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3D Virtual Worlds List

I try to keep up with the latest in 3D virtual worlds, but new stuff keeps popping up all the time, so no doubt I will miss stuff. I'm posting a page to keep track of it all. Just a definition. A 3D Virtual World contains the following traits: 1. Its a Massively Multiplayer Online Game. 2. It renders in 3D (ruling out the literally hundreds of 2D flash virtual worlds like Club Penguin and Gaia Online). 3. It allows for multiple types of activities, primarily non-competitive social ones. (ruling out the dozens of MMORPG games as well as single activity games). 3D Virtual Worlds should also feature: Customizable avatars, customizable 3D residences, user created clothing, user created scriptable objects, Text/Speech/Gesture communication, Internet integration, multiplayer game launching capabilities. I covered this in more detail in "What is a Metaverse?" Note: Just because it is listed here does not mean I endorse it. I'm trying to make a list as complete as possible. There are some old and lame games on the list. There are also some new ones with potential, but not ready for prime time yet. There are also some special interest worlds that should have appeal for some. Do a little research before you actually join any of these games.

The List:

Active Worlds

Operated By: Activeworlds Inc Built By: Activeworlds Inc Status: Developed 1994 Open since 1997 Customization: Land building is a primary activity. Simple customizable avatars. User Created Content: Yes Notes: Oldest still in existence. No in world economy, everything in world is free. Website: http://www.activeworlds.com/

Blue Mars

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3D Virtual Worlds List

Operated By: Avatar Reality Built By: Avatar Reality using the CryEngine2 Status: Open Beta since September 2, 2009 Customization: Avatar and Real Estate customization via purchases User Created Content: object and clothing submissions via development program and approval process Notes: Set in a futuristic world on a terraformed planet Mars. Avatars created by e-frontier (makers of Poser). Update: Recently Blue Mars has stopped development of the PC version, in order to focus on iOS mobile version. Because the PC version never got out of beta and was very incomplete, it is lik ely it will be dropped soon. Website: http://bluemars.com/ My Review: A Quick Peek at Blue Mars

Cloud Party

Operated By: Cloud Party, Inc. Built By: Cloud Party, Inc. Status: Open Beta since June 2012 Customization: Avatar customization, object uploads User Created Content: yes, avatars, objects, scripting Notes: Designed primary as a Facebook game https://www.facebook.com/CloudParty it can also be launched at http://its.cloudpartytime.com Currently only works in Firefox and Google Chrome, and you must have the latest versions of those browsers. Website: http://www.cloudpartytime.com/

Club Cooee

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3D Virtual Worlds List

Operated By: Cooee GmbH (Germany) Built By: Cooee GmbH Status: Open Beta since January 2009 Customization: Avatar customization User Created Content: None Notes: Another 3D Chat Client designed primarily for teens Website: http://www.clubcooee.com/

Football Superstars

Operated By: Cyber Sports Ltd (UK) Built By: Monumental Games Status: Open since November 2008 Customization: Avatar customization User Created Content: None Notes: Sort of a Football (Soccer) MMORPG but with a social virtual world aspect outside of playing games. Website: http://footballsuperstars.com/

Free Realms

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3D Virtual Worlds List

Operated By: Sony Online Games Built By: Sony Status: Opened April 2009 Customization: Avatar customization, building User Created Content: None Notes: 3D fantasy virtual world designed primarily for kids and teens. Multiple activities including racing, pets, RPG quests, in world games. Mostly free, though more content opens up with payment. Website: http://www.freerealms.com/ My Review: A Quick Peek at Free Realms

Frenzoo

Operated By: Frenzoo.com (Hong Kong) Built By: Based on the Unity Engine Status: Early Beta Customization: Avatar and room customization, animation and others coming soon User Created Content: Yes, can import 3D models, in game fashion design. Notes: Built by a few Second Life people. Primarily a 3D chat world at the moment, looking to expand beyond that. Website: http://www.frenzoo.com/

FriendsHangout

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3D Virtual Worlds List

Operated By: Evolver.com (Canada) / Friendshangout.com (US Florida) Avatars By: Darwin Dimensions Inc. Worlds By: unity3d.com and arteria3d.com Status: Open beta since May 2009 Customization: Avatar customization through evolver.com, friendshangout offers custom world creation. User Created Content: Evolver has custom clothing (for a fee), friendshangout allows custom 3D model uploading. Notes: Friends hangout is a 3D Chat Virtual World using avatars created with Evolver.com. Autodesk has acquired Evolver and evolver.com is shutting down, not sure what that means to friendshangout Website: http://friendshangout.com My Review: What if you built an awesome 3D Virtual World and nobody came?

