WORLDS, INC. RELEASES WORLDS CHAT 1.0 GOLD
An entirely new version of the Internet's premier
3-D multiuser environment
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., June 24, 1996 -- Worlds Inc., the worldwide leader in
Internet Virtual Reality, today released a completely updated version of
Worlds Chat, the popular 3-D multiuser online community. Worlds Chat 1.0 Gold offers bold new artistry, four new virtual worlds, an extensive avatar gallery,
unlimited simultaneous users and numerous advanced features.
Worlds Chat enables almost any Internet user to abandon the flat text-and-
pictures world of traditional Web pages and explore a giant virtual space with
thousands of other real people. Users interact with one another through online
personifications, or "avatars," and it all works on equipment no more exotic
than a personal computer connected to the Internet.
"The true value of Worlds Chat is the dramatic context it provides for people to
meet and talk with each other online, which is one of the biggest uses of the
Internet today," says Don Fowler, president and CEO of Worlds, Inc. "We've responded to our users' comments and requests by creating a stimulating
environment that welcomes visitors and encourages them to return again and
again. We've added more worlds to explore, more features to enhance
interactivity, and exciting new graphics to make the whole adventure much more
enjoyable."
Worlds has developed an underlying scenario for Worlds Chat 1.0 Gold in which
the courageous and capable Captain Javinda Ushad discovers an abandoned space station and decides to reopen it for exploration. Worlds Chat users are
encouraged to embark upon a pioneering effort to explore and repopulate the
space station.
"Worlds Chat is designed to bring people together, so it's always been very easy
to use," said Rich Abel, director of business development at Worlds, Inc. "Worlds Chat's clear and simple user interface allows visitors to jump right in
and start chatting and exploring."
Worlds Chat 1.0 Gold provides the following enhancements to previous versions:
Artistry - The greatest -- and most notable -- improvement in Worlds
Chat 1.0 Gold is a far more visual and realistic representation of the
worlds through which users navigate. The quality of graphic images has
been greatly enhanced, and approximately 20MB of new art, sound and
music has been added.
Size - Worlds Chat has grown substantially, now boasting approximately
500 rooms compared to 50 rooms in previous versions.
New Worlds - In previous versions, users could teleport between two
worlds named Sadness and Glee. In Worlds Chat 1.0 Gold, four new
worlds have been added; named Sky, Desert, Gothic, and Garden. These
worlds, unlike the still surviving Sadness and Glee areas, are
actually external to the central space station and each offers its own
unique look and feel.
More Avatars - Previous versions of Worlds Chat had 15 avatars to
choose from; the Gold edition offers 40.
Persistent Unique Identity - Users can set a password that restricts
other Worlds Chat visitors from using their name, thereby enabling
unique identities to be established.
Placemarking - Users can now easily return to places they enjoy and
track where they've been.
Unlimited Number of Simultaneous Users - Worlds Chat 1.0 Gold uses
distributed server architecture to allow scalability and provide a
world that grows as quickly as the population. Users will never see
the message, "Sorry, this room is full."
Crowd Control - Worlds Chat 1.0 Gold uses a crowd control algorithm that
lets visitors see and hear only the nearest six people in a room. This
algorithm helps maintain a high frame rate and low memory requirements
for all users. Crowd control also eliminates visual clutter.
Point-And-Click Whispering - Users can participate in private
conversations by simply clicking on the avatar they wish to address and
choosing "Whisper to" from a pop-up menu. The message will only be
heard by the avatar specified. Users can whisper to people in other
rooms and worlds, regardless of location.
Point-And-Click Group Whispering - Users can select up to 20 avatars
to include in a group discussion. Only those avatars selected will
hear what is being said by anyone else in the group.
Whisper History - This feature lets users track with whom they've
spoken.
Point-And-Click Muting - Users can quickly and easily mute other users
when subject matter is no longer interesting or appropriate.
Older versions of Worlds Chat have been tried by over a hundreds of thousands
of Internet users around the world since April 1995, while concurrent logins are
about 500 at a time.
Worlds Chat Pricing and Availability
Worlds Chat 1.0 Gold ships on CD-ROM and is available direct from Worlds, Inc.
for $32.95 plus $5 shipping and handling. A demo version is available free by
downloading it from the Worlds web site (http://www.worlds.net).
Worlds Chat 1.0 Gold requires a 486/66MHz or faster PC running Windows 3.1x,
Windows 95, or Windows NT with 8MB RAM minimum (16MB recommended) and 24MB
available hard disk space. Users also need a 256-color display, SLIP/PPP or
direct Internet connection running at at least 14.4 kbps, 2x CD-ROM drive for
installation, a 16-bit sound card (optional).
About Worlds Inc.
Worlds Inc. is the worldwide leader in Internet Virtual Reality through its
licensing, production, and development efforts. Worlds Inc. has been leading
the trend toward a new online paradigm, from being one of the first to work on
and embrace VRML 2.0, to enabling online banking with Visa, to creating a virtual playspace for children in pediatric hospitals in conjunction with the Starbright Foundation.
Through the convergence of the computer, the telephone, and the television,
Worlds Inc. technology represents a whole new metaphor for interaction and
connectivity. Using Worlds Inc. enabled applications, people interact through
their computers rather than simply with them. Worlds Inc. helps people from
around the world communicate through seamless communications links tied to an
interface they can readily understand because it mimics the physical world.
This ability to create shared 3-D virtual environments that run on today's
technology has been described as "astonishingly cool" by the New York Times,
"the hottest innovation the Internet will see this year" by the Dallas Morning
News, and "the next step in the evolution of online communication" by the Wall
Street Journal.
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