Virtual Worlds to go Mobile?
January 25th, 2010
If we look at mobile devices as the future of the Internet- should virtual worlds migrate this way as well? While we have a hard enough time getting virtual worlds to play nice in a browser is mobile playability of virtual worlds a viable goal? Obviously the biggest hurdle here is the memory-hogging graphics that are directly related to the challenges of running virtual worlds in a browser. Thus most virtual worlds have a hefty size download of a specific application and then more time to load the virtual world itself with chunky graphics and the like. For the most part PC-oriented virtual worlds are widely accepted by users, with Second Life being the more publicized virtual world.
iPhones and iPhone wannabes are hot! With just about every application imaginable available for download. While I will admit I used to be a Blackberry addict when they were first introduced I have since become an anti-cell phone kind of gal (yes, it really is possible). Sure they are nice to have for convenience but I have found them as not being a necessary fixture in my broadband-enabled daily routine. But that’s just me.
Mobile social gaming is getting lots of visiblity these days. Some deployment considerations are UI (user interface) and overall user experience, dedicated application or browser (although browser based virtual worlds are not fully baked just yet). A few virtual worlds have attempted to go mobile, however for the most part these worlds offer low fidelity graphics (big surprise!) and are more of a social type of game than an actual serious virtual world application. Last year Sulake launched the Bobba Bar mobile virtual world while the app. was primarily built for the iPhone it offers the user a chance to interact and receive free ‘virtual’ drinks. Perhaps the bigger lure here of mobile virtual worlds is offering the anytime, anyplace availability…we are mobile society, at least most of you are!
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