WEBVTT - Gaming & The Genesis of the Metaverse 0:00:01.720 --> 0:00:05.040 One of my favorite books is Ready Player one, and 0:00:05.080 --> 0:00:07.560 if you're a listener of this podcast, you would remember 0:00:07.600 --> 0:00:09.920 me saying that on the episode before. And if you're 0:00:09.920 --> 0:00:13.800 even an angling curious about the metaverse that everyone seems 0:00:13.800 --> 0:00:15.720 to be talking about, it's a book you should read 0:00:15.920 --> 0:00:19.400 or at least watch the movie. In short, it's set 0:00:19.440 --> 0:00:21.880 in the future where the metaverse is like where most 0:00:21.880 --> 0:00:24.720 people spend the bulk of their time. They tapped into 0:00:24.720 --> 0:00:27.440 the metaverse and their metaverse is one that we're really 0:00:27.440 --> 0:00:30.840 only dreaming about present day. They have not only the 0:00:30.880 --> 0:00:33.960 goggles that we are used to, but they have complete 0:00:34.040 --> 0:00:37.160 rigs that allowed in to to see field, taste and more. 0:00:38.200 --> 0:00:41.000 This past week at afro tech World in our own metaverse, 0:00:41.400 --> 0:00:44.559 we enjoyed our third installment of afro tech World in 0:00:44.560 --> 0:00:48.080 today's episode comes from afro tech World two and it's 0:00:48.080 --> 0:00:52.280 with Mary Spio, CEO and founder as seek vr Metaverse, 0:00:52.280 --> 0:00:56.160 which directly connects music artists, athletes, and other digital content 0:00:56.240 --> 0:01:00.920 creators directly with their fans in virtual worlds. In Ashley Simon, 0:01:01.560 --> 0:01:04.880 gaming entertainment host co owner of Exit, which is the 0:01:04.880 --> 0:01:07.880 world's most diverse, innovative and socially contents pop gaming e 0:01:08.000 --> 0:01:12.680 sports set Ever Assembled and Chris Barber, Director of a R, Content, 0:01:12.840 --> 0:01:17.960 Business Development and Partnerships at Meta Gaming and the Genesis 0:01:17.959 --> 0:01:22.400 of the Metaverse. Hi everyone, and welcome to Afro Text 0:01:22.680 --> 0:01:26.319 Gaming and the Genesis of the Metaverse session. I'm very 0:01:26.319 --> 0:01:31.039 excited to be here today with two industry experts are 0:01:31.120 --> 0:01:36.360 in Ashley Simon and Chris Barber to discuss the metaverse. 0:01:36.520 --> 0:01:39.200 So I'm Mary Spiel. I'm the founder and CEO of 0:01:39.400 --> 0:01:43.680 sek Vr. I'm a deep space scientist. I currently run Seek, 0:01:43.800 --> 0:01:46.840 the company that I founded, and we the Seek metaverse 0:01:47.000 --> 0:01:52.360 enables music artists and creators in general to be able 0:01:52.400 --> 0:01:55.200 to monetize their content in the metaverse through n f 0:01:55.280 --> 0:01:59.520 t s, through live events, and also through unique VR 0:01:59.560 --> 0:02:03.960 and a R experiences. Also on the board of Oculus, 0:02:04.080 --> 0:02:09.240 um VR for Good and on Amazon Sport for launch Pad. 0:02:09.720 --> 0:02:13.400 So super super excited to have this conversation here today. 0:02:13.520 --> 0:02:18.720 Aaron is the co founder of x set, which is 0:02:18.760 --> 0:02:22.160 an e sports team um Aaron is also a game 0:02:22.200 --> 0:02:27.080 in and entertainment host, and Chris, as the director of 0:02:27.200 --> 0:02:30.839 a R Content, Business Development and Partnerships and Meta Risk, 0:02:30.960 --> 0:02:34.920 leads the Meta a R develop a platform working with 0:02:35.480 --> 0:02:39.040 camera Effects, and prior to that, Chris was also head 0:02:39.040 --> 0:02:45.200 of Partnerships at Meta Studios, and way before that, Chris 0:02:45.240 --> 0:02:50.919 also was the lead Digital Global Strategies for Adidas. So 0:02:51.000 --> 0:02:54.520 now I'll let our panelists talk a little bit about themselves. 