Metaverse is a concept rooted in immersive 3D internet experiences, incorporating VR and AR elements. From Antonin Artaud’s essays in 1938 to Neal Stephenson’s “Snow Crash” in 1992, various milestones have shaped the Metaverse we know today. Companies like Facebook, now Meta, are heavily investing in realizing this virtual world. Innovation in haptic technology and collaborative efforts from tech giants like Microsoft and Nvidia underscore the growing importance of the Metaverse.
Looking for alternatives to Metaverse? Explore options such as Decentraland, VRChat, AltspaceVR, Microsoft Mesh, Nvidia Omniverse, Roblox, Second Life, The Sandbox, Spatial, ChilloutVR, Neos, Rec Room, Axie Infinity, Unity, and more.
Facebook Metaverse
The Facebook Metaverse, a notable component of the newly-named Meta, represents a pioneering leap into the realm of virtual reality (VR). Envisioned as the next evolutionary phase of social interaction, it’s a transformative platform that aims to seamlessly blend authenticity, connectivity, commerce, work, and entertainment into a dynamic, immersive VR landscape.
Top Features of Facebook Metaverse
- Horizon Worlds: A VR social universe, teeming with more than 10,000 distinct experiences and worlds.
- Horizon Workrooms: An innovative toolset designed to facilitate collaborative efforts, this functionality emulates real-life workplace dynamics.
- Horizon Venues: Digital replication of event spaces aimed at providing wider access to concerts and sports events virtually.
| Access Point | Description |
|---|---|
| VR Headset | Gateways into the immersive Metaverse experience, e.g., Meta Quest. |
| AR Gear | Lets digital elements interact with the natural world, enhancing freedom of movement. |
Limitations of Facebook Metaverse
- Enduring privacy concerns, intrinsic to any large-scale digital platform.
- Existing degree of general mistrust, primarily over data handling.
- The metaverse’s potential to unintentionally perpetuate harmful online behavior.
- Inherent tension between Facebook’s business model and the open internet’s ethos.
Use Cases of Facebook Metaverse
Use case 1: Virtual Collaboration
Facilitating remote work collaboration through Horizon Workrooms, professionally designed virtual spaces to stimulate more personal office experiences from anywhere in the world.
Use case 2: Social Interaction
The use of Horizon Worlds for existing and evolving forms of digital social interaction, embracing a new level of engagement and connectivity in thousands of virtual experiences.
Use case 3: Event Participation
Bringing more immediate and affordable access to various events through Horizon Venues, allowing users to engage actively or spectate from the comfort of their VR spaces.
Decentraland
An Ethereum-based 3D virtual world platform, Decentraland astounds with user-controlled environments and a buzzing parallel economy. Initiated by Argentine professionals Ari Meilich and Esteban Ordano in 2015, it functions on its native tokens, LAND and MANA, encouraging interaction and exploration around the user community.
Decentraland Top Features
- User-controlled platform: Enables creation of unique environments and applications.
- Mixed economy facilitated by tokens: MANA for in-world transactions and LAND for digital property purchase.
- Estate: Represents merged parcels of digital land, extending the functionality of LAND.
- Community governance: Decentraland DAO oversees policy changes, auctions, and subsidies.
- Brand interactions: Top names like Netflix, Samsung host interactive exhibits.
| Feature | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Decentraland DAO | Platform governance rests with LAND and Estate token holders through voting. |
| Smart Contracts | Frameworks for game and app creation, monitored by Decentraland DAO. |
| Active User Base | A vibrant community with approximately 8,000 users per day as of 2022. |
Decentraland Downsides
- Limited to Ethereum cryptocurrency wallet users.
- Reported technical bugs.
- Depicted as a largely empty virtual world.
Decentraland Pricing
At its inception, LAND was priced around $20 and MANA tokens for $0.02. By April 2021, land parcels surged to a range of $6,000-$100,000. Please note, Ethereum cryptocurrency wallet is needed to transact.
Decentraland Use Cases
Use case 1: Real Estate
Virtual land parcels in Decentraland is tradable. Buyers can create custom digital environments for various uses like offices and galleries. The LAND tokens simplify and secure this digital real estate trading.
Use case 2: Art, Entertainment and Gaming
Decentraland serves as a vibrant market for digital art trading. Users can engage in games, events, and explore user-generated scenarios, thereby making it an immersive world of entertainment.
