The Importance of (Open) Space in Virtual Worlds

Not every virtual world actually looks like a "world". (Please check the definition of 'virtual world' here.) Many are just relatively small spaces or a lattice of interconnected rooms, malls, apartments, clubs etc. There are many reasons for this. Technically, is NOT easy to create a large contiguous world in which you can move around smoothly. Additionally, most interaction between humans (and thats what virtual worlds are for) takes place in more or less closed locations: conference rooms, apartments, clubs, malls etc.

So why should the developer of a virtual world care for open spaces, for parks, for forests, for a desert, a mountain range or the open sea?

1. Because it is pretty
2. Because it enhances the immersive experience

I realized this, when checking out the new version of Keneva. Kaneva is an interesting virtual world, a kind of cross breed between MySpace and a 3D Chat like IMVU. The display quality is a little better than in There and a a bit worse than in Second Life. There are lots of ways, to connect with other users and there is an integrated micropayment system with which you can buy stuff to pimp up your avatar or apartment. What I always disliked with Kaneva, though, has always been the fact, that everything happened in a closed environment. And my love has always been 'virtual nature' (which was the reason, I founded the precursor to the current Otherland Group).

The new version 2.0 of Kaneva finally introduces open spaces: There is a large central park, there are streets and paths and you actually can move from the mall to the cinema or to one of the diverse clubs by walking around. (Apartments still float in a digital nirvana.) This not only looks 'pretty' it 'feels' different. And this is not just a result of my personal preference. I talked to a few other Kaneva residents and nearly all of the more seasoned ones said that - while they always liked the old version - the new version 2.0 'felt' better and much more real.

It seems that a real 'world', a contiguous space and some nature (trees, flower, plants ...) are not only a luxury. It enhances the immersive effect of a virtual world. And this effect is the main advantage virtual worlds have over the web and other communications platforms.

Technorati Tags: 3d web, kaneva, virtual worlds, web 3.d

Comments

[Whystler]

Activeworlds has hosted large - nearly infinite spaces for over 10 years.

[anais]

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