MUVE Platform - Comparisons
Obviously the biggest comparison that we can draw between Second life (SL) and Minecraft (MC) is the use of virtual worlds. Both MUVE's successfully create their own unique worlds for users to explore. MC lets you mold and shape the land any way you want, where, SL lets you do the same but only on your own land. More on that later.
Minecraft vs Second Life
The next big comparison I can think of is creating and building user content, this includes in-game or with external applications. In SL users are free to build with prims and sculpties to shape whatever they want. You can also use external software like blender or Maya which can be imported into SL as meshes. MC is more constrained in this regard as everything is built with blocks, but the same goes with modding as users are able to bend the rules with modifications.
Other then that and their multiplayer similarities that is about the furthest we can draw our similarities.
On the other hand the difference between MC and SL is their economies. Second life has its own currency called Lidens which in turn helps it thrive with its market place and user generated content. The selling and buying of avatars, clothing, items and a whole lot more have helped SL stay relevant in recent years, even land is purchasable! MC currently has little if any economy in place. If anything MC relies more on a sort of barter system, trading with players and Non-Player Controlled (NPC) characters in order to get what you want, which usually includes swapping items for other items in the game.
Another less significant difference, but a difference non the less is that users on SL have to buy their own land which is purchased with Lindens,where as in MC everyone basically shares one chunk of land that is the large procedural generated virtual environment. With no permissions or restricted zones, MC lets you build and make whatever you want wherever you want.
The way SL handles its worlds is quite interesting aswell in regards to streaming and loading different parts of the world that are on separate servers, which are seamlessly stitched together.
There is no doubt that creation is a big part of both of these MUVEs.
SL is definitely more focused on its social activities, which is geared toward a more mature audience and quite abit more steep when it comes to learning all of its primary mechanics. MC obviously with its simple graphics and game related mechanics is focused toward a younger audience with its attention pointed towards its survival gameplay, crafting and exploration.