Despite our setback, a million others have had no such problems and the resident population of Second Life hit 1 million on October 18. In addition to its growing population, it is also gaining popularity amongst companies.

Reuters has a Second Life branch and a full time reporter in the game. Other companies from Reebok, to MTV, to Intel, have established virtual presences in the game. Many a rock group including Duran Duran and Ben Folds have performed in Second Life. Even Major League Baseball got in on the fun when it broadcast a Yankees-Red Sox game in Second Life.

What's most amazing is that each day about $500,000 is spent in the virtual economy. This tax-free money is something that Congress's Joint Economic Committee is studying. They have concluded that it is best to leave these economies tax free for now ( PDF ).

The times, they are a changin'.

If you have any Second Life experiences, feel free to share them in the comments.