0:02:54.520 --> 0:02:58.760 So if Aaron, you could share your journey into um 0:02:58.880 --> 0:03:01.200 E Sports and then going to the Medal Verse and 0:03:01.320 --> 0:03:03.320 how you got to where you are today, and then 0:03:03.320 --> 0:03:05.720 the same with Chris. Yeah, absolutely, Well, thank you so 0:03:05.800 --> 0:03:08.840 much for having me and how I got into it. 0:03:09.160 --> 0:03:11.399 I've always been a gamer my entire life. That's been 0:03:11.440 --> 0:03:13.600 something that has always been a passion point for me. 0:03:14.120 --> 0:03:18.080 And eventually, you know, I I started in traditional media 0:03:18.200 --> 0:03:21.280 and traditional sports, worked in the music industry, and then 0:03:21.280 --> 0:03:24.359 made my way over into gaming as as a broadcaster. 0:03:24.520 --> 0:03:27.840 But then it's been it's developed a little more from there. Um, 0:03:27.880 --> 0:03:30.639 so I've been um you know. In addition to the 0:03:30.639 --> 0:03:33.080 prodcasting work that I do in the sports and gaming space, 0:03:33.240 --> 0:03:35.920 I'm also part of the ownership and executive team for 0:03:36.080 --> 0:03:39.120 ex Set and a lot of what we're doing is 0:03:39.200 --> 0:03:45.200 kind of that cross intersectional space between gaming and pop culture. 0:03:45.560 --> 0:03:48.960 And it's really interesting because the metaverse and what you know, 0:03:49.040 --> 0:03:52.080 Web three and all those conversations around that are very 0:03:52.160 --> 0:03:55.960 much intertwined with you know, pop culture and gaming. It's 0:03:56.000 --> 0:03:59.400 it's probably the best intersection within the gaming space. And 0:04:00.080 --> 0:04:02.000 um so I've been diving a little bit more into 0:04:02.080 --> 0:04:04.640 that through the work that I do through EXTA and 0:04:04.640 --> 0:04:10.360 then also personally as well. Excellent and Chris, what about yourself? Yeah, 0:04:10.440 --> 0:04:14.280 well thanks thanks for having me, Mary, and uh nice 0:04:14.280 --> 0:04:16.720 to be here with the aeron. Uh So, my my 0:04:16.760 --> 0:04:21.719 path to Meta was, as you noted, from Adida's prior 0:04:21.839 --> 0:04:26.000 to uh to joining Meta eleven years ago. And you know, 0:04:27.000 --> 0:04:29.359 at Adidas is where I first had the opportunity to 0:04:29.560 --> 0:04:35.240 truly um uh take advantage of on behalf of of 0:04:35.279 --> 0:04:39.880 a brand, the tremendous opportunities that the emerging Internet was 0:04:39.920 --> 0:04:44.039 bringing into the world. Um. You know, I won't date myself, 0:04:44.040 --> 0:04:45.880 but but I'm going back into kind of the pre 0:04:46.000 --> 0:04:49.039 mobile era when I was leading digital marketing for Adidas, 0:04:49.520 --> 0:04:52.560 and that opportunity to really be at the forefront of 0:04:52.640 --> 0:04:57.680 defining how people and brands build relationships through technology was 0:04:57.720 --> 0:05:01.920 really exciting. Um that me to Meta again eleven years ago, 0:05:02.240 --> 0:05:05.279 and um since that time, I've been working at this 0:05:05.360 --> 0:05:12.680 intersection of businesses developers, brands, and and technology as an 0:05:12.800 --> 0:05:17.040 enabler for relationships, and of course he held firmly within 0:05:17.160 --> 0:05:21.120 that is a belief that the relationships that we have 0:05:22.040 --> 0:05:25.520 between ourselves and the people around us are the strongest 0:05:25.520 --> 0:05:29.680 relationships um and enable us to have deeper and broader 0:05:29.720 --> 0:05:33.040 relationships with the companies who bring goods and services into 0:05:33.040 --> 0:05:36.960 our lives. That are important. Awesome, Thank you, Thank you 0:05:37.000 --> 0:05:39.599 both for your joining us today. So there's so much 0:05:39.720 --> 0:05:42.720 talk about the metaverse now, you know, why do you 0:05:42.760 --> 0:05:46.720 think there's all this talk now? Because there's been roadblocks 0:05:46.839 --> 0:05:50.560 and Fortnite and Second Life, and there's been a lot 0:05:51.000 --> 0:05:53.520 in terms of the metaverse, right, I would say meta 0:05:53.560 --> 0:05:56.240 verse one point oh two point oh event, Why do 0:05:56.320 --> 0:05:59.200 you think there's so much talk now? Sure? Sure, I'll 0:05:59.279 --> 0:06:01.919 jump in. Well, we like to think about the metaverse 0:06:02.080 --> 0:06:06.400 as the next evolution of the Internet. Right. We've lived 0:06:06.440 --> 0:06:09.000 in the era of the mobile Internet for for some 