Universe-Hopping for Avatars?
October 10, 2007 | by Geoff Duncan
IBM and Linden Labs plan to develop technology which would let users take their avatars from one virtual world to another - complete with commerce information, of course!
Coinciding with the Virtual Worlds Conference and Expo opening today in San Jose, IBM and Linden Labs—the folks who run the popular virtual world Second Life—have announced they intend to develop standards and technologies which will enable world users to move seamlessly between virtual worlds, taking their precious avatars—and, of course, all their virtual commerce capabilities—with them as they go.
"As the 3D Internet becomes more integrated with the current Web, we see users demanding more from these environments and desiring virtual worlds that are fit for business," said IBM's VP of digital convergence Colin Parris, in a statement. "IBM and Linden Lab's working together can help accelerate the use and further development of common standards and tools that will contribute to this new environment."
The virtual world business is seen as being ripe for growth: omitting Disney's acquisition of Club Penguin and Intel's purchase of 3D and physics developer Havok, the industry pulled in about $200 million in investment capital in the last year. (If you include those two major acquisitions, the figure tops $1 billion.) Businesses are increasingly looking to virtual worlds as a way to foster community and customer loyalty, encourage ecommerce transactions both for real goods and in-world "virtual" goods, and enable new forms of user and customer interaction.
Specifically, IBM and Linden Lab plan to work together to create standards for "universal" avatars which can move between different virtual worlds, including not only details of appearance (clothes, hair, features, etc.) but confirmation of digital assets, identity, and other commerce-related attributes. IBM and Linden Labs see a universal avatar as an important step toward creating an interoperable 3D Internet.
The companies also plan to collaborate on secure asset exchange between virtual worlds (so assets, media, and other items can be exchanged between worlds), platform stability, integration with existing online commerce systems, and open standards interoperability.
Of course, if you were to take your tattoo-touting, machine-gun-toting, leather-clad, sword-slinging, half-robot super-biker avatar into (say) a Hello Kitty virtual world…we're sure Linden Labs and IBM won't assume responsibility for what might ensue.
Post Your Comment...Comments
Mitsuyasi Tiger on Oct 12th, 2007 at 6:38 AM:
How lame :p it's just another grab at personal information - the biggest part of joining an online world/communite is building your "Av" and establishing your personality
those who complain about the time it takes to make an avatar are in the wrong place - it's a world to learn and explore - not a game to "get to and beat" - it's about attitude, not play-a-bility ! NyaNya ~ Mitsu
HolliVals Allen on Oct 14th, 2007 at 7:27 AM:
Very very interesting :)
For me as a virtual (Second Life) and Real Life musician, this brings up all kinds of opportunities. Perhaps some clan in World Of Warcraft might want hire me to play at one of their parties (I don't know WoW at all btw :), or I could place album vendors all over the possible virtual worlds, with no record company taking 85% of all the income and then maybe pay me one day.
iKE Bode on Oct 15th, 2007 at 8:20 AM:
This is a wonderful idea. And will help Second life be the capital of all virtual worlds. A smart move that will help everyone widen the horizons and reach for personal and business needs.
I wish them the best on this
Archer Braun on Oct 26th, 2007 at 8:50 AM:
It's too bad that SL is such a crushingly bad place to "play". It's incredibly laggy, completely unreliable, and customer support is almost completely lacking.
On one hand, I'd LOVE to see more open and accessible virtual worlds...but on the other hand, if they're like Second Life...who cares?
Cellandra Zon on Oct 28th, 2007 at 9:45 AM:
What an incredible idea!!!!
I LOVE my avatar in Second Life and if i played in other worlds I would love to take it with me.
That being said, I don't know how much I would use it,as I play in Second Life exclusively (when I have time.)
RL takes a real bite out of my playing time and I never seem to have enough time to work and play in Second Life much less other worlds.
I believe this is true of all my friends too.
So, I say, that while it's a great idea and a good route for future development...I think Linden labs needs to concentrate on finessing the world they already have and finding a way to reduce lag....sighh.
I've wasted more time walking through the equivalent of glue or going on a walk about into the air...sighhhh only to pop back to where I was standing a few minutes later....
Here's hoping I won't have that problem much longer.
Thanks for your time...
Cellandra Zon
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Moss on Oct 11th, 2007 at 6:21 PM:
I won't hold my breath for this, since I can't even seem to teleport up the street from LapGirl Underwear Shop to Gay World 'Camp For Linden' Beach without crashing the entire program of Second Life. Good luck though! Suggestion? Let AT&T manage the inventory systems please....