You may not have heard of them before, but tiny Japanese software house Eitarosoft is on the brink of something very big that threatens some very comfortable giants in the business.
The six-year-old Tokyo firm has just released a video showing its new virtual world software called Lamity running on the Open Handset Alliance’s Android platform.
Expanding horizons
While creating something as polished as Lamity appears to be on the new mobile OS is an achievement in itself, the real breakthrough is in the number of simultaneous users each virtual ‘town’ can accommodate.
Intense processing demands mean market-leading virtualities like Second Life can handle just 100 visitors in one area at the same time, but Lamity quadruples that to 400 powered by nothing more than a standard handset.
Best of all, NTT DoCoMo – Japan’s leading mobile network – will next week start offering a licensed Java version of Lamity for use by a chunk of its 50 million plus customers – money in the bank if ever there was.
Easy advertising
With an eye on commercialising the in-game environment, Lamity can pull in and correctly format the websites of sponsors or advertisers for viewing within the virtual environment, meaning there’s no need for specially created (and expensive) advertising.
Eitarosoft’s Eri Tokita (you can see her demoing Lamity on video here) told us of even bigger plans: “We are also planning to distribute the service through T-Mobile in the US, [as it] will have Android devices by end of this year.”
Although she couldn’t be drawn further on the T-Mobile plans, the news that the mobile giant is committed to Android is a clear indicator of a bright future for both the Google-backed OS and for Eitarosoft.
Your comments (5) Click to add a new comment
stellalunaslithers
June 11th 2011
5. 2011 and still not even close to whipped :)
Booyah!
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lomoco
December 24th 2009
4. Ok... can you actually DO anything on this, Lamity? For instance: Create customized content then sell it for currency. Is there a dedicated scripting language with it? Can you attach custom content to your avatars to modify their appearance? Can you modify the mesh of the avatar so it doesn't have such a big head? Can you upload custom made texture maps to apply as clothing or to custom content? What about sounds? Animations? Are you really restricted to having to use a dedicated camera view for talking to ONE person at a time? Can you.... FLY?
It doesn't whip Second Life. It's just going to die in a corner like most other MMORPGs with such restrictive conditions. People want to do things their way, not the way of the provider.
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jmarklytle
May 25th 2008
3. @indigoblues: fair enough, but I've seem Lamity in action and it is actually pretty powerful. We'll bring you more on it in June after DoCoMo goes big on it...
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indigoblues
May 23rd 2008
2. If you're using Second Life as a networking tool, or just a chat medium, I'm sure that simplistic alternatives such as this will work just fine on a handheld. But that misses the boat when it comes to exploiting the full potential of Second Life. I'd be the first to point out that Second Life, and Linden Labs, have their issues, but it only takes a glance at the 'screenshot' of this new offering to know that it's not a real competitor to Second Life. It looks like it's aimed towards teenagers who are anime fans, or don't get enough cartoons on Saturday morning.
As for 'doing something constructive with your time' comment, it clearly comes from someone who is not familiar with the potential of the Second Life medium, and what can be achieved there. And that is EXACTLY as it should be :)
Indy
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blueg
May 23rd 2008
1. The problem with Second Life (apart from the natural 'why aren't you doing something constructive with your time' argument) is the need to be seated at a computer, thus making second life your ACTUAL life at that moment.
This would open the door to all those who were involved with tamagotchi's in the 90s, so you CAN NEVER LEAVE IT ALONE.
Still, anything that sticks it to the man is fine in my opinion.
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