Microsoft Island on Second Life is shutting down on October 31 2009. The SL .NET User Group, IT Pros in SL, and all other Microsoft Island user groups are encouraged to head to http://reactiongrid.com and join fellow Microsoft professionals and enthusiasts on ReactionGrid for user group meetings, events, and a bit more space for everyone. ReactionGrid is a PG-rated OpenSim grid with free registration, run by Kyle & Robin Gomboy and Chris Hart, who between them run the SLDNUG and IT Pros user groups on Second Life (as G2 Proto, RobinG2 Proto, and Strawberry Fride). Kyle, Robin, and Chris have organised several events for Microsoft, including the Heroes Happen Here launch of the 2008 range of products and more. Moving to a virtual world running on the Microsoft platform (Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008) on OpenSim - a C# application - makes ReactionGrid the ideal choice for a new start for the user groups.
A farewell / welcome party is planned for October 31 on both Microsoft Island on Second Life, and on ReactionGrid, to celebrate the move, and there will be some freebies that attendees can win during the event, including a full copy of Visual Studio 2008 Professional edition.