Habitat (video game) - 1986 to 1988
Habitat is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed by LucasArts. It is the first attempt at a large-scale commercial virtual community that was graphic based. Initially created in 1985by Randy Farmer, Chip Morningstar, Aric Wilmunder and Janet Hunter.
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitat_(video_game)
Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yia3-foHLE
Github: https://github.com/Museum-of-Art-and-Digital-Entertainment/habitat
MicroMUSE - 1990 to 1994
MicroMUSE was founded as MicroMUSH by the user known as"Jin" in the summer of 1990. Based upon TinyMUSH, MicroMUSH was centered around Cyberion City, a space station orbiting Earth of the 24th century.
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MicroMUSE
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U604QuXfBNA
Blog post - Before Minecraft or Snapchat there was MicroMUSE
https://aeon.co/essays/before-minecraft-or-snapchat-there-was-micromuse
CitySpace - 1993 to 1996 CitySpace was an internet-based virtual world launched atSIGGRAPH 1993 by educator and project director Zane Vella. CitySpace was one ofthe earliest online virtual 3D environments and first came to attention via mainstream news media in late 1993. CitySpace was also the first user-generated virtual world, similar to virtual worlds like Second Life, and enabled participants to contribute 3D computer graphics and digital imagery to a collaborative real-time rendered 3D virtual world in which participants interacted with each other via avatars. CitySpace won the 1996 NII Award for Arts and Entertainment.
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cityspace
Horseland - 1994 to 2019
Horseland was an online community and browser game where members took care of, bred, trained and showed horses and dogs. Begun in 1994 in the United States, Horseland had grown to have more than 8 million users who played from all over the world.
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseland
The Palace (computer program) - 1994-2001
The Palace is a computer program to access graphical chatroom servers, called palaces, in which users may interact with one another using graphical avatars overlaid on a graphical backdrop. The software conceptwas originally created by Jim Bumgardner and produced by Time Warner in 1994,and was first opened to the public in November 1995.
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Palace_(computer_program)
Video - The Palace, early internet chat room 1997 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a_8Z2dCEIU
Active Worlds - 1995 to 2010
Active Worlds is an online virtual world, developed by ActiveWorlds Inc., a company based in Newburyport, Massachusetts, and launched on June 28, 1995. Users assign themselves a name, log into the Active Worlds universe, and explore 3D virtual worlds and environments that others have built. Active Worlds allows users to own worlds and universes, and develop custom 3D content. The browser has web browsing capabilities, as well as voice chat, and basic instant messaging features.
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_Worlds
Website: https://www.activeworlds.com/
Video: Active Worlds: The 27-Year-Old Virtual World You Haven't Heard Of
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=md1fFTymGYI
Cybernet Worlds - 1995 to 2010
Facebookpage - https://www.facebook.com/cybernet.worlds/
CyberTown - 1995 to 2012
CyberTown (CT) (formerly Colony City) was an online virtual world. There were places (chat rooms) available either through a 2D or 3D chat environment. Users were able to have jobs within the community, earning virtual money called CCs (CityCash) that could be used to buy 3D homes and items. Each user was allowed a free 2D home and could locate it within any of a number of colonies subdivided into neighborhoods and blocks. The cost was $5.00 per monthor $49.99 a year.
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CyberTown
Archived website: https://web.archive.org/web/20110708215339/http://www.cybertown.com/main_nsframes.html
Cybertown included in this old worlds video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7McJnK-jWa0&t=4s
KidsCom - 1995 to 2019
KidsCom was a virtual world geared toward kids ages 8–14.KidsCom had many "worlds" (virtual places) that the user can go to in order to have fun with an avatar. It was a website for a long time dealing withnew competition such as Webkinz. KidsCom was published by the now defunct Circle 1 Network, LLC in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and was first launched in 1995 asa site for kids.
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KidsCom
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOjemPQ7Q-o
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/KidsCom/
Starbright World - 1995-1997
Starbright World was an online community for children with chronic illnesses established in 1995. Initially conceived as a 3D virtual world for use in hospitals, it was developed by Worlds Inc. for the StarbrightFoundation. The 3D world―credited as one of the first applications of virtual reality in medicine―operated until 1997, when it was shut down due to technical issues. In 1998, it was replaced with a private social network, which is nowdefunct. Worlds Inc. would later launch lawsuits against several massively multiplayer online game companies, claiming that they held the rights to the concept of multiplayer virtual worlds based on patents obtained in relation to Starbright World.
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starbright_World
Video: Starbright World: Steven Spielberg Demo and VideoHighlights (1995)
https://archive.org/details/vw_starbright-spielberg-video-highlights
OZ Virtual - 1996-1999
OZ Virtual was a 3D world viewer created by OZ Interactive that enabled real-time collaboration communications in shared spaces on the Internet with a strong focus on creative content production. The viewer supported the Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML 2.0) a standard forcreating and experiencing virtual reality worlds on the Internet. It came withan avatar editor that allowed the user to select from a set of pre-defined avatars with body movements and modify their appearance. Users could communicate using voice chat using low bandwidth codecs supplied by Voxware.
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OZ_Virtual
SAPARi - 1997-2003
SAPARi (さぱり) was an online 3-D virtual world service developed inJava and run by Sony. Users could speak to one another and join chat lobbies by using a dedicated server browser called the Community Place Browser. Upon selecting a server, users would appear in a 3-D virtual world as an avatar inthe form of a human or an animal.
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAPARi
Archived website: https://web.archive.org/web/19990423155241/http://pc.sony.co.jp/sapari/
Forterra Systems - 1998-2010
Forterra Systems, Inc. was a 3D graphics software company headquartered in San Mateo, California that produced private and secure massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) virtual worlds for corporate, government, defense, medical and educational clients.
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forterra_Systems
Worlds.com - 1998-2020
Worlds.com, or Worlds Chat is an online chat program launched by Worlds Inc in April 1995. Worlds.com was the first program made available for the general public to download from Worlds Inc's website forfree.
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worlds.com
Video - worlds.com in 2020 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky09fVAKEwk
2 hr video on its history - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thYnZiZzuP4
WeeWorld - 2000-2017
WeeWorld was a Scottish social networking and messaging website, originally created in 2000 by a company based in Glasgow, Scotland, with smaller offices in London and Boston, Massachusetts. The company created WeeWorld.com, which hosted a massively multiplayer online game aimed at teensand preteens. The game was known for its brand of virtual world-based social simulation and customizable avatars known as "WeeMee's".
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WeeWorld
Video: weeworld mall fight - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uf5FWTGyE8s
Video: what happened to weeworld- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wahfQDXY2Ow
Adobe Atmosphere - 2001-2004
Adobe Atmosphere was a software platform for interacting with 3D computer graphics. 3D models created with the commercial program couldbe explored socially using a browser plugin available free of charge.Atmosphere was originally developed by Attitude Software as 3D Anarchy and waslater bought by Adobe Systems. The product spent the majority of its lifetime in beta testing. Adobe released the last version of Atmosphere, version 1.0build 216, in February 2004, then discontinued the software in December thatyear.
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_Atmosphere
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb6gvwBSuOY
MyCoke - 2002-2010
MyCoke (formerly known as Coke Music and Coke Studios) wasan online chat game used for marketing the Coca-Cola brand and products. It was created in January 2002 by VML Inc (Previously Studiocom) an Atlanta-based digital agency using core technology from Sulake Corporation, the company responsible for a similar popular online game called Habbo Hotel.
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MyCoke
Logo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MyCoke#/media/File:MyCoke_Logo.png
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9bmCN7ujGo
Toontown Online - 2003-2013
Toontown Online, commonly known as Toontown, was a 2003 massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) based on a cartoon animal world, developed by Disney's Virtual Reality Studio and Schell Games,and published by The Walt Disney Company. Players played as anthropomorphized animals, known as Toons, to explore a cartoon world, complete quests ("ToonTasks"), and engage in combat against the Cogs, robot businessmen who served as the game's antagonists. Players used weapons known as"Gags"—typically slapstick comedy items, such as a thrown creampie—in combat.
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toontown_Online
Archived website: https://web.archive.org/web/20130824091505/http://toontown.go.com/closing
Promo video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNXWWSVhyQo
Croquet Project - 2004-2009
The Croquet Project is a software project thatwas intended to promote the continued development of the Croquet open-source software development kit to create and deliver collaborative multi-user online applications. Croquet is implemented in Squeak Smalltalk. Croquet supports communication, collaboration, resource sharing, and synchronous computation among multiple users.
