Games like Runescape and Habbo Hotel have shown that browser-based MMO's have a large market due to their ability to work on a wide-range of systems and browsers. Simplicity is an attractive option amongst the casual gaming audience and you only have to look at Metaplace to see what this appeal can generate. Obviously this leads to countless iterations all attempting to appeal to a largely young audience. SocioTown is yet another entry attempting to crack the market.

Stating that your game is 'the biggest and most sophisticated browser-based 3D virtual world to date' may seem overly-ambitious but SocioTown is already looking pretty impressive compared to similar entries. Utilising Adobe's Shockwave Player it provides players with a 'fully immersive and persistent 3D environment' which is already shaping up to look a lot better than the likes of Runescape or Habbo. I'm impressed that the game is actually running in a web browser because I've seen recent games with far worse graphics that could only be played on the desktop. Of course these games weren't optimised for the browser but it's still an impressive feat.

Similar to Habbo players own their own apartments which they can kit out with furnishings bought from the various stores dotted around the town. From the trailer the room edit function already seems far more sophisticated and flexible than the simple drop and rotate functions of Habbo allowing for a more personal touch to your apartment. However, unlike Habbo where you can only access rooms through menu options SocioTown is a persistent world (much like Second Life) where you can walk in and out of your neighbors apartments without going through cumbersome menus. Of course, there's also the option to change and buy your own clothes and this is done through actually shopping for them (again, like Second Life) rather than just choosing them from a menu.

There are two unique functions that set SocioTown apart from other browser-based MMO's; the social network and live music. Chatting to people instantly adds them to your social network which forms a graphical representation of automatically connected dots so you can check how far your social network reaches at up to three degrees of separation. A part of this is your inner circle of friends, which means the more you talk to them then the better friend they become. The second unique feature, the live music system, looks very interesting. Instruments such as drum kits and keyboards can be controlled by the mouse to create your own music with friends (I'm wondering if this will work as well as LOTR: Online does) which can then be rated. I remember Coke Music have this sort of rating system but the music itself had far less control.

While it's visuals may mark it apart from the rest of the market SocioTown's success will ultimately depend on whether or not it's unique features can offer more than just a novelty to an already packed market.

Currently in late Alpha development it is scheduled to enter public testing before the end of the year.

SocioTown official site.

[Editor:wakaka]