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IMVU04.25.08 |
IMVU
IMVU is a 3D instant messaging client developed by Will Harvey's IMVU, Inc. and currently has over 1 million registered users.
IMVU is a 3D instant messaging client developed by Will Harvey's IMVU, Inc. and currently has over 1 million registered users. IMVU seeks to provide an alternative for instant message users to socialize and have fun with their friends by offering visual avatars in a 3D world. Users can create friends lists, chat and interact with their friends, customize their avatars and create home pages. In addition, users can purchase new items from the IMVU catalog or from other users. IMVU's content is highly dependent on its users, who are encouraged to create and distribute items in IMVU for a small upload fee. Guests accounts are free, but member accounts can be created for a one time nominal fee.
Basics
Publisher: IMVU, Inc.
Launch Date: Public Beta began in 2004
URL: http://www.imvu.com
Number of registered accounts: Over 600,000
Target Audience: Ages 13+
Cost and subsequent subscription fees: IMVU is free to download and register. Unpaid accounts cannot register permanent avatar names, and appear in the world with the prefix Guest_. To register your avatar name permanently, a one time fee of $7.95 is applied to the account.
General Description: IMVU is an instant messaging client currently in open public beta. Released in 2004, IMVU is an instant messaging based program similar to AOL Instant Messenger, with an additional 3D client that allows visualization of each user’s 3D avatar. IMVU’s primary draw is the 3D avatar which can be customized as the user sees fit. Users can create and purchase clothing, pets, and hairstyles to make their character unique. Users can enter public chat rooms in the 3D world to meet other members. Chat can either be conveyed through chat bubbles in the virtual world, or through private instant messenger windows.
Technical
Platform: Windows
2-D, full 3-D, or other: Instant messenger window combined with a 3D virtual world
Special hardware required (upgraded video card, sound card, etc): None
Language availability: English
Option for authoring (can users create and build?): Once users have an upgraded account, they can access the content creation program. IMVU provides tools and encourages users to create virtual objects to fill out their catalogue. Users can profit from selling objects to other players for IMVU credits.
Design tools available: A variety of in-game tools work with 2D paint programs, flash, and 3D programs like MAX. Users can create and animate objects.
Search (does the world offer a way to search users and/or places?): There is a people search located on IMVU’s main website to help users find other members with similar locations and interests. Users can locate other members by searching for specific keywords, new users, age, location, gender, relationship status, sexual orientation, or creator status.
Security (is there protection against hacking, identity theft, or theft of IP?): In IMVU’s terms of service, IMVU protects the intellectual property of its users.
Can the virtual world be accessed through mobile devices: No, though theoretically a mobile device with web and flash capabilities should be able to run IMVU.
Can the virtual space be accessed offline: No.
Is the world persistent? (Does the world continue when the user logs off): Yes, theoretically. However there is no visual passage of time in the world.
Legal & Management
Entry (what personal information is required?): Email address, birthdate, first and last name, country of residence
Is a free trial account available (if so, what are the account restrictions)? Free accounts are available and standard. Free accounts are identified with a “Guest_” in front of the avatar’s name. Additionally, free accounts are unable to create and submit objects.
Are there age restrictions: No
User Profiles (what do they contain?): Age, location, interests, significant other, personal updates, groups, buddies, last login, and collectables.
Privacy management (protecting personal data, information sharing with other companies): As per company privacy policies, no personal information is shared with other companies.
If a premium membership exists, what benefits are there to upgrading? Users must upgrade to premium membership to “claim” their virtual name as well as create objects within the IMVU world.
Can access be restricted to designated groups? There are groups that users can join to share interests.
Intellectual Property management (who owns users' creative works?): Users own their own creative works.
Are there in-world moderators: You can submit a help ticket and wait for a response depending on what type of issue you have.
Management of abusive behavior: Users can be suspended or banned indefinitely for inappropriate behavior.
Virtual Space
Avatar description (are they customizable?): Avatars can have new hairstyles and clothing as users purchase new options. Users can also purchase pets, which accompany the avatar wherever it goes, and may or may not be animated.
Is in-world property ownership available? Users can purchase rooms and furniture from other users to create their own personal spaces.
What are the common meeting spaces (and how many do they accommodate)? The most common meeting spaces are public chat rooms. Public chat rooms accommodate roughly 10 people, and are created and named by users. Users will name the chat room according to the subject matter of the chat.
Video or animation capabilities: Users can purchase animations/scripts from other users through the catalogue.
Are there any restrictions on what users can create in their "owned" space? All creations must be approved by IMVU as following guidelines and not being of a racial, sexual, or improper nature.
Example of a prominent corporation present in the virtual world: None currently.
Socialization/Communication
Does the world include in-world instant messaging? Yes, the virtual world is based around an instant messenger client.
Out of world instant messaging? Yes, you do not need to be in the virtual world to use the instant messaging.
In-game email? There is private messaging available to users.
Blog space? Users are given a web space that they can use as their blogging portal. Users can post messages, pictures, groups, achievements, and friends on their web space.
Screenshot or photo albums? Screenshots can be taken in world and posted through directly to the user’s web space.
Can other users be blocked or ignored? Users can block other users similar to any instant message block function.
Is there language filtering? No.
Economy
Does the virtual world have currency? Yes, the official currency of IMVU are called credits.
How does the user obtain currency in-world? Users can purchase credits directly from IMVU or obtain credits by creating and selling objects to other users in the world. Users can also obtain credits by participating in special events.
Can a user convert real world cash to in-world currency? Yes, IMVU sells credits to users on their website or by mobile phone. The standard rate is $1 per 1000 credits, with a discount available on larger purchases.
How does the company assist with in-world trade? (Official commerce sites/auction sites/etc): IMVU hosts the web’s largest catalogue of virtual goods, hosting over 1.5 million items created by IMVU members.
Does it cost money or currency to upload user created content? Currently there is a profit sharing scale applied to uploaded items; IMVU takes a percentage of each sale as payment. However, review and testing of a new payment plan is in effect currently.
Educational Presence
Prominent educational, government and corporate organizations known to be using this product for educational purposes: None
Examples of areas in which instruction is currently offered: None
Are there special privileges for instructors? Not applicable.
Are there virtual classrooms or meeting areas? Not applicable.
Strengths of this product as an educational or learning tool: IMVU is heavily criticized as being unsafe for children as an online environment. Since there are no chat filters or protected areas, adults can talk to children as easily as they can adults.
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? No.
Do users find the virtual world an appropriate place for philanthropy? No.