Twinity
| Twinity | |
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| Developer(s) | Metaversum GmbH |
| Publisher(s) | Metaversum GmbH |
| Distributor(s) | Metaversum GmbH |
| Engine | BigWorld Technology |
| Platform(s) | Windows 2000 |
| Release date(s) | September 5th, 2008 (Open Beta) |
| Genre(s) | Multiplayer Social |
| Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
| Media/distribution | Download |
Twinity is the first 3D online virtual world to build true-to-scale replicas of large cities from all over the world. Twinity is developed by Metaversum GmbH, a company based in Berlin, Germany. It offers its population, called Twinizens, to navigate around virtual (outdated) versions of real-world cities, also called a mirror world or a Metaverse. An open, public beta began in September 2008 with the release of Twinity's first virtual city Berlin which later was followed by Singapore, London, Miami and New York.[1] Twinity is built on BigWorld Technology
The company is rapidly moving away from a Mirror World allowing its users to develop fantasy locations like the Isle of Palmadora working with both indoor and outdoor environments. In this respect Twinity seems to be moving towards a Second Life-like world with more innovative features that they set up within the game, since much of user-created content is fictional and is not related to real addresses of shops and apartments.
As of 12th January, Twinity due to Map related issues has remove all cities .
Contents |
[edit] Community
[edit] Avatar customization
Twinity members represent themselves in the 3D virtual world where they can use their real names like on Facebook and even create an avatar that can be customized in different ways, including the usage of a special Photofit application. Photofit allows a user to upload a real photo, which it then adapts to the measurements of an avatar face, making it resemble a picture.[2] However creation of new alter-ego and role play are also quite popular among Twinity players.
[edit] Globals
The in-world currency used in Twinity are called "Globals" and the conversion rate is pegged to 90 Globals = 1 euro.[3] With the Globals, the Twinizens can buy clothes, furniture items, animations and pay for their own virtual apartment. Globals can be bought with credit card on the homepage, with PayPal or through Mopay. The users can also gain Globals by attending virtual contests and events, use SponsorPay or finish the Welcome Tour that they are offered upon registration.
[edit] Content
Many Twinizens are also content creators, developing and selling their own products in the world as well as creating their own machinima. Users also set up their own apartments, clubs, shops and lounges to share with others or to host various events in. From the fall of 2010, all new and devoted users are given starter apartments that they can furnish and decorate themselves. Users can create their own furniture or purchase premade items from the shops in Twinity. There is also a real estate agency on the Twinity homepage, where the Twinizens can localise an apartment of their choice. Twinity also offers a badge system, which allows avatars to earn special achievements. These are divided into several categories: Travel, Lifestyle, and Living, and include such activities as Avatar of the Week, Berlin Marathon, Fashinista, London Marathon, Home is My Castle, Hip-Hop Fashion Award, etc. [4].
[edit] Software
It is free to download Twinity client. After the download users are connected to a server through Twinity network. When the programme is opened, the application accesses information over the internet and connects the user to the 3D virtual world. Twinity uses Next Generation texturing technologies to deliver a graphically up-to-date visual experience that can be compared to the latest game releases in the industry. This includes such engine features as normal, specular and cube maps. Screen Space Ambient Occlusion and glow shader effects finish the final look in the post-rendering. Twinity also uses the 3D mapping data currently used for things like Satnav and Google Earth,[2] which makes the virtual buildings resemble their look in the real world.[2]
A major part of the content in Twinity is user-generated. Premium members can create 3D-objects, clothes, floor plans and animations which they upload through the Twinity client or export Collada files through 3D modelling tools such as Google Sketchup, Blender, Autodesk 3Ds Max or Autodesk Maya.
Twinity uses the 3D Game Engine from Big World, an Australian Games company for the 3D World, which was specially created for Metaversum.
[edit] See also
Second Life, Smeet, IMVU, Kaneva, Blue Mars and Active Worlds.
[edit] References
"Twinity What is it good for" http://www.metaversejournal.com/2008/06/30/twinity-–-what-is-it-good-for/
"Susan Writer Review" http://dusanwriter.com/index.php/2008/07/07/review-of-twinity-from-metaverse/
"Cracks in the Mirror" http://blog.koinup.com/2010/04/twinity-cracks-in-mirror.html
- ^ "Twinity Enters Public Beta". Virtual World News. 2008-09-08. http://www.virtualworldsnews.com/2008/09/twinity-enters.html. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
- ^ a b c Sutor, Bob (2010-02-07). "First impressions: Twinity virtual world". Sutor. http://www.sutor.com/c/2010/02/first-impressions-twinity/. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
- ^ "Twinity Pricelist". Twinity. 2010-04-30. http://www.twinity.com/en/pricelist. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
- ^ "A Tour of Palmadora and Some Impressions". The Twinity Monitor. 2010-11-17. http://thetwinitymonitor.blogspot.com/2010/04/tour-of-palmadora-and-some-impressions.html. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
[edit] External links
- Official sites