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croquet_Project
Archived website: https://web.archive.org/web/20041014023137/http://www.opencroquet.org:80/Croquet_Technologies/downloads.html
Coolroom - 2006-2008
Coolroom is a UK digital download store offering films and music to own and rent. It is accessible online and as a bespoke IPTVchannel on Microsoft's Windows Media Center available on laptops, desktops and home entertainment PCs. Users can preview cinema releases and download full feature films and music.
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coolroom
2005 promo video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXk7tSuoxR8
HiPiHi - 2006-2012
HiPiHi was an online 3D virtual world game founded by Xu Hui and Rao Xuewei in Beijing in the People's Republic of China. It was the first Chinese virtual world game that allowed virtual netizens to freely roam around. Users could explore, trade, communicate and create things in their virtual environment.
Links:
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HiPiHi
Archived website & see images: https://web.archive.org/web/20070712115852/http://www.hipihi.com/index_english.html
Metaplace - 2006-2010
Metaplace was a software platform intended to democratize the development of virtual worlds, which was later used to make Facebook games. The company was established by Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies designer Raph Koster. According to the official website, the platform was "client-agnostic", which means that virtual worlds developed on Metaplace can be accessed using any device that connects to the Web.
Links:
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaplace
Archived website: https://web.archive.org/web/20070922154621/http://metaplace.com/
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZEBPWHxtsw
Vside - 2006-2009
vSide was an Internet-based 3D virtual world that was launched on May 15, 2006. The game is in its public beta phase. However, the game appears to have been discontinued as of May, 2018. Initially developed by American studio Doppelganger, Inc., a studio founded in 2004 the game was acquired in June 2009 by ExitReality, which is the owner and developer. Inside the game's universe, users are called vSiders and can interact with each other through social networking, celebrity entertainment, virtual boutique shopping and self-expression.
Links:
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VSide
Logo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VSide#/media/File:VSide_Logo.png
Worlds image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VSide#/media/File:VSide_guide_picture_january_2011.jpg
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_LUgy7C9ns
OpenLife Grid - 2007-2013
The OpenLife Grid was a community virtual world developed by 3DX. It was founded in November 2007 by Australian Steve Sima, president of 3DX. The OpenLife grid functionality was similar to that of Second Life, also using the WindLight graphics system.
Links:
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenLife_Grid
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgWQHVCMWa0
Smeet - 2007-2024
Smeet was a browser-based virtual world video game developed in Berlin, Germany. Smeet is a browser based 3D social multiplayer online game. The game was developed by Smeet Communications GmbH.
Links:
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smeet
Logo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smeet#/media/File:Smeet_logo.PNG
Old website: https://www.smeet.com/
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylSabAq4wqw
Google Lively - 2008-2008
Google Lively (also known as Lively by Google or Lively by Google BETA) was a web-based virtual environment created and developed by Google.
Links:
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Lively
Logo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Lively#/media/File:Google_Lively.png
World image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Lively#/media/File:Roomlively.jpg
ourWorld - 2008-2021
ourWorld was a virtual world containing a range of online games and activities. It is developed by FlowPlay, and is aimed at the teen and tween demographic.
Links:
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OurWorld
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIYgXiD4FHk
Playstation Home - 2008-2015
PlayStation Home was a virtual 3D social gaming platform developed by Sony Computer Entertainment's London Studio for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) on the PlayStation Network (PSN). It was accessible from the PS3's XrossMediaBar (XMB).
Links:
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_Home
Logo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_Home#/media/File:PlayStation_Home_Logo.pngv
World image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_Home#/media/File:Original_Central_Plaza_PS_Home.jpg
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EsE4z9mjyg
Documentary - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-p7-wPUGNQ
SmallWorlds - 2008-2018
SmallWorlds was an online virtual world and social network service created by Outsmart Games, a game development company based in Auckland, New Zealand. The virtual world used Adobe Flash and ran inside a web browser, as Google Chrome was most recommended when playing this game. It integrated with YouTube, Flickr, SoundCloud, and a number of other Web 2.0 services.
Links:
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SmallWorlds
Logo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SmallWorlds#/media/File:SmallWorlds_logo.png
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AWO68nMA9k
Twinity - 2008-2021
Twinity is a 3D online virtual world. Initially developed by Metaversum GmbH, it is currently held by ExitReality. The game offers its population, called Twinizens, to navigate around virtual (historical) versions of real-world cities, also called a mirror world or a Metaverse.
