In just a few short weeks, Berlin based Metaversum will launch a closed beta of their new virtual world, Twinity, which they describe as a mashup for virtual and real life, where alternate reality games will thrive. I had a chance to catch up with Jeremy Snyder, Metaversum's VP Community & Operations, and get the lowdown on what sounds like a very exciting new virtual worlds project.
Here are some of the key facts. I've not seen Twinity yet, but I think if they can live up to their claims, it's gonna make a big splash in this space.
1. Twinity is a Real Cash Economy
Like forerunners Second Life and Entropia Universe, Twinity residents will be able to buy and sell inworld currency, (the name of the currency is still under discussion) and trade virtual goods and services.
2. Twinity Uses a Mix of Proprietary and Open Source Systems
Twinity will be tightly integrated with the 2D web, using technologies such as Ruby on Rails and MySQL and Postgres to power such things as web based inventory management. They also use some of these Open Sources DB systems and such, including Linux servers for the 3D environment. Sadly, Metaversum are not prepared to release details of the proprietary middleware application they use for their 3D, though I'm sure we'll be able to make educated guesses once we see it!
3. Twinity Residents will not have as much Creative Freedom as Second Lifers
Right off the bat, there are no inworld modelling tools in the Twinity client, but you will be able to import 3D objects made in Maya, or Blender for example. You also wont be able to make your own buildings, not at first at least, but you'll be able to buy an apartment in a Metaversum built structure, or perhaps a whole building. In that space, or zone as they put it, you'll have more freedom, being able to import and place objects.
4. Items Marked for Sale, Must be Approved
Driven by concerns of copyright infringement, Metaversum will not let you place items you've created for sale untill approved. They say that they think this will scale, as they intend to use offshore partners to handle much of this, but also freely admit that it will be a case of "we'll see..." when the time comes.
5. Twinity Will Run on a Fairly Standard Virtual Worlds Business Model
The way Metaversum intend to make Twinity pay will be familiar to many Metaversed readers:
- Currency sales
- Real estate sales
- Premium accounts - Details still being finalized
With such an emphasis on currency, I wonder just how those creative and entrepreneurial restrictions mentioned above will impact the company, and the worlds growth.
