I was reading an article about Second Life. More specifically, about Second Life cars and dealers. Anybody wanna volunteer to program a 2009 Z28 into Second Life? GM is selling Pontiacs and Toyota has multiple Scion models. There's also a '64 Rustang rip-off in there according to the article.

I think we should play too....

 

For those unfamiliar with Second Life, you should mention what it is...

 

Yep, I never heard of it, educate me.

 

Sorry... that was an oversight. I have never played/visited Second Life, so I'm trying to explain something I've only read about. If it comes across as goofy, please forgive me.

Second Life is an online fantasy world. People can download the software for it for free, then go online. Online you design a "character" called an "avatar" for yourself. Once you have this avatar you can wander around and exlore the world. It's free to play, but apparently you have to pay to do more than explore. Think "World of Warcraft" or "Everquest", but without monsters and castles.

In this fantasy world you can design and build things using the provided software. If people like what you design you can sell it to them. For real money. Both Toyota and Pontiac have teams that have designed real-world cars in this fantasy world and are now selling them to players. You can buy a Scion Xb, designed to look like a giant toaster, for about $1.15. Fortune 500 businesses are using this thing to conduct virtual meetings and test market new products. No ****.

Just google "Second Life" and spend about 20 minutes reading and this post will make more sense.

I think we (as fans of the Camaro) should have an online presence in this "world". If we can get world-wide interest in the new Camaro sales should be brisk. Brisk V6 sales = cheap Z28's. Unfortunately, I have ZERO skill or interest in this area, so I was hoping a more tech savvy reader might take up the challenge.

 

I would like to defend myself by reiterating the fact that I have never been to this "place". I'm simply posting a possible way to raise world-wide awareness of the Camaro.

 

Mjolnir,

Not for nothing, but while it's always a good idea to "get the word out" to as many people as possible, I <personally> don't think there's enough players (is that how they refer to themselves?) of this 'game' to warrant the time needed to model, and setup a virtual showcase for the 5th Gen Camaro. Just looking at the responses so far (for arguments sake, let's refer to The Faithful here as a good representation of the target demographic) either it's "what's Second Life", or "Second Life sucks" - Hell, you yourself don't even 'play' the game . I dare say that just there are far more lucrative methods available & already in use for promotion to the public. The 5th Gen's appearance in Need For Speed:Carbon has gotten good buzz, and Transformers - The Movie (probably the biggest up and coming mass market use of the new 'maro outside of the concept itself) should garner even more interest on a worldwide level.

It just seems to me that although we have the resources to do it, and do it well - I seriously wonder if anyone outside of a rather small niche would get to see it...

 

Jason- I understand your concerns, but some of them are unfounded. 2nd Life has a large enough following that it is gaining major publicity in news magazines and financial journals. Major corporations (IBM and Microsoft, to name two) are actually conducting virtual meetings in this environment. We think it's stupid. Lots of non-gearheads spend a ****load of cash on it.

I think those facts are important for two reasons. 1) More people than you expect are utilizing this "world" and 2) the people using this world are generally the customers we need- well educated, affluent, and outgoing.

That brings me to my second point- we should be pitching to people who are not "of the faithful". I'm going to buy a 5th gen, you might buy a 5th gen... hell- most everybody here would buy one if they had the money. What we need are lots of new buyers (like 125,000 per year for 10 years) to support OUR habit.

I feel (and I know that not everybody does) that GM should be thinking about targeting new demographics. 2nd Life would help do that.

Again, not everybody agrees, but this is my personal opinion. If GM can spend basically zero dollars to attract new buyers in places like 2nd Life they have a net gain. I look at it like this- GM can probably attract 10 buyers in places like China and Europe by advertising in places like this on-line world.

How many of those new buyers have to purchase a second car from GM for it to be a win? How are we ever going to convince the rest of the world that buying a GM family sedan is okay if they don't have a positive experience with the Camaro? Or if they don't even know that GM builds something besides crap-can Cobalts and SUV's?

If we can attract some 20-something kids to the Camaro, I really believe that some of them will turn into 40-something parents. What do 40-something parents drive? That's right... Camry's, BMW's, and Accords. Maybe if we use their gay little game to attract them to the Camaro they will end up driving Impalas and G8s. Assuming those cars don't suck in the future.

What if I'd seen a 69 Rustang before a '69 Camaro? Maybe I'd have purchased 8 or 9 Fords instead of 8 or 9 GMs. Maybe I'd have talked my family into buying Excursions and Foci rather than Denalis and Cobalts.

That's all I'm saying. I have a big picture view, and the big picture involves extremely small outlays to create a life-long GM buyer. If it takes participating in stupid ****e like 2nd Life, that's a fair trade.

 

With the level of attention and activity 'Second Life' has received, I personally think it is a great idea.
Haven't experienced it myself, but a new Camaro in there would draw me in!

 

Fair Enough!