Use case 3: Learning and Collaboration
With virtual learning spaces like Decentraland University, this platform aligns virtual collaboration with education — letting users learn and share knowledge across boundaries.
ChilloutVR
A harmonious meld of technology and social interaction, ChilloutVR garners attention as a social sandbox game playable both on VR and Desktop, legitimizing user flexibility while stimulating creativity.
ChilloutVR Top Features
- Experience the allure of forging your own virtual avatar and socializing in a community-engaged environment.
- A daily evolving roster of publically accessible virtual worlds inhabiting myriad entities designed by fellow users.
- In-game modularity fosters creation of interactive objects and entirely fresh game modes.
- Robust social features include making friends, forming parties, joining groups, and attending events.
- Frameworks for content creation built into Unity Editor, further strengthening game modes programming and world building.
- A Melon Assistant facilitating PC mod installations for ChilloutVR.
| Community Management Tools | Security Measures | Monthly Updates |
|---|---|---|
| Equipped for user management through moderators, developers and community group leaders | Protection against abusive client modifications, unauthorized caching or ripping | Persistent content evolutionary progress attuned to user feedback |
ChilloutVR Downsides
- Rules & regulations dictate users should be 13 years or older, in line with the privacy policy & community guidelines
- Unyielding firmness against any game modifications, turning aside flexibility for some advanced users.
ChilloutVR Pricing
As a bountiful balance between user engagement and cutting-edge AR technology, ChilloutVR offers its offerings open-source and cost-free, leaving no stone unturned in democratizing AR access.
ChilloutVR Use Cases
Use case 1
Perfectly suited to 3D artists or designers wanting to test their imaginations against the appeal of an interactive, ever-evolving user community.
Use case 2
Game developers can use the resourceful network to test game modes, interactive objects, and concepts.
Use case 3
Social butterflies keen on making friends, joining parties and groups, attending events in a 3D environment.
Neos
Immerse yourself in the boundless virtual reality universe of Neos! This brainchild of Solirax, a Prague-based VR specialist, is a unique mash-up of compelling technology and vibrant community, empowering you to create transformative experiences!
Neos Top Features
- Unique Scripting Engine: A novel combination of asset synchronization, game engine logic, and asynchronous task/asset processing.
- Extensive VR Toolset: Tools for creating content right within the Neos universe, allowing for unmatched flexibility and creative control.
- Hardware Agnostic: Unrivalled compatibility with a plethora of VR devices and accessories.
| Full-body tracking | Get the most of your in-game avatar with Full-body tracking |
| Cryptocurrency Integration | Unique blend of traditional and blockchain funding with its own Cryptocurrency (NCR). |
| Dynamic Community | A thriving, user-driven platform for creators, educators, and entrepreneurs. |
Neos Limitations
- Development Stage: Neos is still under heavy development, which means abrupt changes and possible glitches.
- Expansion Challenges: Both community expansion and team growth present significant challenges.
- Underutilized Marketing: Compared to blockchain ‘metaverse’ projects, Neos’s marketing efforts still have room for improvement.
Neos Pricing
Neos follows a hybrid approach with free access for users, and optional monthly or perpetual commercial licenses for enhanced features.
Neos Use Cases
Use case 1: Content Creators
For ambitious content creators, Neos offers an open canvas to build mind-blowing virtual worlds and avatars, customize and share items, and even run low-cost VR experiments!
Use case 2: Educators
Neos provides educators with an inspiring medium to foster learning by creating immersive, VR-based educational experiences.
Use case 3: Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs can leverage the Neos platform to bring their ideas to life in VR, thanks to its robust toolset and in-game customization.
Rec Room
Born from the creative minds at Rec Room Inc., Rec Room has carved itself a cozy corner in the realm of Augmented Reality gaming with a beating heart of innovation. Launched in 2016, Rec Room has rapidly matured into a full-fledged game creation platform that fosters creativity and community alike.
Rec Room Top Features
- Choice of Gameplay Modes: Both singleplayer and multiplayer modes are offered, firing up the gaming rig with limitless possibilities.
- Integrated Game Creation System: Scenes are crafted in 3D using an in-built ‘Maker Pen’, while Rec Room’s visual programming language, Circuits, helps imbue life to creations.