Links:
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twinity
Logo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twinity#/media/File:Twinity_logo.png
Facebook page w/images - https://www.facebook.com/Twinity/?ref=embed_page
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/twinityrules
High Fidelity - 2013-2020
High Fidelity is an American company headquartered in San Francisco, which formerly focused on social virtual reality. High Fidelity provided a virtual reality platform for users to create, deploy, visit, and interact with virtual worlds along with other users. As of 2020, they appear to have pivoted to 3D audio software.
Links:
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Fidelity,_Inc
Logo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Fidelity,_Inc.#/media/File:High_Fidelity_Inc_logo_800x800.jpg
World image: https://roadtovrlive-5ea0.kxcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/high-fidelity-1-1021x580.jpg
Other world image: https://assets.arpost.co/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/28211424/rust-dancing-high-fidelity.jpg
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJgWWUfkQNs
Altspace - 2015-2023
AltspaceVR was a social VR platform that was founded in 2013 by Eric Romo and launched its initial product in May 2015. In 2017 it was acquired by Microsoft and became part of the Mixed Reality division (alongside notable products like HoloLens and HoloLens 2) within the Cloud and AI group. Some elements of the platform appear in Microsoft Mesh. The platform largely consisted of user-generated spaces called "worlds", which could be visited by other users. Individuals could gather, talk, collaborate, and be co-present in small to large groups.
Links:
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AltspaceVR
Image: https://roadtovrlive-5ea0.kxcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/altspace-vr-1-2.jpg
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GdC-btJ5OU
WaveXR - 2016-2020
WaveXR is a virtual reality company that specializes in live 3D entertainment. WaveXR's co-founder and CEO, Adam Arrigo, is a musician who pivoted the company's focus from virtual reality to gaming and livestreaming after the VR market declined. WaveXR's interactive virtual concerts, called Waves, allow artists to perform and interact with fans in real time. Wave’s mission is to unite humanity through immersive 3d entertainment. Their vision is to be the live entertainment hub of the metaverse: a place where anyone can attend, perform live, or be a part of a 24/7 live entertainment community.
The next generation of wave’s platform is on its way–an immersive, multi-platform destination elevating elevating the live 3D entertainment experience.
Links:
Website: https://wavexr.com/about/
Logo: https://wavexr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/wave-logo@2x.png
Image: https://wavexr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/the_weeknd-1.jpg
Image 2: https://wavexr.com/company-values/
Trailer 2023: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGtivR68Ifc
Pararea VR - 2017-2024
Pararea was a VR social product, which has online communication, entertainment, social and other innovative virtual space services. Including:
- Immersive communication. The communication efficiency is better than most through virtual avatar, voice and body language.
- Personal image and individual display. Support personal virtual image customization.
- Diverting online party. Create activities what you like, such as watching movie, TV, sports events, e-sports, live shows etc…
- Somatic games. There are many different absorbing mini games to play and share with friends like shooting game and drawing, etc.
- Various of VR tools help you immerse in this virtual world, including VR browser, Video player, 3D Brush etc.
Links:
Wiki: https://xinreality.com/mediawiki/index.php?title=Pararea&mobileaction=toggle_view_desktop
World image: https://xinreality.com/wiki/File:Pararea1.jpg
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2CZR_KAd5M
Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yINqhoBoTjg
Stageverse - 2017-2024
Stageverse was a social metaverse connecting communities & creators in beautiful 3D spaces.
Stageverse was founded in 2017 by CEO Tim Ricker and COO Claire Seidler with a focus on “creating a place where your digital identity and culture can live and thrive, and that starts with a high fidelity, premium, and accessible experience,” said Ricker, noting that an NFT economy and marketplace will be their next announced venture, which, “will unlock community capitalism to the fullest extent.”
Links:
Logo: https://x.com/thestageverse/photo
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18XtkJDb3Ig
Image: https://www.roadtovr.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/stageverse-muse.jpg
X: https://x.com/thestageverse
Open Sea: https://opensea.io/collection/stageverse-land
Mozilla Hubs - 2018-2024
Mozilla Hubs is an open-source virtual social platform launched in 2018. It is web-based, and users can join a world through a link without needing an account. Since 2020, it has a paid option for enterprises. Their cloud is based on Amazon Web Services (AWS). It has integrated the Ready Player Me avatar creator. As part of a restructuring at Mozilla, support for Hubs is going to end on May 31st, 2024. Mozilla will stop their Hubs demo server, managed subscription, and community resources. A tool for downloading user data is said to be released on April 1st. However, due to the open source nature of the project, it will remain possible to install the Community Edition on any platform that supports Kubernetes, and to make forks of the project.
