Debuted just a couple of months ago, Just Leap In is a new browser-based 3D virtual world and social networking portal currently in the closed beta testing phase. Today, a major upgrade was released that adds a slew of new features, including controllable avatars, news feed to keep track of friends, popularity rankings, among other miscellaneous content and graphics updates. The game is still in its early stages so some of these additions might seem a little rudimentary. You can sign-up for the beta test here.
In a recent interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Kevin Hanna, who’s the creative director of Google Lively, mentioned that they’re planning to use the game’s architecture as an online games platform for developers, akin to current platforms such as Metaplace and Multiverse.
The technology would allow indie developers to create virtual worlds, MMOs and online games more efficiently with Lively’s existing tools and infrastructure. This is yet another testament to how Google is permeating almost every aspect of the internet, and in this particular case, which is supporting the indie online gaming community by providing developers with Lively’s open API, I welcome it. We’ll be getting to see more innovation and fresh ideas from the underground.
The online social world for younger audiences, ourWorld, has achieved the milestone of 100,000 account registrations since its open beta launch in April. The fact that half of the traffic at ourWorld are that of returning users and more than 200,000 hours of total playtime have been logged indicates that ourWorld is a legitimate contender in the inflated arena of virtual worlds.
“ourWorld was created to deliver a vibrant online destination for users who are looking to get a more immersive experience out of casual gaming and other online entertainment. The response we’ve seen from users to date is astounding, and the site traffic has grown much faster than our original projections. It is very rewarding to see that our platform is resonating with casual gamers and online consumers around the globe.” - CEO of ourWorld, Derrick Martin
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