The web, as a place

Previews

Early views of the island

The cottage in the afternoon, the path leading to it, the balloon in the yard, hills behind — Afternoon on the island.

Dusk over the cottage: birds across a pink and blue sky, the moon rising behind the trees, the first lamps lit — Dusk. The birds come home.

The same view at nightfall, lanterns lit and windows glowing — The sun sets. The lanterns come on.

The hot-air balloon in flight in front of the island's mountain — Take the balloon up.

The balloon over a long sandy peninsula, surf on the shore and open sea beyond — Over the peninsula, the surf below.

A red throne room beneath the island, with columns, a frieze of griffins and glass vessels on stands — Under it all, a palace no one has walked for three thousand years.

Two lacquered chess rooks, one standing and one fallen, on polished slate — Even the small things.

Imagine

Places you could step into

Travel
Fly a winged horse over Iceland's fjords under the aurora.
History
Walk the palace of Knossos as it stood.
Wonder
Climb a staircase out of an Escher drawing.
Play
Meet friends on an island of your own, from a link.
Learning
A science museum you walk into, the tree of life around you.
Space
Stand on another world and watch its two moons rise.
Shopping
A shop you browse by walking through it.
Making
A place you make yourself and share as easily as a photo.

Why it's different

Real places, as easy to visit as pages

It looks like a real place.

A sun and moon that cross the sky, clouds and weather, light through glass, lanterns that come on at dusk. Cinematic, and alive.

It arrives almost at once.

A world travels as a compact description, and your own computer builds it as you arrive. A whole hot-air balloon fits in less space than a thumbnail photo: hundreds to thousands of times smaller than the models it replaces.

It's one portal away.

Portals are a world's hyperlinks. Step through one and you're in the next world, the way a link takes you to the next page.

Go alone, or together.

Wander a world on your own, or meet your friends there and explore it side by side.

Coming soon

The island is being finished now.

New previews appear here as it grows. Come back and see what's changed.