There Inc. Stops Consumer 'Virtual World' Updates

Thanks to Terra Nova for its story discussing a major refocusing at PC 'virtual world' company There Inc., as an official statement mirrored on ThereUniverse.com explains the company is "changing its strategic direction to focus on our technology platform", and "we will no longer be making regular updates to the [There 'virtual world' consumer] software, and we will not be fixing bugs", some claim due to plateauing interest in the game. Terra Nova points out: "Presumably There will be continuing their work with organizations like the US Army. Though they make it clear that this isn't a shut-down of the consumer world, it can't be good news for the development of virtual worlds beyond the typical D&D-inspired MMOGs", a category which also includes PC 'virtual world' title Second Life.

Comments

Second post!

[DourSalmon]

w00t! oh wait, crap. This sucks about There. (dissect that, grammar teachers!) While I hadn't played it myself, I was struck by how great an idea it was. I like the whole socializing aspect of MMOGs, the annoying thing to me is the whole "timesink" mentality. It was nice to see something that was not dedicated to leveling up, but rather more of a social environment. R.I.P. There, 2004. You will be missed.