Infohub, an excellent build by the talented Jessica Ornitz. He didn't run away when I tried to ask him questions, like the previous three I'd approached.

Second Life Name? Glitch Balut

Second Life Age? 29 days

Where did you hear about Second Life? (Be as specific as you are able.)

A year ago, I guess, from a blog.

Why did you decide to try Second Life?

Eh... Well I really don't know. I didn't think my computer could run it.

Which portal did you come through, if you did not come through the standard process? (for example, "The L Word", NBC, Azure Islands, Mainland Brazil, Big Pond, NMC Campus, Anshe Chung Dreamlands (chinese), Second House of Sweden, etc)

Standard entry.

Which aspect of orientation do you remember best?

Free stuff, like demo cars.

Do you remember anything about camera controls from the orientation process?

No. I think I missed it.

What did you like/dislike about about the orientation process?

No, it was good.

Is Second Life different to how you expected it to be, in what way is it different?

Well, I was expecting lots of people, and there are - what I wasn't expecting was the Lag of Death.

What do you like/dislike about the user interface for Second Life?

It could be better, but it could be a lot worse too. The whole "ASWD" movement vs chat thing. If you use "ASWD" to move around you can't move and chat at the same time.

This is the 15th in a series of interviews that are being conducted with new residents, in order to gauge the effectiveness of the orientation process, and to gauge disparities between the preconceptions and the realities of Second Life. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

I ran into Audrey at the Hanja Welcome Area, on the Southern Continent. The place is a clone of the big Welcome Area at Ahern. Audrey was happy to answer my questions.

Second Life Name? Audrey Baroque

Second Life Age? 10 days

Where did you hear about Second Life? (Be as specific as you are able.)

On the net, from friends.

Why did you decide to try Second Life?

Curiosity and a sense of adventure ... wanted to see what it was all about.

Which portal did you come through, if you did not come through the standard process? (for example, "The L Word", NBC, Azure Islands, Mainland Brazil, Big Pond, NMC Campus, Anshe Chung Dreamlands (chinese), Second House of Sweden, etc)

Standard entry.

Which aspect of orientation do you remember best?

Just being able to walk around and meet friendly people. They were all so friendly ... and meeting some helpers along the way!

Do you remember anything about camera controls from the orientation process?

No.

What did you like/dislike about about the orientation process?

I think it is still a scary proposal to "enter Second Life". If there was some kind of tutorial on what it really is???...and why we have to accumulate these things [scripts/textures/etc] ??? We don't really know how the world works, but that is exciting!

Is Second Life different to how you expected it to be, in what way is it different?

I think it is very much like RL....as I say...strange things can happen and beautiful things mostly do...just depends on your orientation I guess.

What do you like/dislike about the user interface for Second Life?

Ha!!! Those maps...I don't get it? are they useful??? As a newbie I hate being shunted to crappy places...! Some better way of finding things!

This is the 14th in a series of interviews that are being conducted with new residents, in order to gauge the effectiveness of the orientation process, and to gauge disparities between the preconceptions and the realities of Second Life. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

I ran into TaraKiss completely by accident in the Dublin Sim. She came looking for fun in Second Life, and with the expectation of it copupled with this attitude she has succeeded in finding it.

Second Life Name? TaraKiss Sewell

Second Life Age? 48 days

Where did you hear about Second Life? (Be as specific as you are able.)
A friend told me about it and urged me to join.

Why did you decide to try Second Life?
Well, I read a little about it on the Internet, and my friend said it is fun, so I thought I'd give it a go.

Which portal did you come through, if you did not come through the standard process? (for example, "The L Word", NBC, Azure Islands, Mainland Brazil, Big Pond, NMC Campus, Anshe Chung Dreamlands (chinese), Second House of Sweden, etc)
Standard.

Which aspect of orientation do you remember best?
Trying to control my avatar. *LOL*

Do you remember anything about camera controls from the orientation process?
No, I was shown that later by someone I met on here.

What did you like/dislike about about the orientation process?
I didn't dislike anything ... I thought it was fun to learn.

Is Second Life different to how you expected it to be, in what way is it different?
It's much bigger than I expected ... and I was (and still am ) amazed at the variety of things you can do and see on here.

