Frenzoo. Games with Style.

Unity winning the 3d war - 30 million installs and accelerating

Unity 3d used in Lego Starwars Quest for R2:D2

David Helgason, CEO of 3d engine company Unity just announced they have hit 30 million installs of their web player plugin and growing at over 2 million each month. Driven by MMOs such as Cartoon Networks Fusion Fall, games such as PGA Tour Online and other services including Frenzoo has seen it evolving into the defacto standard for high resolution 3d on the web.

News like this warms our heart.

After a first failed prototype, we decided not to waste valuable cycles on our own client/engine but change strategy to put our focus solely onto building the  best 3d avatar site, on top of the best web 3d engine, Unity.

We're starting to see first groups of visitors coming to our site who already have the plugin installed.   What was already a painless install (3MB download, no browser reload) turns into a "zero-install" process - those people jump straight in.  That percent of people may be small but it's growing.

Unity 3d powering our in-browser chatrooms

Sure the platform has bugs and things we'd love it to have (streaming media and local file cache please?) but all up it's been a great decision. Having lots more people on the net having the plugin already makes it even better.

The future is looking rosy.

Sculptris - amazing free new 3d creation tool that imports to Frenzoo

It's a hot topic around creator and virtual world circles at the moment.

A week ago, a fantastic tool called Sculptris was released as a free download.  Unlike more complicated 3d packages, this lightweight program makes creation intuitive and easy to pick up, akin to modelling virtual clay. Check out what can be done with it:

If you're a keen gamer you'll probably notice similarities to the awesome Spore creature creator from EA, except this can be generalized to any type of mesh, not just creatures.

The good news is that it outputs a format that is easy to import into other packages and then imported into the Frenzoo.com web 3d world.  In fact within 20 minutes of installing the tool we had created our first mask from scratch and it was live in world:

 

Made in minutes. Scary huh?

 

Imported to max, polys reduced then uploaded (no texture, just testing)

Bingo, it's live in Frenzoo, ready to scare noobs

It's exciting to see these types of user friendly 3d tools starting to permeate around the net.  No doubt we'll see lots of weird and wonderful Sculptris works showing up in Frenzoo.com soon...

Long live creativity!

New Frenzy issue is out, 1st under new editor Liquidlight!

Frenzy, the user created community magazine of Frenzoo.com is going from strength to strength!

The new issue #8 is out now and looks absolutely fantastic, with a special Mothers and Fathers day theme.

It's also the very first under new editor in chief Liquidlight, who took over the reins from the talented Miidasu who has become the copy-editor.

Look for an interview with interns Sirocco and Leelu, styling tips as well as a special on multi-avatar chat, how to use outfits, medieval 3d scenes and lots more.

Read it in this post or alternatively click here

Frenzoo.com Launches Multi-Avatar 3D Chat Within the Browser

Hong Kong, May 19, 2010 - Frenzoo.com, the in-browser 3D world with a user-generated economy, launches multi-avatar chat today.  For the first time, people can now join or host events, create unique venues and more, all within a web browser.  The new release will allow groups of up to 10 or more to interact either in public or more intimate private scenes.  

"Since January our users have been clamoring for multi-avatar chat on our site. Now it's in beta they can enjoy immersive group chats, without needing to learn.  Our goal is to listen to users and make the most entertaining and accessible 3d world on the web," said CEO and Co-Founder Simon Newstead.

Using the Unity 3d plugin, Frenzoo is a browser-based 3d world brought to life by user generated content. With the new multi-avatar chatrooms, members can join or sponsor events, such as fashion shows, discussions, quizzes and games, roleplays, speed dates and more. Shop owners will also be able to highlight their items through showcase rooms.

While anyone can join a chatroom, only VIP users can create them. They can set the rooms to be either public or private, and set optional age restrictions of "under 18", or "18 or over".

Frenzoo user Glamorous is hosting an upcoming "Nature Extravaganza" event. "The new chatrooms are great way to meet new friends," she said. "I'm excited about holding one of the first chatroom parties."

Multi-avatar chatrooms are currently in beta and available to try at Frenzoo.com.

About Frenzoo

In development since 2008, Frenzoo Ltd. (www.frenzoo.com), is the first browser-based 3d world with user generated content.  The destination allows users to create an avatar, meet people and virtual chat in animated 3d scenes, express their style and create fashion and content all in their Internet browser. Mod sims and 3d asset import from packages such as 3D Max and Blender are also supported.  The Frenzoo team is based in Hong Kong, and has been developed with seed investment from Ambient Sound Investments, established in 2003 as an equal partnership by four founding engineers at Skype Technologies.  Frenzoo has a partnership with leading virtual content producer Anshe Chung Studios (ACS).  Frenzoo leverages the power of the Unity 3d engine, used by leading entertainment companies such as Electronic Arts.  The lightweight plugin installs in seconds without any browser reloads, and enables rich 3D graphics rendered in hardware.

Press Contacts

Simon Newstead, Co-Founder & CEO
Email: simon@frenzoo.com
Skype: simon-hk

Working for Frenzoo: Interview with Frenzoo Interns Sirocco and Leelu

Frenzoo is currently searching for the next online marketing intern for the office in Hong Kong. To give an idea of what it's like working here, we interviewed our current interns.

Left: Photo of Sirocco

Sirocco is an eccentric fashion-lover who comes from the Netherlands. Fluent in English, Dutch, and Turkish, he loves traveling the world. Mediterranean food makes him salivate, and his calendar is overflowing with social events. He is here at Frenzoo for five months working as an online marketing intern while he studies for a degree in Business.

