By now everyone has heard of the game Second Life or as I affectionately like to call it, “the game that isn’t Warcraft.”  Ok, ok, I relent…some of you out there may like it. It does have some “unique” features like being able to privately own in game property. Indeed the games motto from the start was to allow the user to completely immerse themselves in a virtual world.  Well it just got more real.

Starting March 6, Second Life will begin beta testing a new integrated voice chat which will allow the user to communicate with their fellow Second Lifians in their own voice. This new chat feature will have two settings, personal voice chat, allowing anyone in the vicinity to hear the conversation, and also group voice chat, allowing only designated players to hear the person’s voice.

Players who currently pay the $295 monthly maintenance fee (should get their head examined) will not have to fork over any more cash to have this feature installed on their properties. However those players that have been grandfathered in with lower fees may be required to upgrade.

Sounds like we are one step closer to jacking into the matrix. Just make sure you all make it back to Zion in time for dinner.

[Via CNet]