View source for History of Second Life

{{Todo|This page's focus is about canonical events involving Linden Lab and is being curated by [[Torley]]. Please expand sections, update stale references, and provide sources to substantiate events as-needed.}}
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== The beginning of Second Life ==

[[Second Life]] (SL) evolved as an idea by founder and former [[Linden Lab]] CEO, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Rosedale Philip Rosedale] (aka Philip Linden). He envisioned a vast green, continuous landscape, distributed across multiple servers — and went on to build it. While he dreamed of virtual worlds since his childhood, in 1994, Rosedale first thought of connecting computers via the Internet and creating a virtual world. In 1999, he founded Linden Lab (LL). [[User:Andrew Linden|Andrew Linden]] stated that Linden Lab started as a hardware company geared towards the research and development of {{Wikipedia|Haptic_technology|haptics}}. Although work was underway on a prototype called "[http://secondlife.wikia.com/wiki/The_Rig The Rig], haptics were subsequently abandoned due to heavy patent concentration. The Linden Lab employees — commonly known as "Lindens" — needed a virtual world to go with their hardware, so in 2001 they started building "LindenWorld".

In this early state, Linden World wasn't open to the public, was very gun-focused (like a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooter_game shooter game]) and its [[avatar]]s were made out of [[prim]]s (called [[Primitar]]s). This video shows how the world looked back then and how users could interact with it.<ref>The video is taken from the blog entry [http://replay.web.archive.org/20090210110603/http://blog.secondlife.com/2006/08/18/historical-movie-lindenworld-august-2001/ Historical Movie - LindenWorld August 2001]</ref> 

: {{KBvideo|uK3x3FNlleU|640|385|type=youtube}}

LindenWorld was renamed into Second Life: a 3D virtual world with user generated content, where users could interact with each other in realtime.

{{Quotation|<p>"Originally, during the Alpha period, the grid was known as Lindenworld. As we were getting ready to launch the Beta, we decided we needed a name that would convey the expansiveness, involvement and complexity we hoped would characterize this world as it grew. We started by debating the merits of a 'place' name versus a 'descriptive' name. We believed a place name would give people a sense of destination, and possibly some added layer of meaning. And we thought a descriptive name would help people understand this new concept of a shared, 3D collaborative space.</p>
<p>"We had a lot of ideas for place names --- one of my favorites was Sansara, which was not only euphonic, but had an interesting meaning in the original Sanskrit, meaning roughly 'ever changing world'. Ultimately, though, we chose to go with a descriptive name, and looked at many derivatives of Terra, Viva, and life. We kept coming back to Life2, and then landed on Second Life as more interesting, more evocative and more what we hoped the world could become as it evolved and grew to be as big as life.</p>
<p>"And that's how it came about!"</p> | -Robin Linden, former VP of Marketing and Community Development<ref>The old forum post isn't available anymore and the quote is retrieved from http://secondlife.wikia.com/wiki/Linden_World</ref>}}

== 2002 ==

On March 13, the first [[Resident]], Steller Sunshine, joined Second Life. The public beta started seven months later in October. The [[grid]] consisted of 16 [[region]]s, the first one being called [http://slurl.com/secondlife/Da%20Boom/128/128/2 Da Boom], which might be a reference to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bang Big Bang] of this virtual world. Da Boom, as well as the other early region additions were all named after alleyways in San Francisco. This was a nod to Linden Lab's original location on Linden Street. The original San francisco regions, from November of 2002, included [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=37.77864,+-122.40341 Clara], [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Clyde+Street,+San+Francisco,+CA Clyde], [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=37.782533,+-122.392261 Da Boom], [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=37.783645,+-122.391832 Federal], [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=37.778378,+-122.397529 Freelon], [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=37.78514,+-122.39844 Hawthorne], [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=37.781159,+-122.407368 Minna], [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=37.780854,+-122.406820 Natoma], [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=37.78033,+-122.39567 Ritch], [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=37.77908,+-122.40385 Shipley], [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=37.780820,+-122.391891 Stanford], [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Stillman+Street,+San+Francisco,+CA Stillman], [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Taber+Alley,+San+Francisco,+CA Taber], [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Varney+Place,+San+Francisco,+CA Varney], [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=37.77956,+-122.39697 Welsh], and [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=37.77994,+-122.39611 Zoe].

