The poll this week surfaced some interesting comments and information about quite a few virtual world platforms ((read here)). Google made some big stir with the Lively launch and people are still trying to understand why the cross-world link that SL pulled off with help from IBM is such a big deal. But there are also quite a few other 3D Web immersive worlds out there now and even more are being funded this year.TechCrunch shows $345mm USD invested in 2008.
We still think that SL is the best platform right now. The main feature is the incredible freedom to build things and immediately place them inworld. The open source platforms have this freedom, but their feature sets are lower and of course you have to deal with hosting and supporting. Many of the other platforms have none or limited developer tools/access to creating content. The consoles will have significantly better performance and visuals.
The future sure seems to have a lot of new players and a lot of open source options. And don't forget about the collision with the MMO market--especially as the consoles get more advanced with their community offerings. In general it all seems really confusing! It's a brave new, brave new virtual world?
Thanks to all comments and emails regarding upcoming and existing 3D web virtual world platforms. I thought this list might be useful.
Virtual World Platform Watch List
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estimated active users
|
||||
| Virtual World Platform | Space | July 08 | June 09 | Notes |
| Second Life | 3D World | 500,000 | ? | $1.5mm/day economy, inworld build tools, voip, high-end graphics controls |
| Google Lively | 3D Room | new | ? | global splash, but features a bit thin in first release, gamebryo engine has a lot to offer |
| OpenSim | 3D World(s) | 5,000 | ? | roll your own world, open source, possible cross-world services from LL/IBM |
| Twinity | 3D World | beta | ? | looks a little stiff atm, wants to mirror real world (sell you your house again?) |
| Vivaty | 3D Room | ? | social media widget | |
| Multiverse | 3D World(s) | ? | ? | independent worlds/games and nexus to connect |
| Metaplace | 2D/2.5D World(s) | ? | ? | 3D coming soon |
| HiPiHi | 3D World | <30,000 | ? | Slow Start in big china market |
| OpenCroquet/Cobalt | 3D World | ? | ? | Cobalt is multi-platform viewer, Qwaq is a new a commercial offering |
| Sun Wonderland | 3D World | ? | ? | coming soon to a internet connection near you, but looks more like B2B focus/Intranet |
| realXtend | 3D World | ? | ? | open source / check some unfriendly lookin', out of shape avatars here! |
| Xbox/PS3 | MMO | lots | lots more | Sony Home coming in 2008? Is Xbox Live already a virtual world? |
<- *click*
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Comments
You might want to add 'Meet
Mon, 07/21/2008 - 21:36 — Vint Falkenand Xbox has announced a game
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 14:05 — RightAsRain Rimbaudfrom virtual world news on
Mon, 07/28/2008 - 13:13 — RightAsRain Rimbaudand Sony still planning for
Wed, 07/30/2008 - 00:12 — RightAsRain Rimbaudand Sony still planning for release of Sony Home in the fall/autumn:
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=13628
and more here http://uk.ps3.gamespy.com/articles/885/885361p1.html and bunch of stuff about linking to tv here http://www.ps3news.com/PC_Tech/sony-adds-xmb-to-its-new-range-of-vaio-la...
and a wishlist from PS3 users here (ooo looks likes SL features!) http://talkplaystation.com/features-firmware-25-needs/
Sony will open Beta
Mon, 08/04/2008 - 13:55 — RightAsRain RimbaudSony will open Beta applications Sony Home Virtual World 11 August. Be chosen (and experimented upon) http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/149185/sony_begins_accepti...
TechCrunch vid on Rosedale
Mon, 08/04/2008 - 14:15 — RightAsRain RimbaudTechCrunch vid on Rosedale and something about browsers or something to do with Lively threat: http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/07/31/philip-rosedale-doesnt-see-browser-...
Phil, nice shirt and good rl hair! However, not totally sure the open source move on the viewer has been that exciting to stimulate a developer community. Maybe that has to do with the zappy nature of the SL community, but also LL have stomped on contributed code and lag the mainline releases by weeks/months often http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Source_downloads.
And...Dear LL marketing team, pls don't let your Chairman give a handheld video interview on a roof!
AVE -- Augemented Virtual
Mon, 08/04/2008 - 14:23 — RightAsRain RimbaudAVE -- Augemented Virtual Earth check this from Sentinel http://www.sentinelave.com/ave.html . Is sorta sketch-up cctv mash-up? Also a photo version in the same concept from Everyscape using QTVR nodes linked together. http://www.everyscape.com/.
Link for Sun Virtual World
Mon, 08/11/2008 - 19:53 — RightAsRain RimbaudLink for Sun Virtual World platform http://www.projectdarkstar.com/
vivaty content contest --
Mon, 08/11/2008 - 19:54 — RightAsRain Rimbaudvivaty content contest -- rules look unattractive as requires assignment of IP http://developer.vivaty.com/index.php
Pfff... after I allowd them
Tue, 08/12/2008 - 01:31 — Vint FalkenPfff... after I allowd them to access facebook:
Whoops! You don't have what you need!
