« User Generated Marketing – Get Someone Else To Do Your Viral Marketing | Home | Bloggers Meet @ Manchester International Festival »
There seems to be a growing number of graphical and 3D Avatar Chat rooms, and 3D Avatar games and services.
Very popular with teens, who tend to be early adopters of online technology, but it’s becoming increasingly more widespread in mainstream audiences.
Some avatar companies are forming commercial links with shopping sites, for example My Virtual Model (which is old school now, as it’s been out since 2001 with little modification); and judging by the brands that they are working with, they are targeting an older demographic.
For those of you who are wondering what I’m on about, an Avatar is a graphical representation of yourself;
Examples of companies who use Avatars include:
Some of the sites allow you to create a representation of yourself to download and use in blogs, on your instant messaging profile and in email. Other sites allow interaction, chat and games; but the more advanced sites are more virtual worlds than websites – for example Second Life and Whyville.
The main players are already well established, this is nothing new; but the increasing mainstream use, and the more interesting ways companies are using these tools suggests the way we use the Internet, and interact with people will increasingly change.
It’s funny how we have had the ability to upload photos, and chat using web cams for some time – showing a real image of yourself, yet people are moving to a more morphed version of themselves – a realistic, but clearly not real cartoon/graphical representation.
For more information about Avatars, have a wander round Wikipedia.
Topics: Clever Stuff, Social Networking | 71 Comments »
July 12th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
You should check this site for cool avatars, they can be used in IM as emoticons or display pictures. Soem of the animations available are really funny! http://www.thelolfamily.com
July 15th, 2007 at 2:38 am
Sounds Great, could u tell me how to make the sites
July 22nd, 2007 at 3:23 am
Bebo is not a virtual site but its like myspace accept Bebo is more organized it’s really cool and you meet new friends u should try it BYE
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:02 am
Thanks for the feedback… all quite random, but much appreciated.
August 1st, 2007 at 7:31 pm
thanks for the info. If possible could you find a list of virtual sites. It would be greatly appricated. thanks, Sarah
August 7th, 2007 at 5:11 am
This is so better than Car Driving games
August 10th, 2007 at 2:01 am
u should try there.com its awesome
August 19th, 2007 at 1:56 am
try barbie girls its so fun! but its for girls oonly and imvu 2!
September 16th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Hi! wats up??? and the first avatar on ur site is kwl !
September 16th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Ya u must see barbiegirls.com its kwl!!!! i have visited there many times!!! -sophie
September 16th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Oh so u seen meez.com?? ya there kwl too…nice to hear that a site makers free!! haha! really great thinking u must check bariegirls and imvu! and thedollpalace.com too, have fun and thedollpalace.com is full of avatars check!it! some more sites : barbiecrave.com , myglitters.com , tdpcodes.com (in tdp codes there many things to download! but i dint think there is able to download a avatar..)
-sophie
September 16th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
Check piczo too! and really zwinky’s kwl! any ways….really kool site! i wanna site! how u make it katrina???
-sophie
September 17th, 2007 at 5:51 pm
Thanks for the feedback – and Sophie, I’m glad you think the site is kwl!
It’s a Wordpress blog that’s been branded up by Virtuaffinity.
This has been specially made, but I’m sure you could find a kwl template if you had a search online.
September 20th, 2007 at 9:00 pm
this is not as cool as IMVU
October 7th, 2007 at 8:05 am
can any of u guys suggest a site other than imvu
October 8th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
Hi Katy,
To be honest, I’m not the best person to ask as I’m not the main target audience for these avatar sites; but Sophie seems to have tried a few – try the one’s she’s mentioned and let me know what you think.
Second life seems a bit slow and dull – there are a lot of registered users, but most people sign up, try it once and never return. Meez was quite easy to use. http://www.jibjab.com have some really funny videos that you can add yourself and friends.
Hope that helps,
K
October 21st, 2007 at 1:17 am
this games is made cool1!!! yall should try is it like myspace
November 7th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
hey wuz up im here to say imvu is super cool its just ive never been on it before an you help me?
December 26th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
is there any 3d girl game that isnt dowload i cant dowload like barbie girls you dont have to download it i want a non dowload 3d girl chat games ok
December 26th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
you know molly is right non dowload games are better when you download you loose megga bites
December 26th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
i like to see non dowload chat games
December 26th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
barbie girls is better we dont have to dowload it i want to see more sites like barbie girls
January 20th, 2008 at 1:17 am
hi wats up i trying to see any girl games that u dont have to download u can just play for free i want a avater to go with it
February 17th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
http://www.mycoke.com
http://www.habbohotel.co.uk
they are good
February 18th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Thanks Jen, these are games that you don’t need to download – so that should answer Nardayia’s question,
Cheers,
K
May 5th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
To Nardayia’s question you could visit Stardoll its really cool…hope i helped!!
May 18th, 2008 at 4:16 am
guys . . bored in 3d game that u have
to download it ?
well this is perfect for u . .
try http://www.habbo.com
this is not 3d but as u can see .
this is the biggest virtual online chatting for teenager . . wow this is cool !
im just helping im not forcing . . Lol
May 27th, 2008 at 7:29 am
i tried all of these but http://www.boombang.tv is THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!its 4 all ages
June 8th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
it is fantistic u make auctions design your own clothes and talk and make a bf or gf it is fantastic
June 12th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
exellent
June 13th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
try http://www.barbiegirls.com u can create ur own girl and u can chat with ppl.on my opinion it is AUESOME!!!!!
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:47 pm
My mom wont let me download a site.But i can play on non-donload sites any ideas!
October 7th, 2008 at 7:11 am
You should check out http://www.ourworld.com!
October 10th, 2008 at 7:44 am
I want a chatroom with avatars that I don’t have to download, I checked out http://www.ourworld.com
Do I have to download it or not?
