There (virtual world)
There.com | |
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There.com Logo | |
Developer(s) | Makena Technologies |
Publisher(s) | Makena Technologies |
Platform(s) | Windows 98 Windows ME |
Release | 2003 |
Genre(s) | Multiplayer |
Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
There is a 3-D online virtual world created by Will Harvey and Jeffrey Ventrella. There Inc. was founded in the spring of 1998. Closed beta began in July of 2001, with various stages of beta following and ending with an October 2003 launch date. In June of 2004, There Inc. went through a major restructuring and announced major layoffs. In April of 2005, There Inc. announced that the commercial side of the company would be branching out to form two companies Forterra Systems (the government contracted client), and Makena Technologies (the commercial client). In 2007, Makena Technologies announced a partnership with MTV Networks to create another client for the MTV reality show [1] Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County. There contains 12 major islands and numerous smaller islands, 500,000 members and many community places including businesses. There is another competitor against Second Life, Moove, Active Worlds, and more virtual worlds that exist on the web.
Membership Types
Basic Membership:
- Free
- Text chat, IM, and Buddy List features
- Customizable avatar
- Ability to shop in auctions and the There catalog
- Listen to streamed radio
- The ability to join 20 groups
Premium Membership:
- One time $9.95 fee
- All the features of basic membership
- Voice chat
- Explorer Pack
- List items in the auctions
- Ability to join 30 more groups and create own, host events, post in the forums and own your own neighborhood
In-World Money:
- With either membership, users can purchase Therebucks (Tbuxs), the currency used in There, for the price of 1800 Therebucks for each US dollar.
Details
There is not a game, but a venue for socializing with less role-playing than is typically found in MMORPGs. Billed on its homepage as "...an online getaway where you can hang out with your friends and meet new ones...", There defines itself as a service providing a shared experience that allows people to interact in an online society.
Each new member enters the community by choosing a unique name and a male or female avatar. The avatar's name and gender are permanently set, but various attributes such as hair color and style, head and body shapes, skin and eye color, clothing, etc. can be changed as desired.
Most items such as furniture are designed to be used within houses or zones, although some items such as vehicles and dogs are not due to their mobile nature. Monetary transactions in There's economy are done using Therebucks, virtual currency with real world value. Therebucks can be purchased directly from There, from other members, or from any of the third party online "banks" which usually offer competitive exchange rates. Members can also sell their Therebucks to banks in exchange for real world currency, usually USD.
Screenshots
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Activities include hoverboarding, with the ability to perform stunts such as dropping down from space
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A wide pan over a seaside thatched-roof village
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Members can join and create interest groups
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There contains many landmarks, including the There Games Colliseum
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There contains many landmarks, including a replica of New Orleans
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Aerial view of a member-owned land parcel
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Avatars can display over 100 emotes
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Avatars can perform a wide variety of dance moves
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Avatars can display a wide variety of pop-out emotes
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Zona Island, a place where new members first log in
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A member made vehicle. As an avatar users can paint and build a variety of items.
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The Old Waterin' Hole: a place where users can sit and chat while in a social club/bar-like environment.
External links
- Official sites
- There.com
- ThereCare - Official announcements and help site
- Press release on There's website: Makena Technologies Acquires There from Forterra Systems
- Official Forums
- Maps
- GoThere Maps - interactive maps, PAZs, Places, GPS
- Online There newspapers
- Life in There - news site
- The Voice of There - news site
- The Tiki Tattler - news site
- Other on-line worlds using the There engine
- There Philippines - Duplicate of There limited to Philippine users.
- Virtual Laguna Beach - contracted with MTV's show Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County
- Other
- Google Search on Makena Technologies
- Thumdar In There - There downloads and entertainment and designer link
- So There - forum
- All-There.com - links
- "Just Crazy Talk" Show - Talk Radio
- Hemp Beach on There.com Official Website
- There videos