Erotasy Island (NSFW, and the site was having strange display issues at post time), an adult virtual world and dating site set to launch next year, released a trailer (NSFW) today that gives a glimpse of its artwork and concept.
I met some of the development team at the Sex in Video Games conference a few months back, and they talked about plans for creating a romantic world in which adults can play online and meet people to connect with offline. It has more of a fantasy novel feel to it than, say, Red Light Center's (NSFW) urban downtown. It's a look that appeals to me; YMMV.
One question many of us have is how many of these erotic environments can co-exist? A study last week revealed that more women than men play online games, which include casual games as well as social 3-D games and virtual worlds. Red Light Center claims a population of about 40 percent women; Jewel of Indra, (NSFW) about 45 percent.
The adult worlds are niche worlds, and while sex has proven to be a popular niche, just being "adult" is not enough to keep people engaged over the long term. What keeps people in communities is, well, the community; if the other folks you meet there don't appeal to you, you're certainly not going to spend money to spend time there.
Erotic worlds will need to offer a lot of opportunities other than cybersex – games, shopping, contests, education, all those fun things the not-specifically-erotic worlds have – in order to keep its membership engaged and involved.
Real-world sex parties have spaces for dancing, relaxing with a beverage, and talking. Virtual worlds need to offer the similar options, and then some.
I've never been anywhere where every person is engaged in a sexual act every moment of their stay. (Have you? And was it fun?)
