There.com Revisited

[BigBlueBall News]

Jeff Hester
March 22, 2004

We first looked at There.com and its immersive 3D chat environment over one year ago, when it was still in beta testing. Now that it has been out a while, how does it stack up? Is there a future for There.com or other similar 3D chat environments?

Back then, my biggest gripe were the steep system requirements to run There.com. But now, any new PC (even a bargain system) is powerful enough to get you into There. And in the meantime, There has picked up kudos from the media, with both USA Today and Popular Science giving it "Best of..." status.

So just what is There all about? There is an immersive, 3D world where you can meet up with other real people. You can explore the world, chat, listen to music or play a game. In many respects, you socialize much like you would in the real world; through shared activities.

The world itself is open for you to explore. Like other 3D worlds like Everquest or Asheron’s Call, you can walk or run around and explore. But in There, you also can purchase other forms of transportation, including a jetpack, hoverboard or dune buggy. These alone can be a lot of fun to drive, and some people just spend their time learning tricks and modding their ride.

Of course, you can interact. All of the people in There are representations of other real people. You can choose your persona, your clothes and hairstyle, and just hang out with friends listening to music and chatting, if that’s what you want. It’s up to you.

One of the things I like about there is that there are always lots of things to do. No matter what you’re into, there are contests and activities to help you meet new people. And unlike the chat rooms on AIM and Yahoo, most people are pretty respectful. There is a subscriber-based system. You don’t get in unless you’re willing to fork over a few greenbacks. This seems to keep the riff-raff to a minimum.

I like the environment. If you’re in an open area and people are chatting in the distance, you can "see" their dialogue faintly. Move up close and you can "hear" their conversation (reading their chat bubbles) or even join in. Of course, as in the real world, they can always choose to go somewhere more private if they don’t want to expand their group, but you get the general idea.

You can also buy and sell clothes, vehicles, homes and even pets! If you are artistic, you can put your talents to work designing new fashions, paint jobs or other items. If you’re an entrepreneur, put your new designs up for action! It all takes place in There.

Is there a future for There? I think so. Older PCs won’t have the power to run the 3D graphics, but if you have a newer computer, it will work fine. The environment is very rich and appealing, and it’s a fascinating concept that actually works pretty well.

If you’re interested in checking out There, I’ve arranged for a free two-week trial. Give it a test drive yourself, then share your opinion of There in our forum.