- Unique Locomotion Methods: VR sickness is kept at arm’s length with teleportation, while a “walking” mode offers the thrill of continuous movement.
| Device Compatibility | Supports numerous platforms, including PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X/S, Windows, Android, and iOS. |
| Multiplayer Rec Room Originals | Packed with a variety of game genres – first-person shooters, battle royales, cooperative adventures, sports games, etc. |
| Highly Customizable Avatars | Gives players countless options to personalize their in-game identities. |
Rec Room Downsides
- Community Issues: Several users have reported instances of bullying, harassment, and inadequate moderation.
- Explicit Material: Depending on the server or room accessed, players (especially those under the age of 12) may encounter inappropriate content.
Rec Room Pricing
While Rec Room in itself is free, an optional monthly subscription, Rec Room Plus, is available. This opens up monetization opportunities for user-generated content via tokens that can be exchanged for real money.
Rec Room Use Cases
Use case 1 – Aspiring Game Creators
Rec Room powers the dreams of budding game creators, providing intuitive tools such as the Maker Pen and visual programming language, Circuits. User-generated content can be sold via Rec Room Plus, kickstarting a financially rewarding venture.
Use case 2 – Social Butterflies
Stitching social media into its fabric, Rec Room’s built-in platform, rec.net, encourages the forging of new friendships and sharing of game-aesthetic photos.
Use case 3 – VR Enthusiasts
VR aficionados are not left out as Rec Room offers full 3D motion capture and supports various VR headsets. The ‘teleportation’ approach to navigation counters VR motion sickness, enhancing gameplay for users with sensitive equilibrium.
Axie Infinity
Join us under the gaze of the Axie Infinity, the brainchild of Sky Mavis. It stands as a testament to the harmonious integration of the crypto universe with online gaming, employing the formidable power of blockchain and the allure of Non-fungible Tokens (NFTs). Inspired by the legendary Pokémon series, it sets the stage for engaging combat and fascinating team dynamics.
Axie Infinity Top Features
- The charm of turn-based battles against both computer-controlled teams and live combatants on the Internet.
- A dual token system: AXS, exclusively native to the game and SLP designed as an reward token, carving a striking path in the digital world.
- Ownership and trading freedom with NFTs for in-game items can be traded and sold for real money on the market.
- Empowering players with the feature of Axie breeding, opening doors to more powerful team and potential NFT creation.
- Robust gaming experience available across multiple platforms like PC, Mac, Android, and iOS.
| Feature | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Play-to-earn model | Ensures rewarded gameplay with cryptocurrencies that can be exchanged for real money |
| Ronin Sidechain | Minimizes fees and transaction delays, providing a smooth gaming experience |
| Land NFTs | Encourages players to customize terrain, creating immersive individual experiences. |
Axie Infinity Limitations
- Player entry demands ownership of at least three Axie NFTs.
- The game underwent a major security breach in 2022, leading to a significant loss in Ethereum value and a drop in player numbers.
- While Sky Mavis has pledged fund recovery, the future impact of this cyber incident remains uncertain.
Axie Infinity Use Cases
Online Gamers
Axie Infinity offers a rich and immersive experience to the online gaming fraternity. Its alluring blend of Pokémon-like battles and novel blockchain-based aspects fosters an exciting virtual world where players can own, manage, and trade their assets.
Crypto Enthusiasts
For crypto enthusiasts, Axie Infinity presents a unique opportunity to interact with Ethereum-based tokens. Their contributions to the gaming ecosystem are rewarded with cryptocurrencies, driving deeper participation and engagement.
NFT Collectors
The arena of NFT collectors basks in the glow of Axie Infinity. The game’s use of NFTs for in-game assets elevates the gaming experience by introducing elements of ownership and trade, thereby creating a thriving marketplace for enthusiasts.
Unity
The Unity game development engine, launched in 2005, is known for its versatility in creating 3D and 2D games. With its adaptability, it offers developers a wide application range, from Augmented Reality to 3D simulations.
Unity Top Features
- Cross-platform reach: Capable of launching games for Android, iOS, and several other operating systems.
- Equipped with a suite of tools, rendering technologies, and features supporting high-quality game creation.
- A rich Asset Store integrated with diverse textures and pre-designed features.
- Support for multiple coding languages including BOO script, JavaScript, and C#.
- An active developer community for problem-solving, feedback, and system improvement.
