A Virtual Tokyo within Second Life

Earlier on I already blogged about Co-Core’s plans for a virtual Tokyo that resembles the real Tokyo as much as possible (but PG). Now 1up.com reports on Tetsuya Mizuguchi - known from the game Rez - and the Japanse advertising firm Dentsu planning on creating a virtual Tokyo within Second Life. It’s not a suprise that both ventures are one of game designers and publishers/ advertising firms.

Opposed to Co-Core’s virtual Tokyo that will be ‘mapped’ on the real Tokyo, Mizuguchi’s Virtual Tokyo will not be an exact replica: ‘The Tokyo we are trying to create is based on the image of city. How do people in Tokyo perceive the city? How about foreigners? That’s what we want to express.‘

Ski Jump Pair International contest

Second Life’s virtual Tokyo will be opened with a Ski Jump Pair International contest where avatars of all nationalities will be able to compete on categories such as longest distance, landing, comedic performance, … by creating their own poses (animations?). I’ll go take a look if the there are dragon avatars participating in this contest! ;)

Battle of the Tokyo’s

I was already happy being able to visit Tokyo without needing flight tickets, now I might not even need to install another client, as Tetsuya Mizuguchi hopes to make Virtual Tokyo like a museum of Japanse pop culture.

So eventually, there will be three Tokyo’s. Co-Core’s Tokyo, Muzuguchi’s Virtual Tokyo and the real Tokyo. I’m curious which will be more popular. My 0.02L$ is that food will be better in the real Tokyo, Muzuguchi’s Tokyo shall give people a more freedom (that if, is Linden Labs does not drastically change policy) and Co-Core’s Tokyo shall be more limited, but thus also more secure and easy to use (but less clothing styles and avatars to choose from! ;)).

Tags: japan, second life

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