Gojiyo

Operated By: The Godrej Group (India) Built By: Sine Wave Company Based on the Unity Engine Status: Open Beta since 2010 Customization: Avatar customization User Created Content: No Notes: Primarily marketed to an Indian audience Website: http://gojiyo.com/

HiPiHi

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3D Virtual Worlds List

Operated By: HiPiHi (China) Built By: HiPiHi Status: Beta Customization: n/a User Created Content: n/a Notes: Open ended platform, often called the Chinese Second Life Website: http://www.hipihi.com/index_en.html

IMVU

Operated By: IMVU inc. Created By: Will Harvey (also primary creator of There) Status: Open Beta since 2004, Officially out of beta June 2008 Customization: Avatar and room customization via purchased items User Created Content: Room, clothing, and animations via submission Notes: Designed as a 3D chat client, no free movement or explorable areas. Animations are triggered by interacting with objects. Has its own social network system. Now with voice. Website: http://www.imvu.com/ My Reviews: A Quick Peek at IMVU, The Oldest Noob in IMVU

Kaneva

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3D Virtual Worlds List

Operated By: Kaneva inc. Created By: Christopher Klause (founder of ISS) Status: Open Beta since 2007 Customization: Limited avatar customization. Clothes and furniture can be purchased at the mall User Created Content: Limited to wall hanging pictures. Notes: Has a closely integrated social network system. Free apartment to decorate. Website: http://www.kaneva.com/

Meet-Me

Operated By: Co-Core Inc (Japan) Built By: Co-Core Inc Status: Beta restricted to Japan Customization: n/a User Created Content: n/a Notes: Home of Toyota Metapolis Website: http://www.meet-me.jp/ ( translated by Google )

Moove

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3D Virtual Worlds List

Operated By: Moove (Germany) Built By: Moove Status: 3D version released in 2001 Customization: Limited avatar customization, room fully customizable User Created Content: Clothes and textures Notes: Older program hence older graphics engine. Your "room" is stored on your own computer. If you visit someone else's room you download their room from their computer. There is no central virtual world to visit. Website: http://moove.com/

NuVera Online

Operated By: Nitrous Butterfly LLC Built By: Nitrous Butterfly LLC based on the Unity engine Status: No longer beta as of Jan 2012 Customization: Limited avatar customization, room fully customizable User Created Content: Developer program for textures and 3D objects. Notes: Its primarily a social world for adults, with no teens and kids allowed. Website: http://nuveraonline.com/ My Review: 3D Virtual World News and a Quick Peak at NuVera

Onverse

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3D Virtual Worlds List

Operated By: Onverse (Arizona) Built By: Onverse using the Torque Game Engine Status: Open beta in June 2009 Platform: Windows, Mac, and Linux available Customization: Limited avatar and room customization furnishings obtained via currency awards and currency purchase User Created Content: none Notes: Simple low end, low resource 3D virtual world. Also has social networking website. Website: http://onverse.com/ My Review: A Quick Peek at Onverse

OSGrid (and other OpenSim based grids)

Operated By: OSGrid.org and others Built By: Open source development with major contributions by IBM, based on technology by Linden Labs Status: Project started in 2007 Customization: Completely customizable avatars, Host land at home or on a web server User Created Content: Textures, Animations, and Scripts instantly uploadable Notes: OpenSimulator is a 3D Virtual World platform anyone can use to create a Second Life like virtual world. OSGrid is the largest of over 300 public grid that hosts and links thousands of individual regions to explore. Website: http://osgrid.org/ and http://opensimulator.org/ Other Major OpenSimulator based grids (in order of approximate size): Avination InWorldz Kitely The New World Grid Avatar Hangout ReactionGrid 3rd Rock Grid Nexxtlife FrancoGrid Your Alternative Life SpotOn 3D German Grid Virtyou Alpha Towne Metropolis VirtuaLife ScienceSim Wilder Westen

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Jokaydia Craft-World Virtual RP UFS Grid Twisted Sky SIM World Unica Universe MyOpenGrid Role Play Worlds 3DMee Tertiary Grid Heritage Key My Review: Open Sim Grids

3D Virtual Worlds List

Playstation 3 Home

Operated By: Sony Built By: Sony Computer Entertainment Status: Open beta in December 2008 Platform: Playstation 3 owners only Customization: Limited avatar and room customization furnishings obtained via game awards User Created Content: wall pictures only, possibly more Notes: Designed to be a central meeting place for Playstation 3 owners. Meet in world then launch other multiplayer games to play. Website: http://www.us.playstation.com/PSN/Home My Review: A First Look at Playstation 3 Home

