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Thom Kidrin has been described by a number of media outlets as a patent troll. This is someone who uses patents they hold to sue other companies for "rights violations." In this case, Kidrin and Worlds Inc. hold some very valuable patents pertaining to 3D environments and online 3D chat clients. Kidrin has gone after a lot of companies including and not limited to Blizzard ( World of Warcraft) and Second Life who, he alleges, have infringed his patents and owe him licensing fees.Of course, in order to demonstrate that these patent claims are valid, Mr. Kidrin and Worlds Inc. must be able to demonstrate the latter's importance. If Kidrin keeps Worlds Inc. running, he can show that he not only holds the patents, but owns a company which has been using these technologies before anyone else.What's most interesting to me, though, is what has happened to Worlds since Kidrin made the decision to put it in stasis.The awful truth was revealed to me over a number of years of usage. The regular users who had once seemed naïve and friendly were, in fact, wolves in sheep's clothing. Worlds has become a dark, horrifying cult—a malignant expression of the users' inner demons and mental health problems.Behind, below, and beneath the basic default worlds lie a labyrinth of terrifying corridors and chambers filled with religious heresy, satanic scrawls, pornography, and insane ramblings through some kind of rudimentary 3D subconscious.Interested in gaming, are you? Then watch our documentary on eSports here.
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There's a small number of Worlds enthusiasts who theorize that Nexialist (often called the "keybearer") is Kidrin himself, wandering vainly around his own hellish creation. I personally do not subscribe to this theory—I find it far more entertaining to imagine that Kidrin is blissfully ignorant as to the goings on within his flagship property.Whatever the truth behind these rumors, Worlds is an incredible example of "time stood still." It is a potent and, at times, poignant time capsule of the internet in 1995. It is a glorious example of faded dreams and corrupted ambitions. Just as the internet itself has become corrupted by massive global conglomerates, Worlds has been corrupted by one man's greed. What was once a "brave new world" has become a cesspit of the darker side of human nature. What was once an innocent and well-meaning project has morphed into something so inexplicable as to make you wonder who could create such a thing.Nobody can say how long Worlds will last—it's a miracle that it's lasted as long as it has. For a 3D client to remain preserved and identical to its 1995 iteration is unprecedented. Dedicated teams of volunteers are documenting and saving the user-generated worlds as you read, fearful that the plug will be pulled and this unique culture lost.If you'd like to take a wander down the dark winding path, have a look at Worlds. Go in yourself, seek out the keybearer, find the Travel hubs and get lost in the endless depths of depravity and sheer weirdness that Worlds has become before it's lost forever.More gaming on VICE:This Is What Happens When You Play 'Bloodborne' For 24 Hours StraightWhy Speed-Running Is the Greatest Thing About GamingThe Terrifying Consequences of Your Internet AddictionRead: Over on Motherboard – Oculus Rift Founder: We're Down With Porn