Put on some headphones and watch my GDC week conversation with JC Baillie, founder and lead developer of Dual Universe, the upcoming, crowd-funded, single shard MMO, which some argue is the closest thing we have to a metaverse, As we discuss over drinks, JC's vision of "the Metaverse" is markedly different from that of, say, VRChat, High Fidelity, or Second Life, where the real world and the virtual world freely intermingle -- and the virtual experience is basically a network of 3D chat rooms.

Originally a scientist specializing in robotics and artificial intelligence, JC's vision is decidedly larger -- in essence, he and his team are attempting to build a completely separate existence that's both scientifically and narratively self-consistent. (It's his science background, by the way, that he credits the ability to create Dual Universe's massive user concurrency in a single shard MMO.)

Here's what we discussed in our twenty minute chat:

Why Dual Universe’s version of“the Metaverse” is a persistent alternate reality separate from the real world ‘something more like ‘The Matrix’”— including no direct connection between the game’s virtual currency and real money. Money, JC says, “Will [negatively] impact the experience.” (Starting around :20)

How open is Dual Universe’s gameplay theme? For instance, can people play Dual Universe as a fantasy MMO? I.E., Convert a single planet into a medieval era setting? Answer: Potentially yes, but then medieval planets would be vulnerable to interstellar invasion. (Starting around 3:40)

How Dual Universe can make creative and artistic non-combat communities possible — through safe zones and no-PVP “sanctuary moons”. (Starting around 5:25)

Much more below: