Virtual Berlin
Twinity has been really coming along lately. They’ve just opened up a virtual replication of the Hackescher Markt area in Berlin, and plan on rolling out even more of the city in the coming weeks and months. The private beta test group (which is easy to join, by the way) now gets to visit galleries in Berlin, connect and communicate with other members in cafés, or simply take a look at the city’s sights.
It’s an interesting contrast to the browser-based worlds I’ve been looking at. The detail in Twinity is truly awesome, and it comes with a really robust set of tools. Here are some recent screenshots:
click images for full size
It’s an interesting take on virtual worlds. Officially, the intention is to replicate not just Berlin but many major cities. The graphics are, obviously, gorgeous and highly detailed. It’s crammed full of media tools and an embedded commerce system. You can decorate your own apartment, surf any web content as a group on a wall panel, and all sorts of things.
The only thing that keeps press from calling this the “Second Life killer” is that you don’t build your own buildings from scratch here. It seems like such a small thing, but we’ll see when it comes out of beta if that matters. It might be completely beside the point, or it might be the thing that keeps people from gaining a sense of investment in the platform.
Even after having used Twinity, I still have questions. Is there a case for businesses using it as a work tool? How effective will it be as a marketing tool? Is it the kind of thing we’ll hold vBusiness Expos in, or will lag, high graphic detail and the all around young age of the platform make that impossible?
I think we’ll have a better idea when Berlin is completely built. Meanwhile, if you haven’t already, do sign up for the beta. It’s quite the sight to behold.
July 19th, 2008 at 6:25 am
[...] Booker has some nice comments on Twinity’s progress. Some select comments: The detail in Twinity is truly awesome, and it comes with a really robust [...]