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Why did the metaverse die? Because Silicon Valley doesn’t understand the concept of fun
(www.fastcompany.com)
this post was submitted on 15 Oct 2023
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Technology
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There's no use case for the metaverse that gives it any more value than a video conference. But I can set up a video conference for free, while the metaverse is set up to constantly extract money from the user. On top of that, the barrier to entry is too high in both cost and practicality. I can buy a high quality webcam for a fraction of the price of a VR headset, and I don't have to strap it to my face just to have a meeting.
In order to justify the cost of being in the metaverse, there has to be a value return that makes it worthwhile - something that can't be replicated with other simpler and cheaper options. Right now, the metaverse is a platform run by grifters ripping off other wannabe grifters and the gullible.
There doesn't need to be a value return - if it's fun. Unfortunately, it seems designed specifically to be brand safe for future advertising instead of appealing to real people.
This is fine, for a video game. But the metaverse isn't being marketed as a video game, it's being marketed as a social and utility platform.
Also if it is just a video game then there's nothing more compelling about it than any other video game... and also it's a crappy video game built around microtransactions. It's not fun, it's a dead mall.