14 DAY TRIAL // It's not easy to describe theBlu without listing the things it draws inspiration from, even though it's not like anything else on the web. theBlu labels itself as an art project, but, of course, it's more than that.
It's part social network, part game, part Wikipedia, part charity and conservation project all rolled into one. The aim is to create a virtual ocean filled with 3D versions of all of the life found in the real oceans.
Users can create their own 'oceans' with the fish and ocean life they want and they 'collect.'
But with hundreds of thousands of species of fish alone, that is a daunting task for anyone, which is why theBlu relies on users to fill in the blanks.
This is where the Wikipedia comparison comes from. But, in fact, it's more like Google's Map Maker and Building Maker, since it encourages users to create 3D models for anything in theBlu.
But it's not buildings they're recreating, it's the entire environment so, in this sense, it's probably closer to Second Life. The fact that artists will be able to make money from the things they create is another thing it has in common with Second Life.
Again, just like Second Life, theBlu is not a solitary experience, in fact, connecting with people around the world is a big draw.
The game part comes from collecting new things to put in your own personal ocean. While you can add things as you discover them, you can speed up the process by buying new models directly. FarmVille players will feel right at home.
The team behind theBlu, Wemo Media, has big ambitions for the project and envisions it as a way for artists to share their work like they've never done before, a way for users to get involved in conservation and environmental issues and so on.
But, in the end, theBlu is simply a way of creating your very own fish aquarium screen saver, which happens to be plugged into the web.
