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 Everybody Wants To Be "There"
AN ONLINE UTOPIA When you mention online chat, most people thing of AOL Instant Messenger windows popping up on screen, or chat rooms where you can only recognize people by their nickname. But with the advent of the Sims Online, chatting is becoming more high-tech and, oddly enough, more like real life. There, developed by Will Harvey, a Stanford computer science PhD and Jeffrey Ventrella, an artificial life expert from MIT's, combines the world of the Sims with online chat in an artificial world. To begin, you create an Avatar (computer lingo for a character to represent you inside There). Although your options are limited to physical characteristics when you first create your Avatar, that all changes once you log in. Just like in real life, you can visit a spa and have a makeover, shop for new clothes and even change hairstyles -from mild to wild- in just seconds. And (as you can see in the screenshot below) major real world brands, like Nike and Levi's are available for purchase, so you can sport the outfits you may not be able to afford in real life. At some stores, you can even "try on" an item, to see how it looks on your Avatar, before you buy it. You can also find one-of-a-kind items inside There auctions, where players can "skin" an item, with their own design, changing a white T-shirt to a tie-dye sensation, and offering it for sale.
Once you're dressed to kill, you'll find plenty of places to show off your new threads. Bars -complete with second floor observation levels, if you prefer to play the wall flower- make a great place to meet other people. And, for the most part, the people inside There are more friendly than you might believe. Guides will show you around an island, and you can borrow items from other Avatars, like dune buggies which help you cover ground more quickly. In addition to cars, you can buy a hoverboard and join a race or use a hoverpack (see picture below) to soar above the planet. Other activities like scavenger hunts and trivia contests provide endless hours of entertainment while special in-world events celebrate holidays, like Halloween and Valentine's Day online. But the best part of There is discovering the secrets, like hidden areas created by There Inc., or out-of-the-way places that other users have created - some which cannot be reached without an invitation from the owner.
BE MILLIONAIRE FOR ONLY $560 As you might expect, There isn't free. Clothing, vehicles, and even new hairstyles will cost you. This is how There, Inc. makes it's money. During the beta, the service is free and you begin with T$10,000 (T$ is the symbol for Therebucks, the currency inside the game). Once the service launches, there will be a monthly membership fee which may include an allowance of Therebucks. Additional T$ can be purchased from the Therebanker at an exchange rate of US $1 = T$ 1,787. To put this into real world terms, you can be a There millionaire by exchanging US $560 into Therebucks. You can also earn Therebucks by working in There. By hosting an online event like a class on how to hoverboard, or leading a guided hike through a special part of There you've already explored. More elaborate methods include renting a "FunZone" and create a buggy racing event with qualifying heats, multiple courses and your own set of rules. Or, if designing is more your forte, you can create your own clothing line and sell them to people online. Whatever your motivation, you owe it to yourself to get started today. The beta is free and includes T$10,000 worth of fun. Sign up at www.there.com. Do you have Arcanum Indicium (secret information)? Send an E-mail to custos@semperaptus.com. He'll keep your identity private and hold the information until the date and time you request.
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