#bowie world

[thejaymo]

I’m sure you have all seen this clip of David Bowie talking about the Internet back in 1999 “I think we're actually on the cusp of something exhilarating and terrifying”. 

One of the things that is always missing whenever that clip goes viral is the context from which he was speaking. 

David Bowie was in the Metaverse before most people were even on the web. Here’s an overview

At the time of the recording ALL of the following was already happening and going on in his life:

BOWIE WORLD (1999)

Created by World’s Inc. in 1999, Bowie World was the first 3D virtual world created by a creative artist on Bowienet. Bowie World allowed users to experience the immersive world of David Bowie, interact with fans from around the world, purchase merchandise and meet with David in avatar form.

The 3D environment was powered by worlds.com technology and featured integrated chat room etc.

See this paper from 1996 ACM interactions, Sept-Oct 1996 journal for more details.

"He would never announce it in advance, but he would get on to the chat board and talk to us. The handle he always called himself by was Sailor," says Mr Carrington.

In 2016 daily dot went to visit Bowie World and documented their experience. there were people in the world chatting! Still! 17 years later! 

// If you’re so included you can read my experience of doing something similar. I toured Active Worlds (launched 1995) in the book Lost Zone. Hiking the Dawn of Metaverse //

Cyber Song (1999)

The same year 1999, Bowie recorded the worlds first ‘Cyber Song’.

Fans were invited to send in lyrics to help co-write a track, and 80,000 people responded. The song Bowie chose was by a 20-year-old American, about the idea of having a virtual life on the internet. 

You can find the song on the album Hours...

"What's Really Happening?"

Grown inside a plastic box Micro thoughts and safety locks Hearts become outdated clocks Tickin' in your mind

Fans were invited to watch the track being recorded live via a 360-degree interactive webcast!! back in 1999! 

The chat logs from that session are still online and archived at bowiewonderworld.com

The chat reads like literally any twitch livestream you’d read today:

*** Now talking in #BowieNetChat

Eileen: hmph - pFuRs: looking glass studios Bonster1: I like the hair especially ;) Eileen: (duh) Mechnic: his hair! *sigh* Eileen: I LOVE his hair.. Bonster1: it's getting really long Bonster1: my husband is jealous Eileen: first time in my LIFE I have actually LIKED the way he wears it LdyofDarkness: if I could be anyone's hair in the world, it would be his William: silly old man

Bowie also showed up

TotalBlamBlam: Is that Davis Bowie? Bonster: (David Bowie) yes I smell great

A potion of that chat in addition to the recording session is taken up with discussion about the (then upcoming) adventure game: The Nomad Soul developed by Quantic Dream and published by Eidos Interactive. 

The Nomad Soul (1999)

David Bowie is not only *in* the game and also wrote the soundtrack with Reeves Gabrels from The Cure!

I’ve never played the game but here’s a two line review:

In an alternate reality, all hell is breaking loose. And only one person can stop it - YOU.... sitting at your computer. That's not a witty commentary on video gaming, it's the plot of the game. And that's just the start of this bonkers bonanza. 

Lastly, for completeness I should also mention BowieNet

BowieNet (1998)

From 1998 - 2006, BowieNet wasn’t just David Bowies website with its virtual world, chat rooms, live-streamed concerts etc 

It was also the name of his ISP

Thats right, for 8 years Bowie ran an Internet Service Provider offering high speed and “uncensored” access to the Internet. 

The ISP provided every user with 5MB of web space, encouraging them to create and share their own websites. Newcomers were told they’d need at least a 28k, but preferably 56k modem connection – this was demanding at a time when the commercial WWW infrastructure was still in its infancy.

Through his Ultrastar company he negotiated deals to give users access to music services like the Rolling Stone Network, which livestreamed concerts, and Music Boulevard, one of the first companies to offer paid-for downloadable music tracks. 

For Bowie, this ISP wasn’t just a new means of marketing his material to the masses, it was the realisation of something he’d always understood about music: that the fan response completes the art. 

Anyways, hope his ‘Alien Life Form’ have a little more context. 

Bowie was in the Metaverse way before many of us were even on the web!

[ladycharles]

A sneak peek at my new single - a dance-rock epic that blends 70's ELO lushness with the paranoid disco of Berlin era Bowie and the synth-fueled aura of post punk👇🏼

"Hands" is out August 9th

If you like it though and am interested in hearing more here's a few assorted tunes 💖

Presave if you want it in your library as soon as it drops:

[nonymous06]

And if I say I evaporated off the face of the earth to draw more Aleheather? Would anyone be surprised??

Also reboot cast getting some love

[dangerousblizzarki]

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Nothing special here folks. Its just the intro for Total Drama Retour. Wait, did I say Retour? I meant World Tour, sorry.

Wait, are these the same people from Total Drama Island and Action?

[codekryptonic]

emoticon !!

[protagonist-art]

it's actually crazy it's taken me this long to draw Sid Fret considering I haven't stopped thinking abt him since I first saw him

[spitinsideme]

sinxe demon ragayha has been around gor a long time and is also very charismatix and talkative and involbed in human society she just jas been around at a lot of popular events, she probbaly had a fling with queen elizabeth when she wa din her 20s, shes just done a lot in hrt lifetime for a bit of fun

[toasted-melow]

I wanted to draw ragatha so bad in my au cuz I love her outfit so much !!! >w<!!

This comment made me laugh so hard on my au post so ... I had to draw it

BRITISH ZOOBLE BWHAHAHAH

[skstarling]

i think as the world falls down by david bowie is the best song ever and labyrinth is the best movie ever

[lisamarie-vee]

[ladycharles]

My new song "Hands" is out now!

It's a paranoid disco-punk epic with shades of ELO, David Bowie, Late of the Pier, of Montreal, and Siouxsie and the Banshees (?)(not sure on that one). I hope you love it as much as I loved making this one 💖

Other platforms here 👇🏼

[feedme-queso]

Shout out to the person who commented on youtube how all trent wanted was an autograph and a selfie from bowie

[pants-magic-pants]

January feels like so long ago...

[lucy-moderatz]

There's such a sad love Deep in your eyes A kind of pale jewel Open and closed Within your eyes

[cosmonautroger]

David Bowie, Klaus Nomi, Joey Arias - The Man Who Sold The World (1979)

[dangerousblizzarki]

🌏Total Drama World Tour🌏

Episode 3: "Super Happy Crazy Fun Time Japan"

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A very fun episode that showed the dynamic of each team really well.

Emma & Priya couldn't talk things out with Julia and who knows what Lauren is up to, so Wayne had to intervene which may or may not come as a surprise since he is a team captain for a hockey team afterall.

Team Raj was easily the most cooperative and functional team of this episode. Bowie did great during the pinball game, and everyone had a say in the production of the commercial, well everyone not named Ripper.

Unforrtunately, Millie and the rest of her team put their trust on Zee way too much for being a movie critic. They really should've listened to Nichelle instead. Let's just say Chef and Chris weren't too keen of their commercial .

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