Search for a command to run...
Let's try to break through the misconception.
I'm currently learning JavaScript Full-Stack development, on my journey to becoming a Web2 & Web3 developer.
I also wrote a research paper on the applications of immersive audio in new technologies related to virtual worlds, such as the metaverse (in French -> https://memoire.polarzero.xyz)
No comments yet. Be the first to comment.
This article was first written in French, for my research paper. I wanted to translate it to English, so it would be more accessible, especially to the people around me. I hope it will be pleasant enough to read.
The word "metaverse" comes with so many misconceptions, that we no longer know what it means. Major brands use it for marketing purposes, creators automatically associate a NFT collection to a potential future metaverse.
The word metaverse appeared for the first time in the novel Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson in 1992, to pick up a concept that had already existed in sci-fi for a few decades. Video games appeared quickly, doing pioneering work in the creation of a metaverse, as early as 1985, with Habitat, which represents one of the first large-scale multiplayer video games. Other publishers have contributed to the evolution of this technology, but the most important is probably Second Life. This virtual world, available for free since 2003, allows users to embody an avatar and design the world around them (infrastructure, clothes, objects, animations, sounds...). They can also acquire plots in the game and use the virtual currency made available by the company that created it (Linden Labs). In the general idea, a metaverse allows users to work, interact, exchange, travel and access educational content in a three-dimensional space, possibly via a virtual or augmented reality interface. This space requires the use of cryptocurrencies and blockchains, to testify to the authenticity and ownership of the objects within it, and to protect exchanges between users. By definition, there should be one global metaverse and not several. In reality and with the decentralized direction we are taking, there will necessarily be several metaverses. The most important thing is that these metaverses should be interoperable and interconnected.
Given the link that has formed between Web3 and the metaverse (or metaverses ?), we can define the latter as a decentralized platform built on a blockchain, which incorporates virtual objects and properties, and in which users embody a virtual identity, usually through an avatar 1. A metaverse is often defined as a three-dimensional space. However, some have proven their ability to go beyond this definition, which should no longer be so restrictive. It will therefore be necessary to admit the possible qualification of a 2D space as a metaverse 2, even if the vast majority of these environments are in 3D.
The categorization of a space as a metaverse is frequently made publicly and implies in most cases a commercial aspect that cannot be neglected. Sometimes, it can come out of a shift from a more classical category, such as video games, during an event (e.g. the concert series in Fortnite two years ago) or permanently. This distinction must force us to redefine the notion of metaverse, especially since a large part of the spaces classified as such are not directly built on a blockchain. Rather, they interact with this protocol, which is radically different since these platforms are not entirely decentralized. This first definition, which is very restrictive, certainly ensures that an environment is a metaverse. However, it does not correspond to reality, in the minds of users and in the applications that we find.
In this case, it is necessary to borrow elements of definition from the concept of virtual world, which is very close to the definition of metaverse. In fact, it can be established that a metaverse is a virtual world. This last term is defined by the following:
“Virtual worlds are persistent online computer-generated environments where multiple users in remote physical locations can interact in real time for the purposes of work or play. Virtual worlds constitute a subset of virtual reality applications, a more general term that refers to computer-generated simulations of three-dimensional objects or environments with seemingly real, direct, or physical user interaction.” 3
Does it sound familiar?
This definition fits quite well to spaces that claim to be metaverses (The Sandbox, Decentraland, Roblox in some way, Cryptovoxels...). In addition, the characteristics established at the beginning (interaction with the blockchain, virtual identity and avatar) can ensure a safer classification. Recent applications of this concept systematically integrate NFTs and cryptocurrencies as a determining part of the environment. In reality, it is more cautious to identify a virtual space as a metaverse according to these criteria, but the classification is increasingly tolerant.
They do! And I would say they are in some ways.
Indeed, the distinction between video game and metaverse is always narrower, and some video games can be considered as metaverses, and vice versa. A video game is defined as "an electronic game with a user interface that involves interaction to generate visual feedback" allowing a user (or several) "to have an impact on the game and to perceive the consequences of their actions on a virtual environment" 4. This definition presents characteristics that can be found in most metaverses. Conversely, some video games, especially MMORPGs, have the same characteristics as the virtual worlds we defined earlier. They require a considerable involvement from the players, encourage interaction within communities, facilitate the incorporation between the player and their avatar or virtual identity, have a vast and persistent environment that evolves according to the players' actions... Actually, these video games can be considered as metaverses. Most of them would be, for many users, their first experience of a social network on a global scale: in some spaces, players discuss and exchange constantly, but also within guilds, channels dedicated to trade, to battle... Such an extension of reality allows Internet users to meet again virtually, in a persistent universe, with particular rules, mixing various communities while bypassing geographic boundaries.
Correct! Such spaces result in deeply invested users, embodied by avatars and a virtual identity, which is increasingly complex and consistent. Indeed, the young people of Gen Z (late 1990s - 2000s) spend increasingly more time in virtual worlds and connect even more to their virtual identity. Around half of this population feels a greater freedom in video games and considers this virtual identity as a real expression of their personality 5. Several factors can explain this particular link, notably a great receptivity to microtransaction systems: avatar and cosmetics purchases on video games, mobile games, recurring streaming subscriptions... This link is reinforced and permanently renewed, as major brands that are established "in" the metaverse 6 (e.g. Nike or Adidas), are particularly popular to this generation.
