Somnium's Embedded Reporter Explores Single-Shard Social VR World With Blockchain-Based Economy

Now this video gives me some deep, 2003-era nostalgia. It's a brief tour of a build in Somnium Space, the new-ish social VR world for PC and VR headsets, but with its simple graphics and sunny, seamless, single-shard world -- With places! On a map! That you travel to! -- it vividly reminded me of Second Life from back in olden times. That's also because the video itself is by Carlos Aborde, Somnium Space's official embedded reporter.

Besides being primarily for VR, the key 2020-era update is blockchain. (Well, most people in Silicon Valley would tell you blockchain-based platforms lost their luster ages ago, by which I mean 2018.) Anyway here's the key feature set from the homepage:

• Cross Platform: Available on all major VR headsets.
• Customizable PC Client: Create and adjust your own layout setup for fast in-game interaction.
• Live Forever: Automatic recording mode of yourself on your own property for future AI analysis to bring your avatar to life. [!!!]
• Blockchain: Integration of blockchain allows true ownership of digital goods, avatars, items and virtual land. We are creating a long lasting Economy which will allow instant monetization for our in-world creators.
• Persistent Social VR World: Unlimited scalable world built by users within one instance.
• Virtual Land Ownership: Buy and customize your own land. Build anything you envision.
• Scriptable World: Program your own experience and monetize through the asset store or on your property.
• Monetize Your Space: Take advantage of fully programmatic VR advertisement plugin. Capture and analyze gaze tracking, engagement and conversion rates.

The last point is highly questionable (did they not get Avi's memo?) but VR-based advertising is not necessarily horrible (if inevitably obtrusive) when done right.

Anyway, launch trailer from last month above. More on Somnium, hopefully soon.

Comments

[sirhc desantis]

Have to admit I did get a touch of nostalgia looking through their featured build page. Still not going to install some dodgy 'wallet' extension to take a closer look. Nice slow loading splash screen though.