Does this thing work through central server, and exists since 1995 without major malware problems? The map files for each "world" could be hosted anywhere as I've seen, a regular zip archive (
http://users.worldsonline.com/jimbly/custom/custom.htm), but how do you see who's visiting same "world" map as you? Rather strange system:
+ it's not quite like games where map files, user avatars and user interactions within each map explicitly belong to central server, e.g. in Roblox
+ neither it is hosted on independent servers like Minecraft, Garry's Mod, BYOND where minimal and optional interaction with central server is required (for skins and account info)
+ is it more akin to "virtual presence" systems like Dissenter or Google SideWiki where your client application reports to a central server that you're visiting a certain webpage, and then you can add comments, or in case of worlds.com - report your character position and write to chat so other players would see you. It does work with any "world" as long as all users share same map file?
My question is: when central server stops existing, would users be able to interact with each other or not and have there been efforts to make standalone servers?
Damn, so many of these old virtual world games and MMOs are destined to vanish one day. At least we have WoW, Runescape and Ragnarok Online servers preserved by pirates.