Collegian plays architect for 'Second Life'.

Byline: Heather Newman

When "Second Life" players need a new high-rise apartment built in the game world _ or just a cottage for two _ they turn to Josh Eikenberry of Monroe, Mich.

Eikenberry, 22, plays as "Lordfly Digeridoo" on the immersive online world title where players build everything, including the landscape, used in the game.

He's one of many players who are making real-life dollars thanks to the services and items they provide to other players. He's earned more than $400 designing and building in-game structures for other people, which fits neatly into his urban planning college program. He hopes to transfer to Eastern Michigan University this fall.

So far, he's designed about 50 buildings _ everything from skyscraper apartment buildings to a house tucked into a virtual river valley. He advertises on the game's online forums and with billboards on his own plots of virtual land.

"I've done 3D modeling stuff since I was a kid," he said. "I use `Second Life' to figure out my urban planning ideas."

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