: [[Image:Agni 2002-11-21.jpg|800px]]

== 2003 ==

While population and land slowly grew, Linden Lab released Second Life in June 2003. As shocking as it may seem in hindsight, back then, SL had neither a currency nor were Residents able to teleport. It was in the end of 2003 when the [[Linden Dollar]] was introduced, and the [[LindeX]] currency exchange followed about two years later.<ref>See [[History of Second Life/LindeX Chatlog|chatlog]] with {{User2|Peter Millionsofus}} (formerly Lawrence Linden).</ref>

In order to restrict [[simulator]] resource usage, a tax system was introduced which required every Resident to pay a weekly fee, depending on the prims they had [[rez]]zed inworld. This system was easy to trick by packing all prims into the [[inventory]] on payment due day, then re-rezzing them again a day later.<ref>See the Google video [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5182759758975402950 Glimpse inside a Metaverse: The virtual world Second Life]</ref>

The first Second Life trailer was shown in 2003:

: {{KBvideo|KHH2CAE9Y6o|640|385|type=youtube}}

The [http://community.secondlife.com/t5/Features/aLife-and-sLife/ba-p/519632 first Linden official blog post] was made by Philip Linden on October 4, 2004 on the first  Official Second Life Blog.

The first [[Telehub]]s were introduced in Version 1.1.0, with the feature of paying to teleport from one Telehub to another.

While in the beginning, Second Life's business model was primarily based on paid memberships (which later evolved into Premium and Basic accounts), the focus soon shifted to land sales. Residents became able to acquire and rent land, which in turn also became a business model for some entrepreneurial Residents.

== 2005 ==

Teen Second Life was started in 2005. [[#Teen Second Life|See "Teen Second Life" below.]]

In late 2005, Linden Lab removed most Telehubs on the grid, opening the way for "direct teleport" from one point to another. Previously, after teleporting, Residents had to fly from a Telehub to their specific destination. The Telehubs were mostly converted into [[Infohub]]s, meant to be community gathering spaces and "welcome areas" for new Residents.

== 2006 ==

On May 1, Resident [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anshe_Chung Anshe Chung] was featured on the cover of the U.S. magazine BusinessWorld, reported to be the first person becoming an Real Life (RL) millionaire due to Second Life business. This story brought great media coverage and pitched the population growth further. 

On October 18 at precisely 8:05:45 PST, the 1,000,000th Resident joined Second Life. A special [[Linden Bear]] was created to celebrate this milestone.

: [[File:1000000 Residents.png|160px]]

== 2007 ==

The client was [[Source_downloads|open-sourced]] in January<ref>Open sourcing the client in January 2007 http://blog.secondlife.com/2007/01/08/embracing-the-inevitable/</ref>, and Residents were asked to take part in the [[Architecture Working Group]] (AWG), influence its development. The AWG had its first meeting on [[AWG Meeting_1|September 13, 2007]].

On April 13, Linden Lab announced the eventual removal of the profile rating system<ref>[https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/features/blog/2007/04/12/removal-of-ratings-in-beta Removal of Ratings in Beta], blog post no longer available — [http://classic-web.archive.org/web/*/https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/features/blog/2007/04/12/removal-of-ratings-in-beta wasn't on the Wayback Machine either]</ref>, which was used for social reputation but also prone to being abused and misunderstood.

On May 21, [[WindLight]] atmospheric rendering was announced<ref>Windlight announcement: http://blog.secondlife.com/2007/05/21/windlight-atmospheric-rendering-comes-to-second-life/</ref> and became part of the main release in Viewer version [[Release_Notes/Second_Life_Release/1.19.1|1.19.1]] on April 2.<ref>Windlight release: http://blog.secondlife.com/2008/04/02/the-dawning-of-a-new-viewer-second-life-1191-now-available/</ref> WindLight improved Second Life's graphics dramatically.

: {{KBvideo|h4BMmq4dono|640|385|type=youtube}}

== 2008 ==

On February 22, Blue Linden announced that there would be a new set of city-style themed regions named [https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Bay_City Bay City]. Bay City opened for viewing on May 8, 2008, and on May 24, 2009, Bay City content was released to Residents as templates for their own creations.

