Linden Lab announced that its 3D virtual world, Second Life, will celebrate its tenth anniversary on June 23.

Linden Lab announced that it has acquiring two Web-based marketplaces for virtual goods, Xstreet SL and OnRez, offering one online shopping experience for customers and merchants in its 3D digital world Second Life.

Linden Lab announced that it will hold a two-week long Virtual World Fair to celebrate the 5th birthday of its 3D virtual world Second Life, hosting a series of roundtable discussions, parties and exhibits that showcase the vast creativity of Residents as well as groundbreaking organizational uses of the Second Life platform.

Warner Bros. Pictures unveiled an original, online, multiplayer first-person shooter / RPG game playable in the 3D virtual world Second Life. In support of a film release, I Am Legend: Survival transports players into an eerie replica of over 60 acres of New York City set in the chaotic year preceding the movie. T

Playboy announced the official launch of Playboy Island in Second Life. The Rabbit Head-shaped island will house a virtual Playboy retail store and will also offer Second Life residents the chance to connect with the brand through a variety of events and social opportunities.

Available to visitors beginning today The Weather Channel announced the creation and launch of a virtual headquarters in Second Life's 3D virtual world. The island will serve as a headquarters for The Weather Channel, host an extreme sports park as well as provide a destination to screen premiere episodes of the new program "Epic Conditions."

Philips has signed a licensing agreement with Rivers Run Red to have its ambient experiences technology included in Linden Lab's 3D virtual Second Life world, allowing a dedicated amBX-enabled environment to be created through light, air movement and rumble.

Avatar Reality announced their plans to develop a new online massively multiplayer virtual world (MMVW) featuring stunning graphics, realistic characters and endless social bonding opportunities. Set in Terraformed Mars, Avatar Reality’s MMVW will allow players to live their fantasy lives by creating personalized characters, or avatars.

Vivox announced that it will provide Second Life creators Linden Lab with integrated voice communication for the Second Life Grid, allowing players to speak with one another simply by walking up to each other without the need for a separate application, download, or login.

British rock stars Duran Duran announced today that they have commissioned their own custom-designed avatars who will live on a fantasy luxury island inside the online virtual world of Second Life. Their virtual counterparts will hold "in-world" concerts and media appearances taking place alongside the band's media, public and live engagements in the real world.

Second Life creator Linden Lab announced the 3D online world's population now exceeds 100,000 residents, from no less than 95 countries and 7 continents.

Linden Lab's 3D digital world Second Life goes global with Version 1.6, providing more access, more tools and more entertainment opportunities for the community. International keyboard support enabling Second Life’s international audience to communicate in their own language. New in-world tools streamline and simplify the 3D design process. In-world video streaming, letting residents screen their original movies to an ever-expanding audience. Get more details over at the official Second Life website.

People who managed to get their hands on the The Sims: University addon a few days early have sent in news that the packages includes some sort of flyer already revealing a second addon. From The University we go to the nightlife with our sims. "Send your Sims out for a night on the town in The Sims 2: Nightlife Expansion Pack. Will they stay out on a romantic dinner date or dance 'til dawn in a nightclub? Find out what else the night has to offer starting Fall 2005!" The new The Sims 2: Nightlife Expansion Pack is expected fall 2005 (thanks Gamer.nl).

Seconf Life developer Linden Lab announced today it has closed a financing round of $8,000,000 led by Benchmark Capital and with participation from Omidyar Network, a new organization lead by eBay founder, Pierre Omidyar. Existing investors including software pioneer Mitch Kapor also participated in the round.

Linden Lab and The Game Initiative, an organization that supports game developers worldwide, today announced the Second Life Game Developer’s Competition designed for aspiring game developers. The competition begins January 31, 2004 and coincides with the Game Initiative’s “How To Break Into Video Game Industry: Mini-Conference and Resume Workshop” taking place on that day in San Francisco. Winners will be announced on June 14, 2004.

Linden Lab today introduced version 1.2 of Second Life, the online service that allows residents to join a rapidly growing world in which they can play, build, or live, creating anything imaginable. Second Life residents can now buy their own virtual land at auction, using either real or in-world currency. And Second Life isn’t just for the PC any more. Macintosh users with OS X.3 can help test Second Life’s new Beta version for Macintosh. Additionally, a new pricing option with no monthly fees allows you to join SecondLife for only $9.95. The Second Life v1.2 upgrade is downloadable today for a free 7-day trial at www.SecondLife.com.

Linden Lab today announced a significant breakthrough in digital property rights for its customers and for users of online worlds. Changes to Second Life’s Terms of Service now recognize the ownership of in-world content by the subscribers who make it. The revised TOS allows subscribers to retain full intellectual property protection for the digital content they create, including characters, clothing, scripts, textures, objects and designs.

Linden Lab today introduced Second Life v1.1, an updated version of the acclaimed online world created by and for its residents. Second Life v1.1 includes more detailed and realistic 3D landscapes, an improved mapping and navigation system, an economic system that allows groups of residents to jointly own and govern land, and the ability to create and drive a variety of vehicles. The Second Life v1.1 upgrade is available today to current residents. New residents can experience Second Life through a free 7-day trial by registering at the official Second Life website.

Linden Lab today officially unveiled Second Life, a rapidly growing and constantly changing 3D online society, shaped entirely by its residents. In Second Life, Linden Lab has pioneered real-time 3D streaming technologies and advanced compression capabilities to create a persistent, contiguous landscape where residents can discover a world of exploration, socializing, creativity, self-expression, and fun unlike any other.

Linden Lab announced today that its private beta test of Second Life is now open to the general public. Second Life is a burgeoning new online society, shaped entirely by its residents. Participants can explore a constantly-changing 3D world, create anything they can imagine, connect with friends and acquaintances, and compete for fame and fortune. The public beta follows a successful limited beta test that has been in progress since November 2002. Beginning today, anyone who wants to become part of this exciting, emerging world can begin their "Second Life" by registering at www.secondlife.com.

Linden Lab announced today the name of its interactive service, Second Life. A new form of shared 3D entertainment, Second Life presents a remarkably immersive and self-expressive world to its online residents. Users who want the opportunity to enter Second Life can register and begin their new life with the beta program at www.lindenlab.com.