Links:
World image: https://blog.mozilla.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/278/files/2020/10/HowToRecordInHubs_v001-810x540.jpg
Wiki: https://vr.fandom.com/wiki/Mozilla_Hubs
Github - https://github.com/Hubs-Foundation/hubs
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MozillaHubs
Core (video game) - 2020-2021
Core was a free-to-play online video game platform with an integrated game creation system, developed by Manticore Games. Core hosts user-generated games that are designed for an older teen and adult audience. Core's game creation system is designed to simplify video game creation in order to allow more individuals to develop games.
Links:
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Core_(video_game)
Logo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Core_(video_game)#/media/File:Early_Access_Box_Art.png
#/media/File:Early_Access_Box_Art.png){kind=link}
Image: https://cdn2.unrealengine.com/image13-interview-core-1920x1080-d0961361a8ff.jpg?resize=1&w=1920
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj9DTD9rpqU
Third Room - 2021-2023
Third Room was an open, standards-based, decentralised vision of the metaverse for the open Web, built entirely on Matrix… without cryptocurrencies, NFTs or walled gardens. Third Room lets you use Matrix as the platform for a truly free and open decentralised vision of the metaverse (or however you refer to interoperable virtual worlds and spatial web applications) - built entirely on open standards via liberally licensed open source implementations, and without any dependencies on cryptocurrencies, NFTs, or data-hoarding big tech silos. In other words: Third Room will be a blank canvas for you to build open metaverse environments and applications in the spirit of the original open Web.
Links:
Website: https://thirdroom.io/landing
About: https://thirdroom.io/preview
Logo: https://x.com/thirdroomio/status/1684643892195631104/photo/1
World image: https://thirdroom.io/landing/photo-real-graphics.png
Github: https://github.com/matrix-org/thirdroom/
X July 2023 statement on project being paused: https://x.com/thirdroomio/status/1684643892195631104
Croquet - 2022-2023
Croquet is a Multiplayer Platform for Web and Gaming. Croquet removes the complexity of traditional client/server systems and eliminates netcode, enabling synchronized simulations and gameplay that have simply not been possible.
Links:
Website: https://croquet.io/
Logo: https://x.com/CroquetIO/header_photo
Image: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F3BSgg9bgAA9zcn?format=png&name=large
Video: https://player.vimeo.com/video/739093798?h=3636352642
Docs: https://croquet.io/docs/
X: https://x.com/croquetio?lang=en
Alakazam - 2023-2024
Alakazam was a Portland, Maine-based software service for 3D website building and hosting. Its platform allowed users to use pre-built virtual world templates, talk about the immersive web, 2D versus 3D, AV, VR, and WebXR.
Links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alakazamxr/about/
Source for the overview is this blog post: https://www.mainebiz.biz/article/alakazams-virtual-worlds-take-the-workplace-beyond-the-zoom-call
Anyland - 2016-2024
Anyland was a Virtual Reality universe to create your home, chat with others, build, script, explore, play, learn & live in.
Links:
Website: https://anyland.com/
Logo: https://hared.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/505700/header.jpg?t=1709304012
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sp6J2Fhkz8
Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@PhilippLenssen/search
Club penguin - 2005-2017
Club Penguin was a massively multiplayer online game (MMO) that ran from 2005 to 2017. The game featured a virtual world that included a wide range of online games and activities. It was created by New Horizon Interactive (now known as Disney Canada Inc.). Players used cartoon penguin-avatars and played in an Antarctic-themed open world.
Links:
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Club_Penguin
Logo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Club_Penguin#/media/File:Club_Penguin_Logo_2012_-_2017.png
Archived website: https://web.archive.org/web/20170225030817/http://www.clubpenguin.com/
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3AdqjClPD4
Open Cobalt - 2016-2022
Open Cobalt is a free and open-source software platform for constructing, accessing, and sharing virtual worlds both on local area networks or across the Internet, with no need for centralized servers.
Links:
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Cobalt
Logo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Cobalt#/media/File:Open_cobalt_logo.png
World image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Cobalt#/media/File:Cobalt_screenshot_pre_alpha.jpg
PixelMax - 2021-2024
PixelMax Metaverses featured high-quality cloud streaming, unparalleled utility & cost-effective access to a global audience.