Not exactly, I would say. A distinction must be made, since these spaces, which represent a new field of communication for brands, may indeed suggest that the metaverse already exists. It would match the way these new generations interact, think, act, and spend their money, in video games, and other virtual events. As a matter of fact, if we consider the metaverse as a world, or a set of interoperable and persistent virtual worlds, which should give rise to new interactions, experiences, and economic flows, these current spaces would rather be various micro-metaverses 7. These do indeed take the form of private virtual worlds, as with Fortnite, but gaming is not the only branch of the metaverse, although it is currently the most attractive. Above all, it represents an excellent way to study the evolution of the metaverse, since it is obviously the most evolved part of it.
Well, I believe it will be necessary to accept popular conceptions of the metaverse in its definition. Inevitably, its configuration is intimately linked to the way the public perceives it. The confusion between virtual world, video game and metaverse is less and less inaccurate, and some extremely popular groups, probably among the closest to delivering a global, accessible, persistent, but also approved metaverse, are rightly taking the MMORPG model for their conception 8. The Sandbox, most likely one of the most popular and successful metaverses so far, is produced by a subsidiary of Animoca Brands, whose core business is originally video games. This is the same company that invested in the metaverse mentioned in the previous note, Otherside, alongside the giant Andreessen Horowitz, whose huge influence can only prompt creators to exploit video game standards to produce a successful virtual world.
Therefore, it's not surprising that metaverses look a lot like video games. I'm confident that it will continue to be the case, and that the line between the two will totally fade away. The exception would be that metaverses will most likely have much more influence on reality, that this fact will be acknowledged, and that they will be intimately linked to every new technologies of "Web3".
I hope so. If this environment, tightly related to NFTs, is for now mainly intended for a wealthy public, it will certainly take less exclusive and more accessible forms in a near future. Moreover, the connection between user and virtual world has been widely reinforced during the pandemic between 2020 and 2022; the success of virtual events (concerts or festivals) in such spaces made it obvious. Some plots of land in main metaverses host live conference broadcasts, and other daily events that are gradually going virtual, partially or entirely. Also, it should be mentioned that a metaverse does not necessarily have as much of a commercial purpose as the most popular ones have. Even though, this aspect is almost systematically the most prominent, mainly because of the chase for "utility". A virtual environment, which has the characteristics of a metaverse, but "simply" offers a sensitive, sensory, and/or social experience, could be accepted in the definition. We can imagine, for example, an exhibition place integrating an immersive visual and sound system, without its access being so restrictive!
In any case, I am optimistic about this evolution. I think the definition is not as crucial as to build this environment together and to stay aware of what is real and what is around us, especially what/who we care about.
And above all, not to repeat the same mistakes with Web3 that we have made in the last decades.
Thank you so much for reading! I hope to have clarified this question, even a little.
Please tell me if this is the case, or if you have any suggestion, question, or if I made any mistake. You can always get in touch with me, I'd be glad to talk about this!
Hao, C., Gu, E., & Jiang, Y. (2018). Metaverse, White Paper, Gravity version (v3.0). ↩
Dionisio, J. D. N., Burns III, W. G., & Gilbert, R. (2013). 3D Virtual Worlds and the Metaverse: Current Status and Future Possibilities, ACM Computing Surveys 45, 3, Article 34. ↩
Adams, P. (2022, April 19). What Gen Z wants to see from brands as metaverse attachments grow, Marketing Dive. ↩
Nike has acquired a plot in the Roblox game, called "Nikeland," a kind of virtual store-and-show, which allows users to try on products virtually, and play games with the community. This space attracted about 7 million users between November 2021 and March 2022. Sutcliffe, C. (2022, March 22). Nearly 7 million people have visited Nike's metaverse store. The Drum. Since the end of 2021, Adidas has been building relationships with leading brands in the NFT scene (e.g., by purchasing a BAYC, whose value exceeded 100 ETH at the end of January 2022, which at that time corresponded to approximately $260,000). The brand is gradually strengthening its presence in the metaverse with virtual collections, avatars, and offers to "enter the metaverse." Adidas. Section "metaverse". These brands are far from being the only ones, most of them manage to link part of their market to the metaverse, or even thoroughly change their communication on social networks to integrate into it (Puma, Dolce & Gabana, Prada, Gucci, Louis Vuitton...; Hello Kitty, which has a space in the Roblox editor, and which counts 47.6 million visits in a little less than a month, between April 4 and May 9, 2022.) Heng, E. (2022, Feb. 17). A rundown of the fashion brands that have joined the metaverse. Vogue. ↩
Ffiske, T. (2022, April 20). The Immersive Wire, VR/AR and metaverse analysis every Wednesday and Sunday, Newsletter.
”The common conception of the metaverse is long into the future, where interoperable worlds can connect together and will open new doors when it comes to economics, social interactions, and experiences. At most, we have various micro-metaverses where people play in private worlds (such as Fortnite); but it's a stretch to say we are already in the metaverse.” ; “While gaming will certainly be part of the metaverse, it further confused the data to the gaming side, when it will be so much bigger.” ↩
Among all the companies that claim to build a metaverse, Yuga Labs, which has some of the most popular NFT collections (BAYC, CryptoPunks, Meebits), launched a collection of terrains usable in their future metaverse (Otherside) in April 2022. They raised on this collection almost $600 million in 24 hours, in addition to the support of a large Venture Capitalist, Andreessen Horowitz, which led a campaign that brought them $450 million in March 2022. The creators explain, about their platform, that it will be :
"[...] a gamified, interoperable metaverse [...] The game blends mechanics from massively multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPGs) and web3-enabled virtual worlds. Think of it as a metaRPG where the players own the world, your NFTs can become playable characters, and thousands can play together in real time.” ↩
