Open Forum: What Other Virtual Worlds Besides Second Life Are You Interested In, and Why?

Occasionally I write about other virtual worlds besides SL and OpenSim, in posts cleverly entitled Other World Notes. While SL and its open source variants remain endlessly fascinating and exciting to me, other worlds intrigue me as well, especially if they also have a strong user-generated content aspect.

However, I'm curious where my reader's interests lie. What other virtual worlds are you also interested in, and why? And would you like to read more about them here?

Comments

[Dusan Writer]

Very clever. :P

I have to say, while OpenSim offers, well, a cost-effective way to have a sim, I'm still waiting on some of the deeper innovations that were promised by the 'modular code Apache of VWs' thing.

I've long been interested in Blue Mars - we had Jim Sink on Metanomics recently, and it holds promise. Have played with the tools and building - still a year off, I'd say, before it's fully robust, but worth keeping an eye on.

I think the biggest area right now, however, isn't necessarily a "world" per se, but rather augmented reality. Combined with browser-based 3D content (as it develops) I think this is the current playing field for rapid innovation in the metaverse, if not in the VW part of the Roadmap.

P.S. I'd add Metaplace if they had avatars that were a little more, um, expressive or something, but do think that right now it has a lot of value even without avatars.

Oh! And something I saw that looks amazing but I have no idea when it's launching:

http://www.infinity-universe.com/

Full planets dynamically generated, some kind of user content model - the technology behind it is very intriguing, although Sci Fi stuff isn't my thing and I could never figure out Eve - my space ship kept getting lost and I'd end up being killed all the time.

[Arcadia Codesmith]

Metaplace has the potential to be a game-changer if and when they transition to 3D (and they've designed their architecture with that eventuality in mind).

MMO coverage is relevent if there are systems or lessons that overlap with social virtual worlds. City of Heroes' mission design tool comes to mind.

[ArianeB]

I like to follow whats going on in 3D virtual world development. I try to keep track of them all on my website. There are 23 that I know about and 4 or 5 others in development, not including the various open sim grids (of which there are probably another 20).

Second Life dominates the market with good reason. IMVU, Vivaty, and There dominate certain niche markets not well served by SL. Twinity, HiPiHi and Novoking are gaining popularity in certain regional markets.

In my opinion there are only two (that I know about) that could knock SL off its pedestal. One is Blue Mars, and the other is of course Open Sim.

Blue Mars is using the latest graphics engine and will instantly attract players that are attracted to realism. Like SL you can buy land and submit your own creations, but they have to go through an approval process to keep the T for Teen rating, which will be a turn off. Based on what I have seen and heard Blue Mars is pretty much There 2.0.

Open Sim is still playing catch-up to SL technology wise. Many basic script commands still do not work, and every time SL releases a new viewer, it seems to break something in the Open Sim servers. If Open Sim succeeds in catching up to SL, and finally bypassing it technologically (two more years perhaps?), it could suddenly dominate.

[Takuan]

I agree with Arcadia that if Metaplace adds 3D, it will have the potential to really shake things up in the VW arena. The architecture is fantastic, and it's quite clear that it's been very well designed up-front by people with a great deal of experience and knowledge.

Infinity has been in development forever, in Internet terms, and while I've mostly been following it's development from a technical/game-dev perspective, I don't know that I find it terribly fascinating or relevant as a Virtual World.

Blue Mars is what I'm most interested at this point in time. There are many arguments being made about the "user-created content" aspects, which I won't get into except to say that regardless of the perceived restrictions currently in place, there is/will be user generated content.

I'm currently hard at work generating content for Blue Mars, and I'm absolutely in love with it. Visually, it's impressive as could be, but what most people don't seem to realize yet is that it has tremendous features for interactivity and programmability, far surpassing Second Life's meager offerings. It should definitely be kept on any VW-watchers radar.

[Roland Legrand]

I am impressed by Metaplace. I do agree the avatars are not very expressive, to say the least, but what counts is that it is easy to access - just type in an URL and you are almost done. That is of great importance for all those that right now don't want to (or are not allowed to) download Second Life or other 3D environments, or lack the hardware to use those 3D-worlds.

[Dawny Daviau]

My heart is in Openlife. Why? Because you can compair it with SL 4 years ago. Its the pioneer feeling that attracts me. I am a member since 1,5 year now and when I just joined I couldnt even walk in there. And TP? LOL that wasnt even there yet.... The community is very close. Everyone is very helpful to each other. Alot of prims to play with (45000). Most people there are tired of 'other' VW and just build there and have fun! The big boss there Sakai is easy to reach and very approachable and a wonderful person who have become a good friend. To see a community grow is awesome. The residents have regular meetings inworld with the owner to talk about the path of Openlife so anyone can join in and think with the big boss ;) That makes you feel to be one with a growing grid and makes you even stronger connected to it in my opinion!

[Iggy O]

I learned over at the Herald that any Metaplace world can be embedded now in a Web page. That's another step forward for Raph's VW:

http://foo.secondlifeherald.com/slh/2009/07/metaplace-worlds-embed-into-everyones-web-pages-.html

Just ignore the hecklers in the comments. That's the Herald readership for you :)

I'm enjoying my sojourns in Metaplace. So far, I'm still searching for educational builds, but they'll arise. The build tools are as simple as those from Sim City and a lot more powerful.

[Derek Arnold]

Definitely. Without really trying I've spent more time tinkering in OpenSim than in SL, mostly because I can run an entire sim and experiment without sacrificing a firstborn to rent to what amounts to 1 server core and a small amount of RAM. OSGrid already has a hardcore membership of users that are interested in the different sort of virtual world OpenSim offers.

[Tinsel Silvera]

Setting aside the weekly time spent in various Open Sims, which I consider to be an extension of SL, I also spend time in Onverse, Club Cooee, Twinity, Kaneva and Entropia.

[Osprey]

I like Just Leap In a lot. I spend time in The Endless Forest, but it isn't for everyone. I visit a billion other worlds but more as a tourist than a resident.

[Miriel Enfield]

I'm interested in Mycosm, but it seems like it might be vaporware at this point.

I'm officially a developer for Blue Mars, which looks promising, but I would not even consider it to be in beta at this point. Having actually logged on and used it, it's still missing too much.

[Gwyneth Llewelyn]

What other virtual worlds?

[Renmiri Writer]

Tried OpenLife an OpenSim based virtual world. Sakai did indeed seem to be a nice guy but ended up taking my money and never answering emails... Dissapointing to say the least.

OpenSim still seems to be in the "Wild West" phase wher all content is moddable / copied by all, people are carefree with copyright and owners get deaf to your requestes when they feel like it.

SL is much more professional and well establishd. I think I'll stick to that.

[Laz]

From one who helped beta test SL when it was in beta I can understand why people like it. For me however I didn't have enough control over content nor the freedom to build the things I really wanted to build. As a virtual world builder I love the freedom to build what I want, whenever I want and love the ability to add interactive events and cunning little subtelties in worlds.

Anyways visit my world on ABNET (Construction World) and see what you think ;)

http://vrmlworld.net/frameset.php?url=http://home.comcast.net/~lazerousvr/worlds/vnr/VNR.wrl&bhp=https://home.comcast.net/~lazerousvr/virtual-tour/slide-map.htm&title=Construction World

[Sean]

Entropia. This is a perfect balance between gaming and economics to my mind. Users can also upload pictures etc to display on screens. Users can also undergo 'cosmetic surgery' to redefine the apperance of their avatar etc. But the game is quite hard work. My page (see my name link below) gives people tips etc on how to do well with it.