0:06:09.080 --> 0:06:12.720 time now, and and the natural kind of sway of 0:06:12.760 --> 0:06:16.200 the kind of of experiences that people people want to 0:06:16.240 --> 0:06:20.240 have are increasingly more immersive. You know, you think about 0:06:20.240 --> 0:06:24.400 text as a medium for communication and what that enables us, 0:06:24.520 --> 0:06:27.080 the kinds of shared experiences we can have through written text, 0:06:27.480 --> 0:06:31.680 and then you know, we emerged into photo being a 0:06:31.800 --> 0:06:34.920 medium for even more immersive ways for us to share 0:06:35.000 --> 0:06:37.880 our lives with one another and end to participate in 0:06:37.880 --> 0:06:40.360 each other's lives. Now we're friendly in the era where 0:06:40.440 --> 0:06:44.400 video is accomplishing much of how we have shared in 0:06:44.480 --> 0:06:49.040 immersive experiences. So we believe that the next evolution of 0:06:49.080 --> 0:06:53.200 that is an Internet that is immersive, so instead of 0:06:53.240 --> 0:06:56.360 looking at the Internet, you're actually within the Internet, and 0:06:56.400 --> 0:07:00.680 that you're able to therefore have even stronger personal relationships 0:07:00.680 --> 0:07:04.840 and connections with folks. So the timing is is kind 0:07:04.839 --> 0:07:08.359 of right for the technology to evolve to a point 0:07:08.360 --> 0:07:12.320 where these kinds of experiences are possible. We're not quite 0:07:12.360 --> 0:07:15.240 there for for that in the fullness of that vision, 0:07:15.400 --> 0:07:19.040 but we're very close and and gaming, of course is 0:07:19.080 --> 0:07:21.680 one of the use cases, if you will, that in 0:07:21.720 --> 0:07:24.920 which we're seeing some of the earliest um light of 0:07:24.960 --> 0:07:29.160 these kind of experiences. Mhm, absolutely, yeah. I think that, 0:07:29.280 --> 0:07:32.120 Like I mean, anytime we talk about metaverse, I always 0:07:32.160 --> 0:07:35.440 say and tell people gaming was already ahead of the 0:07:35.440 --> 0:07:37.360 curve when it came to that. It was the industry 0:07:37.400 --> 0:07:42.320 that was really trying to expand the consumers experiences when 0:07:42.320 --> 0:07:45.680 it came to utilizing the games themselves. I mean even now, 0:07:46.000 --> 0:07:48.120 you know, not only are we looking at a R 0:07:48.320 --> 0:07:51.960 and VR, but also you know, a lot more is 0:07:52.000 --> 0:07:54.520 being implemented when it comes to three D audio and 0:07:54.560 --> 0:07:58.400 having that audio experience be more dynamic than it was previously. 0:07:58.880 --> 0:08:03.520 And so you know, that interconnectivity, that immersion is something 0:08:03.600 --> 0:08:07.760 that is is being utilized in so many different shapes 0:08:07.760 --> 0:08:12.080 and forms in gaming um that we're seeing others outside 0:08:12.080 --> 0:08:14.560 of it taking it into a whole another level. I think, 0:08:14.600 --> 0:08:17.800 you know, even for the example of seeing Travis Scott 0:08:18.360 --> 0:08:22.200 having his whole concert in Fortnite and then having that 0:08:22.240 --> 0:08:24.880 the whole experience that people can interact with, and then 0:08:24.920 --> 0:08:28.440 taking that same content and then implementing into YouTube and 0:08:28.480 --> 0:08:31.560 putting that into the traditional web two which Chrissy were 0:08:31.600 --> 0:08:34.679 mentioning in terms of video um and so it's it's 0:08:34.720 --> 0:08:38.280 interesting that we're not quite there, like Christmas saying, but 0:08:38.400 --> 0:08:40.960 the fact that gaming is becoming that vehicle for so 0:08:40.960 --> 0:08:43.120 many different industries who want to get to that because 0:08:43.160 --> 0:08:45.920 we already have a lot of the tools and mechanics. 