metaplace - Second Life done right?
http://www.boingboing.net/2007/09/19/metaplace-open-diy-v.html
Cory Doctorow posted an article about this new virtual world project. This looks like a better cut at what Second Life tried to do. Everything is web-based, and hooking into the web is expected. I signed up for the alpha, so hopefully I'll be accepted and be able to play with it some more.