Philip Rosedale announced his stepping down as CEO in mid-March<ref name="philipCEO">Philips announcement to step back from CEO: http://blog.secondlife.com/2008/03/14/changing-my-job/</ref>, and introduced new CEO [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_D._Kingdon Mark D. Kingdon] (M Linden) one month later.<ref>M Linden announced as new CEO: http://blog.secondlife.com/2008/04/22/announcing-our-new-ceo/</ref>. Philip continued to serve as Chairman on the [http://lindenlab.com/about/management Board of Directors].<ref name="philipCEO" />

The first cross-grid teleport was achieved on July 8<ref>http://blog.secondlife.com/2008/07/08/ibm-linden-lab-interoperability-announcement/</ref>, and shortly after on July 31, the [[Open Grid Public Beta]] began.<ref>http://blog.secondlife.com/2008/07/31/open-grid-public-beta-begins-today/</ref>

Scripting performance enhancer [[Mono]] was launched in August, as part of the [[Release_Notes/Second_Life_Server/1.24|1.24 Server]] deploy<ref>Blog about the Mono launch: http://blog.secondlife.com/2008/08/20/mono-launch/</ref>

== 2009 ==

On January 20, Linden Lab announced that it acquired the SL online marketplaces OnRez and XStreet SL (formerly SL Exchange) in order to merge and integrate them into a web shopping service for virtual goods that would become the [http://marketplace.secondlife.com Second Life Marketplace].<ref>http://blog.secondlife.com/2009/01/20/xstreet-sl-and-onrez-to-join-linden-lab/</ref>

In March, Linden Lab started a project to create [[Zindra]], a new continent specifically designed for [[Adult]] content. Changes to [[Maturity ratings]] policies went live on September 15, and Zindra came online in October 2009.

In August, former VP of Product Tom Hale (T Linden) gave a tour of the new [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-7pGtebYy4 Second Life 2.0 Viewer] due to be launched in 2010. Earlier in June 2009, [http://www.massively.com/2009/06/12/second-life-2-0-a-sneak-peek-at-the-new-user-interface/ Massively posted a sneak preview].

== 2010 ==

On January 29, Linden Lab [http://community.secondlife.com/t5/Features/Avatars-Unite/ba-p/654212 acquired Avatars United]. Avatars United was a social network for users of multiple virtual worlds to connect.

On February 9, Linden Lab launched the new Second Life Forums<ref>Old blog link: https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/community/blog/2010/02/09/new-forums-launched</ref>. The Second Life Forums were transitioned to Jive Clearspace software, and the old vBulletin-based forums were archived. 

On February 23, Linden Lab announced the [http://community.secondlife.com/t5/Features/Second-Life-Viewer-2-Beta-Now-Available/bc-p/655593 new Second Life Viewer 2.0 Public Beta]. Viewer 2 [http://community.secondlife.com/t5/Features/Unveiling-An-Improved-New-Resident-Experience/ba-p/657072 went out of beta and was launched as the main Viewer] on March 31. 

On June 24, Mark Kingdon [http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/linden-lab-announces-management-changes-97074779.html stepped down as CEO of Linden Lab]. Philip Rosedale was named interim CEO, and CFO Bob Komin (BK Linden) assumed the additional role of COO.

On July 22, Philip Linden announced [http://community.secondlife.com/t5/Features/Changes-to-Burning-Life/ba-p/659136 that Burning Life will be renamed to BURN 2.0] starting this year. [http://www.burn2.org burn2.org] will be the website for news and information about this unique community event. 

On September 23, Linden Lab has announced that [http://community.secondlife.com/t5/Featured-News/Saying-Farewell-to-Avatars-United/ba-p/666569 Avatars United will be shut down on September 29, 2010.]

On October 13, Jack Linden announced that [http://community.secondlife.com/t5/Tools-and-Technology/Mesh-Import-Open-Beta-Starts-Today/ba-p/668752 Mesh Import Beta Starts Today] on the preview/test grid called [[Aditi]].

On December 23, BK Linden announced that [http://lindenlab.com/pressroom/releases/12_23_10 Rod Humble became the new CEO of Linden Lab].

== 2011 ==

On March 3rd, Linden Lab launched the new [http://community.secondlife.com/t5/Featured-News/Welcome-to-the-New-Second-Life-Community-Platform/ba-p/704195 Second Life Community Platform], powered by [http://lithosphere.lithium.com/ Lithium]. "The new platform integrates Blogs, Forums, Answers, and the Knowledge Base."

On March 29th, Linden Lab introduced the [http://community.secondlife.com/t5/Featured-News/Launching-the-SL-Viewer-with-Basic-and-Advanced-Modes/ba-p/783655 Basic mode] in Viewer 2 to improve new Resident experience in Second Life. The previous user interface is now the "Advanced mode".

