Chatroulette Clones: A New Market for Random Connections
If you haven't yet heard of Chatroulette, the webcam shuffle site that connects you with random people from around the world, then it's time to crawl out from under that rock where you've apparently been hiding. This viral sensation, created by a 17-year-old Russian programmer, lets you flip through video chat sessions with anonymous strangers using a simple interface that anyone can master. You may end up having engaging conversations with someone thousands of miles away or you may connect with a curious voyeur like yourself, but you're just as likely to come across the oddballs, the freaks, not to mention the downright disturbing.
Yet despite its weirdness, Chatroulette brings back an element of fun and surprise to vastness of the Internet, where social networks of friend lists and avatars has remained the norm for years on end. And now, thanks to the site's popularity, the Chatroulette clones are beginning to appear.
Dubbing the sites below "clones" implies that they're unoriginal knock-offs. That wouldn't be fair, actually. Instead, the sites and services, for the most part, represent those that have taken the inspiration of Chatroulette and what it allows for and have cultivated that into a new type of service - a niche service, a text-based chat, a funny web collection of imagery - that serves a select audience's needs.
The Clones
Case in point: JayDoe and Zupyo, Chatroulette-type services created in response to this request from a Reddit community member who asked for a service designed just for fellow "redditors," as members of the social news website call themselves. (Side note: Hilariously, Zypyo's creator found that, despite the request for a "mature" version of Chatroulette, Redditors still wanted to see, well, more than just each other's faces.)
Next up there's CamCarousel, dubbed a "better Chatroulette clone" by its creator, Ralf Rottmann. Meant to be more as a proof-of-concept at first - an example of how to build an app using Adobe's Flex platform - the site began to grow as soon as he launched it on its own domain, Camcarousel.com. He's now considering open-sourcing the app and adding support for white-labeling, themes and premium accounts.
The Text Bots
Then there are the Chatrolette-like text bots like SomeoneRandom and Omegle.
Omegle is another Chatroulette-like text clone, but one that actually preceded the videocam site created by the Russian teen. This text-only chat site launched in March 2009 and touts itself as a place to "talk to strangers!" Also created by a teen, this time Vermont native Leif Brooks, Omegle may now gain more attention thanks to Chatroulette. A plus for this one: Omegle has an iPhone app for random connections on the go.
Another recent creation is text bot SomeoneRandom. Just add the account someone_random@ymail.com on Yahoo! Messenger or someonerandom@bot.im on Jabber clients. Send out a message (like "hello!") to the bot to initiate a chat session with a random stranger. To end the session, type "bye."
Popjam is a text-based random chat app that takes the conversation to Facebook by way of a Facebook application. However, as ReadWriteWeb blogger Dana Oshiro argues on her personal blog, chat services like Popjam and others miss the point of Chatroulette. Where the webcam-sharing site is boldy exposing people to each other's real selves, chat site users are still able to hide their faces. That's something that speaks volumes about our modern age. "I cannot help thinking that there is an entire generation who is fearless in the face of an anonymous crowd," writes Dana.
The Spin-Offs
Finally, there are the spin-offs, like Catroulette, for example. This blog isn't so much about real-time connections, though, just pictures of you and your cat. But don't worry, it can still get weird, which, let's face it, is the whole point.
And this is only the beginning, folks. Advertisements on various job boards have developers calling out for coders who can build Chatroulette-like sites or who are interested in buying ones that already exist. Prepare yourselves: the Chatroulette clones, variations and spin-offs will soon be upon us. Even Chatroulette itself is giving way to niche sites built around its service, like the MissedConnections site dedicated to those looking for romance via the webcam service.
Will any of the Chatroulette send-ups gain the notoriety and user base of the webcam-surfing oddity, though? Likely not. There's something to be said for being the original, and, if nothing else, that's exactly what Chatroulette is. And it's a weird, odd, but addicting and wondrous original, at that.
Chatroulette image via flickr user wwwes
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Hi Sarah, look out for SpinTheCam.com
Thanks!
Here's a good visualization of all the technologies that Chatroulette uses and all similar sites:
http://thisislike.com/chatroulette-website/visual
Anytime something catches fire real quick, people try to find a way to do the same thing better. They think they see $$$ down the road. Ultimately one maayyybee 2 emerge but this type of service isn't what a Napster or a Facebook was when it first came out. I can't imagine the company that actually emerges to be the most used being a huge money maker.