What do you like/dislike about the user interface for Second Life?
It's simple, straight forward, pretty easy to use ... I like it easy :)

This is the 13th in a series of interviews that are being conducted with new residents, in order to gauge the effectiveness of the orientation process, and to gauge disparities between the preconceptions and the realities of Second Life. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

Jiwagirl Jie has come to Second Life for reasons other than those mentioned by other new residents: she comes to explore, but hopes to find forests, parks and nature reserves instead of the urban crush of buildings that is the norm for Second Life.

Second Life Name? Jiwagirl Jie

Second Life Age? 31 days

Where did you hear about Second Life? (Be as specific as you are able.)
I heard about it from a member of 2nd life.

Why did you decide to try Second Life?
Actually I mentioned it to my husband, and then he saw the article on 60 Minutes and decided to have a go on it, and once he was floating around, I thought I'd join him. So we sit in the same room next to each other, on 2nd life on our own computers!!

Which portal did you come through, if you did not come through the standard process? (for example, "The L Word", NBC, Azure Islands, Mainland Brazil, Big Pond, NMC Campus, Anshe Chung Dreamlands (chinese), Second House of Sweden, etc)
Maybe we came through Bigpond, because that's our provider.

Which aspect of orientation do you remember best?
Well, I remember being outside a large building, we went inside and there were lots of people there. We milled around, and went up some stairs but couldn't enter the room at the top. Then we went outside and milled around, and flew a bit. I didn't learn about anything. No-one interacted with us.

Is Second Life different to how you expected it to be, in what way is it different?
I find it very difficult to 'get' anywhere that is interesting. Most of the spots I go past are private and don't let you in. Once I saw my husband in a nice nature place, but I've never been able to find it.

What do you like/dislike about the user interface for Second Life?
Not too bad really, but the map is useless. [It would be good if LL could] somehow provide some way for newcomers to orient themselves in SL, to know what their options are and where they can go for particular services. I just feel completely lost here. I would like to be able to choose where to go, ie, what kind of environment.

This is the 12th in a series of interviews that are being conducted with new residents, in order to gauge the effectiveness of the orientation process, and to gauge disparities between the preconceptions and the realities of Second Life. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

I had a few troubles finding an interview candidate today. Some of them got evasive or skittish when we started asking the questions and ran off before we could finish. Luckily, I met Milo at The Shelter in Isabel, dancing with another new resident by the bar. He kindly agreed to answer my questions.

Second Life Name? Milo Littlething

Second Life Age? 8 days

Where did you hear about Second Life? (Be as specific as you are able.)

Well I think initially I heard it from my friends in IRC but I didn't try out it yet. Years later I read article about it in newspaper and thought that should give it a try.

Which aspect of orientation do you remember best?
Only thing I remember well are those video tutorials.

What did you like/dislike about about the orientation process?

I didnt like the chat tutorial - it was too confusing and the objects didn't respond well. I liked the videos though. They were cool.

Do you remember anything about camera controls from the orientation process?

No, there were lessons? lol

Is Second Life different to how you expected it to be, in what way is it different?

Yes, business around owning and renting land is much more confusing that I first thought. But good thing is also that I didn't expect that here is so much music. And live performances!

How have articles about Linden Lab and Second Life affected your experiences and participation in Second Life?
Well, all I can say that I started playing because I read local newspaper article but besides that I don't think there has been any effect.

What do you like/dislike about the user interface for Second Life?
A big minus is that its too hard to stop your avatar's animations if it gets looped. Usually I can stop it locally but it keeps going to other players.

I like the easy and clear placement of the core features at the bottom of my screen.

I don't like that there is no "log off" feature that would take you back to character selection/login screen.

This is the 11th in a series of interviews that are being conducted with new residents, in order to gauge the effectiveness of the orientation process, and to gauge disparities between the preconceptions and the realities of Second Life. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

I met up with 1angelcares at JJ's Coffee Bar in Shawangunk, where the fire light set off 1angelcares' skin perfectly. One of her missions in Second Life is to have her avatar look as much like herself as possible so as to increase the feeling of her own personal immersion in the fantasy of Second Life; she took digital photos of herself and did a side-by-side comparison so as to improve verismilitude. She feels that "In SL, looking like a 'real' person is being a rebellious non-conformist," and suggests the tag line, "SL, where the abnormal is normal."