- Facilitates the production of sophisticated games through both its free and Pro versions.
| Solo developers | Helpful for individual developers given the variety of tools and significant features incorporated. |
| AR/VR Game development | Enriches the creation of mobile games and games with Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR) features. |
Unity Downsides
- New pricing model concerns: Developers fear per-install fees could potentially hamper digital preservation efforts and compromise their financial sustainability.
- Trust issues due to unannounced changes and sudden shifts in pricing.
- No longer offering Unity Plus subscription tier, drawing backlash from developers.
Unity Pricing
Unity has a new pricing model set to commence on January 1, 2024. The developers will be charged an install fee only once their game surpasses $200,000 in revenue and exceeds 200,000 installations.
Unity Use Cases
Use case 1: Indie Developers
The free version of Unity, with substantial features, is incredibly useful for indie developers looking to create sophisticated games without significant investment.
Use case 2: AR/VR Creators
Unity encourages and facilitates the creation of games with AR/VR features, representing a perfect tool for creators looking to pioneer immersive digital experiences.
Use case 3: Cross-platform Developers
Developers seeking to create games for multiple platforms find Unity’s adaptability to various operating systems extremely beneficial.
VRChat
Developed by innovators Graham Gaylor and Jesse Joudrey, VRChat is a Unity-engine powered Augmented Reality platform founded in 2014. With a significant focus on user-generated content, it utilizes advanced features to provide an immersive, sociable digital environment.
VRChat Top Features
- Compatible with Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, HTC Vive and SteamVR.
- Extensive user-created 3D avatars and worlds.
- Features include head and hand motion mimicking, lip sync, eye tracking, and blinking.
- Introduced Udon – a visual programming language in 2020.
- Supports Android and touchscreen devices.
- Sociability and gameplay likened to Second Life and Habbo Hotel.
| Year | Feature |
|---|---|
| 2020 | Udon visual programming language introduced. |
| 2022 | Anti-cheat system, EAC, incorporated. |
| 2020 | VRChat Plus – premium membership service introduced. |
VRChat Disadvantages
- Mixed responses with regards to content access by minors.
- Review bombing following the anti-cheat announcement due to its high popularity.
VRChat Pricing
VRChat is available for free. However, a premium membership, VRChat Plus, was introduced in November 2020 for additional features and benefits.
VRChat Use Cases
Use Case 1: Virtual Performances
Its functionality and immersive experience make VRChat an excellent platform for conducting virtual performances, be it for classes, dance events, or live music.
Use Case 2: Twitch Streamers and YouTubers
Considering its influence among YouTubers and Twitch streamers, VRChat provides a diverse and interactive platform for creating and sharing content.
Use Case 3: Online Communities
Various online communities manifest in the form of weekly newspapers, talk shows, and podcasts, demonstrating VRChat’s potential as a platform for social interaction and content creation.
AltspaceVR
Immerse yourself in the virtual realm with AltspaceVR, a vibrant platform that redefines social interaction. Launched in 2013 and acquired by Microsoft in 2017, it doesn’t require a VR headset to offer enriched VR experiences.
AltspaceVR Top Features
- Microsoft Mesh integration: Hosting VR avatars and physical spaces’ digital twin got easier in Spring 2021 with this feature.
- Advanced avatar customization: Enhance your digital persona with intricate details and personality.
- Virtual events: Live comedy shows, workshops, religious studies – engage in a myriad of public calendar events based on your interests.
- Pre-built VR worlds: Dive into stunningly crafted virtual realities waiting for hosts.
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Simple control system | Streamlines navigation, offering ease and efficiency. |
| Home feature | Private space facilitating learning of menus and tools. |
| Collaborative VR experiences | Engage in shared VR experiences, extending beyond the bounds of geography. |
AltspaceVR Limitations
- Funding hiccups: Despite promising a VR leap from novelty to nature, AltspaceVR was forced to announce closure in 2023 due to funding issues.
- Desktop vs. VR control system: While hand and head tracking make VR interactive, the desktop user experience may be lacking in comparison.
AltspaceVR Pricing
AltspaceVR gears up to transcend boundaries without asking for a single penny. Yes, it’s free!
AltspaceVR Use Cases
Use case: Social Networking
Pioneering VR social connectivity, AltspaceVR unites people, making geographical barriers moot with its immersive platform.
