There are others out there who feel that the virtual life is not worth living.

FORBES: The hows and whys of virtual suicide

"Because virtual worlds like Second Life do not impose language barriers like the web does - that almost certainly means their ultimate utility range is larger, " he said.

BBC: NEWS | Technology | A very real future for virtual worlds

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Virtual games such as Second Life and The Sims Online have not only proved to be commercially successful, but have also encouraged public interest and generated a wider understanding of the possibilities that virtual reality (VR) represents.

CNN: Turning virtual visions into reality

With that popularity comes opportunity -- and not only for Internet land barons like self-proclaimed Second Life millionaire Anshe Chung, but also virtual builders, landscapers and interior decorators, designers of avatar clothing and accessories, and even community moderators and governors.

CNN: Virtual worlds: The next Facebook?