Virtual Renaissance Faire Idea

[LadyMorna]

I have been turning over in my mind an idea about a "virtual renaissance faire" website.  RenaissanceFestival.com  has some features of such a site, but I was thinking of expanding and going in a slightly different direction.  I am not a techie, so I don't have skills to do such a project, but I'm sending out the idea for anyone who does.  I think it could be a good fund-raiser for RESCU, and it might also draw more people into becoming interested in Renaissance Faires.  So here goes...

I thought it might begin with a map of the virtual Faire village, looking something like the maps you get at the gate at real Faires.  You would have various "stages" where Faire performers have videos of some of the acts they perform at real Faires, and you could go to them by clicking on that particular stage.  You could also order their merchandise.  There would also be virtual "shoppes" that you could click on to view and buy merchandise from various vendors.  There might also be an area where people trying to get started as Faire entertainers could upload videos (sort of like YouTube), and could be seen by those who book entertainment for Faires, and thus maybe given the exposure they need to get started.  There might also be a "Pub" area, which could be a forum for discussions, or even a chatroom. 

These are just some ideas I wanted to toss out there.  Anyone else ever have a similar idea?  Anyone know someone with web design skills who might want to run with these ideas?

Lady Morna

[Lairde Guardn]

I have actually seen this idea before and actually think it would work, but alas have seen no one actually take the ball and run with it.

But I would also like to see a Virtual "2nd Life" so you could take your character into the virtual faire and chat with the others there. 

[Morgan Dreadlocke]

I like the idea.

There was a similar but perveted site put on as a spoof for the original Myst game. Twas called "Pyst" and you could, online, virtually trash the island fer all to see. If that kind of genius could be altered from destructive to creative, then placed in a "Monkey Island" type setting--?
Being able to fashion your own individual, recognizeable icon to move from area to area would be cool. Venues on the map could be rent paying advertisers for supplies, events or services. Moving into an area such as "Johanns tavern" would put you into a forum/chat box for that subject, or transport you to a paid advertisers shop. Lots of neat possibilities for someone with the technical ability to pull it off. (That ain't me )

[gypsylakat]

it would be kind of cool if it could be paired with something like imvu or second life type thing... just to be able to wear the garb you can't afford in real life... lol.

[Macintyre]

i thought there already was and it was called WOW?!   

[LadyMorna]

WOW is fine if you're a warrior, but what if you're a lover, not a fighter?   

Lady Morna

[renren]

Or a pirate?

[Ozium]

This may have some possibility's, used to mess with it years ago.
And they have a server so you can run make your own world.

http://www.activeworlds.com/

[Merry]

This is a great idea.  Sort of like Disney's Virtual Magic Kingdom.  A gathering place to play online.

[will paisley]

I thought it might begin with a map of the virtual Faire village, looking something like the maps you get at the gate at real Faires.  You would have various "stages" where Faire performers have videos of some of the acts they perform at real Faires, and you could go to them by clicking on that particular stage.  You could also order their merchandise.  There would also be virtual "shoppes" that you could click on to view and buy merchandise from various vendors.  There might also be an area where people trying to get started as Faire entertainers could upload videos (sort of like YouTube), and could be seen by those who book entertainment for Faires, and thus maybe given the exposure they need to get started.  There might also be a "Pub" area, which could be a forum for discussions, or even a chatroom. 

Well, here's one existing attempt at the virtual shoppes idea - http://www.virtualfaire.com/

The problem with the stages (and entertainment in general) is the same problem that exists with file sharing.  Talk to any performers and they'll tell you they're not too crazy about having their entire acts up on YouTube.  Even putting an entire song (along with its shtick) online is inviting somebody to steal it.  About the only acts who would be interested in giving their material away would be new and untried acts, which unfortunately look and sound like, well, new and untried acts.  Though it might help the acts out with getting feedback and exposure among patrons, I don't seeing it being of much use to entertainment directors, as they can get anything they want sent or emailed to them via the audition process.

[gypsylakat]

you mind be able to do something like a pay to play kind of itunes type thing.. have like brief little clips to have people get hooked for free and then have like part of it be pay, maybe have like a "virtual tip jar" pay $5 and get five or 10 "tickets" to watch shows, the performers get half and half goes to maintaining the site?

[DonaCatalina]

I thought I heard that Second Life had a Renaissance Island. Is that not true?

[ItsTheBishop]

Second Life would be the ideal platform for something like this. The only problem is that someone has to pay for the "land" if there isn't an appropriately themed island already.