Because the metaverse is a stupid idea. Reminds me of that 3d web browser protocol that came out in the 90s. where you had to naviagte 3d paths to go to the next link, like walking to street signs.
The metaverse already exists, imo. It just isn’t called that and doesn’t belong to zuck. It’s all the multi-user VR experiences that exist today.
Indeed, that is what is so baffling for me. It is called, marketed and perceived as something very different. It is Second Life, World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy XIV and others. You have a certain core in which the audience is interested in and then social constructs form around them. These modern Metaverse things try to skip the entire core part, but then it just becomes a chat app.
I think there’s also a problem of trying to make the online space “for everyone”. These virtual worlds have existed for decades now, even back in the 90s with stuff like Worlds. Gaia Online had player homes and a town square type chat space back in the mid 2000s and definitely wasn’t the only one. Apparently Garrys Mod had a similar space with GM Tower in the late 2000s. Every MMORPG has had this to some extent.
You can argue that the tech wasn’t and still isn’t there yet for non-stylized online spaces, but at the end of the day, people who want these spaces will use the ones that already exist. There’s not some huge barrier to entry that Meta (or any of the modern chat focused ones) are somehow eliminating, and hard focusing on VR creates even more of a barrier to adoption.
I don’t think there’s many people out there going “oh, if only it was more like this” or “if the graphics were better then I’d use it”. That’s not how digital social settings seem to work. In the real world looks can matter for purposes of safety. Online, as long as you’re comfortable at your computer or in your house you’re set.
The only thing that seems to matter is the core draw (as you said), and the communication methods offered (text chat of different forms, voice chat, 2d or 3d graphical ability to “emote”).
Multiverse already exists, it’s called VRchat
I mean the Mii like characters where Meta thinks we will enjoy that for office meetings
I remember that shit, it was kind of neat but functionally pretty stupid.
What’s the protocol called?
I think it was VRML.
https://markpescecodex.com/2019/02/03/twenty-five-years-ago-today-vrml/
Somebody still runs a demo site setup for it, I’m trying to find a link.
What blows my mind is that they completely squandered the opportunity that COVID provided for VR education. They could have, and imo should have, given away their hardware to every school/student and then created immersive education software that they could charge the schools for. Imagine learning Magic School Bus style… Chemistry and biology from the point of view of a molecule, travel the universe, be present at major historical events, or just take a walk around ancient Rome to see how they lived. They could have gotten a whole generation hooked on their system… Kinda like Apple did in the 90s. If they want the “metaverse” to work, they need to build an infrastructure that allows users to build their own stuff. Like just make a “city” but allow users to fill it with their own buildings, bars, houses, virtual work places, etc
I think the problem is their software sucks, so it wouldn’t be useful for any real usage. Even now.
True… But you’d think for $45b they could have developed some good software
It’s complicated. Many good devs find them immoral, some just waste time there getting overpaid, I’ve heard management is just yes men. Having money doesn’t always mean good products; it’s well known most innovation in these large companies is through acquisitions.
The Metaverse was always a distraction from its involvement in Cambridge Analytica, and the questions raised around privacy and election interference/influence. It was never going to be a thing, and anyone that didn’t have their head up their arse could’ve told you that.
Zuck isn’t an idiot, but he knew many others were.
Zuck isn’t an idiot
Nah, he definitely is.
He’s just lucky & well connected.
I’m just frustrated that the whole Cambridge Analytica thing didn’t end up having any real consequences for anyone involved. Not surprised, but definitely frustrated.
Good!
It is. It’s just sad when you think about what other things vould’ve been accomplished with 1billion dollars a month for 2 years straight. It’s america so probably more wars, but still.
On top of making sure everyone is housed, healthy, and fed, nuclear fusion energy instead of nuclear fission would be really, really nice.
Jesus wept!
That sucks, but got my kids some cheap quest 2 sets and they’re loving them. I even use them from time to time, and can’t beat that price.
I’m fine with meta losing billions for my kids to have a decent experience.
What do they do with them?
Games with their friends.
VR is fun as entertainment (games)
Nice!
It’s the little things that make your day.They lost how much?! How the hell are they losing 1 billion a month and not filling for bankruptcy?!
You really should look up how much Meta makes per quarter. They’re doing the equivalent of setting aside a budget for hobbies.
Not enough
Good.
Meta drove me out of vr. Still quite bitter about it.
The thing that kept me attached to VR was Echo. Guess what they did to one of my literal favorite games
But…what is it doing?