Second Life Name? 1angelcares Writer

Second Life Age? 16 days

Where did you hear about Second Life? (Be as specific as you are able.)
It was a free class offered through my city's continuing education system. I had taken a typography class with that instructor and got on his mailing list. When he offered the class, he e-mailed us to let us know about it. That's how I "discovered" SL.

The instructor of my class suggested we create our avatars before our first class meeting, but I didn't stop there and jumped right in a week ahead of time! Despite my being pretty clueless at first, it was easy to teach myself. I also went online and read some articles. I was actually helping other students once class began! (I have "helpful Tourretts" syndrome. I just can't stop myself from helping people!)

[I certainly know what that feels like -- Tat]

Which aspect of orientation do you remember best?
Learning to fly! That's something I couldn't do in other virtual experiences. I thought the "falling and landing on your face" animation was quite hilarious, also.

What did you like/dislike about about the orientation process?
It was pretty well organized, but I never did figure out how to get that third star in the "moving around" section. The completist in me was bothered by that.

One thing I wish I'd known as a newbie was that, once you leave Orientation Island, you can never get back! That confused me for a while, because I kept trying to find it again!

[There is of course Orientation Island Public, but it is a copy of one of the old ones, not the current new kind -- Tat]

Do you remember anything about camera controls from the orientation process?
I didn't find out that clicking "alt" lets you see your avatar from the front. Maybe that's why I never got that third star in Orientation? I learned camera controls by reading about it in an outworld article. Oh, and learned about "alt" showing your av's face from another newbie!

Is Second Life different to how you expected it to be, in what way is it different?
Oh, looking back, I was hopelessly naive not to realize that there would be TONS of sex. A couple of times it's been, like, "Hey, there are a bunch of people over there! Whoops!" *teleporting away quickly* I was so used to the sanitized world of The Sims, I just wasn't expecting SL to be so hypersexualized. No, seriously! You'll just be walking around and, whoops! there it is! But when you are at a tiki bar and there is a pose ball that says "Make love" on the countertop... well, that's SL for ya! I just take it all in. My av's eyes are wide open for a reason!

[Must have been to the Maldives Islands sim. It's PG, but I remember tiki bars and lots of public sex-balls --Tat]

It was also pretty hilarious when I realized "camping" didn't mean putting up tents and making s'mores.

How have articles about Linden Lab and Second Life affected your experiences and participation in Second Life?
I didn't read [any negative articles] until after I had already made the jump inworld, but now that I've read them, I find myself more leery of spending any real money here. Like buying property or investing too much in "virtual" items that may disappear with LL should they go under.

What do you like/dislike about the user interface for Second Life?
I like it. It's pretty intuitive. I read about how to bring up the Client menu and that made it even better.

This is the tenth in a series of interviews that are being conducted with new residents, in order to gauge the effectiveness of the orientation process, and to gauge disparities between the preconceptions and the realities of Second Life. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

Tirellia Zenkova is a new friend of a friend in Second Life. Despite being so recently arrived in Second Life, Zenkova already feels that she has found a place in Second Life where she is comfortable and is among friends: unlike many people who enter Second Life, she arrived with a purpose in mind - to become a roleplayer in Saijo City. Having a goal in mind, and timely and helpful intervention during her earliest hours, kept Zenkova inworld long enough to start enjoying things.

Second Life Name? Tirellia Zenkova.
Second Life Age? 24 days.

Where did you hear about Second Life?
I think I first saw something in a newspaper article. Might have been The Sunday Times. I have seen mention of it online before but didn't pay much notice. It was the newspaper article that told me a bit more.

What was it about the article that made you decide to try Second Life?
Nothing. I filed the information away for later. It was only when I read about Spin Martin's Saijo City project that I decided to sign up and join Second Life. I suppose the things I'd seen before made it sound like SL was like the Sims games. The article suggested there was more to it, and Saijo made it worth joining.

