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SL世界内刊物Avastar专访HiPiHi创始人兼CEO许晖
来源：Avastar 2007年09月17日
HuI Xu is the man behind HiPiHi, the Chinese answer to SL. The founder of one of SL's main rivals, talks exclusively to REGIS BRaaTHENS about the future of virtual worlds, SL and his own plans for virtual world domination.
THE aVaSTaR: Mr. Xu, what attracts you to virtual worlds?
HuI Xu: I think virtual worlds are totally different new dreamland for us, which extend our imagination, add new value to the Internet, and create a new era for the life of human beings. In addition, all 2D business models can be applied in 3D virtual worlds, with a more interactive, immersive and attractive interface. I'm strongly convinced virtual worlds will change the way people use the internet and bring a revolution to the relevant industry in the future.
Ta: Why did you create HiPiHi?
HX: Having got involved in several different 2D web ventures, I decided it was the right time to do something, as a response to the forthcoming Internet revolution. I took some time off and decided to create HiPiHi.
Ta: So what's your strategy?
HX: HiPiHi's strategy is firstly, to cooperate with global leaders in the internet and communications industry to establish a set of relevant standards for the development of the 3D platform. Secondly,HiPiHi will cooperate with other major 3D virtual worlds to finalise these standards, and bring the possibility for users to interact and transact between different virtual worlds. Lastly, we will establish a HiPiHi virtual world global value chain.
Ta: Being China based, will it be Chinafocussed?
HX: The HiPiHi platform aims to organise the user community in terms of their socio cultural and lifestyle preferences. HiPiHi will work with groups to provide localised content and customise the user experiences within HiPiHi for each of the diverse sociocultural “tribes” ribes? of Asia, Eastern Europe or the Hispanicspeaking regions. Lifestylec e n t r i c sectors can be created by niche communities with their unique or alternative hobbies. We aspire to make HiPiHi an enabler for RL groups to create their virtual interaction zones too.
Ta: Will HiPiHi outgrow SL?
HX: I think size is not the issue here. Virtual worlds, not just SL and HiPiHi, have to forge a spirit of collaboration because the industry is still very new and all of us have equally important roles to play in shaping our futures.
Ta: What do you see as the failings of SL?
HX: Both S L a n d HiPiHi have experienced a process of improvement through trial and
error. In this sense there are no absolute failings of the virtual world platform such as SL.
Ta: How will the metaverse look in 5 years time and what will HiPiHi's role be?
HX: There will be many different virtual worlds platforms all over the world in 5 years. But it's very likely that they might use the same standards for their basic technical framework and operation. In other words, the standardised clients enable the avatar and content to
be exchanged freely between different platforms, which can naturally build a whole integrated and interoperated metaverse.
Ta: So what does the future hold for SL?
HX: We respect SL as a pioneer in the coming era of 3D internet. It is SL that opened the door to the metaverse for ordinary people and ignited the revolution in the industry. I'm confident SL will continue to wield significant influence in the global virtual world industry in the near future.
Ta: What has been your most fascinating experience in HiPiHi?
HX: I have an avatar in the HiPiHi world, named 'shanren', which alludes to a Chinese legend of a person who seeks paradise in a world away from the materialistic aspects of city life. That "paradise" is the vision I hold for HiPiHi. I usually enter HiPiHi for my moments of leisure after a full day's work. There are always a group of residents who enjoy wandering in the world at midnight. I have made friends with many residents, by chatting with them and playing games with them. Hence, I feel my virtual life has given me a new life.
HiPiHi in pics
HiPiHi World is a dynamic 3D virtual world, inhabited and, according to official PR, owned by its residents.
China-based, HiPiHi is actively building a global virtual world much the same as Second Life. It is not just focussed on China, but aims for residents from different regions and cultures to interact with each other.
Below are some scenes from SL's 'rival' HiPiHi:
