Educational Gaming Commons - Press Start

Linden Lab is working on adding Windlight, a new atmosphere and light rendering engine, to Second Life. Is it worth it? Judge for yourselves. Here's two pics of the same place, one without Windlight, the other with it:

[img_assist|nid=358|title=
Without WindLight|desc=|link=popup|align=left|width=450|height=266]

[img_assist|nid=359|title=
With WindLight|desc=|link=popup|align=left|width=450|height=265]

Wow - a quantum leap IMO. LL is spending a great deal of time on the visual side of SL. I've seen the same in games over the past 10 years. Lots of effort to improve graphics, little effort (relatively) to improve gameplay.

What will it take to make the same quantum leap in educational offerings in virtual worlds? Well, for starters, LL and other businesses offering/creating virtual worlds need to have a host of educators on board, working for them, listening to them, and providing support to them. I know this is a pipe dream - there's no $$$ to be made in education. Too bad companies can't see this as part of their 10% philanthropic offering back to the community!