Which portal did you come through, if you did not come through the standard process? (for example, "The L Word", NBC, Azure Islands, Mainland Brazil, Big Pond, NMC Campus, Anshe Chung Dreamlands (chinese), Second House of Sweden, etc)
The standard process. I didn't know there was another way.

Which aspect of orientation do you remember best? What did you like/dislike about about the orientation process?
Hah. Well, the thing is, I don't remember anything about it. I hadn't a clue what I was doing and ended up on one of the Help Islands almost immediately. So I missed all the basic things which might have been helpful. [On Help Island], I wandered round aimlessly and it was very frustrating but then someone just appeared in front of me and started to explain how I could do things, showered me with free gifts and gave me some Landmarks. Without her I'd probably have given up.

If Second Life different to how you expected it to be, in what way is it different?
Two things. The level of creativity here exceeds what I was expecting. Everything from chairs to plants and spaceships and hair and clothes, all designed by the residents of SL. I had no idea. And secondly I have been lucky to meet a good number of very nice people. I was expecting more rudeness from what little I'd read.

What do you like/dislike about the user interface for Second Life?
I find things like the camera controls hard to use but they are very flexible. I find the Inventory hugely frustrating, but generally I suppose it is pretty good. I suppose the biggest annoyance is having it all crammed into the same window. It's not like MS Office or web browsing with tabs. Everything is in the same window and that gets a bit cramped.

This is the ninth in a series of interviews that are being conducted with new residents, in order to gauge the effectiveness of the orientation process, and to gauge disparities between the preconceptions and the realities of Second Life. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

I caught up with Balut while I was down at the docks doing favors for sailors down at NCI Beach trawling for new folk to interview. Balut is primarily a designer/builder in Second Life, having come to Second Life with a background in animation and modelling. His pet peeve about building in Second Life is size limits for prims - not that he doesn't understand the necessity for it, but he would like to see the process streamlined somewhat. That said, he's pretty keen on sculpties. He would also like to see better building tools introduced - grid markings and alignment tools.

Second Life Name: Mushroom Balut
Second Life Age: 67 days.

Where did you hear about Second Life?

I think I first remember hearing about SL around 2 years ago, but I didn't think anything of it then. But I remember reading about it again this past spring, and I'm pretty sure I read the article online; I wish I could remember the source.

Why did you decide to try Second Life?

Well, I was surprised by how large it was getting. And some of the other MMO style games didn't really interest me. The article painted SL for what it really seems to be, wide open.

Which portal did you come through, if you did not come through the standard process? (for example, "The L Word", NBC, Azure Islands, Mainland Brazil, Big Pond, NMC Campus, Anshe Chung Dreamlands (chinese), Second House of Sweden, etc)

Standard, missionary-style portal.

What did you like/dislike about about the orientation process?

I sort-of liked the freedom you had, to be able to fly around and explore a little bit, and to follow the process at your own pace.

Do you remember anything about camera controls from the orientation process?

Yeah. Anything to do with the interface, navigation or movement wasn't a problem for me. In that department, I thought they covered the bases pretty well. I'm a bit biased, having come from a CG background. Camera manipulation in a 3d environment isn't a big deal for me.

You had at least one of your expectations about Second Life confirmed; was it at all different to how you expected?

Well, this might seem like a weird analogy, but it was like entering high school for the first time, all over again. Meeting new friends, finding things to do, finding your place, forging your identity ...

What do you like/dislike about the user interface for Second Life?

I wouldn't mind seeing more hotkeys, and maybe some options for either moving menus around, or docking them to other parts of the screen, like the sides or the top. Also, i wouldn't mind if they made the pie menu more robust; why not put all of your options in the pie menu, and free-up some 'screen estate'?

(The boombox you see in the image above is Balut's own work. It is a work in progress)

This is the eighth in a series of interviews that are being conducted with new residents, in order to gauge the effectiveness of the orientation process, and to gauge disparities between the preconceptions and the realities of Second Life. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

I met Simon through the main NCI members group IM channel. For a newcomer, he is quite with-it as regards his appearance, general movement and interaction with Second Life; his concerns focus more on the social and ethical concerns of age verification and the technological considerations of the sex industry in Second Life.

Second Life Name? Simon Sunbelter
Second Life Age? 71 days

Where did you hear about Second Life?
I heard about Second Life from a friend who was already in Second Life (word of RL mouth).

