[Cyclical]

Roblox is likely one of the closest things to an actual "metaverse" that exists right now. An extensible world, where anyone can add/program in locations and experiences, is the truly transformative part of media like Ready Player One.

[Kinrany]

This, and it's also about the worst version of metaverse that could possibly exist: a total company town where everything is proprietary and owned by the company.

[spondylosaurus]

Related, regarding Roblox's creator program (where third-party devs, including kids, can (try to) earn money by generating the content that brings users to Roblox in the first place):

> Most of Roblox’s userbase is under 18, with about a third between 9 and 12. Emil, 11, tells People Make Games that he “saw other developers getting money in a way that looked easy.” It wasn’t easy. To withdraw money earned through microtransactions in a game, a developer must earn a minimum of 100,000 Robux, the platform’s in-game currency. Buying 100,000 Robux through Roblox’s store costs $1,000. Selling 100,000 Robux back to Roblox earns you just $350. Withdrawal is not even possible unless these developers pay a five-dollar monthly fee for a Roblox Premium Subscription. (Second Life and Entropia Universe, which also allow players to sell items, respectively have $10 and $100 minimums for withdrawing money.)

https://www.wired.com/story/on-roblox-kids-learn-its-hard-to...