Red Light Center

Operated By: Global Reach Inc. Built By: Worlds.com Status: Out of beta since 2007 Customization: Limited avatar customization User Created Content: none Notes: Primary focus is on adult content and online sex. VIP membership allows access to porn content. Has its own social network system at Utherverse.com Website: http://www.redlightcenter.com/

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My Reviews: A Quick Peek at Red Light Center How are the Virtual Worlds Doing? Associated Worlds: Rude Virtual Virtual Vancouver The Virtual World Web

3D Virtual Worlds List

ResLive

Operated By: Another Dimension Media Ltd Built By: Sine Wave Company on a Unity3D engine Status: Open Beta since 2010 Customization: Limited customizable avatars Notes: Designed primarily as a 3D Venue for live concerts and music. Website: http://www.reslive.com/

Second Life

Operated By: Linden Labs. (California) Built By: Linden Labs Status: Open to public since June 2003 Customization: Completely customizable avatars, Land via purchase or rent allows building space. User Created Content: Textures, Animations, and Scripts instantly uploadable with small fee. Notes: Largest 3DVW in both membership and activity. Over 20 million accounts, over 700,000 unique visitors monthly, and over 1800 sq. km of land. Website: http://secondlife.com/ My Page dedicated to Second Life: Second Life Tips and Scripts

There Inc.

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Operated By: Makena (California) Built By: There Inc. Status: First opened 2003 to 2010, limited reopen 2011, officially reopened May 2012 Customization: Customizable avatars, Houses and Land via purchasable lots. User Created Content: textures, clothes, objects, furniture, vehicles Notes: Monthly fee required. Once the largest 3D Virtual World, was closed for financial reasons, but a strong fan base brought it back. Seems a little dated today, but still has the best vehicles in the metaverse. Website: http://there.com/ My Page dedicated to There: There Magic

3D Chat

Operated By: 3D Chat LLC Built By: GolemLabs Studios using Gamebryo Engine Status: Open beta since July 2010 Customization: Customizable avatars and apartments User Created Content: none Notes: Adult oriented virtual world requires credit card for ID verification. Website: http://www.3dchat.com/

3D Sex

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3D Virtual Worlds List

Operated By: Virtual Encounters Inc. Built By: VWW Gaming Engine? Status: Open since 2012 Customization: Limited avatar customization User Created Content: none Notes: Primary focus is on adult content and online sex. VIP membership allows access to porn content. As far as I can tell it is not associated with VWW/Utherverse, but uses the same gaming engine and business model. Website: http://www.3dsex.com/

Twinity

Operated By: Metaversum (Germany) Built By: Metaversum Status: Open Beta as of Sept 2008 Customization: Facial avatar customization including skins from photo feature. Fully customizable rooms via purchasable furniture and textures User Created Content: Retexture walls, furniture and clothing, more coming soon. Notes: Strong web integration. You can hang a fully operational webpage on your wall. Only the third social virtual world to have voice feature. Has its own social network system Website: http://twinity.com/en My Reviews: A Quick Peek At Twinity

vSide

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3D Virtual Worlds List

Operated By: Exit Reality (Australia) Built By: Doppelganger Inc. based on the Torque Game Engine Status: Reopened under new ownership Customization: Limited avatar customization User Created Content: Clothing and other various items via submission Notes: This teen oriented world has been shuffled around. Once operated by AOL, now by an Australian Virtual World company. The original owners shut down in July 2009, but sold all assets to other companies. The new owner Exit Reality have it up and running again. Website: http://www.vside.com/

3D "Outside the Box" Exploring:

As a footnote, I want to mention a few sites that are almost 3D Virtual Worlds but are a little bit outside of the box. These websites are multiplayer and have 3D elements, but communications and navigation are a bit non-traditional.

