This year, Burning Man went virtual on AltSpace, the VR-based platform from Microsoft. Although I had friends who had been to Burning Man in reality, I was never brave enough to visit. This year, that didn’t matter. Pandemic brought “burners,” as they are called, to AltSpace for a unique celebration. Some friendly nerds had already digitized the camp site for both day and night.
For me, actual Burning Man sounds like an incredible commitment. I think I’d usually prefer air-conditioned hotels to living in a tent in the desert, even if it is only temporary.
Disclaimer: This post is slightly ridiculous.
While visitors to actual Burning Man events might decide to experiment with substances, it’s more difficult to tell who is using in VR and peer pressure is not an issue. My substance of choice was wine from California, but this configuration can cause some potential compatibility issues in certain use cases.
I found wine was acceptable in VR with moderation, but made it more critical to maintain a seated configuration. Glass containers are not recommended while wearing the VR headset and those who have a tendency to flail their limbs should take additional precautions. Nobody likes a sloppy avatar. Behave yourself and you’ll make new friends in no time. It’s a friendly environment.
Burning Man has a unique culture that makes it feel like a religious experience. Visitors were encouraged to study and take the 10 Principles of Burning Man to heart. And although one of the principles includes “gift giving,” this one is more difficult when everything is intangible.
Burning Man’s multiple worlds include day and night versions, fun sounds, colorful animations and textures, as well as lively discussions about the universe and environmental responsibility. AltSpace also released an Mac version since “Burners” skew toward macOS. Event organizers told me that it’s common for “Burners” to fall asleep, but when accessing AltSpace from PC or Mac, this presents as AFK (Away From Keyboard), or a dead avatar.
Much like the real Burning Man, the worlds are relatively massive, especially in comparison to other AltSpace worlds. There’s a lot of debate about world design and designs vary greatly depending on intent. Various controls and settings can determine how far user voices travel and this has a profound effect on feelings of privacy and the ability to converse.
Designing worlds for VR is also an incredible exercise in user research. Worldbuilders typically invite users to visit their spaces long before the first events are hosted in them. Preparation is critical for a positive experience. Good designers make sure to invite users with a variety of hardware to maximize compatibility and performance.
Although the future in the meatspace is uncertain, virtual worlds offer some unique experiences we might continue to enjoy even after pandemic is over.
