DISQUS

Svetlana Gladkova · 1 year ago

I guess there's not much difference between virtual world and real world - in one place you can make money, in others you can't, absolutely logical. In fact, Second Life has recently reported very successful financial quarter with users spending more money in-world - probably because when they are left unemployed they have no better things to do than try and spend some time and money in the virtual reality hoping to earn something over there as we've all heard great success stories.

Anthony Ha · 1 year ago

That's interesting about Second Life. Will be interesting to see if that's sustainable.

Svetlana Gladkova · 1 year ago

Yes, I was also surprised about that. The thing is that they reported that their economy is growing pretty rapidly with a user spending less than a dollar per hour on average. My guess is that it is less expensive and more healthy than drinking a beer in a bar to escape of your problems. So could be pretty sustainable.

Anthony Ha · 1 year ago

Good point!

joecool79 · 1 year ago

From what I understand, Lively was another "me too" product who's only competitive advantages were attractive art style and the Google branding. Hardly enough to make a virtual world successful.

Anthony Ha · 1 year ago

Well, that and it wasn't even a full virtual world.

joecool79 · 1 year ago

True. True.

work at home dad · 11 months ago

which is why it didn't really took off. If Google will open source lively, then probably there would be a lot more following. Plus, more enhancements and features which will make it more attractive.

Mike_at_Wanna_Develop_COM · 1 year ago

It just didn't get the right press and never was promoted properly... Really lacked a lot of features in order to become a success, but damn, was surprised to see it killed off after such a short period.

Mike

Anthony Ha · 1 year ago

Yeah, as I note in the post, I expect we'll see Google experimenting a lot less with products outside of its core focus in the next year or so.

Livelyzens · 1 year ago

The Livelyzens (Lively users) are coming together to appeal to Google to keep Lively alive.

Lively is a great platform for interaction as well as creativity. It is easy to use, browser based, embeddable on webpages to bring a 3D experience right on your website. While Lively has been in beta and has limited capability in terms of the objects and avatars available, the Livelyzens have been able to come up with very creative ways to create art from what is available. All this in a "clean" 3D world thanks to Google's vigilance in getting rid of rooms with inappropriate content. More than anything, Lively has become a place to make friends for life – from all over the world with wonderful people.

Please visit our website livelyzens.com and participate in the Lively Machinima contest we are conducting to show the creative potential of Google Lively. Please also sign our online petition livelyzens.com/petition

We request netizens to support us in reviving a wonderful 3D world that is a kid friendly and a creative space for art and interaction amongst adults.

Chuck Baggett · 1 year ago

Google might should open source Lively.

Patrick Rafter · 1 year ago

While Google Lively failed, other online virtual worlds continue to gain in popularity.
A fun new one worth checking out is Hangout.net-- which lets teens build their own online rooms, meet and interact with friends there, fill the rooms with virtual versions of online brands/products. Sponsorships from the brands will pay for these free rooms.
When Hangout launched at TechCrunch50 in September--- some of the critics on stage called it "product placement done right".
The 3D virtual rooms are very realistic-- CTO came from MIT. www.hangout.net