 |
Game Title: Metaplace |
Genre: Community Graphics: 3D Status: Open
Beta Theme: Entertainment |
Period: Fantasy Time Units: Realtime Fee:
Optional premium accounts Developer: Metaplace,
Inc. |
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review |
Official Site: Click here |
This Review is
reproduced form
Jay is Games, which was written by JohnB.
Metaplace ReviewBy
JohnB
Metaplace is a browser-based community of user-created virtual
worlds that also serves as an online games platform. Metaplace gives you the
tools you need to create just about anything your twisted head can conjure —
from casual social lounges to games both basic and complex — all with an
extremely flexible set of building tools. If you can surf the web, you can use
Metaplace, and this level of powerful simplicity makes it one of the most
attractive virtual world communities around.

Click here for full image
I've never been one for
virtual worlds, massively multiplayer titles, or most games that emphasize
content creation over actual gameplay. During my first tour of Metaplace,
however, I was floored by how easy the creation process was and impressed by
many of the worlds people had already designed. And none of them were
programmers, just Metaplace folk with an artistic eye. I sat down, learned the
building tools and began crafting. It was more fun than I initially thought, and
I was especially fond of the old-style isometric layout. At the helm of
Metaplace (and lending some serious cred to the project) is Raph Koster, lead
designer of Ultima Online, creative director behind Star Wars Galaxies, and
author of A Theory of Fun for Game Design.
Part of what makes Metaplace
so attractive is its simplicity, both in terms of building/creating worlds as
well as exploring them. The learning curve is small, and within half an hour
you'll feel at home in build mode. The toolbar at the bottom of the screen gives
you access to more information about the world you're in and lets you browse
more areas as well. Add friends, favorite cool worlds, or "meep" other users
just to poke them and let them know you know they're around.

Click here for full image
Because Metaplace tries
to be a true... erm... meta... place, allowing users to pull content from any
source, some things end up being a bit quirky in practice. I can't even begin to
tell you how long I spent messing with a custom-built couch, trying to get
Metaplace to recognize which direction it was facing so sitting users weren't
facing the wrong direction. Also be prepared to invent creative workarounds,
especially for content imported from Google 3D. Metaplace does a good job
handling such a wide variety of content, but as the service ages and prepares to
leave beta, I would like to see this improved, along with a more reliable
interface.
Now for some practical information: cost. Metaplace is free to
join, free to explore, and free to play. When you sign up you get your very own
world to play with, also for free. If you want to create new worlds, however,
you'll need to purchase them. At the time of publication the pricing structure
was still being finalized, but casual Metaplace visitors/builders need not worry
about forking over any cash. Just join it and have some fun.

Click here for full image
Interested in giving
Metaplace a try? We've spent a few weeks working on our very own lounge, a place
where everyone can come in, sit on the swings, gawk at the fenced-in writers,
watch the Kraken swim, and explore some of our favorite casual gaming content.
It's a great introduction to Metaplace and will show you some of the things
people have done with the platform. After creating your account, simply head
over to the JIG CasualGameplay Lounge and say hi!
This Review omitted a
number of paragraphs, you can read the full version -
Metaplace Review or check our
Metaplace Feature to find
more information.