0:08:46.120 --> 0:08:49.160 I mean, also the fact that there are even like 0:08:49.320 --> 0:08:52.360 unreal engine you know that is a is a program 0:08:52.400 --> 0:08:55.719 in software that so many different UH industries use. The 0:08:55.720 --> 0:08:57.920 film industry even uses it for c g I and 0:08:57.960 --> 0:09:02.120 other components. So it's it's really interesting how we're in 0:09:02.160 --> 0:09:05.280 this kind of like strange metaverse space where it's like 0:09:05.360 --> 0:09:08.120 we don't really quite have all the technology or even 0:09:08.160 --> 0:09:11.160 the affordability in some shape and form for that tech 0:09:11.320 --> 0:09:15.479 for average consumers yet, but it's starting to be implemented 0:09:15.600 --> 0:09:18.800 in bits and pieces, and I honestly say gaming is 0:09:18.840 --> 0:09:22.840 going to be at the forefront when it comes to it. Yeah, absolutely, 0:09:22.880 --> 0:09:26.440 And I feel you know the same way as well, uh, 0:09:26.480 --> 0:09:29.400 in the sense that it's this evolution, right, so we 0:09:29.440 --> 0:09:32.160 saw Web one point oh with texts and photos, and 0:09:32.440 --> 0:09:35.680 Web two point oh with video social media, and then 0:09:35.720 --> 0:09:40.040 now we're evolving this movement to web three point oh 0:09:40.200 --> 0:09:42.640 with people wanting to be in the side of this 0:09:42.760 --> 0:09:47.960 three D metaverse and this you know, living the experience 0:09:48.280 --> 0:09:52.160 versus watching the experience. So it's very exciting. How do 0:09:52.200 --> 0:09:58.720 you each define the metaverse? UM? I mean I would 0:09:58.760 --> 0:10:02.120 just define as an immersive experience. I think that like 0:10:02.120 --> 0:10:04.200 when we discuss the metaverse and just seeing some of 0:10:04.200 --> 0:10:07.200 the other uh, just all these different examples of it. 0:10:07.280 --> 0:10:10.760 I think it's just to actually immerse yourself into this 0:10:10.920 --> 0:10:14.120 digital and virtual experience UM and get it to the 0:10:14.200 --> 0:10:18.120 point where literally when you're immersed in it, all of 0:10:18.160 --> 0:10:22.280 your senses are also activated in unison there, so it 0:10:22.360 --> 0:10:24.840 making it seem like you actually are there, even though 0:10:24.880 --> 0:10:28.080 you're you're not. I think that's kind of where everyone 0:10:28.120 --> 0:10:30.080 wants to go. I always use this movie in this 0:10:30.120 --> 0:10:32.720 book as a great example as Ready Player one. Everyone 0:10:32.800 --> 0:10:37.680 wants that experience to be that immersive metaverse uh situation 0:10:37.920 --> 0:10:40.319 that people can like literally put on headset or or 0:10:40.360 --> 0:10:43.400 get into some kind of you know, equipment and be there. 0:10:44.120 --> 0:10:46.719 But now it's like, okay, how can we interact with 0:10:46.840 --> 0:10:49.720 just the the whether it is VR headsets or whether 0:10:49.760 --> 0:10:52.360 it is just the screen that we have, UM, but 0:10:52.480 --> 0:10:55.320 tapping into all of our senses as much as possible 0:10:55.360 --> 0:10:58.320 so that people can actually feel in it versus just 0:10:58.640 --> 0:11:02.160 outside looking in. I think it's probably the best way 0:11:02.160 --> 0:11:06.160 that I could describe the metaverse. You know. In many ways, 0:11:06.240 --> 0:11:09.520 it's it's the the evolution of the Internet, right, and 0:11:09.520 --> 0:11:12.199 and it's an Internet that enables us to be within. 0:11:12.760 --> 0:11:15.440 But I would say that the defining kind of aspect 0:11:15.440 --> 0:11:20.040 of that is this sense of presence being present with 0:11:20.440 --> 0:11:24.959 people regardless of the distance you know between you and 0:11:24.960 --> 0:11:27.840 and not only people, things as well, you know, I'd 0:11:27.880 --> 0:11:30.959 like to think about it kind of philosophically as as 0:11:31.040 --> 0:11:35.320 collapsing space and time. You know, UM an example for 0:11:35.440 --> 0:11:38.240 a r you know, the ability to have an artifact 0:11:38.240 --> 0:11:40.880 and ancient artifact that you would never be able to 0:11:40.880 --> 0:11:44.120 touch in the real world present in your space, you know, 0:11:44.280 --> 0:11:47.679 is this collapsing of time, if you will. And for 0:11:47.760 --> 0:11:50.400 us to be on a holographic video call together or 0:11:50.440 --> 0:11:55.720 playing a game in in a completely immersive environment, is 0:11:55.760 --> 0:11:59.120 