• In short: A world targeted for teenagers featuring customizable 2D avatars, dorm rooms and other locations, and games to earn Zbucks.
• URL: http://www.zwinky.com/
• Maintained by: IAC Search and Media since April 2007.
• Price: Free
• Zwinktopia System Requirements: Flash-supported browser

Zwinktopia Overview

IAC first launched Zwinky in June 2006, a tool that allows teenagers to create and share 2D avatars, emoticons, cursor icons, and other items for teenagers to use on a blog or MySpace profile. After gaining over 4.7 million users, the company released Zwinktopia, a persistent world that provides over 28 unique locations (such as the beach, colleges, and bowling alleys) and several games and activities, including chat, shopping, events, and hanging out in customized dorm rooms. By playing these games, Zwinktopia users can also earn Zbucks, Zwinktopia’s unit of virtual currency, which they can use to purchase clothing, furniture, and various other items.

Compared to other virtual worlds, Zwinktopia is relatively unspectacular in terms of graphics or immersion. Whether it’s clever marketing, “tween baiting,” or teen branding genius, leveraged their growth substantially by first familiarizing kids with their avatar site Zwinky through aggressive marketing.Zwinky’s appeal is largely based upon these easy drag and drop customizable avatars that can be exported and used elsewhere. Unlike many other virtual environments, Zwinktopia avatars are not limited to in-world use. Avatars can be placed on blogs, websites, and social networking sites and so they are transportable all over the Web.

Some have expressed concern over some aspects of Zwinktopia. There is no age verification process and Zwinktopia does not filter language, personal details, or sexually explicit comments. Zwinktopia seems to be particularly appealing for middle school teenagers who may feel that they’ve “outgrown” some of the more protected hubs (e.g. the active filtering mechanism built into virtual worlds like Club Penguin) in pursuit of more freedom and social interaction. Zwinktopia is yet another virtual environment in the increasingly crowded space for teens.

Zwinktopia Screenshots

Zwinktopia Resources

• IAC Launches Zwinktopia at Peak of Virtual Worlds Hype, article at TechCrunch.com

• In short: A 3D world with fully customizable avatars and a built-in scripting and building language. Users imagine and create all sorts of objects, including educational simulations and real-world products for sale.
• URL: http://www.secondlife.com
• Maintained by: Linden Lab since June 2003
• Price: Free basic accounts. Premium accounts are $9.95, which allows one to own land on which you can build upon.
• Second Life system requirements
• Platforms supported: Windows, Mac

Second Life Overview

Second Life (or SL for short) is a 3D online virtual world that is “imagined, created, and owned by its residents.” The software is a free download and basic membership is free. Second Life is a collaborative virtual environment in which residents can socialize, meet other real people, go exploring, participate in events and various activities, and create and barter user-created items and services. There are no winners or losers or predefined quests to complete. It is a virtual world that has been described as a builder’s world, open to exploration and limited only by one’s creativity.

The virtual currency in Second Life is the Linden Dollar. The exchange rate of Linden Dollars to US Dollars is generally about $260-$300 Linden Dollars per US Dollar. More than $1.1 million US dollars is exchanged within Second Life every day.

More than 9 million accounts have been registered, although many seem to be inactive. Many corporations have built islands within Second Life, including Dell, Nissan, IBM, and many others.

Educational Uses of Second Life

Second Life has been hailed by many for its educational potential. Many colleges and universities have purchased islands within Second Life and have built virtual campuses inside. To date, over 74 schools have already built virtual campuses. See SimTeach’s for a list of Second Life virtual campuses. Others have built informal learning exhibits, or proof-of-concept educational simulations (e.g. the Heart Murmur Simulation). There is a listserve for educators who wish to use Second Life for formal education.

This video provides many examples of current Science Learning Opportunities within Second Life, including real-time visualizations, hands-on genomics simulations, ARC Research Center’s 3-D anatomy exhibits, and New Media Consortium’s clinical simulation modules.

Second Life Screenshots

Second Life Resources (Note: we are not responsible for the content on these external pages)

• SimTeach Wiki – Linden Lab’s official resource for educators in Second Life.
• Corporations in Second Life – A list of corporations with islands in Second Life, including Adidas, BMW, Dell, Kraft, Nissan, Reuters, Sears, Toyota, and others.

• In short: A huge Anime-themed forum with customizable avatars, Flash-based games, guilds, and various collectibles for purchase.
• URL: http://www.gaiaonline.com
• Maintained by: Gaia Interactive since Feb. 2003
• Price: Free to join
• Gaia Online system requirements: Flash-supported Web browser
• Platforms supported: PC and Mac

Gaia Online Overview

Gaia Online is a Anime-themed forums website that is considered “the largest forum on the Internet,” with allegedly over one million posts being made each day. There are over 2.5 million users per month, consisting mainly of teenagers. Forum participants, known as Gaians, have an avatar which they can customize with a variety of items that can be purchased using Gaia Online’s virtual currency, known as Gaia Gold. Gaia Gold can be earned by playing Flash-based games (cards, fishing, word games, among others), posting on the forums, or simply by browsing the website. Avatars can hold items, be posed in multiple ways, and can wear different kinds of clothes. Other items for purchase include monthly collectibles and furniture for one’s Gaia Home. Like-minded folks who are interested in similar interests can create or join guilds, which can be public, private, or hidden.

