Of all the organisations cheerleading for 3D virtual environments, none has a bigger name or longer pedigree than IBM. And they must mean what they say, because they’re putting their money where their mouth is by designing a new range of mainframe computers based on the Cell processor (as used in the PS3) that are specifically created to handle the increased computing overheads that applications like Second Life demand of their hardware. So, is Big Blue aiming to reclaim the computing crown it once held in the golden era of mainframes? Or are their employees just really keen on taking virtual drugs at virtual raves?