this collapsing of distance between us. So this, this notion 0:11:59.160 --> 0:12:02.720 of presence is really I believe foundational to what the 0:12:02.720 --> 0:12:06.640 metaverse will will be. And then all kinds of experiences 0:12:06.760 --> 0:12:13.160 can be built on top of that, gaming, shopping, learning, um, 0:12:13.200 --> 0:12:19.400 you know, all everything, everything, everything for sure, absolutely, Aaron, 0:12:19.480 --> 0:12:23.120 I love what you mentioned about this aspect of being 0:12:23.200 --> 0:12:27.200 in it versus outside watching in you know, for me, 0:12:27.280 --> 0:12:32.400 for example, my UM experience, right, my first experience with Oculus. 0:12:32.480 --> 0:12:35.160 I talked about the fact that as a child I 0:12:35.200 --> 0:12:39.360 watched this program on space exploration, which kind of changed 0:12:39.480 --> 0:12:43.840 my view of what was possible in the world, and 0:12:43.960 --> 0:12:45.640 I always felt like I wanted to know what it 0:12:45.679 --> 0:12:47.719 would be like to walk on the moon. But this 0:12:47.840 --> 0:12:50.920 was watching it on TV versus when I put on 0:12:50.960 --> 0:12:54.400 the Oculus and I was actually on the moon, and 0:12:54.559 --> 0:12:57.080 you know, I had this moment of Wow, now I 0:12:57.120 --> 0:13:02.680 know exactly what it feels like, says being outside watching 0:13:03.120 --> 0:13:06.000 an experience. And that's you know, some of the exciting 0:13:06.080 --> 0:13:10.080 things about the metaverse. So Chris, for you in a 0:13:10.360 --> 0:13:13.440 R and then also with social media, where do you 0:13:13.480 --> 0:13:17.439 see the intersection um of the metaverse with a R 0:13:17.559 --> 0:13:22.200 and then also with social media. So a R is 0:13:22.280 --> 0:13:26.640 one of the foundational technologies that that will enable the metaverse. 0:13:26.800 --> 0:13:30.160 You know, we think a lot about how people can 0:13:30.280 --> 0:13:33.640 come into the metaverse right now, you know, you come 0:13:33.640 --> 0:13:36.839 into the Internet largely on a device that that has 0:13:36.840 --> 0:13:40.640 a two dimensional interface, and so you know, what are 0:13:40.679 --> 0:13:43.400 the modes with with which people are going to come 0:13:43.400 --> 0:13:46.839 into the metaverse, And two of them are undoubtedly going 0:13:46.880 --> 0:13:50.560 to be a R and VR. And so from an 0:13:50.559 --> 0:13:53.440 a R standpoint, I think a lot about the kinds 0:13:53.440 --> 0:13:59.560 of experiences that are technology can unlock that help create 0:13:59.600 --> 0:14:02.240 that of presence that I spoke about. So one example 0:14:02.240 --> 0:14:06.480 again is bringing bringing objects into your physical space three 0:14:06.559 --> 0:14:10.720 D objects that aren't physically in your space, but being 0:14:10.760 --> 0:14:13.760 able to bring them into your space um and have 0:14:14.120 --> 0:14:17.960 an immersive or semi immersive experience with them. I mean, 0:14:18.000 --> 0:14:20.960 we talked a lot about gaming, and Aaron can I 0:14:21.000 --> 0:14:24.280 think attest to this. It's the fact that gaming happens 0:14:24.440 --> 0:14:28.920 within a social context between people. That's what kind of 0:14:28.920 --> 0:14:32.400 brings the power to to the experience. So we think, 0:14:32.440 --> 0:14:35.040 you know, there's gonna be a limitless number of social 0:14:35.040 --> 0:14:37.600 experiences that can be created. The last thing I'll say 0:14:37.640 --> 0:14:40.680 on on just the role of social media, I believe 0:14:41.040 --> 0:14:44.360 that that there's going to be an incredibly strong creator 0:14:44.360 --> 0:14:48.720 community that emerges um to to generate all of the 0:14:48.800 --> 0:14:51.960 content in in the Mata verse, and a creator economy 0:14:52.080 --> 0:14:54.960 supporting it, and a lot of the foundations of that, 0:14:55.120 --> 0:14:57.960 some of the decentralization that you noted, Marry, a lot 0:14:57.960 --> 0:15:00.320 of the you know, the ways that create, there's a 0:15:00.440 --> 0:15:04.600 thinking about their art and their creativity and how ownership 0:15:04.720 --> 0:15:07.320 looks for them. All of these things into the future 0:15:07.600 --> 0:15:10.400 are kind of the norms for that are being experimented 0:15:10.440 --> 0:15:13.680 with today in social media. UM So that's another area 0:15:13.720 --> 0:15:19.120 where the social media environment kind of intersects with the future. Absolutely, yeah, 0:15:19.120 --> 0:15:21.600 and I want to get back to decentralization and how 0:15:21.640 --> 0:15:25.000 digital currencies are going to enable you know, the metaverse. 