There or thereabouts ... Metaplace launched

Critics of Second Life and other 3-D virtual worlds found online should prick their ears up at this one... A new pc based (and simple to set up) 3-D virtual world generator is available, thanks to MMORPG Ultima Online creator Raph Koster. Announced on the BBC online news service today, the software, called Metaplace, apparently works from mobile phones too. Users can make virtual worlds in seconds using simple 'building blocks' very similar to SL prims, and without having to know a thing about scripting or programming. Sound like a dream? Maybe, and if they can keep it simple, it may be a winner.

One of the main criticisms of Second Life is that it takes so damn long to set up a 3-D environment, and for many moving around is a little like learning to walk all over. Another criticism is that SL is a bit like a 'ghost town' with more than 8 million subscribers worldwide, but very few actually in evidence in world. Whatever has been said already, it looks like Linden Labs (and There.com) have a serious rival. Anyone with experience of Metaplace - let us know how you have got on. Oh, and thanks to Helen Keegan who drew my attention to it this evening...