Links:
Image world: https://x.com/PixelMaxWorld/header_photo
X: https://x.com/pixelmaxworld
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pixelmaxworld/?originalSubdomain=uk
Other link as ref: https://www.tencentcloud.com/customers/detail/2932
Solipsis - 2008-2009
Solipsis is a free and open-source system for a massively multi-participant shared virtual world designed by Joaquin Keller and Gwendal Simon at France Télécom Research and Development Labs. It aims to provide the infrastructure for a metaverse-like public virtual territory. Relying on a peer-to-peer architecture, the virtual world may potentially be inhabited by a theoretically unlimited number of participants.
Links:
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solipsis
Yabal - 2021-2024
Yabal was an immersive gaming platform that transformed live concerts into a virtual spectacle. Artists graced the stage at Granola Studios, where through cutting-edge motion capture technology, their real-time movements were mirrored by their towering avatars in the digital realm. Audiences could dive into these dynamic performances by downloading the Yabal game or conveniently streaming it in-browser via cloud gaming.
Links:
About: https://www.granolastudios.com/yabal
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVHL-bTwSsc
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@yabal_
YoVille - 2008-2014
YoVille was a social game that launched in 2008 and was played via app on Facebook or MySpace. Users hung out with friends in "YoVille" and were able to create a character, decorate their house, host a party, earn virtual cash, and chat with other players.
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YoWorld
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVkOg5mDUKk
X: https://x.com/yoville?lang=en
Overview article source: https://www.cnet.com/news/privacy/zyngas-yoville-gets-hacked/
Blue Mars (video game) - 2009 - 2013?
Blue Mars, a 3D massively multiplayer virtual world platform developed by Hawaii-based Avatar Reality, allows 3rd parties to create virtual worlds, MMOG games, simulations, shops, businesses, entertainment venues, clothing, custom avatars, furniture, virtual homes, and other items. It consists of four main parts: the client software, the Sandbox Editor SDK suite, the website, and the host servers. It is often compared to Second Life, since both are virtual social worlds allowing user-created content.
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Mars_(video_game)
Logo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Mars_(video_game)#/media/File:BlueMars_logo.png
Website: http://www.bluemars.com/
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fomktUMPBI
Bin Weevils
Sunset
https://virtual-worlds.fandom.com/wiki/Bin_Weevils
2007 -2021
- Bin Weevils was a British MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) involving a virtual world containing a range of online games and activities. The game was developed by 55 Pixels Limited (previously Bin Weevils Limited) and launched in January 2004 as a joint venture between Nickelodeon UK, Prism Entertainment Ltd and CEG (Creative Entertainment Group). Brief animated clips based on characters from the game aired on TV in 2006. In 2007, Bin Weevils was re-launched as an independent website with a redesign and new content, making way for books, magazines, and products inspired by the game world. Bin Weevils was previously ranked as one of the most visited virtual world websites in the United Kingdom, reaching over 20 million users in 2013. Bin Weevils had 2 million monthly users in 2013.[4][5] The game's publisher, 55 Pixels filed for liquidation in December 2020. The website was quietly taken offline on 16 January 2021, after Adobe Flash was discontinued.
Chit Chat City
Sunset
https://virtual-worlds.fandom.com/wiki/Chit_Chat_City
2010-2018
Just like other Virtual World games, Chit Chat City allowed you to customize your online avatar by with accessories and gadgets. Players were able to interact with online players, make new friends, explore the game world, collect resources, build your own house and decorate it, and party with friends.
Chobots
Sunset
https://chobots.fandom.com/wiki/Chobots
2008-2011
hobots was an online Flash browser massive multiplayer online game (MMO) set in a virtual world where players could create cartoon alien avatars called "chobots" who resided in floating cities in outer space. Chobots was created, developed, and published by the Ukrainian company Vayersoft LLC, and ran from 2008 until 2011 when the game was shut down. The target audience of Chobots was primarily children and teenagers, though it was marketed as a "family game." Chobots was often compared to other similar contemporary games, including the popular Club Penguin.
Fantage
Sunset
https://virtual-worlds.fandom.com/wiki/Fantage
2008-2018
Fantage was a Virtual World for kids that it was designed for kids and teens that were between 7 and 17 years old. The game featured a customizable cartoon avatar, called a Fantagian, that users can customize with items ranging from hair to clothing and accessories.
