Read on Game | Life today (via GameWatch via NeoGAF, oh, that grapevine) that this Winter, players will be able to hang out MMO-style in a futuristic-looking, 3D replica of Tokyo's 23 wards. I've never been to Japan, but that's apparently the Shibuya 109 department store in the picture above, a famous real-life landmark.All I can think of is the mad rush of overweight, sweaty, house-bound Wapanese swarming into the virtual streets, clamoring for the chance to meet an actual Japanese person. Except nobody in the virtual city will actually BE Japanese, but pimply white American teen boys with cat ears on their avatars who say "KONNICHIWA! BOKU WA NARUTO DESU~! ^_^"
Seriously, though-- the idea of virtual tourism is enormously cool. It probably won't be long before we can visit up-to-date 3D models of all major cities, with weather and day/night effects in realtime. Though of course there's no substitute for a real cultural experience, it'd still be so much fun. --Until everybody ruins it by being either blasé about it or obnoxious therein. Which I suppose would be similar to the real tourist experience.Anyway, check the NeoGAF thread for more screenshots and info. Looks fa-aa-ancy.
