CNET has published an article about an announcement due out later today between Google and Multiverse Network to create virtual worlds using Google Earth technology. Specifically, people will be able to take models from the Google 3D Warehouse and get 3D terrain from Google Earth to create virtual worlds of real and/or imagined places. There have been rumors that Google is working on a 3D virtual world like Second Life for some time. But, according to the article, this is not necessarily the basis of those rumors. What this does do is encourage even more development of the rapidly growing collection of 3D models at the 3D Warehouse, and provides yet another way for Google Earth’s content to be useful for other applications. OgleEarth also has some thoughts about the article. I’ll write more on this when the formal announcement is made.
UPDATE: Also see Avi Bar-Zeev’s comments about the Multiverse announcement at his Reality Prime blog. Avi was one of the guys who helped build the original software that became Google Earth.
About Frank Taylor
Frank Taylor started the Google Earth Blog in July, 2005 shortly after Google Earth was first released. He has worked with 3D computer graphics and VR for many years and was very impressed with this exciting product. Frank completed a 5.5 year circumnavigation of the earth by sailboat in June 2015 which you can read about at Tahina Expedition, and is a licensed pilot, backpacker, diver, and photographer.