What exactly is ‘Bondee’? [APP]
These days, you may have noticed friends and acquaintances sharing avatars of a new app called “Bondee” on social media typically on Instagram stories. These adorable personalised virtual identities are reminiscent of 3D versions of The Sims, Roblox, and Habbo Hotel. So the big question is, what exactly is Bondee, how is it any different from any other avatar-based game?
Bondee, a social media platform for virtual avatars, was just released on January 17th (2023). It was developed by Singapore-based tech company Metadream. On this social media site, users can communicate and interact with one another through the meta-universe environment. According to the slogan on the homepage of its website, Bondee’s goal is to allow users to “live with their friends” in a virtual environment.
In May 2022, Metadream previously purchased the intellectual property rights to the True.ly app, and since then, it has given it a creative and global makeover. An overview of Bondee’s operation is shown below.
Users can choose from a variety of attractive avatars, haircuts, outfits, shoes, and accessories when they first launch the Bondee app to personalise their 3D virtual “selves.” The possibilities are unlimited, from matching a monochromatic clothing to having a cat cuddle up to the crown of your head (which you may pet). Creating your virtual area or house with a wide variety of furniture, fixtures, and fittings is the next stage after confirmation.
In this area, users can post customised status updates, moods, hobbies, and events from their everyday lives, such as entries from a journal, whenever and wherever they wish. Your friends and all other users are likewise affected by this. Your avatar can be used in conversations utilising the built-in instant messaging platform feature. You can also choose a status, action, or animation to make these interactions more engaging.
Honestly speaking, after trying out for a week or so, we’ve concluded that Bondee is just like instagram, where you can share stories and photos of your day to day life while chatting with friends, but, with a cute avatar and your own cute virtual space to hang out with your friends.
Bondee lets you visit friends’ places and organise virtual activities with them, much like games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Consider a picnic, a camping trip, and dancing. However, no fishing yet.
Additionally, remarks can be posted as reminders, just as if you were truly residing with them. Friends can connect, appear in the same location, and learn about each other’s activities by scanning a QR code or entering a user ID. In Bondee, a user can currently have up to 50 buddies.
In Bondee, an open-world idea also looks plausible. Users can explore uncharted universes and get to know folks outside of their own circle thanks to a special “sailing” feature. Additionally, you can win prizes, make new acquaintances, and write messages in floating bottles.
You’ve probably seen friends use a QR code to share their attractive avatars and personalised status on Instagram stories. Current users agree that Bondee’s “addictive and endearing nature” is what makes it so appealing, according to a Business Wire press release.
According to a different press release distributed by Media OutReach, Bondee was the top-ranked free software in Singapore last week on the Apple App Store. Additionally popular in Southeast Asia, the social networking software “tops the Social Networking rankings on the App Store in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand,” according to NME.
To complement the software, the Bondee team is also producing a number of metaverse creative objects. Bondee is now available for free download, however in order to get “B-beans” for particular things, players must make in-app purchases with real money. It won’t be shocking if an NFT aspect is included in the near future given the metaverse structure of the system.
Both the Google Play store and the Apple app store now offer free downloads of Bondee.
(Featured images and stats — courtesy of Socialike Media’s Marketing Trend Research Teams)
