Web hosting News.

Arvhives

3D Virtual Email, SHARKS & Miami Babes?

Posted by advertolog at Monday ~ June 06, 2007 to SEO
Comments:0

by Amy Armitage

I’m a huge fan of Visitorville and I use it every day to check out our traffic on the blog. My excitement peaked this week when Robert Savage from World Market Watch emailed me a heads up that their new product 3D Mailbox is live and ready for me to check out.

They even have a Hollywood style trailer!

I had a bunch of questions about how the program works and Robert was kind enough to take some time out to explain it all to me.

Amy: How did you come up with the idea for 3D Mailbox?

Robert: I want everything to entertain me. After years of using utilitarian programs like Outlook and Eudora, I knew there had to be more to email. Using them is like driving around in a Jeep with no shock absorbers. I knew that there were human needs that weren’t being met by the boring programs, and so I mulled over the idea for a while. Remember that I’m also the creator of VisitorVille, which depicts website visitors as avatars. So I was already leaning to humanizing things. Then it came to me when I was watching the opening scene of “Goldfinger”, set at the Fontainebleau Hotel on Miami Beach. We modeled this first level based on that scene, complete with Olympic-sized pool, ice rink and cabanas.

Amy: How long did it take from concept to launch?

Robert: Not as long as you’d think, considering that we had to build a robust email client that could compete toe-to-toe with the established email clients, plus integrate a full-scale shader-based 3D engine. I have about 50 people involved with the various aspects of the project.

Amy: I want to tell my staff about 3D Mailbox but I’m concerned they will get distracted and start playing during work hours… lol Do you think that will happen?

Robert: Personally, I work 15/7. I need things to make me smile. Anything that does, makes me more productive. Should you cram workers in cubicles, or give everyone a corner office? I believe that people need sea, sun and air to thrive.

Amy: I was reading the FAQ that right now the program is only compatible with Windows. Will you release for Mac or Linux users anytime soon?

Robert: We’re focusing on the Windows crowd for the moment, but haven’t forgotten about the Mac and Linux folks.

Amy: For everyone who hasn’t tried 3D Mailbox, how does the application work? Web Based or a download and installation on a PC or both?

Robert: It’s a desktop app, so it’s a download. You set it up just like a regular email program. It works with Gmail and all the web-based mail services, as well as with POP3 and secure POP3. You can automatically import your settings from any other client, or do it manually. Then you just read and write mail as normal. The big difference is that you’re immersed in a 3D world while doing it. Who doesn’t love sunshine, clear water, palm trees, the sound of seagulls and waves? It’s relaxing, like being on vacation — writing your mail on your laptop on South Beach :)

Amy: Will the program help prevent spam?

Robert: Yes! And I’m really excited about this. We’ve integrated in both the Free and Premium versions the best spam filter in the world, SpamBayes. It is very, very effective, and “learns” from your specific e-mails what is good and what isn’t. It’s an amazing filter. But we go beyond that. We let you literally feed your spam to the sharks, and that is very gratifying. You get the feeling that, for once, you’re getting back at the spammers.

Amy: Does the program use your mail servers or do we keep our usual mail settings?

Robert: You keep your own settings and accounts. We’re not in the business of storing or routing your mail. Like Outlook Express, 3D Mailbox is a pure email client.

Amy: Do you need an uber duber graphics card or special settings to get the full effect of the program?

Robert: You can use it with just 512 MB of RAM and 128 MB of video RAM. But if you want to get the most of the 3D graphics, then sure, the more RAM and the better video card you have, the more spectacular the graphics will be. It supports HDR (High Dynamic Range), so it can handle whatever fancy hardware you throw at it.

Amy: Does it take a lot of resources to run?

Robert: It takes more than your average email client, that’s for sure. And that’s because it has a 3D engine running, too. The 3D engine is the same kind of shader-based engine that powers games like Half-Life 2 and Halo 3, and there’s no way around using system resources to get that kind of intense, immersive visual experience.

Amy: Does it support IMAP?

Robert: Not currently, but that’s on the development list.

Amy: If you are in contact with another email user who also uses 3D Mailbox can you meet up in a virtual world and hang out poolside in Miami?

Robert: No. Now, that is something that *would* make workers less productive :)

Amy: What’s the next project in store for World Market Watch?

Robert: Levels 2-10 of 3D Mailbox. We have a lot of great, immersive environments in the works to suit every mood or interest.

Amy: What’s the difference between the free version and the premium version?

Robert: Not a lot! The free version has all the features of the premium version, and is free for life, but you don’t have access to human tech support, and you have our watermark and promotional text at the end of your outgoing messages, similar to what Gmail and Yahoo Mail do. Future levels will be available at a nominal charge. We’re still hoping that enough free users will get the premium version, though, just to support our efforts — since we don’t have any ads in the program, and don’t engage in the dark side of marketing.

Amy: So is each email message you send or receive represented by an avatar?

Robert: Exactly. There are avatars for good mail, and for spam. The good mail hang out by the pool, and the spam get sent to the beach to await their fate at the jaws of the Great Whites offshore. When you move a message to a folder (represented by cabanas complete with bartenders), the avatars walk there. You’d be surprised how human the scene is — but after all, each email you get was sent by a person, and communication with others is what email is all about. 3D Mailbox takes that communication to the next dimension.

Amy: Where can we download our FREE version of 3D Mailbox?

Robert: Right here

Thanks Robert!

If you’d like to see more on how the program works I have attached some additional screenshots. Be sure to let us know what you think of 3D Mailbox by leaving some comments!