IBM turns punters into virtual eunuchs

IBM HAS OPENED the online doors to a virtual version of the Forbidden City in China to provide a view only seen by eunuchs for hundreds of years.

Biggish Blue spent more than three years working with Chinese officials and the Palace Museum to construct an interactive, animated replica of the 178-acre walled fortress in Beijing.

You can download Forbidden City: Beyond Space & Time in Windows, OSX and Linux flavours here.

Henry Chow, chairman of IBM's Greater China Group said that the cultural heritage of China's imperial past, embodied in the Forbidden City for over five centuries, had been brought to life and accessible to all through a virtual world.

Built in the early 14th Century, The Forbidden City served as home to the emperor and the political heart of Chinese government from mid-Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. Once, the only people, other than the Emperor, who were allowed to work in the city had to have their tackle removed and put in a box.

The actual Forbidden City was opened to the public 83 years ago and for the first time testicles were 'optional' for visitors.

Visitors to the virtual Forbidden City can explore it as animated characters able to chat with others or take part in activities such as archery, cricket fighting, or a board game called Weiqi.

Biggish Blue is currently working on similar cultural products with the Vatican Library, the Eternal Egypt and the Hermitage Museum. µ

L'Inq
AP