Metaverses are virtual worlds built on blockchain technology that allow you to stake a claim to a piece of land and develop it. You can then trade or rent it out to others.
Decentraland and Sandbox are two of the leading metaverse projects. Both are backed by major companies like SoftBank, Uber, and Slack.
What is the Metaverse?
The Metaverse is a spatial computing platform that provides digital experiences as an alternative to or a replica of the real world, along with key civilizational aspects like social interactions, currency, trade, economy and property ownership – founded on a bedrock of blockchain technology.
Tech giants are betting big on the metaverse, and for good reason: The space holds promise to revolutionize the way people interact with each other and with technology. But while this space is still in its infancy, there are a few things you should know before jumping into it.
There are a few different types of spaces you can find in the metaverse, and each one is designed for specific kinds of interactions. Some are immersive, while others are more basic.
Virtual reality is the most popular form of the metaverse, and it offers users an interactive experience in which they can interact with other people and their environments. It can be accessed through a headset, which immerses the user in an environment that stimulates what’s known as presence.
Augmented reality is another type of metaverse space, and it’s often used for daily interactions with augmented-reality apps on smartphones. It can also be used to create a more immersive experience, such as a shopping trip to the mall or a game of tennis on a virtual court.
While both of these spaces are fairly immersive, it’s important to remember that they require specialized hardware and software. This can make them prohibitively expensive for some individuals and can result in a volatile system of technological haves and have-nots, says Madsen.
There’s a new wave of metaverse technology that is changing the expectations for what it can be. These new technologies are making it possible to own and sell virtual objects, experiences and land.
This is a huge change from just a few years ago, when people thought that it was impossible to own and sell anything online. But now, a new generation of technology and cryptocurrencies have given people a chance to buy and sell virtual objects in ways that they never imagined.
What is Decentraland?
Decentraland is a virtual world built on the Ethereum blockchain that uses non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to power its ecosystem. Founded by Ariel Meilich and Esteban Ordano, Decentraland is designed as the first user-owned Metaverse.
Users can create and share scenes in Decentraland, which are then published on their virtual parcels of land. These scenes can be anything from games, art galleries or shops to interactive experiences and more. They can also encourage other Decentraland members to interact with them and participate in the scene.
The game is free to play, but it does require a cryptocurrency wallet (unless you already have one). You can also purchase the in-game currency MANA on centralized crypto exchanges like Binance, Kraken and Coinbase.
Unlike other virtual worlds, Decentraland uses its own in-game currency, MANA. The coin is used to buy items, digital collectibles, and even MANA tokens that can be traded for real-world goods and services in Decentraland.
MANA is also used for transactions within the Decentraland ecosystem and to participate in its governance protocol. To get a vote in the DAO, users convert their MANA into wrapped MANA (wMANA), which is then locked inside the DAO’s smart contract.
Players can also buy LAND, which is the NFT representing digital real estate in Decentraland. LAND is a 16m x 16m plot of virtual property that can be sold or transferred to other users through the Decentraland marketplace.
You can even purchase LAND Estates, which are larger areas of land that can be linked together to form districts. These are a great way to build up your LAND portfolio and expand the amount of space you have in the world.
In addition to a variety of in-game activities, Decentraland is also a platform for developers and entrepreneurs to sell their products and services. Its marketplace is a great place to showcase your work and find collaborators.
Creating content and participating in the digital economy are two of the most important things that a player can do in Decentraland. It’s also a great way to get started in the world of virtual reality and meet other people who enjoy creating things.
What is Sandbox?
Sandbox is a computer software system that provides a virtual environment for testing applications and code. It’s used for a variety of tasks, including software development, testing, quality assurance, and network security.
Businesses use sandboxes to test and improve new technologies and processes that could become important in their day-to-day operations. They also use sandboxes to prevent malware and scams from entering the network.
A sandbox is a virtual space that mimics an end-user’s hardware. It allows developers to test their code without affecting the rest of the system, so they can make sure their application will run correctly in a sandbox before it goes live.
In addition to being a secure testing environment, sandboxes can save companies money and time. They can help reduce the cost of purchasing, staffing, and maintaining development labs. They can also be a useful tool for improving collaboration across all departments.
Moreover, sandboxes are easy to set up and manage, so they’re ideal for organizations with limited IT resources. They can be deployed at any point during the software development process and can be scaled to meet growing needs.
For example, sandboxes can help businesses prevent malicious programs from infecting employees’ personal devices and compromising their privacy. They can be used to screen emails and attachments before they are opened, so that employees don’t accidentally download harmful malware.
Many malware programs are designed to evade sandboxes by using tricks that allow them to stay hidden from the software. These tactics include erasing files from disks, skipping malicious actions, terminating themselves, or changing their behavior when they enter or exit a sandbox.
Another tactic is to incorporate context-aware triggers that delay the execution of code until the sandbox can identify them. Context-aware triggers can include things like a system reboot or keyboard and mouse interaction.
The key to a successful sandbox is to ensure it can effectively detect and recognize both benign and malicious files, and that it accurately classifies innocuous activity as malevolent. Malware authors are constantly developing new methods to evade sandboxes and exploit their weaknesses.
Which Metaverse is Better?
There are many metaverses that can be used for a variety of purposes, including gaming, art, wearables, and more. Each one has its own unique features and characteristics. This makes it difficult to choose which one is the best option for you. However, there are a few key factors that can help you make an informed decision about which Metaverse is better for you:
First, determine your objectives. Are you looking to promote your brand, sell digital assets, forge partnerships, or build a stronger community? Secondly, you should decide which type of user will be your target audience. For example, if you’re looking to target a younger demographic, then you may want to choose a Metaverse that is geared towards gaming.
Next, you should consider the fees. Both Decentraland and Sandbox charge a fee to users for interacting in their virtual worlds. The fee for Sandbox is 5% sand, while the fee for Decentraland is 2.5% mana.
While these fees are relatively low, they can be a burden for users who want to engage in multiple activities within the Metaverse. This can make it difficult for some people to stay engaged and contribute to the platform’s growth.
Another difference between the two Metaverses is the real estate they offer. Land plots on the Decentraland Metaverse are much more valuable than those on the Sandbox. This is because of the fact that the land is scarcer and more expensive to buy.
Choosing the right Metaverse is crucial for developers and companies that wish to participate in the emerging crypto economy. Both platforms offer a range of features and opportunities, but each of them has their own strengths.
For example, Decentraland offers an immersive Minecraft-like experience that is more oriented toward gamers. On the other hand, the Sandbox is more geared towards the social side of the Metaverse.
In general, the Sandbox has a more comprehensive roadmap than Decentraland and is easier to get started with. In addition, it has more collaborative partnerships, investors, and employees. This gives it a leg up over Decentraland and makes it more innovative.