Introduction
The recent hype surrounding the metaverse has introduced a unique vision of future innovation, where virtual and augmented reality technologies seek to establish a new concept of digital reality. However, due to its novelty, the meaning of the metaverse remains unclear, making it reasonable to explore the phenomenon from various perspectives. This article aims to provide the essentials for understanding the metaverse, its distinction from VR games, and the process of building this technology.
Metaverse: Exploring the Basics
Neal Stephenson was the first visionary and author of the metaverse idea who introduced this concept approximately three decades ago in his novel Snow Crash. The initial vision of the metaverse corresponds to the current endeavors to create a new alternative reality by exploiting Internet connectivity in addition to VR and AR technologies. Thus, the metaverse strives to create an extended universe by using digital environments with avatars, while this reality allows users to create and exchange digital goods through its unique economy.
VR Games vs Metaverse: Key Differences
One may argue that the metaverse is a genre of VR games. However, it is not technically and conceptually correct since the metaverse’s meaning is to create an autonomous extension of people’s lives. In 2020, Matthew Ball, former Head of Strategy at Amazon, identified seven primary features that distinguish a metaverse from a VR game:
- Autonomous servers: The metaverse operates continuously and never shuts down.
- Real-time interactions: Events occur in real-time, allowing users to schedule meetings, make purchases, and engage in various activities.
- Unlimited user capacity: There are no restrictions on the number of participants within the metaverse compared to gaming servers.
- Virtual economy: Users can perform tasks and receive compensation in virtual currency.
- Integration of physical and virtual worlds: The metaverse strives to merge digital and real-world experiences.
- Cross-platform content and data exchange: Compatibility issues are minimal, which enables users to join the digital realm from different platforms.
- User-generated and corporate content: Commercial brands and individual users can create and share their content.
While gaming servers carry a limited number of players and have time constraints determined by game sessions, metaverse strives to create an autonomous social space that allows users to create content and monetize their activities. The alternative economy that uses cryptocurrencies also makes the metaverse a completely different and original type of digital reality.
What Resources Are Needed to Work on Creating the Metaverse
Developing a metaverse is a resource and time-consuming process that necessitates the creation of a complex infrastructure to maintain the digital realm. In turn, this innovation incorporates various technologies to support its key features. To bring the digital reality fto life, the following technologies are required:
- VR and AR hardware
- Cloud technologies
- Blockchain technology
- Software infrastructure
It is evident that the development process requires the latest hardware and software solutions to ensure seamless connectivity and user synchronization. Moreover, achieving this goal will require the expertise of various engineers and software developers.
Which Specialists Work on Creating the Metaverses
Despite its novelty, the digital realms will not fuel the emergence of new professional roles. However, engineers from the gaming industry will constitute the majority of the workforce involved in its development. Key specialists in this field include:
- CG artists
- 3D artists
- 3D animators
- Developers specializing in Unity or Unreal Engine
Another distinctive aspect of metaverses is the direct participation of users in content creation and the generation of economic assets within the digital environment. Moreover, contributing to economic growth does not necessarily require advanced knowledge or expertise, as individuals can make personal contributions to its development. Additionally, metaverse companies offer job opportunities for specialists and engineers.
What Happened to Metaverse: Future Prospects
Metaverses continue to exist and evolve, although interest in the trend has declined in recent years. Critics argue that developers have yet to create a fully functional virtual reality, and ineffective marketing has contributed to the waning interest. However, this technology has the potential for a resurgence, and aspiring enthusiasts should not lose momentum in investing their skills in this field.
