Virtual Shopping

The commercializing of products have expanded its sales to Virtual Worlds like SecondLife, allowing online users to purchase online products using virtual currency bought using actual cash. Players can then customize their personal avatars using these bought products.

I was interested in how the system of online transactions worked, hence trying my hand in doing some virtual shopping. Secondlife being the server of my choice, I begin my exploration with an open mind, putting aside all subjective views relative to the virtual world.

Without a clue about where I could find places that dealt with online purchases, I used the 'Teleport' function to tour around locations where I thought I could try my luck at virtual shopping.

Organized neatly into their respective sections, players can choose their desired type of purchase. A feature allows players to save these places as 'landmarks' for future references as well.

The products sold in Secondlife range from the latest trends in clothes to accessories like earrings and necklaces.

One of my favourite and most interesting stalls I happened to stumble upon was called 'SCRIPTOY', It was a stall selling a wide array of toys and accessories. Although first impressions of the stall were inappropriately juvenile, items sold at the stall were catered towards adults. Items like cigarettes, alcohol, and customizable 'beer taps' were sold and could be used as accessories at a hangout.

Apparel merchandise appealing to both sexes are sold on display screens as shown in the picture above. Players can conveniently scroll through the different designs, taking leisure time to a whole new level.

Whole buildings are specifically dedicated to excessive shoppers. Hundreds of customized avatar presets can be purchased off a neatly organized display. Players can 'teleport' to specially designed web spaces like this to do their virtual shopping.

In conclusion, people who have a desire for materialistic 'wants' but can't afford them in real life can resort to virtual worlds as a go-to alternative. However as an individual, I feel that this method of stress relief and meeting their wants are an indirect attempt in fueling their greed and gluttony.