Gaia Online Screenshots

Gaia Online Resources

• Gaia Online Official Website

• In short: Kids play games, socialize, earn points, buy stuff for pets.
• URL: http://www.neopets.com
• Maintained by: Viacom/Neopets, Inc. since 1999
• Price: Free access, or $7.99/month for NeoPets Premium
• Neopets system requirements: Flash-based Web browser
• Platforms supported: PC, Mac

Neopets Overview

Neopets is a Flash-based virtual environment targeted especially for kids, with over 70 million (!) virtual pet owners. It’s set on Neopia, a planet that includes various worlds that contain unique shops, games to play, and other activities. Users create creatures called pets, and they must care for them, feed them, and keep them healthy and happy. There are over 50 species of pets, including many that are rare. Participants can complete a mission or quest in order to earn Neopets’ virtual currency known as Neopoints, or other items such as like Dark Reflectorbs. Pets can also buy, trade, and sell items at the Neopian Bazaar. This virtual world is highly commercial (perhaps a little too commercial), with lots of corporate in-game sponsors including Nestle, McDonald’s, Lego, Disney, and others.

Pets can can explore various Neopets regions, engage in quests or play games (Puzzle, Action, and Luck/Chance) for rewards, complete missions with others, and socialize. Neopets has plenty of places to visit including the Lost Desert, the Battledome, an undersea city called Maraqua, and various other locations. Neopets uses comic books to the advance storylines, which usually gets players to solve puzzles, play games, fight opponents, etc. Players may often end up collaborating or competing with others in order to receive various prizes. Neopets also offers various writing and art contests, including those run by the Neopian Times, a weekly newspaper that includes poetry, short stories, comics, and articles. Trophies and special rewards are given as rewards for contest winners.

Players can choose among a limited number of small icons to use as their avatar. There are also over 300 secret avatars that can be unlocked in various ways, including visiting certain pages or obtaining a high score at a game. When a plot of land is purchased, “Neohomes” can be built. Each room costs Neopoints to build, and these rooms can be customized with various sorts of furniture (flooring, lights, etc.).

Neopets is free, although additional features can be purchased with a Neopets Premium account. This costs $7.99 (US) a month, or $69.95 (US) a year.

Neopets Screenshots

Neopets Resources

• Neopets Official Website

• In short: A user-generated 3D world created by teenagers for teenagers.
• URL: http://teen.secondlife.com
• Maintained by: Linden Lab since June 2003
• Price: Free basic accounts. Premium accounts are $9.95, which allows one to own land on which you can build upon.
• Teen Second Life system requirements
• Platforms supported: Windows, Mac

Teen Second Life Overview

Teen Second Life is a 3D online virtual world, an “international gathering place for teens 13-17 to make friends and to play, learn and create.” To promote a safer environment for teen participants, only teenagers of this age range are allowed to participate in the virtual world (adults must use the regular version of Second Life). Because Teen Second Life is on located a separate “grid” from the regular Second Life, it is physically impossible for registered teens and adults to transfer from grid to grid. Other than the Linden Liasons (Linden Lab’s staff), all other residents are teenagers, or on occasion, teachers for various educational projects. Educators may also purchase discounted private islands for class purposes.

ownloading the software and creating a basic account is free. Second Life features an object oriented scripting language that allows virtually anything to be built. In this way, it is described as a 3D online virtual world that is “imagined, created, and owned by its residents.” Residents can socialize, meet other teenagers from around the world, participate in social events and activities, and design and create items and services. There is much to explore and create in this virtual environment filled with user-created content.

Strong language, nudity, and other adult content are prohibited in the teen grid. The virtual currency in Second Life is the Linden Dollar. The exchange rate of Linden Dollars to US Dollars is generally about $260-$300 Linden Dollars per US Dollar.

Educational Uses of Teen Second Life

• Global Kids – Global Kids Island, run by a nonprofit organization based in New York, is a place for teen SL residents to learn about important social and world issues.
• British Council Isle – A project to create a 3D virtual self-access center for English learners, and to provide an engaging intercultural space for English language learners and native speaking teens to meet and practice speaking English.

Teen Second Life Screenshots

Second Life Resources (Note: we are not responsible for the content on these external pages)

• SimTeach Wiki – Linden Lab’s official resource for educators in Teen Second Life.