Google Lively – Google take on Second Life

Sorry for the interruption to the indie platform article series, but massive news from Google. They’ve finally announced their virtual world project. Google Lively is plug-in based application that runs within a browser and hooks into existing social networks, such as Facebook.

With over two and a half years of development, this is a major project even for Google. Given that Second life has been mainly used for meeting partners, virtual sex, and even gambling, you have to wonder what Google’s expectations are. Linking it to existing social networks may be the key, although they have competition with Vivaty.

Gamasutra have an interview with Google’s Mel Guymon (head of 3D Operations) and a Google have released the YouTube video below.

Download Google Lively Beta here.