Currently, Vivaty only supports Internet Explorer 6 or 7 on Windows XP and Vista.
Either you are trying to view this page with the wrong browser or OS, or you need to download the Vivaty PlayerDon't understand? Visit Vivaty's Help and FAQ Section
An overview by Gary Haynes
Tue, 08/12/2008 - 15:42 — Vint FalkenAn overview by Gary Haynes from Personalizemedia.com in videoformat:
AR = Augmented Reality...not
Wed, 08/13/2008 - 11:59 — RightAsRain RimbaudAR = Augmented Reality...not sure it sounds some much better, but a bunch of guys at Georgia Tech are messing around with it. Take your HUD to work day? http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_162/5130-When...
Liveplace--3D Web world
Wed, 08/13/2008 - 12:05 — RightAsRain RimbaudLiveplace--3D Web world online all the time, but looks like a goof, stunt. Techcrunch found it here http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/11/liveplace-to-launch-photo-realistic... . But maybe is wishlist for the 3D Web future? Something to do with OTOY http://www.crunchbase.com/company/otoy . But looks more like a ARG joke atm (ARG = Alternate Reality Game, you know, like a world where you rich and famous all the time or win the lotto)
Nurien -- looks slick enuff,
Tue, 09/02/2008 - 16:33 — RightAsRain RimbaudNurien -- looks slick enuff, from Korea http://www.nurien.com/
browser plug-in virtual space
Tue, 09/09/2008 - 16:53 — RightAsRain Rimbaudbrowser plug-in virtual space from Just Leap In -- http://www.justleapin.com/technical
ExitReality makes web pages
Thu, 09/18/2008 - 11:01 — RightAsRain RimbaudExitReality makes web pages 3D using a plug-in http://www.exitreality.com/ and some comments from Cnet here http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10045014-2.html. So it seems there are 3 kinds of virtual world platforms: 1) virtual worlds in fullest sense like SL 2) browser virtual rooms like Lively and ExitReality 3) Game communities/MMO
walk through Flickr (..er, why?)
kinda cool how the photos get framed
found this one on the web
Tue, 09/30/2008 - 10:48 — RightAsRain Rimbaudfound this one on the web iLemon (squeezably virtual?) Maybe Lemons are more positive in .cn than .com ? from their web page:
"iLemon builds 2d & 3d virtual worlds for corporate customers faster and cheaper than any competitor
While competitors charge millions for a complex custom made virtual world, iLemon can deliver a similar solution in half the time and at one tenth (10%) of the price
The company’s mission is to become the global leader in creating virtual worlds, gaining competitive advantage through a flexible platform and by utilizing an offshore development and delivery model"
amazing worlds
Fri, 10/03/2008 - 14:10 — RightAsRain Rimbaudamazing worlds http://www.amazingworlds.com/youtube.php --- i suppose it will get more amazing soon...? from their site "Founded in 2007, the company aims to work with organisations and business partners globally to build the most interactive real mirror image (3D) of the world’s interesting places for the Global Audience."
Microsoft still planning to
Wed, 10/22/2008 - 10:29 — RightAsRain RimbaudMicrosoft still planning to launch new virtual world for xbox on 19 Nov. Xbox Primetime which is some kinda tv/gameshow/mmo is delayed into Spring 2009. More at the Street.com.
Looks like a lot more noise in the virtual world space for 2009 as Microsoft and Sony pile in and take their console war to the web.
A few new ones that we saw
Mon, 10/27/2008 - 01:32 — RightAsRain RimbaudA few new ones that we saw at the Virtual Worlds London conference:
Near-- ambition to have very detailed (accurate within mm's said founder) of cities. But no avatars. http://www.nearglobal.com/About.aspx
Forterra--looks good, feels good-but is high price point for private grid.
Smeet--flash as3 browser virtual rooms with good service stack
OpenSIm based grid
Mon, 10/27/2008 - 02:03 — RightAsRain RimbaudOpenSIm based grid http://openlifegrid.com/ . Wrapper looks good, anyone know what's inside?
one of the opensim grids here
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 23:13 — RightAsRain Rimbaudone of the opensim grids here http://www.centralgrid.com/ -- anyone know it? comparison to SL?
upcoming virtual world for
Thu, 10/30/2008 - 12:59 — RightAsRain Rimbaudupcoming virtual world for 2009 http://www.avatar-reality.com/ . Looks sweet.
oh, from virtual worlds
Thu, 10/30/2008 - 13:04 — RightAsRain Rimbaudoh, from virtual worlds london conference VC for HiPiHi said they are abandonning the copycat SL model and focusing on kids market in china. (wondering if Chinesse kids have made in china toys?).
http://osgrid.org/ another
Thu, 10/30/2008 - 15:40 — RightAsRain Rimbaudhttp://osgrid.org/ another opensim grid --actually there is a nice llist here http://opensimulator.org/wiki/Grid_List . Be careful when you out in the metaverse! AND DO NOT USE YOUR SAME SL PASSWORD TO LOG ONTO ONE OF THESE NON-SECONDLIFE GRIDS!!!!
interesting looking
Fri, 10/31/2008 - 01:05 — RightAsRain Rimbaudinteresting looking roll-your-own solution from http://www.reactiongrid.com/ . 300+regions for $USD3750/Month!
