If you want to create your own online virtual life, you're not alone. There are thousands of people who use virtual worlds every day in order to socialize, get information and complete work. Virtual life users are as diverse as people in real life. Many virtual communities focus on offering virtual meeting places, just like traditional boardrooms. Others are decidedly more social, mimicking the local club scene. Still others provide a safe place for kids and teens to explore and meet with peers. No matter what your interest is in virtual living, the following guide to creating a virtual life will help you achieve your goal.
Selecting Your Virtual Online Community
With the popularity of virtual worlds, finding a way to create your own online virtual life has never been easier. There are many to choose from. Here are a few of the most popular to get you started:
- Second Life - Second Life is the most widely recognized multi-player social experience online. Once you create your character, you can walk, run, fly or drive to anywhere within the every expanding world of Second Life, which was created in 2003. There are millions of people interacting on Second Life, and schools like MIT even use it to host distance education courses.
- Kaneva -Kaneva offers opportunities for shopping, hanging out with friends and creating your own "house" in a virtual world. Like Second Life, Kaneva claims to have millions of users. It was originally developed in 2004.
- Active Worlds - This virtual reality platform only runs on Windows, but it allows you to explore 3D worlds that other users have built. There are over 800 worlds within the Active Worlds Universe, which has been in operation since 1998.
Developing Your Persona and Avatar
When you select a virtual world to join, one of the first things you'll do will be to create your avatar and your persona. Your avatar and persona will represent you in your virtual world, so it's important to choose yours wisely. Your persona is the "back story" behind your character, and your avatar is the way that your character looks.
Before you make your avatar selection, think about the impression that you want to make in the world and develop your persona. Are you going to be using it for virtual meetings with real-life clients? If so, the ten foot tall fire breathing monster probably isn't the best bet. Rather, you'll want something that looks like you do in real life. If you're using the online virtual world just for fun, your options are much more open.
Virtual life simulators make it easy to create your own avatar. Your virtual world should walk you through the basic process of selecting your body type, skin color, hair color and gender. With virtual worlds, there is no limit on how creative you can be. If you've always wanted to be a centaur or an alien with green skin, chances are you can be one in an online virtual world.
Most virtual worlds allow you to purchase clothes, body modifications and other customizations once you're in the world. If you don't see something that you like when you are first getting registered you can always adjust later once you explore the world and find places to shop.
After You Create Your Own Online Virtual Life
After establishing your persona and avatar, you can begin to explore your virtual world. If the program offers any tutorials to walk you through the basics, it's best to take time to sit through those. It will make your experience a lot easier and more interesting.
Once you've mastered the basics of moving around, you can navigate to a group, section or sub-world that relates to your interests. For example, if you're interested in listening to great music, you can find a virtual club so your avatar can dance. It all depends on your interests. The great thing about starting to create an online virtual life is that there is something for everyone.
