Metaplace Takes Audio Chat Live

Metaplace, the virtual world brainchild of game industry veteran Raph Koster, is launching chat functionality that will let users speak with each other in the more than 70,000 Metaplace virtual worlds currently active. Reportedly, Metaplace users access audio chat capabilities via a single-click option that goes live today across the platform; then a "push-to-talk button" will appear in-world. Users ca avail themselves of the chat function using virtual coins. As in Second Life, the chat system is spatial. [via Venture Beat]