{{short description|London, UK, based software developer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Use British English|date=October 2013}} {{Infobox video game |title = Near |image = Nearlondonscreenshot.jpg |caption = Regent Street in NearLondon |developer = Near Global |publisher = Nearworld Investments |released = 7 December 2009 (Open Beta) |genre = Multiplayer Social Virtual World |modes = Single player Multiplayer |platforms = Windows XP<br /> Windows Vista<br /> Windows 7 }} '''''NearGlobal''''' is a London, based software developer and publisher of Near, a 3D city browser platform and virtual world technology that delivers survey-accurate models of real-world cities that users can explore and interact with from their computer. The Near software was released in December 2009 with a public beta version incorporating the key shopping districts of London's West End.<ref name="beta">{{cite news|url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/retailing/article6851490.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611221310/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/retailing/article6851490.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 June 2011|title=West End online for a 'virtual Christmas'|work=The Times|accessdate=2010-07-07 | location=London | first=Fiona | last=Hamilton | date=2009-09-28}}</ref>
==Purpose== NearGlobal describes the Near product as a discovery platform,<ref name="discovery">{{cite web|date=2010-01-07|url=http://london.nearglobal.com/Features.aspx|title=Near features|publisher=NearGlobal|accessdate=2010-07-07|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100815060617/http://london.nearglobal.com/Features.aspx|archivedate=15 August 2010}}</ref> rather that a virtual world. Near allows for the seamless integration of existing web-based content into the 3D environment.
==Differentiation== Near differs significantly from virtual worlds such as Second Life, Twinity and Blue Mars by focusing more on the presentation of the environment than on its users. The Near software depicts users with blades of light<ref name="avatar">{{cite web|date=2009-09-28|url=http://www.brandrepublic.com/news/941546/Liberty-M-S-sign-up-Londons-virtual-West-End/|title=Liberty and M&S sign-up to London's virtual West End|publisher=Brand Republic|accessdate=2010-07-07}}</ref> rather than with human avatars.
==See also== * Second Life * Twinity
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== ;Official sites * [http://london.nearglobal.com/ Near Beta] * [http://www.nearglobal.com/ Corporate Information]
Category:Virtual reality companies Category:Hypermedia Category:Virtual world communities