Why did you decide to try Second Life?
Entertainment ... [plus] trying visual (animated) chat as opposed to text-heavy chat.

Which portal did you come through, if you did not come through the standard process? (for example, "The L Word", NBC, Azure Islands, Mainland Brazil, Big Pond, NMC Campus, Anshe Chung Dreamlands (chinese), Second House of Sweden, etc)
Sunbelt Software's registration portal and orientation.

Which aspect of orientation do you remember best?
[I] jumped right in. [There was a] walking path; [I] looked at it ... [it] seemed quite informative.

What did you like/dislike about about the orientation process?
User friendly, seemed complete.

If Second Life different to how you expected it to be, in what way is it different?
Well, I am not a programmer or geek by trade ... so tools are an issue, but the concept was expected. I believe the education is great ... lots of classes are offered ... and staff [are] professional.

What do you like/dislike about the user interface for Second Life?
Actually, I have started using [Nicholaz Beresford's] version, it seems more stable for me.

This is the seventh in a series of interviews that are being conducted with new residents, in order to gauge the effectiveness of the orientation process, and to gauge disparities between the preconceptions and the realities of Second Life. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

Rigrunner is another lad who volunteered to answer questions for me, having heard about the interviews over the NCI channel. His favorite place in Second Life is Devilfish Mall, in the Dahlia Sim. Rigrunner's favorite things to do in Second Life revolve around music and interactive builds.

Second Life Name? Rigrunner Rang
Second Life Age? 63 days

Where did you hear about Second Life?
A friend referred me.

Why did you decide to try Second Life?
Well, [I] had heard a lot of hype about it, seen it on TV, etc ... so [I] was bored one day and gave it a shot.

Which portal did you come through, if you did not come through the standard process? (for example, "The L Word", NBC, Azure Islands, Mainland Brazil, Big Pond, NMC Campus, Anshe Chung Dreamlands (chinese), Second House of Sweden, etc)
I came via [the] secondlife.com site.

Which aspect of orientation do you remember best?
I never got to see all of it, but the vehicles were fun.

What did you like/dislike about about the orientation process?
Yeah, from what I tried it was user friendly, however, when I first came in - everybody was foreign - it would have been nice to meet someone who could have talked me through it. Also, I've never found a way back. I never met a mentor in orientation; just a lot of naked people.

Yeah, since then I've been to NCI, did the movement class at charles benjamin centre (fleche xeno). Now I'm sorted. :)

If Second Life different to how you expected it to be, in what way is it different?
Well, I never expected camping to make money. And I expected more of a focus on educational and entertainment things, rather than clubs and pornography. What education I have found has been fantastic, but initially it was difficult to find. The focus on fashion here is immense!

What do you like/dislike about the user interface for Second Life?
I like the interface. [I] would like to be able to organise [the] friend list and minimise [the] Inventory. I wouldn't mind having the chat a little smaller, too. Another change I'd like to see in Second Life is a change up on the search - many results aren't relevant.

Eyewall Paine is proving that you can still gain fame overnight in SL, if your talent is impressive enough.

This new resident is already enriching many live music performances with his passionate voice and the unique lyrics he composes. If you like David Gray, but with a deeper and more touching vocals, you should give Eyewall's mellow set a chance. He will charm you.

Eyewall, or Jeremy Gilchrist in real life, is joining us through the mentorship and support of friend Cylindrian Rutabaga, a renowned live musician. He is currently attempting to put out a real life CD with his music and is performing in Second Life in hope to obtain some financial support for his album. You can sneak a listen of his music on his myspace page and join his fan group (Eyewall's fans) for updates on upcoming events. So far, you can take it for granted that he'll be performing every Monday at 2 pm SLT at Galveston Island.

Many thanks to JueL Resistance and Dolmere Talamasca for the recommendation.

This is the sixth in a series of interviews that will be conducted with new residents, in order to gauge the effectiveness of the orientation process, and to gauge disparities between the preconceptions and the realities of Second Life. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

Tagging new residents for study is no easy task. They're fast and startle easily, especially when you mention questions, interviews or snapshots. This week's crowd was particularly skittish, and we had to put out a more general call. We got three responses. You'll be hearing from the other two on Friday and Monday. Glitchez, however was the first to respond.