Use case: Interactive Learning
From workshops to religious studies, AltspaceVR promises an enlightening experience wrapped in interactive storytelling.
Use case: Entertainment
Live comedy shows, movie streaming, game playing; enjoy diverse forms of entertainment while basking in the wonders of VR.
Microsoft Mesh
Enter the new age of interaction with Microsoft Mesh, a breathtaking solution that blends augmented reality and cloud computing. It’s an embodiment of the future of digital engagement, bringing distributed teams closer together in 3D immersive spaces. This platform is designed to instigate profound, authentic connections, transcending the bounds of conventional remote interaction.
Microsoft Mesh Top Features
- Spatial Interaction: Experience the evolution of digital engagement. Hear, see and interact with team members as if they were in the same room.
- Customizable Spaces: Shape your own immersive environments to serve specific business needs, fostering a sense of camaraderie and belonging.
- Mesh SDK: Developers can build mixed reality experiences with an array of AI-powered tools, intuitive controls for avatars, and a support system for session management, spatial rendering, synchronizations, and holoportation.
- Future Integration: Mesh plans to integrate with Microsoft Teams, broadening the horizons for virtual collaborations and meetings.
- Immersive Presence: With holographic rendering of participants and a lifelike sense of co-presence, distractions fade away as one focuses purely on the interaction.
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Co-presence | Brings a palpable sense of togetherness, driving high levels of focus and reducing distractions. |
| Holoportation | Allows a photorealistic 3D representation of users to promote authentic interactions. |
| Microsoft Azure | Backed by powerful cloud computing which bolsters the overall performance of the platform. |
Microsoft Mesh Limitations
- Limited device compatibility: Currently, Mesh is only available on HoloLens 2, VR headsets, PCs, while other platforms like Android or iOS might have to wait.
- Future potential: As the application is still in development, not all functionalities are available yet, such as integration with Babylon, React, and Unreal.
Microsoft Mesh Use Cases
Use case 1: Remote Collaboration and Communication
No matter where you are, use Microsoft Mesh to create a shared workspace that allows experts to collude and communicate through 3D holograms and real-time interaction.
Use case 2: Live Entertainment and Performances
Witness the face of concerts and performances change as Mesh becomes a portal for remote attendance. Experience entertainment like never before with project Hanai World.
Use case 3: Spatial Gaming
Unleash unparalleled gaming experiences with Mesh. The powerful collaboration with Niantic enhances shared mixed-reality sessions, taking interactive gaming to new heights.
Nvidia Omniverse
Enter the grand arena of Nvidia Omniverse, a revolutionary computing platform resting comfortably on the robust framework of Universal Scene Description (OpenUSD). Fusing Nvidia’s formidable RTX technology with OpenUSD, it amplifies and simplifies 3D workflows while ensuring scalability.
Nvidia Omniverse Top Features
- Comprehensive 3D Workflow: Transforms complex 3D workflows, enabling professionals to craft customizable 3D pipelines.
- Rechargeable Licensing : Flexible licensing options, including standard, Omniverse Enterprise, and Omniverse Cloud licenses.
- Monetization Opportunity: Offers developers potential to monetize their creations and solutions through the Omniverse platform.
- Interconnected Extensions Development: Promotes the creation of interconnected extensions/apps; leverages OpenUSD.
| Powerful Apps Building | Future-Forward Libraries |
|---|---|
| Builds Omniverse SDK-based apps and extensions including Omniverse Create for scene layout, and Omniverse View for scene review. | Deploys NVIDIA AI, rendering, and simulation technology – the prowess acquired over a whopping 20 years. |
| Language Versatility | Advanced Deployment |
| Supports extensions built using Python or C++ languages, maximizing flexibility for developers. | Offers Omniverse Cloud services platform for development, deployment, and management of cutting-edge 3D applications. |
Nvidia Omniverse Downfalls
- Pricey Enterprise Solution: Omniverse Enterprise comes with a hefty price tag of $9,000 p.a., limiting its accessibility to larger, wealthier organizations.
- Hardware Constraints: It’s primarily optimized for NVIDIA RTX-powered workstations and servers, which may exclude users with other hardware configurations.
- Dependency on Plugins: Workflows depend heavily on connector plugins for inter-application workflow, which can become a bottleneck if not managed well.