I'm the developer of the MissedConnections.com main site and the chatroulette.missedconnections.com mini site has grown very fast - thanks for mentioning it in the article Sarah.
I'm happy to host mini sites for Chatroulette clones so if you're involved with one feel free to get in touch (@eliotsykes or eliot-AT-missedconnections.com) if you want to help reconnect your users who lose their connection mid-chat, due to wi-fi/powercut/Adobe Stratus teething/etc.
For any of you that hear of other chatroulette clones, I'm maintaining a list here: http://blog.eliotsykes.com/2010/02/23/chatroulette-clones/
For the techies here's a few details on what tech the chatroulette site is running here: http://blog.eliotsykes.com/2010/02/24/what-tech-is-chatroulette-running-on/
Check out this chatroulette like site http://camstumble.com - not a clone and also has random group chat
Try this awesome website : www.skomeet.com
I feel one big problem with almost all the clones is that despite trying to be different/better they almost all state plainly on their sites that they are chatroulette clones, rather than trying to stand on their own merit.
Also the creator of CamCarousel decided to sell his source instead of making it freely available, which may violate Adobe's terms of use for the Stratus service
The other day i was googling this site caught my eye http://www.mynakedjob.com/ . As i explored the site i found out that this is a free web site which which allows people to find naked house cleaning girls in your city. This site is a good new for the girls, and women out there, because now any one who is 21+ who is not shy to remove there clothes can make from $50/hr to 250/hr. I think this site is one of the best sites that i have see so far in 2010 and www.chatroulette.com, www.mynakedjob.com.
I have the domain whoseeswho.com and @whoseeswho
Was planning to use them for something else but it is a great name for this type of service.
If you are interested, please get in touch!
www.chatroulettemap.com
New Korean Version of Chatroulette
Ranchat :: random chatting www.ranchat.com
Very original I loved it and have been watching chatroulette for a while. Only a matter of time till the spin-offs start (as we can see), ahhh the ebb and flow of the wonderful www.
I think the Russian Andrey Ternovskiy who created this should be given PROPS.
random chat without webcam http://www.skomeet.com , very great one
@#3 said:
"...this type of service isn't what a Napster or a Facebook was when it first came out. I can't imagine the company that actually emerges to be the most used being a huge money maker."
Are you kidding me? Think about how many different sets of eyes are scrolling through ChatRoulette right now. The site merely says >20,000, but it's always >20,000. ALWAYS.
Now imagine that you own a business, and a 10-second ad for your product were to randomly appear after one of those >20,000 people hit F9 for the 15th time or so. If you DIDN'T pay for that kind of non-stop, global exposure, then your competitor sure as hell would.
Also, ChatRoulette offers something that every other website does not, and that's proof of one's validity. In this little virtual world of ours, people can and often DO pretend to be somebody that they're not, but real-time audio/video brings with it the almighty power of truth. If they'll just divide the randomness up into varying categories (i.e. male/female, age group, interests, etc.), ChatRoulette will only continue to grow in popularity.
Realistically, though, I expect one of these pre-establish conglomerates like Facebook or MySpace to install a CR clone on THEIR website, with all of the features that I just mentioned (and lots more, of course).
But there's no doubt in my mind that this concept will be a HUGE money maker for whoever can actually take advantage of it.
For some good CLEAN Chatroulette exhibitionism, visit http://showmeyourarmpit.blogspot.com/
another blog about chatroulette : http://chatroulettepics.com
very funny screen captures
Another hilarious chatroulette capture site:
http://chatroulettefun.blogspot.com/
Get rid of the dirty old man and use FaceRoulette.net
It's like ChatRoulette but it's fully integrated with Facebook!
http://apps.facebook.com/faceroulette/
Everyday I receive e-mails from visitors about new Chatroulette like sites. A lot of the sites I visit have below 50 users and unfortunately only get connected to 2 of them. If these sites want to co-exist with chatroulette they really need to add something different and create a new experience. http://www.chatroulettevideos.com
Aain a blog post screen shot and videos about chatroulette here http://www.bestofchatroulette.org/