Second Life Name? Glitchez Shilova
Second Life Age? 5 days

Where did you hear about Second Life?
On a blog.

Why did you decide to try Second Life?
"An immense 3-D Virtual World."

Which portal did you come through, if you did not come through the standard process? (for example, "The L Word", NBC, Azure Islands, Mainland Brazil, Big Pond, NMC Campus, Anshe Chung Dreamlands (chinese), Second House of Sweden, etc)
Normal; [standard entry].

Which aspect of orientation do you remember best?
I had read a little bit on Second Life from the blog, [so I] didn't need it.

What did you like/dislike about about the orientation process?
[It] wasted time, [but was a] good support.

If Second Life different to how you expected it to be, in what way is it different?
Griefers, but that adds to the "suspense" of SL. You never know when they [are going to] strike :-D

What do you like/dislike about the user interface for Second Life?
[I] like its organised structure.

This is the fifth in a series of interviews that are conducted with new residents, in order to gauge the effectiveness of the orientation process, and to gauge disparities between the preconceptions and the realities of Second Life. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

I ran into Jermiah at my favorite haunt for picking up strange avatars - the Isabel Infohub. He told me this about his avatar's current look: "Call me old fashioned - but I wanted to look like the gay angel in Barbarella!" He was an engaging and enthusiastic interviewee.

Second Life Name? Jermiah Hax
Second Life Age? 18 days

Where did you hear about Second Life?
I saw news item on the TV and then read about it in a magazine article - then I sent off for the book from Amazon.

Why did you decide to try Second Life?
Really it was to see what all the fuss was about in the media.

Which portal did you come through, if you did not come through the standard process? (for example, "The L Word", NBC, Azure Islands, Mainland Brazil, Big Pond, NMC Campus, Anshe Chung Dreamlands (chinese), Second House of Sweden, etc)
Standard entry.

Which aspect of orientation do you remember best?
Learning to fly - it was really tricky. Still, that's why I got the wings - now I feel like I should fly!!! LOL

What did you like/dislike about about the orientation process?
It's a bit hit and miss - I got more help once I'd experimented and looked around SL for a bit then I went back [to Help Island Public], I had more questions then.

Do you remember anything about camera controls from the orientation process?
No - I didn't pick any up then - I've since discovered by accident - and I still make mistakes - but it doesn't matter - it's all fun!

If Second Life different to how you expected it to be, in what way is it different?
It's great fun - I was interested because I'm a psychologist and I wanted to know how people reacted to each other here. People are amazingly civil - not a suprise I suppose- and very liberated too.

What do you like/dislike about the user interface for Second Life?
I like the way the place looks - I like the ease of using the mouse and keyboard, but its all still very jerky.

The GNUbie store is the brainchild of Jai Nomad who has been a Second Life resident since July 2003. The place is simply packed with L$0 and L$1 items, with consistently high quality. The two level building houses the work of residents both recent and far-from-recent; even the venerable Toy LaFollette still has her work displayed here.

For the most part the store is laid out in such a way that even folks who have a little trouble with their camera controls can still use it fairly well and there is a wide range of interesting goods to be picked up here, some of which can be modified, and many of which are transferable.

A selection includes: telescopes, churches, hair and clothing, jewelry, ornaments, vehicles, whole avatars (robots, birds, and others), games and skins. Not only is this a fantastic way for new residents to flesh out their inventories, but also a great way to learn a bit about how the items are made. Also, it's refreshing to be able to modify and therefore customize freebies somewhat.

