Local Papers Create Virtual World for their Valley

This may not be the first of its kind, but it’s the first of which I’ve heard. The Castro Valley Forum and San Leandro Times are hosting their own virtual world representing the area. For now there are but three “areas” represented by buildings: a business district, a library and a news and information stand. Users download a small 3D file and the Unity Web Player (seemless install on my Mac) to enter the world. Once there they can interact with the few books on the shelf and click on announcements in the news stand to learn more. I had some trouble navigating (I’ve never been good at 3D) but did eventually find the newspaper box for Castro Valley Forum. I clicked on it to see the top headlines.

It his how newspapers may hold on? In virtual worlds?