3B Rooms
Status: Open since 2007 Notes: Build 3D rooms with web pages as walls, click on walls to go to website. It also has chat capabilities. Beyond that it does not do anything else, hence I cannot call it a true 3D Virtual World. Website: http://3b.net/

Empire of Sports
Status: Open since December 2008 Notes: Multiple sports games against real players from around the world. Keep a common avatar between them. Website: http://empireofsports.com/

Entropia Universe
Status: Open since 2003 Notes: For all intents and purposes, this is an MMORPG, but it has enough 3D Virtual World elements that it is often mistaken as such. Its free to start, but progress in the game requires real world money. Website: http://www.entropiauniverse.com/

EveryScape
Status: Beta Notes: Uses "street finder" like technology to navigate the real world via photographs. Includes interiors of buildings as well. You can tag locations with notes or buy advertising space at popular locations. Website: http://www.everyscape.com/

Exit Reality
Status: Open Notes: Takes a standard 2D social network profile page, and converts it to a 3D space. Operates in your browser via plugin. Pictures turn into wall hanging pictures, embedded music turns into jukeboxes, embedded videos turn into TVs, and online friends turn into people you can chat with. Website: http://www.exitreality.com/ My Review: A Quick Peek at Exit Reality

GeoSim Philly
Status: Beta since 2007 Notes: A very detailed "mirror world" of downtown Philadelphia, made by a company based in Israel. Originally appeared in the main list, may soon again as avatars are forthcoming. Website: http://www.geosimphilly.com/

Google Earth
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3D Virtual Worlds List

Status: Open since 2006 Notes: A 3D representation of the world via satellite. People can mark locations, tag photographs, tag videos, build 3D buildings to place on the world. Website: http://earth.google.com My Review: Google Earth 5 is Awesome

Koinup
Status: Open Notes: This is a social network designed to showcase art and video made within 3D worlds. Website: http://www.koinup.com/ My Review: Social Networks for Virtual World Avatars

Meez
Status: Creating 3D avatars since 2006, opened non-3D virtual world Meez Nation in May 2008 Notes: I first wrote about this site in 2006. They recently opened up a virtual world based on these characters you create. Website: http://www.meez.com/

Near
Status: Beta since 2009 Notes: A detailed "mirror world" of the main shopping area of London (the "west end") as a way to shop online in 3D. Website: http://www.nearglobal.com/

Photosynth
Status: Released to public in 2008 Notes: Takes a large number of still photos of the same object and mashes them together into a 3D representation Website: http://photosynth.com/

Protosphere
Status: Demo Notes: Designed primarily for long distance collaboration in business uses. Website: http://protonmedia.com/

3rd Planet
Status: Open Beta in 2011 Notes: A virtual tourism website using 3D interaction to visit real world tourist locations. Website: http://www.3rdplanet.com/

Teleplace
Status: Open in 2007 as Qwak, changed name to Teleplace in 2009 Notes: A program for private 3D interaction, primarily for business use. Website: http://www.teleplace.com/

Wild Style City

Status: Open 2009 Notes: Make your own public grafitti on "streetview" maps. Demo project of Earthmine, Inc. Website: http://wildstylecity.com/wsc/

Worlds.com
Status: Open since 1994 Notes: The company that started 3D Virtual World Development. They no longer maintain any virtual worlds, except for some demo worlds you can download and explore. Their focus these days is third party development and licensing. They created Red Light Center and Prototerra mentioned above. Website: http://worlds.com/

Content Creators:
As a second footnote, I want to list some companies that are independently creating content and platforms for other 3D Virtual worlds. If you follow the 3D webs development, keep an eye on these companies: 3Di Japan 3DXplorer Arteria Assemblive Avaya Aziva DigiMi

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Electric Sheep Company Eon Reality SAIC (Formerly Forterra) Icarus Studios Millions of Us Mycosm N-Sided New Media Consortium Oddcast Open Cobalt Open Wonderland RealXtend Rezzable Rivers Run Red Second Interest Second Places Sine Wave Company Sirikata Tipodean Trilogy Studios Vastpark VenueGen

3D Virtual Worlds List

In Development:
As a third footnote, I am listing sites that have stuff in the development chain, but relatively little information: http://3djays.com/ http://huzutech.com/ http://khronos.org/webgl/ http://jibemicro.reactiongrid.com/pathfinderlester/webplayer.html http://micazook.com/ http://moondus.com/ http://polarheroes.com/ http://realifeplus.com/ http://sunglass.io/

In Memorium:
The Sims Online 2003 - 2007 Virtual Lower East Side 2007 - 2008 Google Lively 2008 - 2008 Virtual MTV 2004 - 2009 Cybertown 1998 - 2006? (Technically still open, but has gone on unsupported for 7 years) Novoking 2008 - 2009 Website dead for months, no news Amazing Worlds 2009 - 2009? Website dead Vivaty 2008 - 2010 Assets sold to Microsoft, could return on XBox Live Prototerra 2000-2010 Website is dead Just Leap In 2008 - ? Website is dead Vie The Game 2010-2012 Never really got out of beta

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