Coca Cola is launching a contest for a virtual Coke machine that will be utilized in Second Life.
Second Life has been established as the place to go for virtual marketing, and Coca Cola is the latest in a string of promos that have no less than taken over the virtual game world. The contest invites people to design a Coke dispensing machine for use in Second Life, meaning the possibilities are limited only by your imagination. Participants won't have to create it themselves; just provide the design. Submissions are being accepted directly through Coca Cola, as a YouTube video, and on their MySpace Virtual Thirst page, emphasizing the socially accessible side of Coca Cola marketing.
The best thing about having this kind of contest in Second Life is that a design can be implemented within Second Life, though real life constraints would render it impossible. Not to mention, it would cost far less than creating a physical manifestation of a Coke machine, but still warrants all the branding and viral opportunities that marketing strategies aim for. Cruxy is another company looking for viral virtual use, with the creation of their Second Life mp3 player widget.