SECOND LIFE and READY PLAYER ONE

From my understanding, second life is an online game that allows a person to create their own avatar and interact with others within the game. There is no goals of the game, just the idea that you can make your life what you want, with little real-world limitations. This is pretty similar to Ready Player One, where people hide inside the game, because it is better than their actual life. It is mentioned that people really only leave the game in order to eat or sleep. 

A virtual world can be dangerous because you don't see a lot of real consequences. Yes, you can 'zero' out and lose your ranking, but you are not physically injured. People are able to gamble their entire life savings over a game, like when Wade's uncle lost their house because he bought an upgrade to win a competition (he lost). Halliday created the game because he was unable to socialize in the real world, and the virtual world created a reality where he was unafraid. Even though the game was an escape, it is important that people experience discomforts and learn from them. Halliday says "reality is real".

In Ready Player One, we see the outside world turn to shambles, as everyone is focused on the virtual world. This just a step away from the Matrix, really, where people are (voluntarily!) giving up their lives to live in a world that is not real. The only thing missing is using the participants as an energy source. 

In the end of the movie, Wade is able to use his connections in the game and the real world in order to win the game, and he does it for the good of everyone. Wade realizes that the Oasis was meant to be turned off, because people should work on improving their real lives first.