Following is a list of some of the well-known and not-so-well-known folks who contributed items to be sold or given away at the store:

• 7 Deadly Prims - Raven Callisto
• Artilleri - Antonia Marat
• Canimal - Canimal Zephyr
• Gurl Six - Six Kennedy
• Hose Queen - HoseQueen McLean
• I&K - LisaAnna Juniper
• Mirada - Washu Zebrastripe
• Panache - Zyrra Falcone
• Birdworx - Psyra Extraordinaire
• Sea Shack Surf Company - Emma Gilmour
• Shiny Things - Fallingwater Cellardoor
• SinSation - Sinnocent Mirabeau
• Terra Aeronautics - Cubey Terra
• Tete a Pied - CJ Carnot, Roslin Petion
• Wilted Rose - Rose Columbia

This is the fourth in a series of interviews that will be conducted with new residents, in order to gauge the effectiveness of the orientation process, and to gauge disparities between the preconceptions and the realities of Second Life. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

I caught up with Rhia at a moment when she had had just enough time to find some nice freebies to wear, while still pretty much in her Second Life infancy. Like many new residents, she was keen to attend classes to enhance her Second Life experience, and was therefore checking out the information board at the Infohub in Isabel.

Second Life Name: Rhia Raymaker
Second Life Age: 1 day

Where did you hear about Second Life?
[An] AOL news article.

Why did you decide to try Second Life?
Two things, curiosity and I thought it sounded like a fun place to be. And if AOL says its good, then I suppose I trusted that

Which portal did you come through, if you did not come through the standard process? (for example, "The L Word", NBC, Azure Islands, Mainland Brazil, Big Pond, NMC Campus, Anshe Chung Dreamlands (chinese), Second House of Sweden, etc)
I tried to get into anshe chung but couldn't, so [I] just came in the normal way.

Which aspect of orientation do you remember best?
I suppose the funny little men on the volcano were quite funny. I quite liked jumping up when I achieved something :-)

What did you like/dislike about about the orientation process?
Looking like a nerd! but I found free things quite quickly so that was really nice. I can't say I disliked anything at all.

Do you remember anything about camera controls from the orientation process?
Oh, I can't remember doing camera controls :-((

If Second Life different to how you expected it to be, in what way is it different?
It's more, it's better. I had no expectations at all. I have been amazed at everything that happens here.

What do you like/dislike about the user interface for Second Life?
I suppose one thing I would have liked is more readily available information about classes and courses; [you] have to search a lot for that, which is why I came to this board. It is all here, [you] just have to look a bit hard for it.

This is the third in a series of interviews that will be conducted with new residents, in order to gauge the effectiveness of the orientation process, and to gauge disparities between the preconceptions and the realities of Second Life. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

I met Roisin Hotaling as she was tinkering about with some goodies in the NCI's Kuula sandbox. She was good enough to answer my questions, and found the process to be fun and interesting.

Second Life Name: Roisin Hotaling
Second Life Age: 33 Days

Where did you hear about Second Life?
I have a blog on a popular blogsite, and one of the folks whose blog I read posted about SL. I didn't open an account right then, but when a friend mentioned it in early June I decided to check it out.

Why did you decide to try Second Life?
Curiosity, mainly. I had heard about people making money here and about companies in RL setting up sims, and although I didn't expect to have the skills needed to make money I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

Do you know which portal you came through? (for example, standard entry, "The L Word", NBC, Azure Islands, Mainland Brazil, Big Pond, NMC Campus, Anshe Chung Dreamlands (chinese), Second House of Sweden, etc)
Standard entry.

Which aspect of orientation do you remember best?
Learning to walk, and figuring out how to touch things to make things happen.

What did you like/dislike about about the orientation process?
It covered the basics, so that was good. I didn't like ending up with freebie stuff I won't use and had to get rid of later.

How did you go with your camera controls after orientation? Did you find that tutorial helpful?
Yes, although it definitely takes practice. If I'm shopping I have to set a time limit, or I'll make myself seasick. It is nice to be able to set up a view with the camera controls.

Is Second Life different to how you expected it to be, in what way is it different?
It's far more expansive than I expected, with more to do than I ever dreamed. I have found some very interesting people, including the gentleman who has provided a great deal of instruction and hints and helpful tools. Having a mentor is a huge help.

What do you like/dislike about the user interface for Second Life?
It seems to be getting better. There are some things in Preferences that I don't understand, that I haven't a clue what they're for or what the effect of changing them would be. Sometimes I see hints for reducing lag and try to implement them if they don't seem to dull the experience. I like all the options I have for communicating, and being able to see the minimap so I can tell when there are people nearby. Love the audio streaming. And I tried Voice Chat for the first time today. [Voice chat] went pretty well. My mentor has been using it for a while, so he was able to guide me. I have mixed feelings about it in terms of how it affects the "fantasy" aspect of SL, though. My mentor has been having some hand pain in RL, though, so voice is easier on his hand.

