A metaverse is a virtual reality simulation that can be used for a variety of purposes, including entertainment, social networking, and education. It is a 3D virtual universe that users create and manage. It can be explored and interacted with in the same way as the real world. It is a speculative version of the internet as a global and immersive virtual world focused on social contact.
Science fiction author Neal Stephenson is the first person who coined the term “metaverse.” He described the metaverse as a metaphor for the real world, an expression of the internet, and an escape from reality.
The concept received attention during Facebook’s mid-year financial report when the company announced substantial investment in building the metaverse in 2021.
Soon after, it was renamed as Meta, and software companies like Epic Games, Microsoft, Niantic, and others decided to invest millions of dollars in this technology.
But, what does it mean to build the metaverse? The metaverse, unlike other virtual reality programs, is not a single software platform that can be built using the traditional agile development methodology.
Instead, it is a sophisticated digital environment that is composed of seven different layers:
Experiences: Virtual reality analogues of digital apps for gaming, events, work, shopping, and so on.
Discovery: The content engine that drives interaction, such as advertisements, social media, ratings, and reviews.
Creator economy: A collection of design tools, digital assets, and e-commerce businesses.
Infrastructure: High-tech components like GPUs and connectivity technologies like 5G, Wi-Fi, and the cloud.
Decentralization: edge computing, blockchain, AI, and other tools for democratization.
Human interface: users will access the metaverse through haptics, VR headsets, AR glasses, and other technologies.
Spatial Computing: 3D visualization and modeling frameworks
On the other hand, how does the “build in the metaverse” work in the process?
Here are some steps that are essential for build in the Metaverse:
Step 1: Choose Your Project
Making a decision on what you want to produce is the first step. You can produce an endless number of assets in the metaverse, just as in the real world. The metaverse gives you the ability to create everything from games to virtual items to architecture from the comfort of your computer.
There are two types of builders you will find within the metaverse. Architectural structures and landscapes are referred to as Scenes, whereas Wearables are digitized items and other assets that don’t match into the architectural category.
Step 2: Choose a Metaverse Platform
You must choose the platform that fully meets your creative goals. The following are the several platforms that both large and small businesses should utilize for that process.
Roblox
It’s well known that kids create, play, and connect with others on Roblox. It became extremely popular during the epidemic because parents focused on it to help their children socialize. Roblox hosts games and virtual reality experiences created on its platform.
In order to earn Robux, the platform’s virtual digital currency, also includes selling customized avatars and Non-fungible Tokens (NFTs).
Decentraland:
Decentraland is currently one of the most popular metaverse platforms.
This Ethereum blockchain-based platform allows users to buy LAND within the virtual environment using MANA, Decentraland’s digital currency.
Buildings in Decentraland are divided into two categories: Scenes and Wearables.
Scenes:
You can build and share Decentraland sceneries by using The Builder, a basic visual editing tool. The Builder is a web-based tool.
You can use it by visiting builder.decentraland.org without downloading anything because it works in the browser.
Wearables:
Wearables are the various apparel, accessories, and body parts that can be used to vary a Decentraland avatar’s look.
Decentraland offers the usage of customized wearables in addition to the basic wearables that are available to all users.
Sandbox:
SandBox is another Ethereum blockchain platform to keep an eye out for.
This digital environment is based on the game industry, but at its core, similar to Decentraland, it is a real estate metaverse.
Players can reserve and buy space on the website for their own virtual experiences or games to exist. They can also develop games, assets, and NFTs to socialize with their virtual communities.
Epic Games/Fortnite:
One of the biggest software development companies, Epic Games, is famous for games like Fortnite. As part of the metaverse trend, Epic is currently developing virtual social events like dinner parties and music concerts where guests can take part as avatars.
It organized a concert with well-known performers like Travis Scott, Marshmallow, and Ariana Grande last year.
Gamers who joined in from their smartphone and watched the concert live were able to move around and dance while they were watching.
This was made even more amazing by allowing customers to purchase digital merch to use. In this regard, Fortnite has made significant progress and became the industry leader.
Facebook:
In the beginning of the article, we mentioned the importance of Facebook in the Metaverse world.
In addition, Facebook has collaborated with Oculus to enable 16 people to participate in a virtual reality meeting that gives the impression that everyone is there and seated together even when they are not.
Facebook could possibly work on other projects in the near future.
Binance:
NFTs serve as a portal to the metaverse, facilitating identification, community, and social activities.
You can start by exploring, collecting, and trading NFT assets on the Binance NFT Marketplace to move across the metaverse.
Tokens from the metaverse can be used to pay for products and services in the real world.
Unity Software:
The metaverse community uses Unity Software, a game development software. It offers software for creating 2D and 3D video games as well as softwares for making money from ones’ works.
Step 3: Share Your Experience
It’s crucial to promote and make people aware about your own metaverse experience as the creator. Social media, online forums, influencers, and other traditional advertising channels are just a few of the ways you might go about doing this.
Step 4: Start Building
It’s time to start building once you’ve decided whatever metaverse platform best fits your requirements. It will take some practice to get the hang of developing digital assets or 3D models if you have no prior expertise.
Only practice will improve your skills. Most of the time, getting started is the toughest part. Nevertheless, once you start to understand the various controls and how to use the platform, you won’t be an expert anytime.
For example, you can start your experiences with building in the metaverse through using Decentraland’s free builder.
Conclusion
The Metaverse is not an early trend or an advancement in technology. As we know, this is a significant move in how people consume content, and it will eventually destroy the Internet.
And if you want to contribute to the next generation of the Internet, you need to start learning today how to build in the metaverse or tools, technologies, or services for other metauniverses.