Frenzoo
Sunset
???-2012?
Frenzoo was a virtual community and its concept was for a young female audience. It was a fashion, style-based Virtual World. The fun of Frenzoo was to have a fashion show in a IMVU-Second Life inspired game, most of the users were from Hong Kong and the USA.
Frenzoo was closed somewhere in 2011 or 2012, to focus on their apps. Somewhere in 2012 or 2013, Frenzoo became an app developer and it started to develop its apps for iOS and Android.
GirlSense
Sunset
https://virtual-worlds.fandom.com/wiki/Girl_Sense
2004-2012
GirlSense was a popular online website where young girls, tweens and even teenagers could hang out with like-minded fashion people.
GirlSense was closed on July 18, 2012, due to the revenue and resource issues that meant the site could no longer be supported. However, GirlSense's website was still open until April 2019, when the website has started to be redirected to Gaming Wonderland.
Kaneva
Sunset
https://virtual-worlds.fandom.com/wiki/Kaneva
2004-2010
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaneva Kaneva was a virtual World that was still growing rapidly and it offers an amazing Second Life like aesthetics to enjoy big time. With millions of registered users, huge amounts of content and an amazing environment, Kaneva offers wonderful Social Interaction and MMORPG elements all combined in a very attractive fashion.
On November 14, 2016, Kaneva closed its original game and its social community website. They are now working at a new project named Kava. Kava launched a mobile app game and also a Facebook game named CasinoLife Poker, which only people that are over 18 years old are allowed to play this game.
Meez
Sunset
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meez
2006-2017
Meez was a vibrant virtual community and social network headquartered in San Francisco, California. Within just a month, Meez attracted over 3 million unique users, with each spending an average of 60 hours per month on the platform. The user base grew rapidly to surpass 13 million registered members, with a significant majority, 90%, hailing from the United States. Notable sponsors like Candie's, Nike, and Domo were instrumental in supporting Meez's activities.
Moshi Monsters
Sunset
2008-2019
Moshi Monsters was a British web browser massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) game aimed at children aged 6–12. In April 2016, there were over 80 million registered users in 150 territories worldwide. Users could choose from one of six virtual pet monsters (Katsuma, Poppet, Furi, Zommer, Luvli, and Diavlo) they could create, name and nurture. Once their pet had been customized, players could navigate their way around Monstro City, take daily puzzle challenges to earn 'Rox' (a virtual currency), play games, personalize their room and communicate with other users in a safe environment, although this has been disputed. https://virtual-worlds.fandom.com/wiki/Moshi_Monsters
Spark City World (AllGirlArcade)
Sunset
https://virtual-worlds.fandom.com/wiki/Spark_City_World
2009-2017
Spark City World (formerly AllGirlArcade) was a Canadian virtual world that had tons of games, lands and made for girls in mind. It was previously AllGirlArcade until 2010, when the game became Spark City World. Mike Burns, CEO of the company behind SCW, Fuel Industries, had the idea for the girl-themed virtual world on his twin girls' birthday. Fuel Technologies and Fuel Industries were 'distinct legal entities' but they shared common management. To avoid confusion, Fuel Technologies is labeled as SCW's company. It is currently unknown what exactly happened to Spark City World, since Fuel Industries went bankrupt and the domain has not been renewed since (It's still in the ownership of American domain registrar GoDaddy as of 2024). Spark City World hadn't been updated since February 2015, but was still playable until it was shut down in late April 2017.
Whirled
Sunset
2007-2017
Whirled was a virtual world website and video game created by Three Rings Design. Its Open Beta stage was announced at the Game Developers Conference in 2007. It makes use of Adobe Flash as an applet embedded into the website while also having pages of HTML and JavaScript in a sidebar to allow players to manage their friends list and browse various categories of user-generated content. Multiple other mirrors of Whirled have surfaced from the community over various time periods and can be found on wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whirled
Zinky
Sunset
https://virtual-worlds.fandom.com/wiki/Zwinky
2006-2017
Zwinky was a pretty popular virtual world game where players can meet and chat with their new friends and have fun playing games. Aside from socializing, the game also lets you decorate your own home and customize your avatar with only the hottest trends and fashion. The website was known for having its ads which appeared on a lot of websites, mostly from 2008 to 2009. It had over 30,000,000+ users in 2013.
- This is a partial list and work in progress, the Virtual Worlds Museum will continue to evolve.
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