{"id":136,"date":"2014-03-11T12:07:20","date_gmt":"2014-03-11T12:07:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.soton.ac.uk\/orion\/?p=136"},"modified":"2014-05-02T13:09:13","modified_gmt":"2014-05-02T13:09:13","slug":"two-existing-virtual-world-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.soton.ac.uk\/orion\/analysis\/two-existing-virtual-world-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Existing systems: virtual worlds"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this post, we will examine existing virtual world that exist, in order to better understand the how they are designed and used, and the features they commonly have.<\/p>\n

\"Figure<\/a>
Virtual worlds often include the ability to create an avatar for one’s self. This is a screenshot of avatar customization in Second Life<\/figcaption><\/figure>Drawing on our previous analysis of gaming social networks<\/a>, we have first identified a number of virtual world social networks and their features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
NAME<\/th>\nAUDIENCE<\/th>\nTAGS<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Gaia Online<\/a><\/td>\ngeneral; Anime and games. Popular in USA, Canada and Europe. Moderately popular around Asia; Open to gamers 13 and older<\/td>\nvirtual world<\/span>, friends<\/span>, profile<\/span>, avatar<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Koinup<\/a><\/td>\nspecific games: sims, wow, etc<\/td>\npictures<\/span>, text<\/span>, virtual world<\/span>, groups<\/span>, profile<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nintendo Mii Plaza<\/a><\/td>\nspecific plaform: wii<\/td>\ntext<\/span>, pictures<\/span>, videos<\/span>, friends<\/span>, private messaging<\/span>, virtual world<\/span>, avatar<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Onverse<\/a><\/td>\ngeneral<\/td>\nvirtual world<\/span>, profile<\/span>, friends<\/span>, avatar<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Second life<\/a><\/td>\nspecific games: second life<\/td>\nstore<\/span>, app<\/span>, text<\/span>, virtual world<\/span>, private messaging<\/span>, groups<\/span>, profile<\/span>, avatar<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
WeeWorld<\/a><\/td>\ngeneral<\/td>\nvirtual world<\/span>, avatar<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
World of Warcraft<\/a><\/td>\nspecific games: wow<\/td>\ngamified<\/span>, store<\/span>, app<\/span>, text<\/span>, in-game content<\/span>, stats<\/span>, friends<\/span>, groups<\/span>, profile<\/span>, private messaging<\/span>, virtual world<\/span>, avatar<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Habbo Hotel<\/a><\/td>\ngeneral<\/td>\ntext<\/span>, friends<\/span>, groups<\/span>, virtual world<\/span>, avatar<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Baidu Paste Bar<\/a><\/td>\ngeneral<\/td>\napp<\/span>, text<\/span>, pictures<\/span>, videos<\/span>, profile<\/span>, private messaging<\/span>, groups<\/span>, virtual world<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Thumdar<\/a><\/td>\ngeneral<\/td>\ntext<\/span>, profile<\/span>, avatar<\/span>, private messaging<\/span>, groups<\/span>, virtual world<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Below, this data is illustrated on a interactive chord diagram. It demonstrates that, among the above virtual worlds, the sharing of text is common, but the sharing of pictures and video is note normally available. Further to this, they often allow people to represent themselves using avatars, providing them with a unique visual identity within the virtual world.<\/p>\n

Groups and friends are also common features within virtual worlds, and most provide a private messaging facility, allowing private communication between individuals. Most appeared to be web-based and graphical.<\/p>\n\n\n