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Google to shut down virtual world website

Fri Nov 21, 2008 3:17am EST

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Nov 21 (Reuters) - Google Inc (GOOG.O) said it would shut down its three-dimensional virtual experience website by year end to focus more on its core search, advertisements and applications business.

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The company said in its blog it supports experimentation but added: "We've also always accepted that when you take these kinds of risks not every bet is going to pay off."

Lively, which features real-time virtual world characters known as avatars and three-dimensional graphics to congregate in virtual rooms, was launched in July to match Linden Lab's popular Second Life.

"Between now and the end of the year we encourage you to capture all your hard work by taking videos and screenshots of your rooms," the blog said. (Reporting by Ajay Kamalakaran in Bangalore; Editing by David Holmes)

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