0:15:25.040 --> 0:15:28.400 But before that, Aaron, what type of technologies do you 0:15:28.520 --> 0:15:33.960 think we're going to need in order for gaming to 0:15:34.080 --> 0:15:37.720 become more immersive? Um. One thing that we are actually 0:15:37.760 --> 0:15:39.760 starting to see, which is a little bit of a 0:15:39.760 --> 0:15:42.960 step in the direction, is you know, whether it's with 0:15:43.120 --> 0:15:46.320 Unity UM or utilizing the technology platforms as like Unreal 0:15:46.400 --> 0:15:50.600 Engine five UM. We're starting to see even the graphical 0:15:50.640 --> 0:15:53.600 elements of video games are enhancing UM and that graphical 0:15:53.600 --> 0:15:58.160 element actually helps more with that transition into three D 0:15:58.360 --> 0:16:01.040 from two D. Uh. And but I have to say 0:16:01.080 --> 0:16:04.280 we made such a big progress. I mean, gaming is 0:16:04.320 --> 0:16:06.840 actually a very young industry. It has not been around 0:16:06.880 --> 0:16:09.520 super super long, so to go from eight bit over 0:16:09.560 --> 0:16:12.080 into where we are now has been a bigger leap. 0:16:12.400 --> 0:16:16.080 I think that the more that we uh specifically in game, 0:16:16.120 --> 0:16:18.720 and the more that we utilize those technologies of Unity 0:16:18.760 --> 0:16:21.640 and Unreal Engine UM and add more of those graphical 0:16:21.680 --> 0:16:25.200 elements that increases the three D ability, it's gonna make 0:16:25.240 --> 0:16:27.640 it better. I mean now we're starting to see games 0:16:27.720 --> 0:16:32.400 where water actually moves and functions like water, or even 0:16:32.440 --> 0:16:34.880 the texture of people's hair and the way that sunlight 0:16:34.920 --> 0:16:36.880 in the game hits the hair and how it changes. 0:16:37.320 --> 0:16:40.440 That is actually the first necessary step before we even 0:16:40.520 --> 0:16:43.560 get to that immersive three D experience, because you wanna, 0:16:43.800 --> 0:16:46.120 like like we're talking about, you want to feel like 0:16:46.520 --> 0:16:50.520 things are real in in whatever area space that you're in. 0:16:51.080 --> 0:16:54.920 So that element of enhancing currently the model that we 0:16:55.000 --> 0:16:58.080 have from a graphical standpoint is going to be the 0:16:58.160 --> 0:17:01.480 first technology step that we need to make before we 0:17:01.520 --> 0:17:03.520 can even focus on, Okay, how do we put them 0:17:03.520 --> 0:17:05.520 into this game or how do we put it into 0:17:05.520 --> 0:17:10.960 this space? Because um, you know, those elements of reality, um, 0:17:11.000 --> 0:17:14.959 and also elements of just even fluidity of functionality and 0:17:15.040 --> 0:17:18.520 motion are are part of the reason why right now 0:17:18.960 --> 0:17:21.959 some people who are consumers and gamers aren't really into 0:17:22.080 --> 0:17:24.439 VR right now is because it's not as fluid and 0:17:24.480 --> 0:17:27.000 it's not as quite immersive as we want it yet. 0:17:27.240 --> 0:17:28.919 So those are the necessary steps that I feel like 0:17:28.920 --> 0:17:31.199 from a technological standpoint, that we'll have to get to 0:17:31.960 --> 0:17:35.400 before we even consider putting people in or maybe in unison. 