While in Malaysia, Pretensions picked up a Malaysian PC mag that had a feature on HighStreet 5, a newish (I think it's only been going a few months) Massively Multiplayer Online Dance Game. A bit like the better-known Dance Dance Revolution but with keyboard controls, HS5 allows you to create a 3D avatar that you can dress in the latest Rave fashion, take to a dance hall and chat with new-found friends a la Facebook while dazzling them with your online dance moves. HS5 was developed by China game developer Suzhou Snail Electronics (Woniu) and has been very successful in SE Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines) in particular, although the developers claim to have users from as far away as France.

The game looks very cool,in an anime-like style and enables you to gyrate virtually to your favourite artists including the Black Eyed Peas, Britney, Rain and plenty of others. Dance styles are mostly Hip-hop, House and its various spin-offs. The newly launched Virtual Dance City expansion now allows you to meet up with friends and go clothes shopping in the malls or have a joint salon session (The developers must be women). Like many casual games, HS5 is free to join but kewl togs cost virtual dollars which are funded by real money. There are apparently already 200 registered Dance Guilds in HS5 (take that, World of Warcraft!) and highly active forums.

The videos below show the music video-like dance performances of HS5 (PussyCat Dolls "Button") and I've also included one of a shopping expedition (courtesy of Youtube of course).