Nvidia Omniverse Pricing
The Omniverse Enterprise lands at $9,000/year with variations in pricing packages tailored to medium-sized and large organizations. However, keeping individual artists and developers in mind, the platform remains free with base functionalities.
Nvidia Omniverse Use Cases
Use case 1 – 3D Workflow Optimization
For teams looking to streamline their 3D workflows, Nvidia Omniverse offers unparalleled advantages. From customizing pipelines to integrating extension development, this platform amplifies productivity.
Use case 2 – Advanced 3D Applications Developers
Developers eager to create, deploy, and manage advanced 3D applications can find an exceptional tool in Nvidia Omniverse. It provides resources, validation services, and an extensible and publishable platform.
Use case 3 – Alliance for OpenUSD Promoters
Propagators and enthusiasts of OpenUSD’s interoperability can maximize Nvidia Omniverse’s potential. The platform’s foundation on OpenUSD allows the development of highly interconnected extensions and apps.
Roblox
Fashioned by David Baszucki and Erik Cassel in 2004, Roblox is a massive online platform for game creation and gameplay introduced in 2006, fostering a robust sense of community and mutual support among developers. Making headways into unstructured play and collaborative development, it spotlights user-generated content akin to YouTube.
Roblox Top Features
- Wide-Ranging User-Generated Content: Offers a vast library of over 50 million user-generated games.
- Socio-Interactive Dimension: Enables friend addition and chat functionalities, furthering social engagement.
- Unique Engine: Employs proprietary engine, Roblox Studio, empowering users to create innovative games.
- Code Language: Utilizes a Lua derivative, Luau, for game coding.
- Plentiful Developer Resources: Offers online classes, published books, and YouTube tutorials on Roblox programming languages and game development basics.
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Roblox Studio | Unlocks potential for creative game creation. |
| Virtual Currency, Robux | Facilitates in-app purchases. |
| Compatibility | Permits game development across diverse platforms including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Xbox One, Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest Pro, PlayStation 4. |
Roblox Limitations
- Under scrutiny for reports of adult content, misuse by adult players.
- Criticized for issues of moderation, microtransactions, and alleged child-exploitive practices.
Roblox Use Cases
Use case 1: Game Developers
Pitching an unprecedented platform for game creation and innovation, Roblox caters remarkably to game developers with its proprietary engine and exhaustive coding resources.
Use case 2: Users Seeking Social Integration
Providing a harmonious blend of gameplay and social interaction, Roblox serves as a fitting choice for users seeking active social engagement via friend addition and chat functionalities integrated within various stages of gameplay.
Use case 3: Freelancing Developers and Small Businesses
Roblox offers a significant opportunity for freelancing developers and small businesses to generate revenue via game creation and the prolific use of their virtual currency, Robux.
Second Life
Conceptualized by the visionary CEO Philip Rosedale, Linden Lab, Second Life is a captivating 3D virtual world that fosters real-time user interaction and user-generated content creation.
Second Life Top Features
- Rich User-experience: With its highly customizable avatars or primitars, Second Life offers an immersive metaverse alternative.
- Dynamic Economy: Second Life uses its unique currency, ‘Linden dollars’, allowing users to buy, sell, and trade goods or services.
- Thriving User-bases: From academics, artists to trans community, veterans, and teens, Second Life invites a diverse user base for engaging experiences.
- Privacy Respectful: Identity verification features augment trust among users and disallows targeted advertising models, prioritizing user privacy.
- Interactive Environment: The platform promotes positive user behavior through avatar consequences and a deeply civil environment.
| Popular Companies | Companies like Gucci and Ferrari have established their presence on Second Life, contributing to a more realistic user experience. |
| Second Life Cookies | While it doesn’t store any personally identifiable information, Second Life offers enhanced personalization through the use of functional cookies. |
| Outlasting Competitors | Thanks to its ability to recreate real-world experiences, Second Life has outlived most platforms. |
Second Life Limitations
- No Cryptocurrency: Despite its dynamic in-world economy, Second Life considers cryptocurrency unsuitable for metaverse transactions.
- Privacy Settings: Visitors must set their privacy preferences for platform functionality, which could potentially limit user exploration.
Second Life Use Cases
Use case 1: Extensive User Base
Given Second Life’s massive and diverse user base, it’s an ideal platform for cross-cultural exchanges, academic discussions and non-conforming dialogues, fostering an inclusive virtual community.
