Recently launched virtual tourism business Scout-It [SLUrl] wants to show you the sights of Second Life, from the back of a flying elephant. If that's not your style, they'll be happy to help you explore underwater regions in the company of a friendly dolphin, or traveling in any one of a half dozen custom scout vehicles. It's not every day you get to fly an elephant, so I jumped at the chance to check out the new business at the invitation of Delphina Audina, who by day, is a business administrator for a mid sized company.
The dolphin I rode was great fun. By using the arrow keys, and up and down buttons on the keyboard, Dolphilina and I jumped and swerved and splashed our way around several of the small Islands around the Scout-It headquarters in Fishermans Cove. Delphina tells me there are whole underwater regions one can explore in SL, but i've yet to see them. Certainly a virtual tour by dolphin would be a great way to explore. And that's the point. Scout-It's mission is to show new residents and old, the sides of Second Life they might not normally experience, and to encourage exploration and outdoor pursuits in the virtual world. Dumbolina's controls (the elephant, who Delphina tells me can be a little cranky..) were considerably harder to master, so I opted to sit up back and be flown and walked around the neighborhood.
I was curious to find out whether Scout-It was actually making money. They're not, but Delphina isn't phased, it's a young business and is just starting to pick up customers and turn over real money. They have a whole stack of rented store space in areas with heavy walk through traffic, and have been exhibiting at several events I've been to recently in order to get word out, and certainly during the time I was there, a half dozen or so people were checking out the vehicles adn animals.
Creative, slightly whacky businesses like Scout-It are not uncommon in Second Life. An environment where one can fly, teleport, alter physical appearance at will and even carry a sword to business meetings without cause for comment, tends to breed pretty remarkable business ideas and quirky entrepreneurs. Certainly the effort put into Scout-It is amazing, and as a way to see the sights, and explore new spaces and expereinces, it's a great way to spend a little free time. As a business Idea, I'm not so sure, but then I get the impression that money is very much secondary to having fun at the Scout-It HQ.
Good for them.
