Making a Metaverse That Matters

Glossary

3D engine

Sometimes “game engine,” the visualization software undergirding metaverse platforms. Unity and Unreal are by far the leading 3D engines. (See also Unity and Unreal.)

augmented reality

(or AR): The layering of virtual/digital input on top of the user's view of the real world, typically through a head-mounted display or smartphone. (See also mixed reality.)

avatar

From the Sanskrit for “godly incarnation,” the onscreen character that a virtual world user controls.

blockchain

A distributed online ledger (somewhat akin to Google Docs) that anyone can access to track payments in cryptocurrency or create “smart contracts” with others.

concurrency

A key industry standard metric of user engagement, counting the number of users logged into the same Internet service (that is, a metaverse platform) at the same time. Peak concurrency, typically reached during special events, is a helpful metric for measuring the overall health of a platform, both technically and as a virtual community. Peak daily concurrency is a good indicator of average user activity, especially on the weekend, when metaverse platforms tend to be busiest. (See also monthly active user and local concurrency.)

core (or hardcore) gamers

A subset of gamers who primarily enjoy 3D games with an emphasis on action and “twitch” (fast reflex) interaction, especially those played on video game consoles or high-end PCs. Traditionally and typically young men, though this is starting to change in places ...