Metaversum GmbH, developer and operator of the 3D online world Twinity, announced today that metropolises are being built in its virtual world. Berlin’s Hackescher Markt and its immediate surroundings can now be accessed in private Beta.

Berlin, 10 July 2008 – Metaversum GmbH has announced that it plans to build virtual replicas of real metropolises in the 3D online world Twinity. Berlin will be the first virtual city that Twinity members can enter and explore, with other international metropolises set to follow.

This is the first time that Germany’s capital has been rendered true-to-scale within a virtual world, thus enabling its members to directly interact with the city. Visit virtual galleries, make new friends in cafés and bars, or go on a virtual shopping trip – these are only a few of the many things to discover in Twinity.

During the current private beta phase, Twinity enables its members to create unique avatars, and move into and style virtual apartments anywhere in the world.

The Hackescher Markt district of Berlin is the city’s first neighborhood to be released for private testing, with over six square kilometers of area. Twinity’s Hackescher Markt and its surroundings feature many shops, galleries, bars, and clubs that exist in real Berlin. These locations have been carefully rendered in Twinity. The Metaversum team will continue to improve the outdoor environment as members explore the virtual city.

“We’re very excited about opening the Hackescher Markt, the very first to-scale section of a real city in Twinity. We’re now engaged in integrating more features and optimizing the city’s performance step by step in close cooperation with our members”, commented Dr. Mirko Caspar, CMO of Metaversum GmbH.

Anyone interested in visiting Twinity may register for the current private beta phase at www.twinity.com.