== Teen Second Life ==

Teen Second Life (aka Teen Grid) was open from February 14, 2005 to January 21, 2011:

* On January 1, 2006, the [http://www.sluniverse.com/pics/pic.aspx?ID=46258 Teen Second Life (aka Teen Grid) opened 24/7].
* In March 2006, Global Kids was the first educational organization to enter TSL, opening an island.
* On December 24, 2006, [http://infoisland.org/2006/12/24/eye4you-alliance-teen-island-opens/ Eye4You Alliance Island was opened] in TSL. [http://eye4youalliance.youthtech.info/ Eye4you Alliance island closed] on July 12, 2009. 
* As of January, 2007, Linden Lab started hosting [https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Office_Hours/TG TG Office Hours].
* On March 17, 2007, Blue and Philip Linden hosted a townhall meeting on Global Kids island about the [http://www.holymeatballs.org/2007/03/sl_blue_and_philip_linden_pres.html past, present, and future of TSL].
* During 2007, there was problems for teens registering outside of the US [http://jira.secondlife.com/browse/WEB-734 because of a server issue]. After January 2009, this issue was fixed. 
* On June 25th, 2008, at 2 PM Pacific, [[Torley Linden]] came to do an hour-long special [http://torley.com/oldblog/qa-session-transcript-with-vteam-teen-mentors TSL Q&A session] with Teen Residents at TG Multimedia Stage.
* On July 3rd, 2008, M Linden came to the Teen Grid and hosted a [https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/SL5B/MTSL TSL special speech] about Second Life's 5th Birthday. 
* In early 2009, the TSL Mentors 2.0 program was shut down by Linden Lab. 
* As of 2009, TSL had around 50,000 registered accounts and over 200-300 concurrent online Residents. There were 203 Teen Grid regions; however only around 130 are open publicly to Teens. 
* For Second Life's 6th Birthday in 2009, SL6B Teen region was moved over to the Main Grid, and was attached to the SL6B regions. This year's SL6B theme was "The Future of Virtual Worlds".  
* As of 2010, the Teen Grid had 93 Mainland regions, 7 Resident-owned estates, and 97 educational/project estates. At any given time, there were around 2,000 teens who were active over the last 30 days. The usual TSL concurrency is about 350 Residents. 
* In February 2010, the TSL forums were integrated into the new Second Life Forums. Teens and Adults now shared forums. 
* On March 16, 2010, "[http://community.secondlife.com/t5/Community-General/Green-Fun-on-the-Teen-Grid/ba-p/656891 Green Fun]" was had. 
* On August 14, 2010, Philip Linden announced the forthcoming closure of TSL. 
* On August 20, 2010, Terrence Linden announced that the [http://blogs.secondlife.com/community/features/blog/2010/08/20/the-future-of-teens-and-second-life Teen Grid will be shut down on December 31, 2010].
* On December 29, 2010, Global Kids [http://www.olpglobalkids.org/2010/12/teens_express_concerns_hopes_a.html hosted a Youth Forum on the Teen Grid Merger inworld].
* On January 21, 2011, after 1 PM Pacific [http://community.secondlife.com/t5/Inworld/Teens-Welcome-to-Second-Life/ba-p/674615 TSL merged with the Main Grid].

== References ==
<references />

== Learn more ==

The above contains some highlights, and further details about Second Life's history can be found in the [[:Category:History|History]], [[:Category:Culture|Culture]], and [[:Category:Second Life Birthday|SL Birthday]] categories.

* '''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Life "Second Life" entry]''' - From Wikipedia.
* '''[http://www.massively.com/2010/07/10/the-virtual-whirl-a-brief-history-of-second-life-2008-2010-and/ The Virtual Whirl: A brief history of Second Life, 2008-2010 and beyond]''' - From Massively.
* '''[http://www.massively.com/2010/07/03/the-virtual-whirl-a-brief-history-of-second-life-the-middle-ye/ The Virtual Whirl: A brief history of Second Life, the middle years]''' - From Massively.
* '''[http://www.massively.com/2010/06/26/the-virtual-whirl-a-brief-history-of-second-life/ The Virtual Whirl: A brief history of Second Life]''' - From Massively.
* '''[http://www.massively.com/2009/12/30/second-life-2009-the-year-in-review/ Second Life 2009: The Year in review]'''
* '''[http://secondlife.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Misc_History_Articles Misc History Articles]''' - From secondlife.wikia.com.
* '''[http://secondlife.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Firsts Historical Firsts]''' - From secondlife.wikia.com.

[[Category:Culture]][[Category:History]]