MSN vs. IMVU

Well hello again!

Here is week 5 tutorial task. It asked us to examine both MSN and a 3D virtual world, such as IMVU, habbo hotel and sites like that.

Personally, I'm not a fan of 3D worlds, I think that's taking Internet chat rooms to the extreme!! So I'll try to remain unbiased.


What are the qualitative differences between the regular IM program and a 3D environment?

Being in a 3D environment gives the user a sense of 'reality'. The people that they are talking to on the computer have an avatar that it essentially them. Although it doesn't necessarily make the game being played a more realistic game, it just portrays that image.

What is different about the kinds of socialising that happens in these spaces? Does the 3D aspect make much difference?

Also, in 3D chat rooms there are quite a lot of players. They come from all over the globe, and could be anyone. This makes 3D chat much more dangerous then MSN, as the people you talk to on MSN are added by you. 3D Chat is especially dangerous for young kids, as thy are lured into the excitement of creating their own world, but not realising the dangers of talking to other people on the Internet.

Until the next chapter...
~Bre