Japanese 3D virtual world never die!---Cloud Heart

In 2007, virtual worlds boom was caused triggered by Second Life and Japan was no exception, too. Many virtual world services were born. However, those most disappeared two years later. Particularly, the 3D virtual worlds were the wretched situation. However, all of the Japanese 3D virtual worlds are not yet dead.

The Japanese startup ADN group released new 3D virtual world solution "Cloud Heart".

Cloud Heart is developed in Unity and works on a Web browser and mobile. Users can make own avatar, have own room, move around the space and chat with other users. The companies can have the virtual world by introducing Cloud Heart into own site. ADN group released the virtual world for fan clubs of Japanese band Greeeen as the first Cloud Heart introduction example.

https://www.greeeenland.com/

This fan club dues is 5,000 yen per one year. Fans make own avatar here and can interchange with other fans. Surprisingly members of Greeeen log in through their avatar, too. Fans can meet members here if lucky.

Furthermore, Greeeen fans of the world can communicate across the language barrier because the simultaneous interpretation of 42 languages is possible.

In fact, the virtual world specialized in artists existed from 2008. However, all of them failed. Because they were like hard core MMO which ran exclusive software(like Second Life). On the other hand, Cloud Heart work on a Web browser. Besides, it is cute. I think that Cloud Heart succeed.

By the way, ADN group CEO Taku Kamata was former CTO of 3Di. 3Di was dissolved in this March, but played an active part in Japanese 3D virtual world market from the Second Life boom era.

Convenience & stylish collage apps for iOS---"cameran collage"

I wrote it before about iOS camera apps "cameran" of photographer and movie director Mika Ninagawa.

See also:
Camera apps for iOS of photographer Mika Ninagawa "cameran" is fabulous!

It became popular, and it broke through 3,5M downloading. Recruit Holdings which developed this apps decided on the series presenting this. And the second apps "cameran collage" is available now.(Japanese site is here)

cameran collage is photo collage apps for women. We can make the collage work of taste of Japanese fashion magazines and the the fashion brands using this. Now, this tie-up with fashion magazine " sweet", "InRed" and fashion brand "MERCURYDUO", "B:MING LIFE STORE by BEAMS". We can use the decoration material more than 300 kinds that they supervised.

 The operation is simple, but this has many functions. We can do all work of the collage in this. Placement of photos, resize, cut, filter, frame...

 Texts inputting... Because there are a lot of fonts and labels, I hesitate to put it together.

 Furthermore, there are various stamps in each magazines and brands.

 When we input a date and choose wall paper, it is completion! If you hesitate about photos placement, you can choose it among a template.

We can share the works in Facebook, Twitter, LINE and mail.

I tried this and thought that this is a choice of the collage apps. Anyway, this is convenient! Furthermore, all the decorations materials have good taste.

Now, it's only iOS version, but of course Recruit Holdings releases Android version in a few days. And cameran releases apps in the series as a visual apps brand from now on.

Cosplay is difficult in not only the reality world but also the virtual world

Japanese popular virtual world Ameba Pigg started a tie-up with masterpiece of Manga/Anime "Lupin the 3rd"(Wiki).

via http://vsmedia.info/2012/10/17/lupin-the-3rd-amebapigg/ (Japanese)

Ameba Pigg sells the Cosplay virtual goods of characters of Lupin the 3rd. Users can let one's avatar do Cosplay using these. However, Cosplay is very difficult in both the reality world and the virtual world.

This is my avatar wearing the wig of male character "Goemon" of the character of Lupin the 3rd.

And this is my avatar wearing the wig of female character #Fujiko". Please compare these with a top official image. These are so unnatural.


In Cosplay, the most important point is "harmony". Wig, clothes and face, all must harmonize.  However, there are few Cosplayers which are completely made in this. There are the Cosplayer where a face and a wig do not harmonize in the reality world, too.

Of course Ameba Pigg users can change the face of one's avatar. Furthermore, they can wear make-up. However, those functions are charged in Ameba Pigg. I think that this reflects real strictness. A high expense is necessary for plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery in the reality world, and we must buy the cosmetics. It is not easy to become cool Cosplayer in both the reality world and the virtual world....

I cannot change a face because I am poor. So I always deceive it by laughing and singing. There is not it so funnily if we cannot see eyes.

And I to turn to back if possible.

By the way, Cosplay and the role playing are very fun! It is right a way of enjoying in the virtual world. We can make friends with unknown users immediately when we do Cosplay.

I remembered early Second Life and became nostalgic. Former Second Life had a lot of such community. How's the now?

Disney is active in virtual business in Japan

DeNA and Disney agree to bring mobile social games worldwide the end of last month.
via http://dena.jp/intl/press/press-releases/dena-and-disney-agree-to-bring-mobile-social-games-worldwide/

However, that's nothing new. Walt Disney Japan was always aggressive in virtual worlds and a social game. Disney is popular among not only children but also adults in Japan. Therefore the Walt Disney Japan provided a license for a virtual goods. Ameba Pigg is the one of example.

They started a tie-up quest with Disney in farming game Pigg Life. It is the second in this that they carry out Disney quest(First is here).

We can grow the magical farm products and can cook the Mickey Mouse dishes. When we achieve a quest, we got special virtual goods of Disney.

Japanese Disney fans are lucky :)

AR ×Second Life × Japanese traditional popular song

to be continued......