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Virtual Worlds Comparison Chart |
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In the future, everyone will have a virtual-world twin. An upgraded, digital representative of themselves that exist entirely in cyber-space, for use in almost all of our online transactions; this digital representative is called an Avatar.
Avatars are currently being used in a variety of virtual worlds, inevitably as community game worlds develop, convenience will demand that Avatars be able to communicate, conduct commerce, and trade between realms - all under one virtual roof. When the convergence of virtual worlds allows a common Avatar to connect between the multifarious virtual cultures, we'll have created what old science fiction authors called the metaverse. A simulated, virtual universe supporting many galaxies (affinity communities) and an infinite number of virtual worlds (commercial options) arranged in a system designed for optimum ease of use.
The following is a comparison table of virtual worlds provided by Virtual Environments.
Each software title has been listed, along with platform, cost per month, target user, style, etc…
| Comparison of Virtual Environments |
Virtual
World |
OS |
Cost per month |
Target user & style |
Edit
avatars? |
Build or design content? |
Script content? |
Own land or sell items? |
Education
ready? |
Comm. Events? |
Active Worlds
|
PC & Linux |
Free / $6.95 |
General; Exploration |
 |
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No selling |
Can code |
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| Barbie Girls |
PC |
Free |
Young girls; Fashion, social |
|
|
No |
Neither |
No |
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| Club Penguin |
PC & Mac |
Free / $5.95 |
Kids; Games and Activities |
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No |
No |
Neither |
No |
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| Forterra Systems |
PC |
Contract |
Training, E-Learning, Serious Games |
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Can code |
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Can code |
Can code |
| Gaia Online |
PC & Mac |
Free |
Social; Top-down overview, sprites |
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No |
No |
Sorta |
No |
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| Habbo Hotel |
PC & Mac |
Free |
Teens; Social |
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No |
Neither |
No |
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| Neopets |
PC & Mac |
Free / $7.95 |
Kids and teens; Mini-games, social |
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No |
No |
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No |
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| Teen Second Life |
PC & Mac |
Free / $9.95 |
Teens only; 3D, Creation, social |
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Can code |
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| Second Life |
PC & Mac |
Free / $9.95 |
18+ only; 3D, Creation |
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Can code |
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| The Sims Online |
PC |
$9.95/mo. |
General; Social; 3D |
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No |
No selling |
No |
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| There |
PC |
Free / $9.95 |
General; Social |
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Limited |
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No |
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| Webkins |
PC |
Free |
Social |
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No |
No |
Neither |
No |
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| Whyville |
PC & Mac |
Free |
Kids and teens; 2D sprites; Educational |
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No |
Neither |
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Zwinktopia
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PC & Mac |
Free |
Teens; Social |
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No |
No |
Neither |
No |
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The following is a legend for the above chart:
- Virtual world - The name of the virtual environment.
- OS - The available platforms for the title (PC, Mac, Linux, etc.)
- Cost per month - The cost for a monthly subscription. If the software has free, limited access available, it will be labeled as Free.
- Target user and style - The intended audience for the virtual world (e. g. kids, teens, adults) and the style of the environment (education, exploration, content creation, building, socializing, etc.)
- Edit avatars - The ability to customize one's digital character.
- Build or design content - The ability to create custom content, without any required programming or coding.
- Script content - The ability to create objects and items via programming or coding.
- Own land / sell items - The ability to own virtual real estate, and the ability to sell virtual items within the virtual world.
- Education ready - The ability to utilize the virtual environment for educational purposes, such as to teach subject matter.
- Community events - Available community supported or sponsored events within the world.
Feel free to link to this chart; however, please credit http://www.virtualenvironments.info/.
|
Stephen |
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