Imagine this blasphemous idea.
Facebook or Google closes a deal with Second Life. Either allows a page or service that allows a login. The login creates a generic, mesh-based avatar in Second Life chosen from a list of default avatars. These avatars materialize anywhere in PG (?) rated parts of Second Life. Now here comes the catch
1. Goovatars (let’s assume Google is the one who bites on this idea, we can also call them Facaetars, if Facebook bites on this idea) are not physical. Removing collisions reduces lag. OR real avatars always push them ‘out of the way’. 🙂
2. Goovatars have names as their Google or Facebook profile. They look different from generic SL avatars. (Easier to standardize and render)
3. Goovatars choosing to visit an SL sim generate a reward to the owner of the sim (not sure.. might be gamed?)
3b. Maybe Goovatars can also visit any PG (?) opensims?
4. Goovatars are rendered through a web interface. I.e. they do not use the generic SL client. No install. They use a web client, and graphics is rendered by either Google or LL servers. What you see is basicly streamed video rendered elsewhere.
Imagine the synergy here. The interface would be somewhat similar to any game – i.e. take the intuitive movement/animation interface of a game such as GTA4. Now envision massively increased numbers of visitors in SL. Put a small add bar next to this service – omg the marketing monstrosity I just suggested…
Now visualise the potential for microtransactions buying stylized avatars. Change clothes, professional rendering. That would be (in case of facebook) half a billion potential people visiting SL and buying avatar features.
Imagine the potential for revenues by Sim owners in Second Life. What if thousands of sim were suddenly filled with a large amount of Tier-2 goovatar visitors. Imagine generic avatars and generic avatar parts (easily uploaded in an SL service pack, would only be a few Mb) for these Goovatars. Imagine sim-based advertising.
Now imagine this – imagine the potential for teleworking and telepresence. This might bootstrap a major chance in online communications in a matter of years.