Thanks to Josh Spear, I have been checking out the new social site I’m In Like With You for the past few week. Aesthetically pleasing (no custom coded pages with embedded slideshows, music, and videos here *ahem* MySpace) and strangely addictive, I think they have a winner on their hands. With a core focus on privacy and security (you can never be too careful), the site revolves around games and a point system. I’ll address the latter first. You get points for nearly every activity you do. When you sign up, you get points. You can also increase your point balance by answering quick yes or no questions, such as “Do you prefer coffee over tea?” You can also lose points by spending them on things like winning a game (this will become more clear later), watching someone which means the system tells you when they start a new game, and sending someone a wink which is basically a way of saying you’re interested.
The games are a little confusing at first. They are not games in the traditional sense but more like auctions. You use your points to “bid” on a game. Each game is basically a question that the host wants answered, supposedly to help them choose who the winner is. They last anywhere from an hour to three days. Most are pretty typical questions such as “Can you teach me to surf” and some are weird like, my favorite, “What do you do with avocados?” At the end of the game, the host chooses the winner among the top 5 bidders. There is a minimum and maximum range so a person can’t just go in and bid 500 points. The games are actually doubly exciting because if you end up in the top 5, you are not sure if you’ll be chosen. Bidding on games also attracts the hosts to bid on yours and if you strategize correctly, you can pick someone else as the winner if you think the host you are bidding on will pick you. Once a winner is picked, that person is opened up as a contact. Iilwy provides various ways to contact each other including site messaging, SMS, and even voice calls which are routed through their systems so your ID and number are kept secret.
Not surprisingly, the site is not immune to the popularity (read: hot girls) factor. I’ve started out with being in the top 5 with a 30 point bid only to return the next day to find out it’s up to 500 points. What this means is that these people saved up their points until the end of the game and bid big. Of course it’s only a/(the same) handful of girls who get this much action.
The game is currently invite only and they claim that will remain the case. This sounds great from the perspective of a person on the inside and I do think it keeps a level of maturity that you won’t get with a free for all system. The idea is that the founders are pretty smart people and they only invited their smart friends who in turn invite theirs. Looking at the profiles, there’s a large amount of artsy liberal types (indie music, granola folk), designers, and a few techies.
I do think that like all invite products (Gmail, Joost, Orkut, etc), the exclusivity factor will wear out. In the meantime, I still think the product is something worth checking out for it’s innovative approach at networking and it’s clean design.
With that said, I have a few invites to give out so leave a comment and I’ll choose some lucky winners.
i don’t like myspace either. i have no idea how a website with such a bad UI ever became popular.
Thanks for the review. I’d love to check it out if you still have spare invites!
Please pretty pretty pretty please? People have been talking about it and i’m dying to have a look!
Josh Spear had me wondering a little, but now I’m definitely intrigued, and would love to have a look around!! Although the likes of ‘facebook’ & ‘myspace’ have their pros for marketing and awareness, something with a little more substance & consistency would be welcome. If you’d be so kind as to put me in the running for an invite, so i can check out the British contribution, that’d be tres cool.
thanks for the review!
I am an indie graphic designer and I have to see this site. I am so confused at the moment. I need to unwrap the riddle that in iminlikewithyou.com.
-Casey
This site sounds really interesting. I’m dying to check it out and none of my friends have even heard of it. Any chance you still have an invite to give away? I’d really appreciate it.
I sent out some invites for you guys. Some who didn’t get it, it’s pretty obvious why.
This kind of thing fascinates my ass. And it sounds significantly less retarded than Consumating.
Great article, i like how you gave us a more in-depth look into the concept of the site. I’d love an invite if you still have any left, thanks!
Nice to see some lateral thinking for a new start up.
Would love to check it out if you have any more invites left.
Thanks
I’m super-curious to check this deal out and see what’s what before it becomes a victim of mass popularity like myspace, if you have any invites left. Nice blog, btw – I dig it.
If there are any invites left, I would love the chance to check out this new site. I’m all for meeting new people and anything that isn’t similiar to the eye-pain causing myspace sounds good to me. Thanks!
Finally an intelligent and elegant system. Of course I can only judge from the outside since , alas, I don’t have an invite. I’m a techno head and will appreciate the chance to check it out from the inside.
— Spread the word….
More invites sent. I am getting a 66% return on Thank You’s.
Hey if you have any invites left I’d lovelovelove one. I’m a social networking junkie and I’m still trying to find a site that really grabs me. This one sounds like it could be a winner.
I don’t like myspace either. If there are any invites left, Id like the chance to check out this site out.
The main site doesnt explain much, no reading this its a lot clearer.
Thanks.
site’s like this irritate me.
the whole invite only thing. COME ON.
-livejournal did it, now they are open.
-facebook restricted a lot, especially to certain colleges, now their open
haven’t we learnt anything, this is only to build intrigue.
I still want to see what its about though. lol
I’ve been searching for an Invite for the site so that AXB Enterprises can get in on it. I try to branch out into every corner of Web 2.0 to get the name out there, but these Invite sites are both a hassle AND a boon.
Hook a blogger up. If so I can ALWAYS use some new talent at AXB Enterprises
I can so see how a flirting/dating website like this can eventually become a potential heaven for marketers and advertisers.
A website that encourages its users to enter personal data for a chance to flirt with strangers??? Where do I sign up
!!?
MudRocks – You should submit that to Digg. I am sure you’re the first one to figure out how tricky these companies are.
What’s AXB Enterprises? Anyone?
More invites sent out.
Are there any invites avalible some one could send me
thanks
rahul.junk@gmail.com
Hi! I’d love to check out the site if you still have any invites. I’m a 23yr old new yorker and the scene sounds like what i’m looking for, since I like artsy liberal types and geeks and they’re hard to find!
As a human-computer interaction graduate student, I’m really intrigued by your analysis and would love to join the community if not only for the educational experience. Of course, I would be a great addition to their community too, especially ’cause I offer an unparalleled smooveness.
Pick me!
sounds cool…i’d love to check it out
Sounds cool, would be great to try it out.
i would love an invite too klaus.winter@gmail.com
Nice idea, They props for doing something different. if you have a spare invite. Feel free to send it my way.
Santos – Thank you for giving me permission to send you an invite.
Whoa, looks neat. If anyone has any spare invites and is suave enough to send one my way I’d be very appreciative. scheurbert gmail com
Killer post. I thought you might like an NY Times article on the mystery method. I put the link in the URL field.