October 13th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Thanks for the comments guys, I’m no expert on these games & chat sites….
Chester suggested Habbo.com as one you don’t need to download anything for though…
Sorry I can’t be much help!
If anyone else has ideas, let me know,
Cheers,
K
November 1st, 2008 at 6:47 pm
i love MEEZ.COM! I have mii own profile on there! Check it out!It’s a good website but lately i havent been able 2 go on there….but i need 2 create an profile on another virtual website.
November 1st, 2008 at 10:36 pm
I think this might help http://www.Fantage.com is so much fun.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Hello:D
I have played a lot of 3D Avatar Games, I liked IMVU but there is not much to do… Does any of you know if there is a non downloadable 3D Avatar Game thats almost like IMVU but more fun
Thanks
November 5th, 2008 at 1:34 am
I’m in my teens and I have a mac computer. I like 3d avatars but I hate having to install and download because there aren’t many to go to. Can you help me?
November 8th, 2008 at 2:42 am
therz alway http://www.IMVU.com and http://www.Kaneva.com http://www.gaiaonline.com. and thatz all i can think of that yall didn’t name already so…… thnx 4 nuthin
November 14th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
wow you guys helped me find out alot of websites if you people have aim names add me im babygal123123123 cause you guys are awsome
December 1st, 2008 at 6:07 am
Do we have to download My Virtual Model?
December 26th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
my mom will no let me download or install because it slows up my computer and that sucks!
December 31st, 2008 at 8:05 am
uhhh there’s habbo.com, kaneva.com, meez.com, runescape.com, boombang.tv, stardoll.com, ourworld.com, dragongamez.com o and meez rox! lol
January 3rd, 2009 at 7:30 am
i lovee zwinkys lol its so much fun!!
January 28th, 2009 at 9:30 am
is der ANY site like zwinky?!
and yeah mealine…i go with you,zwinky rox
March 7th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
it absolubtly great honestly
March 16th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
does anyone know of a virtual chat program like second life for mac?
March 20th, 2009 at 2:19 am
I’ve tried my fair share of 3d chat games – incl IMVU, Zwinky, Meez, Kaneva, WeeWorld – but NONE of them compare to Smallworlds (www.smallworlds.com)! You can create ur own avatar(s), adopt a pet, create ur own space(s), create/do missions, earn tokens/gold (game currency), shop, meet friends, socialize, stream music/videos, play arcade games – the possibilities are endless! And the graphics are AWESOME! Since joining the SW community, I haven’t looked back! Give a try!!!
March 26th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
you should try this web sit.
March 29th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
this website is pretty cool u should try it too.
May 1st, 2009 at 3:11 pm
It’s great to see more Manchester companies getting on board with 3d virtual worlds. This just shows how important it is to get a company with real experience designing virtual worlds. http://www.mitooshi.com/ have some great examples on their site.
May 17th, 2009 at 10:49 am
did u know this websites:zwinky super secrets meez sociotown.com and runescape in socio town create your avatar and walk create your room meet friends chat and it’s very awesome! and make a hot sexy cute handsome avatars so make sure u already register it had no download
August 6th, 2009 at 8:33 am
I checked switchin mmo out.
It was really cool and lots of clothes for ur avatar 2 choose from.
And there is no download so plz check it out.
You’ll love it
August 16th, 2009 at 2:47 am
Meez.com is a great site i have an avatar there, and its really cool to get to portray yourself as gothic, or girly or well tomboyish. and there also Stardoll.com but its not as fun
August 21st, 2009 at 2:39 am
meez.com is so cool!
August 31st, 2009 at 5:28 pm
club penguin is rrrrreeeeaaallllyyyy fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you get to talk to other ppl, play games, have ur very own igloo, and decorate ur igloo, and buy clothes to(not with real money). everybody should try it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!…
August 31st, 2009 at 5:29 pm
explodes
October 19th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
theres this website that you are on a virtual website and you are on a a island its not sims but its really cool they play on bikes and other cars and four wheelers its really cool if you know what it is emailme at arianaacosta@yahoo.com thx
November 7th, 2009 at 1:22 am
ilove it
November 8th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
she is butt ugly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 14th, 2009 at 3:29 am
hey i went on this one site its pretty kool its called chapatziz. if it does not work just serch chapatziz it will work.
hope it helped
-lydia
December 1st, 2009 at 10:47 am
If u dont want to download anythink try weeworld its heaps of fun and u can chat make a house go to http://www.weeworld.com try it!
Elexa
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:50 am
well imvu i guess is cool,but u can get viruses from it,like i got a bunch from it.
try checkin out frenzoo.com.its a 3d world and i think its pretty awesome.u do hav to download tho but so far ive gotten no viruses.well….hope i helped some of u lookin 4 a virtual world.(oh and uhav to be 13 or up 2 play)
December 4th, 2009 at 4:29 am
hey there is this on sight for girls and guys thatare ove 13 only its really neat.you can have ur own car,house.you buy clothes and meet people i love it you all should look into it and also its non download (yay!)
December 26th, 2009 at 7:35 am
What’s the website jess?
January 1st, 2010 at 7:32 pm
hey jess wat website r u talking about?
January 8th, 2010 at 6:59 pm
i need a game with avatars, and a virtual world. but, i can’t i repeat can’t download! plz help
January 17th, 2010 at 6:02 am
hell naw it didnt help and its boring and u g0t t0 keep d0in the stuff over and over .
February 6th, 2010 at 1:57 am
hi smallworlds is really fun 4 me and its no download and u can earn gold and wen u get anof gold u can b a vip its awesome if u ever get on my username is lola martiniz search me and add me and mail me so i can add u!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 18th, 2010 at 1:29 am
i luved it meez is the best its soo kewl