Second Life metrics published
Linden Labs has published some detailed metrics on Second Life-usage from their launch back in september 2003 to january 2007 (link to excel-sheets). the blog-post also explains the inner workings of the LindeX (Linden-Doller exchange market). though most metrics are quite impressive and indicate solid growth of the virtual world, total hours spent online still lacks behind. while total population (unqiue residents, alternate accounts adjusted) increased by almost 2000% during 2006, total hours spent rose “only” by 450%. interestingly, removing the requirement of holding a credit-card for account-registration last spring didn’t affect the age-structure of SL-users: the average resident is 33 years old, with a total of only 1% under the age of 18.
I would imagine that that those 19 under spend most of the time in a world filled with the fantasy of X-box and Harry Potter. Second Life would probably be too much like the \
agreed… from my personal experience most SL-residents don’t really match with most MMORPG/gamer-stereotypes…