This is the second in a series of interviews that will be conducted with new residents, in order to gauge the effectiveness of the orientation process, and to gauge disparities between the preconceptions and the realities of Second Life. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

I met Apex Benelli at The Shelter in Isabel. Like most Sheltered folk he was welcoming, and he was prepared to answer questions about almost anything (however, I just couldn't get his password out of him, darnit!)

Second Life Name: Apex Benelli
Second Life Age: 19 days

Where did you hear about Second Life?
A talk show on TV.

Why did you decide to try Second Life?
I have done lots of Sims, Sim City, Flight sims, NASCAR sims/multiplayer, online poker...this seemed like the next level.

Do you know which portal you came through? (for example, standard entry, "The L Word", NBC, Azure Islands, Mainland Brazil, Big Pond, NMC Campus, Anshe Chung Dreamlands (chinese), Second House of Sweden, etc)
Standard entry.

Which aspect of orientation do you remember best?
Starting at Newbie Island ... it was almost like there was a goal ... go visit the volcano and the dragon ... being happy there were cars here to drive. Knowing that the inventory could get unruly quickly as I started to collect items ... then not knowing how to get off that island ... until I found the teleport to Help Island. I'm pretty methodical ... I figure someone went to the effort to put it there. I like to shortcut the mistake process as much as possible.

What did you like/dislike about about the orientation process?
I guess it was OK, there is a lot to learn, and everyone has different needs for initial learning. I guess at the first island...I still am confused by the body shapes booth, and there was some other thing that never worked for me in the castle...but thats minor.

Do you remember anything about camera controls from the orientation process?
Yes, but that just takes a lot of trial & error ... and my view ending up hundreds of feet away :P Even tougher was learning camera control when editing objects! I had to figure out the object zoom, to relink objects ... these sunglasses that got "sat" on forced me to figure it out :)!

If Second Life different to how you expected it to be, in what way is it different?
I find new stuff every time I'm here. I was surprised to find some groups here that I participate in in RL. Bugs and lag are disappointing. I'm happy so much stuff is available as freebies. One of my kids is on Teen SL, and I'm glad my world is bigger than that! Money/item values are interesting here: Houses for free ... a cigarette for L$200 (at least the cig I wanted). So much available for free ... but I still haven't found "the" shirt I've been shopping for. Or a belt I like.

What are your impressions of the user interface for Second Life?
Just now getting exposed to HUDs, and the client menu for a couple items ... there's a lot here ... but that is part of what keeps me coming back!

This is the first in a series of interviews that will be conducted with new residents, in order to gauge the effectiveness of the orientation process, and to gauge disparities between the preconceptions and the realities of Second Life. The questions may be tailored slightly for each interview; responses may be edited for purposes of clarity.

Gustaf Homewood is a very new resident. A pleasant and engaging Swedish fellow, he didn't mind being pinned down to answer a few probing questions about his Second Life experiences.

Second Life Name: Gustaf Homewood

Second Life Age: 13 days

Where did you hear about Second Life?
I found out in the news.

Why did you decide to try Second Life?
I heard that a Swedish embassy will be built in SL and I was curious about it, so I checked.

Do you know which registration process you came in through? (Linden Orientation, "The L Word", NBA, Azure Islands, Mainland Brazil, Big Pond, NMC Campus, Anshe Chung Dreamlands (chinese), Second House Of Sweden, etc)
The Second House of Sweden (the Swedish Embassy)

What aspects of orientation do you remember best?
I remember how to use the camera, and how I could edit my appearance.

What did you like or dislike about the orientation process?
Maybe make the path a little bit shorter, it was a long walk from the first station till you came to the end.

Was there anything that you have learned since that you thought could have been taught during orientation?
I have learned a lot of things, but not by myself, I met a lovely lady who helped me with all the basic stuff and more.

Is Second Life in any way different to how you thought it would be?
Oh yes! I didn't realize that this world was so big, and that there is almost everything here that you can find in RL. And I didn't understand that it is the inhabitants that have created everything.