0:17:35.480 --> 0:17:37.639 But you still need to have those you know, c 0:17:37.800 --> 0:17:41.320 g I and graphical elements be as realistic as possible 0:17:41.359 --> 0:17:43.840 before you can even really think about, okay, how do 0:17:43.880 --> 0:17:47.159 we get them into it? Yeah, and I think a 0:17:47.240 --> 0:17:51.840 lot has improved too, And maybe people's view of where 0:17:52.400 --> 0:17:55.760 VR technology, for example, was like when we created Seek 0:17:55.880 --> 0:17:58.240 on the d K one, you know, the way it 0:17:58.280 --> 0:18:01.280 looked looking at it now versus is you know an 0:18:01.320 --> 0:18:04.120 experience that I was in on Oculus just this weekend. 0:18:04.720 --> 0:18:08.439 It's it's a massive different, It's a massive leap. It 0:18:08.480 --> 0:18:13.840 looks so incredibly awesome. Um. I did a workshop um 0:18:13.880 --> 0:18:17.960 also on Oculus where you know we were it was 0:18:18.000 --> 0:18:20.720 so fluid, you know. So I think that a lot 0:18:20.760 --> 0:18:25.560 of people probably still haven't come back from their experiences 0:18:25.600 --> 0:18:29.040 from where things were, but there's definitely been leaps, and 0:18:29.440 --> 0:18:32.960 we hope to see you know, even more leaps happen 0:18:33.400 --> 0:18:35.720 for the graphics, as you said, especially when it comes 0:18:35.720 --> 0:18:39.679 to gaming, which is very high intensity versus maybe if 0:18:39.720 --> 0:18:42.480 you're in an experience like you seek watching a concert, 0:18:42.520 --> 0:18:45.960 which is more passive experience. So, you know, we hope 0:18:45.960 --> 0:18:51.639 to continue to see a lot more of those advancements. So, um, Chris, 0:18:51.680 --> 0:18:56.119 in terms of a R how do you see you know, 0:18:56.160 --> 0:19:00.159 the mechanics of that. So you know, it's likely that 0:19:00.200 --> 0:19:04.399 there will be uh spectrum of devices or that that 0:19:04.480 --> 0:19:09.040 people utilize to to interact with the metaverse. Surely, VR 0:19:09.160 --> 0:19:14.359 headsets and headsets generally that enable a completely immersive experience 0:19:14.440 --> 0:19:20.120 where you're you know, fully transported into into another environment 0:19:20.320 --> 0:19:23.080 will play a significant role. And and there'll be a 0:19:23.119 --> 0:19:25.760 lot of experiences that will will want to have in 0:19:25.760 --> 0:19:32.320 that way, concerts, performances, games, you know, uh, many many experiences. 0:19:32.520 --> 0:19:36.000 Then there will also be a place for other types 0:19:36.040 --> 0:19:39.240 of hardware. UM. I work on a R so I 0:19:39.280 --> 0:19:42.080 think a lot about a R glasses and the role 0:19:42.160 --> 0:19:45.720 that AUR glasses will play in enabling the metaverse and 0:19:45.880 --> 0:19:50.080 the ability to have experiences where again you you're you're 0:19:50.160 --> 0:19:54.480 transporting people and things across across space and time and 0:19:54.840 --> 0:19:59.879 visually UM enabling people to conjure content in the space 0:20:00.040 --> 0:20:02.920 that they are UM is going to bring really really 0:20:02.960 --> 0:20:07.320 powerful opportunities for for the metaverse as well. And then 0:20:07.760 --> 0:20:10.639 you know, mobile is not going anywhere. You know, somebody 0:20:11.320 --> 0:20:14.400 shared a quote with me recently that that was really powerful, 0:20:14.560 --> 0:20:19.480 which was, as a species, we don't move past technology, 0:20:19.920 --> 0:20:22.200 we build on top of it, right, Like, think about 0:20:22.200 --> 0:20:26.000 every technology that we have, it there was a precursor 0:20:26.080 --> 0:20:28.480 that we built on top of. So I don't imagine 0:20:28.480 --> 0:20:31.760 that mobile devices are are going anywhere, you know, I 0:20:31.800 --> 0:20:34.119 think they'll just have a role. That's that's kind of 0:20:34.119 --> 0:20:37.520 committed it with with this portfolio of devices that that 0:20:37.640 --> 0:20:39.800 we have. And then as Aaron noted, you know, we 0:20:39.800 --> 0:20:42.479 don't even touched on audio and all these kinds of 0:20:42.520 --> 0:20:46.000 other ways that we'll be able to interact with with 0:20:46.160 --> 0:20:49.600 the world around us under this broad umbrella the metaverse. 