Here's an overview of There, from Makena Technologies. Generally considered to be one a competitor of Second Life, there has a similar mix of shopping, exploration, play and socialization, with a lot of the world shaped by users creating their own homes and objects.

Name: There

Company: Makena Technologies

Established: October 2003

How it Works: There requires the download and installation of a 94mb client. Navigation and gameplay are accomplished via mouse and keyboard input.

Overview: There is an online virtual world with a 3D client. Similar to Second Life, the world consists of several islands upon which users can explore and socialize. Users can create items using several provided tools (StyleMaker, Painter ToolKit and Builder ToolKit) though it takes time and costs money to have these placed in the world (through a submissions process) though from that point on users are able to sell these items freely to other players, receiving "Therebucks" in return -- which can be exchanged for US dollars in the world's banks.

Payment Method: There is free to play, though there are premium memberships on offer for one-time fees of $9.95. The world generally earns revenue through microtransactions (users can purchase Therebucks, and must pay to create items), and licensing.

Key Features:
- Large "Second Life" style world
- User generated objects to purchase and interact with

There: In-Depth Tour

The initial experience of using There is pleasant enough, with a quick and simple download (followed by a quick and simple installation) and registering is incredibly quick -- far quicker than I've grown to expect, as the avatar selection offers three hair styles and three skin tones, and that's it!

Once you're in the world though it becomes apparent why -- because almost everything unique about your character has to be purchased. When I landed in There it was in the welcome area of Fisher Island, and from there, after getting myself used to the controls (arrow keys to walk and run, move the camera by holding control and moving the mouse; the usual sort of thing, but right mouse clicks make your character jump) I ran across to the "spa" area to change my character's appearance.

Unlike Second Life, characters can't fly (and there are some strict rules about where you can use vehicles) but a bonus is that the animation is very smooth. At the spa I fiddled with my character's look a bit without too much success (you're limited to making your character fatter or thinner in the head and body, more or less) and decided that if I was going to make my avatar look anything like me (a habit I can't break) I was going to need some clothes and a new hairstyle.

Well! As I said, almost everything unique about your character has to be purchased, and as I don't receive a stipend for use in virtual worlds, I was out of luck. Therebucks convert at around $1,800 to the dollar, and most clothes and objects start in the region of a few thousand Therebucks. You can't earn Therebucks in the world (i.e. by playing games, or anything like that) so the average user would be expected to invest some money into the world to get the most out of it.

Thankfully, there are "Try Me" machines located around the world with clothes that are free to rent for a few hours, and so I hooked myself up with some glasses, clothes and got rid of the awful sandals my character began with for some sneakers and I was off exploring. There's interface is kind of interesting -- a lot of things, such as shopping in this way, are achieved though using an in-game internet browser rather than through navigation of the world.

There is very much a social world. It's not that there aren't things to do if you don't want to stand around chatting to others, it's just that you better enjoy that as at least part of the experience as otherwise it's going to be a little flat! After chatting with some players in the starting area, I teleported around a few of the islands to see what was going on, and found users playing paintball, driving buggies, hoverboarding and other sports for the most part. I decided to join in.

Using objects, such as hoverboards and backpacks is fun and intuitive, and there are many races around the world if competition is what interests you, but like everything else, other than a starter hoverboard, if you want to do anything you either have to buy it or be lucky enough to find a Try Me machine that'll allow you to rent it free for a few hours. Worst, I felt, was that using vehicles is limited to the sometimes very small (and not obviously bordered) areas that are designated for them. If you fly out of the area? You're just instantly dropped to the ground and told "no driving."

At last I headed over to CC Metro, Coca Cola's sponsored area of There and (sadly) found it almost completely empty. I couldn't really find anything to do there, either! With that, I ended my time in There.

There: Conclusion

I've spent a fair amount of time in There, and to be honest, if I was to try and explain There's importance or otherwise its meaning to the industry, I'd have to say that, well, There is… just "there." It's not particularly exciting, it's no longer innovative (if it ever was) and it feels like there's little to say about the world at all.

But let's start with the most interesting things we could think of. There is (sort-of) interesting because of the way it handles user-generated content. Unlike the bonkers free-for-all that you get with Second Life, objects are submitted to the developers to be vetted before they can be sold in world. This is a pretty unique way of doing things, and would work well (I think) in worlds which have a lot more structure. With There, I'm really not sure how much user generated content adds to the world with the current system.

Because as I've said, There just isn't that interesting to inhabit. A lot of users might note that by my decision not to spend any money in the world my time there was perhaps unprofessionally limited, but I really don't think so. Since writing this atlas I've experienced so many free-to-play worlds that offer an incredible amount of content for users who don't want to spend a penny, and as a result There is empty by comparison.

The low number of users doesn't help either. There is a fairly tight group of users that enjoy and inhabit the world, but it has the feeling of a forgotten community, not one that's growing. Perhaps because of There's dated (though perfectly pleasant) looks.

Many areas are deathly empty, or feature avatars running around on their own, and though you find groups of people to chat and socialize with (a perfectly fine way to pass the time) especially by looking at the currently happening events, a lot of time can be spent trying to make your own fun, by messing around with vehicles or so on. I don't know why the rules for vehicles are so limited as a result -- being stuck in a lot of small fun parks in many of the areas isn't particularly enjoyable (though other areas are more free.)

Technically There is acceptable -- it ran very well windowed for me, although I do have to note that for no particular reason certain objects will take a long (long!) time to load their textures while other objects take no time at all, and the interface, though by now dated, is acceptable, with the in-game browser in particular working well.

But as I've said, I struggle to see why anyone still bothers. With dated technology, a small community and limited opportunities for self expression (either through creating objects and clothes or otherwise) There just isn't an exciting world to inhabit. Second Life, for example, might be a ludicrous mish-mash of nonsense but at least it tries to have something for everyone. In There I'm not sure there's anything for anyone!

Useful Links:
ThereCare (official info site)
There Fun Times (official blog)
The Voice of There (news site)