Headlock's ai sp@ce virtual world to launch this year
It's always a thrill when one of your favorite game-developers announces that they're working on an MMO or virtual world or when a developer takes on one of your favorite properties. Developer Headlock is well along on one such virtual world now.
Japanese developers are working on a number of virtual worlds (which we hope to get more of a handle on over time). This one, ai-sp@ce, is set in Akihabara and will also feature characters from Visual Novels Clannad (????????????), Shuffle!, and Da Capo 2 (D.C.II). Yes, it's the world of Japanese Visual Novels come-to-life in a 3D virtual world!
Details are a little sketchy at this stage as some of the mechanics are still being planned and designed, but it looks like the full virtual world deal, with a currency (Chara Dollars?), avatar customization, the ability to create and sell content (such as animations), housing (though we're not sure about support for real-estate) and support for advertising, corporate and commercial sites within the world.
Admittedly, being the Visual Novel style, everyone more or less has that under-18 look to them (except for the chibi chicken avatars), but it's all so darned cute!
Akihabara island will form the central hub of this new world, connecting users to the islands of Clannad, Shuffle!, and Da Capo 2.
Due for release, this Summer (Northern Hemisphere Summer, that is) this is definitely one to watch!
