Metaplace
Encyclopedia
Metaplace was a software platform intended to democratize the development of virtual world
s. The platform is developed by Areae
(now officially changed to Metaplace Inc.), the company established by Ultima Online
and Star Wars Galaxies
designer Raph Koster
. According to the official website, the platform is "client-agnostic", which means that virtual worlds developed on Metaplace can be accessed using any device that connects to the Web.
. As Metaplace is browser based, worlds made with Metaplace can connect to each other through hyperlinks. Every object in Metaplace has a unique URL. This character of Metaplace allows advanced users to use these URLs in setting up and reading RSS feeds, set up ad services within worlds, and access and show content from the web within their worlds.
According to founder Raph Koster
, Metaplace seeks to "make online world elements... part of the standard code which drives the web"
Metaplace uses a Lua variant called Metascript. Metaplace users can use Metascript to add functionality to any object in their world. These functionalities can be included in Animals and pets, doors, enemies with the ability to fight and attack, puzzles and games, artsy effects, vehicles.
On its release, the official client is slated to use the Adobe Flash
plugin. Because the official client will use Flash, it will "not allow users to build 3-D worlds," but will initially deliver 2D or "2.5D" virtual spaces. However, Areae
have stated that they will actively encourage the development of third-party clients, which will allow 3d functionality.
The system is designed to use a "Thin client", where all the processing that can be done on the server, is, reflecting Raph Koster's philosophy that "The client is in the hands of the enemy."
A demonstration video is available on YouTube
.
Metaplace closed on 1 January 2010. However Metaplace, Inc. will remain.
In the wake of this, the platform Bit Whirl has declared that it intends to pick up where Metaplace left off.
In January 2010, the company pivoted towards using its virtual worlds platform to build social games on Facebook
. It released two successful games on facebook using its platform, Island Life and My Vineyard after which the company was acquired by Playdom
.
Virtual world
A virtual world is an online community that takes the form of a computer-based simulated environment through which users can interact with one another and use and create objects. The term has become largely synonymous with interactive 3D virtual environments, where the users take the form of...
s. The platform is developed by Areae
Areae
Areae is an American computer technology corporation located in San Diego, California, that was established in July 2006 by Raph Koster. Areae has been officially changed to Metaplace, Inc. to avoid confusion...
(now officially changed to Metaplace Inc.), the company established by Ultima Online
Ultima Online
Ultima Online is a graphical massively multiplayer online role-playing game , released on September 24, 1997, by Origin Systems. It was instrumental to the development of the genre, and is still running today...
and Star Wars Galaxies
Star Wars Galaxies
Star Wars Galaxies is a Star Wars themed MMORPG for Microsoft Windows developed by Sony Online Entertainment and published by LucasArts.-History:...
designer Raph Koster
Raph Koster
Raphael "Raph" Koster is an American entrepreneur, game designer, and author of A Theory of Fun for Game Design. Koster is widely recognized for his work as the lead designer of Ultima Online and the creative director behind Star Wars Galaxies...
. According to the official website, the platform is "client-agnostic", which means that virtual worlds developed on Metaplace can be accessed using any device that connects to the Web.
Product Summary
Metaplace provides user-generated virtual worldsVirtual world
A virtual world is an online community that takes the form of a computer-based simulated environment through which users can interact with one another and use and create objects. The term has become largely synonymous with interactive 3D virtual environments, where the users take the form of...
. As Metaplace is browser based, worlds made with Metaplace can connect to each other through hyperlinks. Every object in Metaplace has a unique URL. This character of Metaplace allows advanced users to use these URLs in setting up and reading RSS feeds, set up ad services within worlds, and access and show content from the web within their worlds.
According to founder Raph Koster
Raph Koster
Raphael "Raph" Koster is an American entrepreneur, game designer, and author of A Theory of Fun for Game Design. Koster is widely recognized for his work as the lead designer of Ultima Online and the creative director behind Star Wars Galaxies...
, Metaplace seeks to "make online world elements... part of the standard code which drives the web"
Metaplace uses a Lua variant called Metascript. Metaplace users can use Metascript to add functionality to any object in their world. These functionalities can be included in Animals and pets, doors, enemies with the ability to fight and attack, puzzles and games, artsy effects, vehicles.
On its release, the official client is slated to use the Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast...
plugin. Because the official client will use Flash, it will "not allow users to build 3-D worlds," but will initially deliver 2D or "2.5D" virtual spaces. However, Areae
Areae
Areae is an American computer technology corporation located in San Diego, California, that was established in July 2006 by Raph Koster. Areae has been officially changed to Metaplace, Inc. to avoid confusion...
have stated that they will actively encourage the development of third-party clients, which will allow 3d functionality.
The system is designed to use a "Thin client", where all the processing that can be done on the server, is, reflecting Raph Koster's philosophy that "The client is in the hands of the enemy."
A demonstration video is available on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
.
Metaplace closed on 1 January 2010. However Metaplace, Inc. will remain.
In the wake of this, the platform Bit Whirl has declared that it intends to pick up where Metaplace left off.
In January 2010, the company pivoted towards using its virtual worlds platform to build social games on Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
. It released two successful games on facebook using its platform, Island Life and My Vineyard after which the company was acquired by Playdom
Playdom
Playdom is an online social network game developer popular on Facebook and on MySpace; it is currently the largest social game developer on MySpace and one of the larger ones on Facebook. The company was founded in the San Francisco Bay Area by University of California, Berkeley graduates Ling Xiao...
.
External links
- Metaplace (official website)
- Areae's Raph Koster Talks Metaplace (extensive interview)