Dentsu sets up "Virtual Tokyo" in Second Life

Users of "Virtual Tokyo" can play ski jumping, athletic sports

   Dentsu, Inc. set up on Aug. 24 the virtual city "Virtual Tokyo" on the virtual world Second Life operated by Linden Lab of the United States over the internet. Timed with the IAAF World Championships in Athletics opened in Osaka on Aug. 25, TBS will host an athletic meeting on the virtual athletic field "Virtual Tokyo (VT) Stadium" created in the Virtual Tokyo, designed for participation by users in such sport events as 100 meter race and shot-putting. On Sept. 1, a marathon race will be held on a course set up in the Virtual Tokyo.

   In the middle of September, the "ski jump pair" of the popular three-dimensional video will be reproduced, and the users (avatars) will be able to take part in ski jumping. Toward the end of September, Keio University Second Life Campus will be opened to show the videos of lectures given at the university.

   According to Dentsu, more than 30 business firms, mainly financial institutions, will participate in the Virtual Tokyo. Dentsu will earn a total of about 6 million yen from the production fees of virtual shops and operating and maintenance of the shops. The company, however, will not sell goods in the virtual world for the time being. It is considering to offer the use of a lot to the users.

   Jun Murai, professor at the environmental information faculty of Keio University, said that Second Life provides the place where people on the globe can have dialogues among themselves. "Second Life is very interesting in that it makes the interactive interface possible. It bears significant meaning." he said.