0:20:50.440 --> 0:20:56.320 M absolutely so going back to decentralization, Um, Aaron, we 0:20:56.440 --> 0:20:59.400 see a lot of Game five, we see I think 0:20:59.440 --> 0:21:02.919 that another a hallmark of the metaverse is going to 0:21:03.000 --> 0:21:06.920 be decentralization. How do you see all of this unfolding 0:21:07.440 --> 0:21:10.479 first with you know, from your purview, Chris, and then 0:21:10.520 --> 0:21:14.600 also from your viewpoint erin So, we're going to continue 0:21:14.640 --> 0:21:18.840 to invest in building products that support an infrastructure, if 0:21:18.840 --> 0:21:22.639 you will, foundational infrastructure for the metaverse. So our CEO 0:21:22.720 --> 0:21:25.280 announced last week that we are bringing n f T 0:21:25.520 --> 0:21:29.040 s to Instagram in the future. I think that's an 0:21:29.040 --> 0:21:31.399 example of the kind of things that will do to 0:21:31.480 --> 0:21:35.000 support creators where they are and and again building this 0:21:35.280 --> 0:21:40.320 infrastructure on which the metaverse can welsome okay, awesome erin 0:21:40.359 --> 0:21:42.639 where do you see the role of n f T 0:21:42.840 --> 0:21:45.440 s and also digital currencies in the work that you're 0:21:45.480 --> 0:21:49.000 doing and in gaming industry as a whole. Well, so, 0:21:49.280 --> 0:21:54.680 cryptocrcy is already starting to integrate itself into gaming already. UM, 0:21:54.720 --> 0:21:57.760 there are some games that have more of a reward 0:21:57.840 --> 0:22:01.719 system that implements cryptocurrency, and there's also been some creators 0:22:01.760 --> 0:22:03.720 that are starting to evolve from that. I think one 0:22:03.720 --> 0:22:05.639 of the things that's happening right now in gaming is 0:22:05.840 --> 0:22:08.000 actually there's a lot of game consumers that do not 0:22:08.119 --> 0:22:10.960 embrace n f T s right now, UM a little 0:22:11.000 --> 0:22:14.000 bit of cryptocurrency, but mostly they're anti n f T s. 0:22:14.520 --> 0:22:16.960 I think part of the problem is, you know, for 0:22:17.040 --> 0:22:19.560 my understanding from from those I know who developed games, 0:22:20.000 --> 0:22:23.960 the understanding of games, like how people understand game development 0:22:24.080 --> 0:22:27.800 is not really um connecting to those who are integrating 0:22:27.800 --> 0:22:30.199 themselves into the n of T space. I think that 0:22:30.280 --> 0:22:33.960 in terms of cryptocurrency, that space is where I feel 0:22:33.960 --> 0:22:37.800 like it's being more implemented and probably will uh move 0:22:37.840 --> 0:22:40.800 a lot more quickly versus n f T s. UM 0:22:40.920 --> 0:22:43.760 and then I think, uh, another thing too is part 0:22:43.800 --> 0:22:46.080 of it is how do we battle some of the 0:22:46.200 --> 0:22:50.760 systemic issues that are playing creators to begin with. I 0:22:50.800 --> 0:22:53.639 think that no matter what we do, whether we have 0:22:53.760 --> 0:22:56.520 a decentralized format, whether we have n f T, S 0:22:56.560 --> 0:22:58.920 B R, A R, if we don't fix the stomach 0:22:58.960 --> 0:23:02.440 issues that are happening now in Web two, it's gonna 0:23:02.600 --> 0:23:04.960 be the same issue later on in Web three. And 0:23:05.040 --> 0:23:08.160 part of that is education and information UM and also 0:23:08.280 --> 0:23:11.760 resources as well. So I think that basically, you know 0:23:11.800 --> 0:23:14.560 that the setup right now for gaming is that it's 0:23:14.600 --> 0:23:16.560 free to play, but you have to spend a lot 0:23:16.560 --> 0:23:21.720 of money on you know, uh, costumes, specific DLCs, which 0:23:21.760 --> 0:23:25.119 is downloadable content and so forth. I think that integrating 0:23:25.119 --> 0:23:29.560 cryptocurrency into that's gonna definitely be beneficial UM and also 0:23:29.560 --> 0:23:31.680 an opportunity for like, Okay, if you play a game, 0:23:31.960 --> 0:23:36.040 you can earn UM different currencies, right. But I think 0:23:36.119 --> 0:23:38.560 that personally, for me, I think that n f T 0:23:38.640 --> 0:23:42.880 you currently where it is, I understand the the concept 0:23:42.880 --> 0:23:46.159 behind it and the UM ownership and be able to 0:23:46.240 --> 0:23:50.080 have more of an authentication to your art or your 0:23:50.119 --> 0:23:53.320