The Japanese company Transcosmos send out a press release that they start to provide avatar based shopkeepers and sales people, information technology services and Sim surveillance services in Second Life. They say the difference between ghost towns like the Reebok and Sony sims and good running ones like the L-word sim is people. Transcosmos shall provide these people at the same rates they charge for First Life.

Earlier on Transcosmos - an IT and marketing services company - also joined forces with From Software - a software and game development company - and Sankei Shimbun - the company behind Japan’s 6th largest newspaper - in Co-Core Inc which plans to release ‘Meet-Me’, a 3D simulation of Tokyo City still within 2007.

Running on the Vista operating system and synchronizing the service on a mobile platform is planned for 2007. In the future they hope to expand outside of the Tokyo area and to highlight other metropolitan areas into to the metaverse. At the moment, the system platform is Japanse only but they aim to attrackt foreign users or ‘tourism’ by developing the menu’s also in English, Chinese and Korean. This makes sence as the idea of being able to stroll through a ‘live’ Tokyo without having to pay an expensive flight certainly appeals to me.

For the business side of things they are going to run advertisements from various outlets, starting with key landmark developers, content holders, media loutlets and IT-services. Co-Core has also partnered with Pierrott and Production I.G. (Ghost in the Shell, Blood: the Last Vampire and the animation of Kill Bill I) to have licensed animation characters to appear within their metaverse. For all those who have always wanted to meet the Puppet Master, this is your chance! ;)

The three features that Co-Core’s metaverse ‘Meet-Me’ will offer:

1. Using maps found in GPS car navigation systems to recreate a digitalized Tokyo: in recreating a real life Tokyo, the system being utilized incorporates the digital mapping data used in GPS car navigation systems. The metaverse accurately depicts key landmarks that define the city. Further, the metaverse synchronizes with real life in depicting the seasons, weather and land value, to give a real life feeling for the users. Our goals is to have the real world overlap the experiences of the users in the ‘Meet-Me’ application.
2. Offers ‘common sense’ without taking away from the depiction of the real world: we aim to create an atmosphere free of derogatory and adult content so that a wide range of users can enjoy the system, including woman and children.
3. The system offers a comprehensive and user-friendly design for a pleasurable experience: the users-friendly design enables, even beginners to the metaverse, and the full experience of the virtual world. The ‘Meet-Me’ application at the users’ fingertips, it offers a pleasant and comforting feeling. Further, with the simple operation of the programming tools installed, it supports users of every level.

Although - being a woman - I’m a bit insulted by the ‘wide range of users including woman and children’ my only other thought is: ‘Hell, when will you do Brussels? (And please leave our RLD in!)’ ;)

*hugs Nock Forager*

Tags: japan, meet me, metaverse

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