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Activeworlds09.16.08 |
Activeworlds currently hosts over 1000 3D virtual worlds where users can chat, play, shop, and build to their heart’s content.
Basics
Publisher: Active Worlds, Inc.
Launch Date: 1997
URL: http://www.activeworlds.com
Number of registered users: Over 2 million
Target Audience: Ages 13+
Cost and subsequent subscription fees: Active worlds is free to download and use, however free accounts have limited access and privileges. The annual citizen fee is $70.
General Description: Activeworlds is a 3D world building platform and portal, created by Active Worlds, Inc. Originally designed to be a 3D web browser, Activeworlds is currently one of the oldest 3D virtual worlds in the market. Users can download the free client and experience the virtual worlds hosted by Active Worlds, or purchase the server technology and host their own. Activeworlds currently hosts over 1000 3D virtual worlds where users can chat, play, shop, and build to their heart’s content.
Technical
Platform: Windows and Linux
2-D, full 3-D, or other: 3D virtual world
Special hardware required (upgraded video card, sound card, etc): None
Language availability: English
Option for authoring (can users create and build?): Members with paid citizenship can stake claims on land and build. Tourist members may build in certain locations, however their buildings are not permanent and may be destroyed by any other member.
Design tools available: Activeworlds provides 3D modeling software called Truespace to its members for free. Truespace allows a user to model, animate, and render their creations in full 3D.
Search (does the world offer a way to search users and/or places?): Users can search a current list of all available worlds and their content ratings by clicking on the side tabs of the Activeworlds browser.
Security (is there protection against hacking, identity theft, or theft of IP?): Content is protected under standard copyright laws.
Can the virtual world be accessed through mobile devices: No
Can the virtual space be accessed offline: No
Is the world persistent? (Does the world continue when the user logs off): Yes, the worlds continue even though the user is logged off.
Legal & Management
Entry (what personal information is required?): Email address
Is a free trial account available (if so, what are the account restrictions)? Free members begin with an appropriately geared avatar called a Tourist. Tourists are unable to build permanent structures or build their own worlds.
Are there age restrictions: All users must be 13 years of age or older.
User Profiles (what do they contain?): There are no user profiles.
Privacy management (protecting personal data, information sharing with other companies): Personal information is not shared with other companies.
If a premium membership exists, what benefits are there to upgrading? Citizens of Activeworlds can enter any public world, have full building privileges, can send telegrams to other users, teleport to and from another user, add other citizens to a contact list, access to all available avatars in any particular world, use voice chat, use bots, use the Activeworlds forums, and can customize their own personal avatar.
Can access be restricted to designated groups? Worlds begin as restricted to tourists, but for a small fee, worlds can be opened and public to everyone. The status of a world is listed next to the world’s name in the world list: G means that everyone, including tourists, are free to visit the world.
Intellectual Property management (who owns users' creative works?): Content creators own their own creative works.
Are there in-world moderators: World owners are the moderators of their own worlds and virtual spaces.
Management of abusive behavior: Users can be removed and banned from virtual world by world owners.
Virtual Space
Avatar description (are they customizable?): Avatars are customizable only if the user is a citizen of Activeworlds.
Is in-world property ownership available? Citizens can stake claims on areas to build homes, or purchase their own world where they can build as much or as little as they please.
What are the common meeting spaces (and how many do they accommodate)? Each world has its own unique meeting places and attractions. Some worlds have movie theaters, some have private homes, some have virtual aquariums and vehicle racing zones. Each world can hold hundreds of users simultaneously.
Video or animation capabilities: Users can upload and stream video, music, and scripted animations to their personal spaces.
Are there any restrictions on what users can create in their "owned" space? No, however other users can report inappropriate content which is then subject to review by Active Worlds.
Example of a prominent corporation present in the virtual world: None known.
Socialization/Communication
Does the world include in-world instant messaging? No.
Out of world instant messaging? No.
In-game email? Citizens of Activeworlds can send telegrams to other users who are on their contact list. If the user is not currently online, the telegram is stored and a notification will pop up when the user relogs into the virtual world.
Blog space? No.
Screenshot or photo albums? Users can take screenshots by pressing the screenshot button; all screenshots are sent to a local folder. If desired, these screenshots can be uploaded and displayed in the virtual world or used as textures.
Can other users be blocked or ignored? Users can ignore other users, and will cease receiving telegrams or other communication from the offending user.
Is there language filtering? Yes, however the language filter is very primitive and easy to get around.
Economy
Does the virtual world have currency? Activeworlds has had trouble creating an internal currency system due to the diversity of worlds. Each world wants its own type of currency and currency distribution, so users have not agreed on a stable single currency. However, instead of selling objects and designs for virtual currency, many businesses have taken it upon themselves to create websites to sell their virtual goods for real cash up front.
How does the user obtain currency in-world? Not applicable.
Can a user convert real world cash to in-world currency? Not applicable.
How does the company assist with in-world trade? (Official commerce sites/auction sites/etc): None.
Does it cost money or currency to upload user created content? No, and once a user upgrades to a citizen membership, they may build in unclaimed areas freely. To create an entire world, however, will cost an additional fee for hosting and server space.
Educational Presence
Prominent educational, government and corporate organizations known to be using this product for educational purposes: Active Worlds Educational Universe, Indiana University.
Examples of areas in which instruction is currently offered: Students at Indiana University have used Activeworlds to learn design, problem solving, critical thinking, 3D design, communication, and government.
Are there special privileges for instructors? Educators can purchase the Active Worlds technology at a lower cost to encourage use in classrooms. A basic classroom costs $650 per year, and $200 per 10 student citizenship licenses. For additional charges, names can be dumped and renamed, the world can be cleared for reuse, and props created.
Are there virtual classrooms or meeting areas? There are virtual classrooms for sale that can be upgraded for additional costs.
Strengths of this product as an educational or learning tool: The freedom and ability to create, design, moderate and govern a virtual world teaches teamwork skills, interpersonal skills, and various technical skills. At Indiana University, various courses are using Activeworlds throughout the semester, resulting in a complete world or area designed by the students.
Links to some institutions or organizations currently using this product for learning:
* Active Worlds Educational Universe
(URL) http://www.activeworlds.com/edu/resources.asp
* Indiana University
(URL) http://edu.activeworlds.com/participants/indiana_university.html
Opportunities for Philanthropy
Prominent educational, government and corporate organizations known to be using this product for philanthopic purposes: None
Are there zones or areas reserved for promoting real life issues? Unknown.
Do users find the virtual world an appropriate place for philanthropy? No.