Not really a virtual world,
Sun, 11/02/2008 - 16:47 — Vint FalkenNot really a virtual world, but a 'games overlay' on RL:
http://www.playce.com/
plaYce is "Making the World a Playground" by providing a 3D virtual world for games, based on the real world. plaYce's technology reconstructs the entire world in 3D and streams it with high frame rate from within the browser, providing an immersive "Mirror World" gaming experience, without a heavy client download.
plaYce universe is based on geo referenced satellite imagery, digital terrain models, city maps and other sources of geo information. Every pixel is linked to a real-world coordinate, enabling integration with user generated content and other forms of geo-tagged data.
plaYce provides independent game developers a Game-Infrastructure-as-a-Service allowing them to design, develop and launch quick engagement games based anywhere in the world: Car races in Hong-Kong Peninsula, first person shooter in the Columbian rainforests, treasure hunts in the Ivory Coast, etc.
Gamers will be able, for the first time, to instantly play any game with friends from existing social networks and IM buddy lists, without download, for free.
Yogurtistan
Wed, 11/05/2008 - 14:58 — Vint FalkenAdding to this virtual worlds watchlist, it's the first I hear about a VW game aimed mainly at the Turkish market. Something that shows from it's name, which translates to 'land of yoghurt'. ;)
Yogurtistan is a 3D virtual world based on Adobe Flash, where users can create shops, play multiplayer games, sell and buy goods and services with animated avatars. Users earn virtual credits upon registering and can start doing business once they open up their stores. Yogurtistan will reward its active members by giving them back part of the value created inside the world.
Interesting:
For example, one can sell consultancy, ideas, photos, designs, virtual dresses, real dresses, animations for avatars, your music, your blog's articles, your time, jeans... Just name it. We do not allow though to sell other people or solicit yourself for any reason. Also it is prohibited to sell anything illegal here.
Then you must rent a store for one year. The cost of this is not much, something like 50 YTL (40 USD., 25 euros). You will get “kayme”s in exchange for this money too. => So basically, this requires premium membership to be able to sell stuff.
More at Yogurtistan FAQ
Currently in closed beta.
Legend City Online
Thu, 11/13/2008 - 02:00 — Vint Falkenhttp://www.legendcityonline.com
Based on OpenSim. Legend City Online invites you to submerge yourself in a world of infinite possibility and grab the freedom to create your own virtual reality! Prims that offer new dynamics for building that will give you the opportunity to create your "Ultimate" fantasy with all the details you've imagined. Private MiGs (Mini Grids) specifically cater to the multi-region owners for commercial, residential and mixed land. Let Legend City Online offer you more for your virtual life!
Currency: Legend Dollars
The 'Gods' have 'Legend' last names. (in stead of Linden)
Music Mogul coming in
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 15:43 — RightAsRain RimbaudMusic Mogul coming in February-- Reuters reports:
The site, Music Mogul, will feature social-networking functions, online games and "live" performances that users can watch in streaming video. Like other online music destinations such as FameCast, myAWOL and rapper Ludacris' WeMix, Music Mogul will use real-life rewards to help build an online audience. Users will be able to upload videos of themselves performing to compete for a three-song demo deal with Jerkins' Darkchild Productions.
Music Mogul will retain ownership of any user-generated videos uploaded to the site.
A preview of coming features will be posted at musicmogul.com November 24, with a formal launch expected in February.
Insights from China, HiPiHi
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 17:14 — RightAsRain RimbaudInsights from China, HiPiHi research director Zafka Zhang as interviewed by 56minus1 says: "In the past 2 years, I have heard a lot of discussion about virtual worlds (VWs) with many different definitions. My basic definition of a VW is an integrated, persistently existing world with avatars, virtual environments, and social-economic system. MMORPGs (massively multi-player online role-playing game) is a classic type of VWs. Second life is a non-gaming virtual world." He has some other comments about the virtual world space in this interview as well.
We heard from the HiPiHi investor at the Virtual Worlds London conference that HiPiHi was abandoning the SL knock-off model and focusing on kids/tweens.
Hero Engine
Wed, 12/31/2008 - 02:16 — RightAsRain RimbaudHero Engine http://www.heroengine.com/features.asp -- seems pretty interesting.
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