Metaplace Closing

In a recent email to its subscribers, the web-based virtual world company Metaplace announced that it is closing down its virtual world service on January 1, 2010 at 11:59 pm Pacific Time. Here is an except from the email: "Over the last several years, we here at Metaplace have been working very hard to create an open platform allowing anyone to come to a Web site and create a virtual world of their own. Unfortunately, over the last few months it has become apparent that Metaplace as a consumer (user-generated content) service is not gaining enough traction to be a viable product, requiring a strategic shift for our company." I wonder who might be next...