Virtual Worlds Comparison Chart
The following is a comparison table of virtual worlds, as of August 2007. Each software title has been listed, along with platform, cost per month, target user, style, etc. Please report any corrections or updates to: info [at] VirtualEnvironments [dot] info.
| Comparison of Virtual Environments | |||||||||
| Virtual World |
OS | Cost per month | Target user & style | Edit avatars? |
Build or design content? | Script content? | Own land or sell items? | Education ready? |
Comm. Events? |
| Active Worlds |
PC & Linux | Free / $6.95 | General; Exploration |  |
|
|
No selling |
Can code | |
| Barbie Girls | PC | Free | Young girls; Fashion, social | |
|
No | Neither | No | |
| Club Penguin | PC & Mac | Free / $5.95 | Kids; Games and Activities | |
No | No | Neither | No | |
| Forterra Systems | PC | Contract | Training, E-Learning, Serious Games | |
Can code | |
|
Can code | Can code |
| Gaia Online | PC & Mac | Free | Social; Top-down overview, sprites | |
No | No | Sorta | No | |
| Habbo Hotel | PC & Mac | Free | Teens; Social | |
|
No | Neither | No | |
| Kaneva | PC & Mac | Free | Teens; Social | |
|
No | Sorta | No | |
| Neopets | PC & Mac | Free / $7.95 | Kids and teens; Mini-games, social | |
No | No | |
No | |
| Teen Second Life | PC & Mac | Free / $9.95 | Teens only; 3D, Creation, social | |
|
|
|
Can code | |
| Second Life | PC & Mac | Free / $9.95 | 18+ only; 3D, Creation | |
|
|
|
Can code | |
| The Sims Online | PC | $9.95/mo. | General; Social; 3D | |
|
No | No selling |
No | |
| There | PC | Free / $9.95 | General; Social | |
|
Limited | |
No | |
| Webkins | PC | Free | Social | |
No | No | Neither | No | |
| Whyville | PC & Mac | Free | Kids and teens; 2D sprites; Educational | |
|
No | Neither | |
|
| Zwinktopia |
PC & Mac | Free | Teens; Social | |
No | No | Neither | No | |
The following is a legend for the above chart:
- Virtual world - The name of the virtual environment.
- OS – The available platforms for the title (PC, Mac, Linux, etc.)
- Cost per month – The cost for a monthly subscription. If the software has free, limited access available, it will be labeled as Free.
- Target user and style – The intended audience for the virtual world (e. g. kids, teens, adults) and the style of the environment (education, exploration, content creation, building, socializing, etc.)
- Edit avatars – The ability to customize one’s digital character.
- Build or design content – The ability to create custom content, without any required programming or coding.
- Script content – The ability to create objects and items via programming or coding.
- Own land / sell items – The ability to own virtual real estate, and the ability to sell virtual items within the virtual world.
- Education ready – The ability to utilize the virtual environment for educational purposes, such as to teach subject matter.
- Community events – Available community supported or sponsored events within the world.
Feel free to link to this chart; however, please credit us at http://www.virtualenvironments.info.