Leelu is a self-proclaimed child at heart who loves films, music, books, and, most of all, food. She comes from Texas, where the chicken fried steaks sizzle and the homemade Mexican food delights. Despite her roots, she does not own a pair of cowboy boots and can't line dance to save a kitten. Leelu has worked in the Frenzoo office for three months and is returning home soon.

How did you come to work at Frenzoo?

Sirocco: I found my internship by internet, a small ad requesting interns.

Leelu: My friend is a member of the site and told me about an opening remote internship. I started working from home. About three months into my remote internship, the opportunity to come to Hong Kong came up. Never traveling outside of the States before, I grabbed onto the chance.

What do you do at Frenzoo?

Sirocco: I have a broad range of tasks; from community work till hosting events on Frenzoo. It's really fun because I have the freedom I need but at the same time, the support of my manager, this way I achieve to learn every day new things.

Leelu: Oh many, many things. Primarily I work to help build the community forum, as well as guiding Frenzoo Mentors, Angels, Moderators and Site Moderators, but I have also branched out to working in social media platforms like Twitter. Occasionally I will do surveys and research, and at other times I get pulled into testing upcoming features, which is a really fun experience.

Leelu in Macau

What do you like about working here?

Sirocco: It's an informal place to work, meaning you have direct contact with all the people working for Frenzoo, from the art team to the CEO, everyone acts as one big family.

Leelu: The overall environment at Frenzoo is really relaxed, but also professional. It's nice to come to work in what I feel comfortable in and still learn a lot of new things that I will be able to carry over into other jobs. I have also met a lot of friendly people Not to mention free lunch in the office....

How do you find Hong Kong?

Sirocco: It's a great city, a lot of possibilities, a lot to do, it all depends on you!! Work hard, play hard; nightlife scene is great in Hong Kong as well as the beaches and other attractions!

Leelu: Hong Kong is a new and exciting city for me. I come from central Texas, and this is my first time traveling outside the States and being in an international city. I have met a lot of people from all over the world and experienced really wonderful places. Coming from Texas, I am a huge food-lover. Hong Kong offers such a diversity of cuisines, from Lebanese donner to chicken feet. Ceci is a cuisine connoisseur and her suggestions always bring me to a tasty food heaven.

What advice can you give to others about working at Frenzoo?

Sirocco: Grab the opportunity and enjoy the great experience.

Leelu: Working for an online virtual world is fun but challenging also. Don't expect an easy reference by working here, but don't let that scare you either. Frenzoo is a great place to learn and push yourself to the next level. If you are looking for a challenge and improvement in a nice and new environment, Frenzoo may be the place for you. Besides, all of the good things in life are worth a little hard work.

Thanks Sirocco and Leelu!

Sirocco and Leelu sitting on the terrace of the Frenzoo office

Interested in working for Frenzoo?

Currently we are looking for marketing interns who want to gain valuable experience in practical marketing using the latest online techniques and learn how to build and develop a thriving online community.

The main tasks consist of outbound marketing and community management. It inculdes strategic planning, internet/viral marketing, marketing campaign implementation, and result reporting. We would like to find candidates who are internet savvy with strong communication skills. Fashion / Game awareness is an advantage as is a strong passion for social media (ie. blogs, online communities, social network etc.).

If you want to be part of an exciting project, a young team and gain valuable experience into the latest digital marketing techniques, please email us directly to cecilia@frenzoo.com

Site running out of disk space will be down for maintenance to upgrade disk space of site during 13-05-2010 2:00am - 4:00am US EST time.

WETA "Create an Alien" Contest Winners Announced At Last

You have been waiting for it...

The WETA "Create an Alien" contest winners were finally decided after a long deliberation. For those who don't know, a few weeks ago we opened a very special contest in collaboration with WETA, you know, the special effect provider for movies like Lord of the Rings and the recent hit Avatar. 

The objective of the contest was to show new alien lifeforms using your 3D avatar.

The guest judges were Greg Broadmore, designer of the Dr. Grordbort's world of Rayguns and contraptions, and Kogi Ko, Frenzoo's own design director.

The winning entry was the very creative Octopus woman, by NAME:

Congratulations to NAME for the first prize win. The runner up was xoxskittlesxox, and second runner up went to Caleb Emo Zombie.

To see their winning entries, along with other special mentions, check the announcement thread, or see  the video. 

Which entries were your favorite?

The Truth Hurts: Frenzoo needs Testosterone

The truth is painful. Frenzoo needs to man it up a bit.

Our virtual online world is suffering from lady-mania. Check the Meet People section at any moment and you will see a slew of female avatars, line after line after line. Not that we don't like our lady members, but we would like guys to enjoy Frenzoo as well.

Some of the criticism Frenzoo receives is that it is too girly. Recently we have made changes to make the site more gender-neutral like changing the color-scheme of the forum, encouraging more male items in the shop, and creating guy-only contests.

One of our biggest weaknesses when it comes to masculinity is our male 3D avatars. Guys like to plume their feathers, or, in humanity's case, beef it up a bit. The most popular items for guys are skins with rippling muscles. The only problem is that the skins do not match the rest of the body. Heads stick out like a sore, effeminate thumb.

The face is the biggest problem with male avatars, with face customizations being limited and the facial features unrealistic. A lot of guys try to hide it with the facial hair available in the shop. In some cases, it really works.

Since the face is the biggest problem, we are starting there. The aim is to improve morphing abilities , so our husky male members can get the square jaw they always wanted. More face customization options will be available within a week or two. With it, perhaps a bundle of Brad Pitt and Matthew Goode look-a- likes. It's a win-win situation--something for the guys, and someone for the ladies to ogle.

First, the most important thing is receiving suggestions. What do you think will help male avatars look more manly?