Many avid users of virtual worlds are often disappointed after they try to demonstrate this new medium to others. The others "just don't get it". Thats no wonder. You can not "demo" virtual worlds. You have to experience them. I realized this again tonight, when I got an email from Sylvia, a team member from our real estate division.
The most fascinating aspect of virtual worlds to me has always been the (relatively) low technological effort that is sufficient to create the immersive effect (the feeling of being inside the virtual word and not sitting in front of the PC). All you need is a PC, a keyboard and a mouse. Fascinating, isn't it? Especially when you compare it to the clumsy and expensive VR devices of the late 90s.
Three features are necessary to achieve this effect and I am rather certain that they more or less define a successful virtual world. These features are:
- world
- avatar
- community/ consensus
World means a (somewhat) realistically depicted world on your screen. This can be a 3D world but it does not necessarily have to be one. There are quite successful virtual worlds with a 2.5 D or flat, comic-like display style. The more realistic a world is displayed, the easier it is to appeal
Avatar means an individual (customizable) persona that represents you, which you (1) control yourself, and which you (2) can see yourself.
Community/Consensus means a consensual experience of the "world" together with other avatars (users), who see you and which you see, all sharing the same experience when they are in the same "spot" within the virtual world.
The immersive (being there) effect is fueled by all of these features together and from being the "one in control". If you don't feel in control, if you don't are your avatar, most virtual worlds just look like a - badly done - computer animated movie. Look at the two pictures above: the right one shows nearly the same as the left one. But in the left one you see an avatar. And only if you feel (by taking control), that this avatar represents you, you have a chance to reach the immersive feeling.
Don't demo, let them try it out! Only personal experience will make them "grok" it.
Technorati Tags: 3d web, psychology, second life, virtual worlds, web 3.d
very nice article.
Posted by: ankara nakliyat | May 23, 2008 at 03:32 AM