Use case 2: Business Presence
Reputed companies like Gucci, Ferrari have successfully established their presence on the platform, offering marketing and branding opportunities for businesses looking to tap into the metaverse.
Use case 3: Learning and Healing
The platform’s versatility allows the exchange of information and knowledge among users and serves as a safe space for military veterans to discuss PTSD, enhancing therapeutic healing.
The Sandbox
Embarking on a journey along the pathways of the multiverse, we find The Sandbox, a virtual world platform built on the robust infrastructure of the Ethereum blockchain. It transitioned its initial position as a mobile game in 2012 to a full-fledged blockchain entity in 2018, with ambitions to democratize virtual ownership and creation.
The Sandbox Top Features
- VoxEdit: Empowering users to craft and upload their creations as NFTs.
- Marketplace: A hub for buying, selling, and trading digital assets.
- The Game Maker: Enables users to design games without any coding knowledge.
- Cryptographic Ownership: Blockchain and smart contracts assure creators’ rights over their creations.
- The DAO: Ensuring democratic equity among token holders with ongoing decentralization efforts.
| Asset-Token Interaction | Impact on User Experience |
|---|---|
| SAND | Used for all transactions within the platform, enhancing user experience with seamless monetary interactions. |
| LAND | Lucre in the form of virtual real estate, provides ownership sensation in the metaverse. |
| ASSET, Gems, Catalysts | Used for in-game items and their enhancements, enriching gameplay. |
The Sandbox Limitations
- As of now, The Sandbox isn’t widely available for users, restricting wide scale interaction.
- Monetization of creations and sharing with fans is not possible at present.
- Changes to the platform can be made by private owners without the consent of landowners.
The Sandbox Pricing
Procurement of ‘LAND’ or other assets on The Sandbox is calculated in SAND tokens, hence it’s necessary for interested users to acquire these tokens to participate in the metaverse.
The Sandbox Use Cases
Use Case 1: Content Creators
Creators can leverage the Sandbox’s tools like VoxEdit and Game Maker to design their own games or NFTs and monetize them in the future.
Use Case 2: Investors
Investors can buy, hold or sell LAND, giving them an opportunity to invest in virtual real estate in an expanding metaverse.
Use Case 3: Gamers
Gamers have a wide choice of gaming experiences with the promise of 5,000 games by 2023, increasing user engagement and fun.
Spatial
Meet Spatial: an avant-garde platform intertwining the physical and digital worlds. They provide sublime AR/VR experiences for gaming, collaboration, and beyond, bringing the metaverse closer to your reality.
Spatial Top Features
- Exquisite 3D experiences shaped by expandable templates and Sketchfab models.
- Endless customization with personalized spaces, galleries, live shows, and avatars featuring esteemed partners like Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, and Adidas.
- Migration made easy with seamless integration with Unity for custom space creation and other platforms like Google Drive, Microsoft 365, Slack, and Figma.
- Remarkable hand gesture and eye movement facilitation, underpinned by Spatial audio and Token Gate privacy features.
- Cross-platform capability across VR/AR devices, web browsers, Android, and iOS, making Spatial accessible irrespective of device choice.
| Additional Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| AI-rendered 3D Avatars | Create hyper-realistic avatars from 2D photos using advanced AI technology. |
| Interaction via Eyes, Hands, and Voice | Engage with the AR/VR environment using natural communication channels. |
| VisionOS Operating System | Ensures seamless and efficient functionality. |
Spatial Limitations
- Potential learning curve due to the plethora of advanced features.
- Reliant on stable internet connectivity given the web-based nature of several functionalities.
Spatial Pricing
Embrace the future free of charge – Spatial offers complimentary access for up to 30 participants.
Spatial Use Cases
Use case 1: Collaborative Gaming
With Spatial, immerse yourself in engaging gaming landscapes and collaborate in real-time with companions for a matchless interactive experience.
Use case 2: Virtual Brand Experiences
Fashion houses and lifestyle brands can create personalized, interactive brand spaces, offering customers a virtual shopping experience akin to walking into their physical boutique.
Use case 3: Remote Work Collaboration
Enter a new realm of remote collaboration with Spatial. Meeting notes, brainstorming sessions, or design collaborations – all can evoke the intimacy and effectiveness of physical presence.
