Section 10.4. Virtual Worlds

10.4. Virtual Worlds

Online games are great places to meet new people and work toward a shared goal, like defeating enemy troops or saving the universe. But sometimes you may just want to hang out in a highly visual environment and chat with your friends without having to dodge enemy fire or an alien fleet .

In times like these, a virtual world is the place for you. A virtual world is a graphically rendered, simulated setting that can resemble an island, a city, or other location (Figure 10-4).

Figure 10-4. Whizzing by the Sphinx on a hoverbike with your in world friends is one of the many ways to relax in There. Adventure quests, paintball games, or just chatting side-by-side with friends (who actually live across the country) are other popular activities.

Virtual spaces for kids tend to be cartoon-like, two-dimensional places (see the box in Section 10.5). Virtual worlds designed for adults typically resemble the more realistic environments found in 3-D video games, crossed with the sleek styling of The Matrix . Some worlds encourage their players to build structures and manufacture goods within the realm, which can lead to a full-blown society complete with currency and property.

10.4.1. Life in a Virtual World

You travel through this world in the form of an avatar an onscreen representation of yourself. Dressed as your digital alter ego, you move around and interact with other people's avatars. In some worlds, you can create realistic avatars that closely resemble what you look like in real life; in others, everyone wears a more or less generic-looking figure.

You usually communicate with other people by typing your thoughts; your comrades see them as cartoon speech bubbles that appear over your avatar's head. Depending on the world, you can move your avatar around the space with keyboard commands, menus , or mouse clicks. You can use a variety of built-in gestures like waving, walking, and smiling.

Virtual worlds can accommodate many players at once, often in multiple rooms or areas. Inhabitants interact with each other in real time. Clubs, cliques, guilds , and teams encourage members to form social bonds , which often makes the world more emotionally realistic to those who participate.

10.4.2. Virtual Worlds Online

Once you find your place in a virtual world, it's a great place to escapeand you don't even have to worry about booking a plane ticket. Some worlds charge subscription fees to join; others are free but are tied to commercial products like Coca-Cola or Disney theme parks. Here's a selection:

• There . Set in exotic locales including tropical islands and a virtual Egypt, avatars in There (www.there.com) can race around the land on hoverbikes or in dune buggies. With a credit card, you can convert cash to Therebucks and buy handcrafted goods and services created by other players, creating a very realistic social experience (Figure 10-4). Basic membership is free, but premium powers such as voice chat cost $9.95.

• Second Life . Its creator, Linden Lab, gave this virtual world a beautifully rendered landscape populated by fully customizable avatars. Members of Second Life (www.secondlife.com) also get the tools to create interactive objects like houses , clothes, and vehicles, which they can then sell for the local currency, Linden Dollars. Second Life is one of the few adult virtual worlds that work on the Macintosh as well as Windows. Basic membership is free, but if you want to own land in Second Life, you need to pay a monthly fee based on the amount of property.

• The Sims Online . Windows owners of the popular desktop computer game can join the online offshoot (at www.thesimsonline.com) by paying a monthly fee. Your Sims avatar still has to play by the game's rules of eating , napping, and socializing in order to stay alive and earn Simoleans (the standard Sim monetary unit).

• Coke Studios . At www.mycoke.com, the ulterior motive is clear: to plaster Coca-Cola ads all over teenagers' screens. But they can have fun trying on avatars and making music mixes to play for their virtual pals.

• Habbo Hotel . This world is designed to look like an enormous hotel. Kids ages 13 and up can check in, don an avatar (Habbo), and roam the rooms and halls. Parents can supply a credit card number so their kids can buy additional props like furniture to go in the hotel's rooms (www.habbo.com).

JUST FOR KIDS
Virtual Worlds for Real Children

The Internet universe has plenty of digital worlds for kids. Once signed up and logged on, kids can run around and play, chat with their pals next door (or from other countries ), or just hang out after school. Here are some worlds for children ages 8 to 14 that work on both Windows and Mac:

• Whyville . A virtual world with an emphasis on real learning, Whyville is a browser-based educational space with a focus on science. (www.whyville.net)

• Mokitown . Sponsored by DaimlerChrysler, this site's name is short for "mobile kids town." Members can don a Moki avatar and learn about traffic safety as they wander around virtual city streets with other Mokis. (www.mobile-kids.net)

• Virtual Magic Kingdom . This digital recreation of Disney's signature theme parks lets kids sign up and enjoy the attractions without worrying about rain and crowds. (http://vmk.disney.go.com)

Most virtual worlds for kids and tweens are at least partially monitored by adult staffers who are on the lookout for bad behavior. But if you're a parent, read the user guide posted on each site for all the rules and details. Make sure kids don't use their full, real names as screen names or reveal any other identifying information online.