3pointD.com

Channel 4 Radio of the UK has launched a permanent presence in the virtual world of Second Life, where they plan to offer a variety of programming ranging across entertainment, music, documentaries, news and current affairs. The island was constructed by leading UK virtual worlds consultancy, Rivers Run Red, and officially opened today. It comprises a shop, where a free radio wristwatch can be obtained, a studio (whose use is currently unclear), a dance area and “interactive archive pods.” High above the island is a single-seater pod, but there did not appear to be anything playing when I visited. There is also a link to the Channel 4 Radio Web site, where the station already broadcasts its content. Whether being offered in Second Life can add anything to that content remains to be seen.

I found the radio wristwatch cumbersome to use. It offers you a teleport to the island, a link to the Web page and (provided you are on your own land) an opportunity to listen to sample output from the station, which it does by resetting the music URL on your parcel of land. As regards the island itself, I found the lag (poor performance and response times) to be unusually high for what appears to be a relatively straightforward construction. I also felt the textures lacked detail, particularly on the quayside and yachts. Finally, there is a general absence of interactivity at the moment.

Aleister Kronos appears by kind pemission of Ambling in Second Life.