imvu.com

IMVU is a chat software that also includes a Myspace style homepage for social networking, which comes with all the obvious social networking features such as blogs, commenting, adding and removing friends, music, and customisation of the look of your page. Currently they have well over 7 million users.

Starting Out
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The main function of IMVU is the software which is downloaded and used rather like an IM (Instant ...
...more interesting. Before downloading, you select a few basic look choices for your character, along with a package including clothes, a room, and some pets.

It feels a little like customizing your character for a video game. Once you've selected the basic look, you then install IMVU which takes only a few minutes, and only requires a little basic information such as your date of birth (no under 13s allowed for reasons which will become ... more

IMVU is a chat software that also includes a Myspace style homepage for social networking, which comes with all the obvious social networking features such as blogs, commenting, adding and removing friends, music, and customisation of the look of your page. Currently they have well over 7 million users.

Starting Out
~*~*~*~*~*~
The main function of IMVU is the software which is downloaded and used rather like an IM (Instant Messaging) program, but includes 3D elements that make it much more interesting. Before downloading, you select a few basic look choices for your character, along with a package including clothes, a room, and some pets.

It feels a little like customizing your character for a video game. Once you've selected the basic look, you then install IMVU which takes only a few minutes, and only requires a little basic information such as your date of birth (no under 13s allowed for reasons which will become clear later) and a user name of password.

You start off by choosing your characters appearance - skin tone, face shape, hairstyle and outfit. There's a selection of basic outfits, but later on you can also use the catalogue, which involves spending credits, a virtual currency either earned by referring friends or completing tasks, or purchased (usually around £2.50 for 5000 credits, which buys quite a lot of nice stuff. One thousand credits are also part of the new user gift pack -- spend them any way you like by browsing the online catalog.

There's then a fast tutorial which explains how to move your character, speak to other people, and carry out some of the commands - such as break dancing, burping, even vomiting if you choose to. As well as the movements and actions (which I have found to be quite unique and unusual) you can also select moods, such as flirty, shy, angry, and tired. Flirty involves lots of eyelash batting and subtle stroking, whereas shy for example involves lowered eyes, blushing, and fidgeting.

In the same style as MSN, you get a main window with all the commands you'll need, chat now (which will match you up with someone else wanting to chat to new people), who's online, contact list, add contact, go shopping (which takes you to the catalogue) and my home page.

Chatting
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The chatting itself is interesting - you can either chat to an existing contact, or click chat now to be randomly matched up , and it can either be someone you click with, or someone you wont. One thing I do find annoying is that a lot of women using IMVU will immediately leave the chat once they finds out they are matched with another woman - without so much as a 'Sorry, I'm here to flirt.'

There's a lot of flirting in IMVU, and as with any program, there are some people who will push it a little too far - but you can easily block someone by visiting their homepage and clicking the 'block' link, or if they really are being abusive rather than annoying, each chat window has a button you can click to report abuse. Luckily though, the vast majority of chatters are friendly, and will generally back off if you politely ask them to stop flirting.

The movements you can use in the chat are fun... some you can do on your own by selecting from your avatar menu - others are two people actions which you can use by clicking on the other persons avatar … things such as silly handshakes, dancing the salsa, or even kissing.

There are also some slightly more adult moves which are (quite rightly) locked off from under 18s but can be accessed by purchasing an access pass with a credit card. You cannot buy the pass for someone else either, which I like as it prevents people with suspect motives buying the passes for young kids. I found an excellent video on youtube which shows off some of the actions.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjm9kD59MoE

Customisation
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Using the catalogue, and either bought or earned credits, you can customise your character and your home in any way you choose - you can buy furniture for you home which you can move around, pets such as dogs, bats, and goblins, and any number of clothes and accessories for yourself, whatever look you want to go for. I like being able to customise my character, I can be outrageous looking in a way I would never dare in real life.

There are some slightly disturbing products in the catalog that I feel should be brought under the banner of restricted content (remember I mentioned earlier that certain adult moves can only by used by people over 18 who have purchased an access pass) items like syringes, weapons, and bondage equipment are not, I feel appropriate content for a site that allows users as young as 13 to obtain these items for their character.

For Parents
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IMVU does try to keep under 13's off the site - but of course it's just as easy for a child to add a couple of years onto their age as it is for a paedophile to knock a few years of his. In my own opinion, IMVU is not suitable for any children - although the anime-esque style of characters and the customisation may appeal to them - without adult supervision.

The Homepage
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Although the main point of IMVU is the 3D chat messenger, it also has a social networking page similar to Myspace, from which you can send and receive messages, edit your account details, write a blog, display photos (both IMVU snapshots and real photos) and add and block friends.

One of the nice features is the Wishlist, which is displayed on your page and shows products you've marked in the catalogue. A lot of people are friendly, and many will buy you gifts if you're new. Many people will also leave messages if you think they sound interesting, giving you the option to talk to them or get in touch, and you can make a lot of nice friends this way.

Customisation of the page is similar to Myspace, simply enter the custom html ( you can get ready made Myspace profiles online which work brilliantly with IMVU and are great if you have little or no knowledge of programming like me. You can also move modules around on the page to customise the look, as well as hiding modules or removing them altogether.

From here you can also edit your account settings, choosing which information you would like to be displayed, and which you would like kept private - on the downside, the site displays your age automatically, which again makes this site one teens should use with caution, preferably with parental supervision.

You can also use this page to access the previously mentioned catalogue, and also the forums which provide general chat, access to information on the latest updates and any known bugs (IMVU does occasionally have bug issues after updates, but these are generally fixed quickly) as well as contests run by users, which vary from IMVU modeling contests, to creative writing contests, and usually have a reward of credits.

Pros, Con's, and Things to Consider
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The Good: High level of customisation
Interesting and original ideas
Free to download and use.

The Bad: You have to pay for some features (access to 'adult' moves for example)
Can be addictive and time consuming
Can be buggy at times.

Remember: As with any social networking or chat program, you can not be sure the person you are talking to is who they say they are, therefore this is not suitable for children without adult supervision.

Conclusion : As long as you use it sensibly, don't give out personal information, and treat others as you would wish to be treated, IMVU is great fun, and well worth downloading and having a bit of a play around with. It offers something myspace, msn, and yim don't - and thats a IM chat and a social network in one.

I have removed one star for the occasionally buggyness and the occasional idiot you meet, but thats still a respectable four stars from me. Thankyou for reading.

Links - www.imvu.com
OR if you fancy joining via my referral link, you can use
http://imvu.com/catalog/web_invitation.php?userId=14788154&from=power-ema il

Official IMVU promotional video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a7uFr9cHiI&mode=related&search= 

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