The Metaverse is a relatively new and evolving collection of virtual worlds where users can engage in many activities similar to those in the physical world. For example, users can attend concerts, meet with family and friends, shop, and play games alone or with others. While a fully integrated Metaverse is still a future concept, users can already explore much of it with minimal investment. Like a universe with planets that are not connected but still part of a universal system, the Metaverse operates similarly. It is a collection of virtual worlds that mimic the physical world, where users need avatars to socialize, play games, attend concerts, and shop. The key difference between the Metaverse and online worlds is that instead of being an outsider looking at a screen, the Metaverse immerses you for a more realistic experience. Special equipment is needed for the best experience in the Metaverse.

5.1.1 Equipment Needed to Enter the Metaverse

You don’t need highly technical equipment to access the Metaverse. You can access it using a smartphone, though this may offer limited features. Other necessary equipment includes:

• Computer: A computer with good graphics and memory will enhance your experience beyond smartphone capabilities. Check the requirements of the Metaverse worlds you wish to use to see if they require specific features for PCs.
• Gaming Console: Not essential for Metaverse access, but useful if you want to connect other devices like microphones and VR headsets. A gaming console can provide an immersive experience if you’re interested in real-time socialization with additional devices.
• VR Headset: To enter the three-dimensional Metaverse world, you will need a virtual reality headset and hand-held controllers. Headsets include dual screens and speakers for audio.
• AR Glasses: Augmented reality glasses work like regular glasses and can enhance your virtual reality experience by overlaying digital information on real-world objects.

Although you don’t need more than a computer or smartphone to enter the Metaverse, additional devices can enhance your virtual world experience. As the Metaverse expands, new devices will become available.

5.1.2 Types of Avatars in the Metaverse

Avatars are one of the most crucial elements for accessing the Metaverse. Your avatar can resemble you or represent a character of your choosing. Avatars serve as your digital identity and can be static or dynamic. Not all Metaverse worlds use the same avatar, so it’s good to know about different types:

• 2D: A 2D avatar is flat and used in 2D environments. You might see them on social media and other platforms.
• 3D: A 3D avatar can be viewed from different angles and is more lifelike, aiming to replicate the user’s movements.
• VR: VR avatars do not include a full body depiction. They use hands but only include the upper body.
• Full-body: These avatars move both the upper and lower body. Although not widely used in Metaverse worlds currently, they may have broader applications in the future.

You can customize your avatar and change its features anytime. You may need to alter your avatar type for different Metaverse worlds, as some may only accommodate half-body or 2D avatars.

5.1.3 How to Create an Avatar?

There are several options for creating an avatar. Some Metaverse worlds allow you to create your avatar within their platform. Many apps are available or in development for avatar customization. Ensure the app you choose meets your needs and the requirements of the Metaverse worlds you’re using. You’ll also find avatar applications designed for business or social worlds, gaming avatars, and others, with prices varying depending on the application and features offered.

5.1.4 What Can You Do in the Metaverse?

Although the Metaverse is still in development, there are already many options available. From gaming to concerts and even working in the Metaverse, you’ll find opportunities to explore existing worlds.

• Work in the Metaverse: As the Metaverse evolves, more jobs will become available. Most new jobs in the Metaverse will require technical knowledge, but not all. Here are some jobs available in the Metaverse: Virtual tour guide, Virtual fashion designer, Community managers, Software engineers, Storytellers, 3D modelers, Event directors. As the Metaverse expands, the variety of jobs in this virtual space will also increase.
• Play Games: The popularity of gaming in the Metaverse is growing. Some popular games in the Metaverse include:
  • Fortnite: Offers digital events such as concerts along with battle royale gaming.
  • Minecraft: Allows users to create worlds and defend against monsters and intruders.
  • Roblox: Offers various interactive multiplayer games. This platform uses a digital currency called Robux, which can be converted into real currency under certain conditions like age and income from Robux.
• Attend Events: The Metaverse hosts concerts, trade shows, corporate events, job fairs, virtual graduations, and gaming events. Virtual events provide convenience as they don’t require large spaces or physical attendance. You can participate in or host virtual events.
• Buy and Sell Digital Assets: The Metaverse offers the opportunity to buy and sell assets including art, trading cards, films, music, and real estate. You can buy or sell these assets with NFTs, a digital currency used in virtual worlds.

5.1.5 How to Access and Join the Decentraland Metaverse

You might wonder how to enter the Metaverse and access it. It’s not rocket science. Here, we’ll tell you about Decentraland and show you how you can enter the Metaverse and experience it for yourself.

Decentraland is a 3D virtual platform based on Ethereum, primarily a Metaverse where you can buy or sell land. You can then use this land to create your settings, apps, or marketplace according to your needs.

To access this platform, you need a laptop and a crypto wallet. Smartphones and most computers can be used to access it, but they may not provide the best performance due to limited processing power. This is why Meta (formerly Facebook) is focusing on developing more hardware like smart glasses to make it easier for users to access the Metaverse.

• Step 1: You’ll Need an Avatar
  • Since the Metaverse is about creating a virtual world, the first step is to create your digital avatar. Decentraland offers a panel where you can create and customize your avatar. This allows you to choose your hair, eye color, clothes, and even accessorize your avatar with various decorative items. If you don’t like what your avatar is wearing, you can change it according to your preference.

• Step 2: Explore the World
  • Once you decide how your avatar will look and have created it, you’ll be dropped off at Genesis Plaza, the starting point in Decentraland. It might take some time to adjust to this place, where various avatars will come and go around you.

• Step 3: Play Games
  • Decentraland also offers the option to play games, with Wonder mine crafting being one of the most popular games played by everyone. Here, meteors crash into the earth, and players mine them for money and minerals. Every avatar starts with 100 wondercoins.

• Step 4: Make New Friends

While playing games, you’ll also have the opportunity to make new friends. You can talk to other players and ask how they feel about the Metaverse. Like many online multiplayer games, this platform provides a chance to make friends, allowing players to make new friends and experience the virtual world of the Metaverse together.

Relationship between Web 3.0 and the Metaverse

• Web 3.0 and the Metaverse: Web 3.0, often associated with the next phase of the internet’s evolution, emphasizes decentralized networks, blockchain technologies, and a more semantic web where machines can interpret data like humans. The Metaverse, a collective virtual shared space, is inherently aligned with many Web 3.0 principles, such as decentralization, user sovereignty, and an economy powered by digital assets and cryptocurrencies.
• Gateway Concept: The idea of Web 3.0 as a “gateway” to the Metaverse is metaphorically accurate. Web 3.0 technologies and principles provide the foundational infrastructure that enables the Metaverse to exist and evolve. Through advancements in blockchain, AI, and immersive technologies, Web 3.0 facilitates the creation of complex, user-driven virtual worlds, making the concept of a gateway fitting.

• Connection Between Web 3.0 and Metaverse: The connection between Web 3.0 and the Metaverse is widely acknowledged in tech discourse. Web 3.0’s emphasis on a decentralized, user-centric internet aligns with the Metaverse’s vision of creating immersive, interconnected virtual spaces where users have control over their identities, assets, and experiences.