Avatars United
Encyclopedia
Avatars United was a web community
for avatars of online games and virtual worlds. It was launched in March 2008 by Sweden-based Enemy Unknown and closed in October 2010. It is currently owned by Linden Lab.
On September 23, 2010 Linden Lab announced the closure of Avatars United.
that lets users connect their game avatar
s with each other. Avatars can interact and share experiences by sending messages, blogging, discussing topics and uploading photos and videos. They can also join or create groups and organize in-game events. As to keep the website to in-game content only, any real-life content or references to real-life identities are strictly forbidden.
Avatars are organized by the server
they belong to, called "worlds" on the website. Each world has a dedicated page where users can track the activity of its avatars. Users can register an unlimited amount of avatars from multiple worlds and games and designate one as their main avatar. This allows users to keep in touch with friends from past games as they migrate to new ones.
To log in the user is required to fill out one's real-life birth date. It is not clear whether this information will be public or not.
The company was acquired by Linden Lab
in January 2010.
Linden Lab
closed Avatars United in September 2010, integrating the underlying social technology into Second Life
.
Web community
A web community is a web site that is a virtual community. A web community may take the form of a social network service, an Internet forum, a group of blogs, or another kind of social software web application....
for avatars of online games and virtual worlds. It was launched in March 2008 by Sweden-based Enemy Unknown and closed in October 2010. It is currently owned by Linden Lab.
On September 23, 2010 Linden Lab announced the closure of Avatars United.
Features
At the core, Avatars United is a social networking websiteWebsite
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
that lets users connect their game avatar
Avatar (computing)
In computing, an avatar is the graphical representation of the user or the user's alter ego or character. It may take either a three-dimensional form, as in games or virtual worlds, or a two-dimensional form as an icon in Internet forums and other online communities. It can also refer to a text...
s with each other. Avatars can interact and share experiences by sending messages, blogging, discussing topics and uploading photos and videos. They can also join or create groups and organize in-game events. As to keep the website to in-game content only, any real-life content or references to real-life identities are strictly forbidden.
Avatars are organized by the server
Game server
A game server is a remotely or locally run server used by game clients to play multiplayer video games. Most video games played over the Internet operate via a connection to a game server...
they belong to, called "worlds" on the website. Each world has a dedicated page where users can track the activity of its avatars. Users can register an unlimited amount of avatars from multiple worlds and games and designate one as their main avatar. This allows users to keep in touch with friends from past games as they migrate to new ones.
To log in the user is required to fill out one's real-life birth date. It is not clear whether this information will be public or not.
Supported games
Avatars United currently supports 90 virtual worlds. The website also integrates with official game resources such as the World of Warcraft Armory and EVE Online API.History
The project was initiated by a group of real-life childhood friends with a passion for computer games in the summer of 2007.The company was acquired by Linden Lab
Linden Lab
Linden Research, Inc., d/b/a Linden Lab, is a privately held American Internet company that is best known as the creator of Second Life....
in January 2010.
Linden Lab
Linden Lab
Linden Research, Inc., d/b/a Linden Lab, is a privately held American Internet company that is best known as the creator of Second Life....
closed Avatars United in September 2010, integrating the underlying social technology into Second Life
Second Life
Second Life is an online virtual world developed by Linden Lab. It was launched on June 23, 2003. A number of free client programs, or Viewers, enable Second Life users, called Residents, to interact with each other through avatars...
.
See also
- Massively multiplayer online gameMassively multiplayer online gameA massively multiplayer online game is a multiplayer video game which is capable of supporting hundreds or thousands of players simultaneously. By necessity, they are played on the Internet, and usually feature at least one persistent world. They are, however, not necessarily games played on...
- Massively multiplayer online role-playing gameMassively multiplayer online role-playing gameMassively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
- Guild hostingGuild hostingA guild hosting or clan hosting service is a specialized type of web hosting service designed to support online gaming communities, generally referred to as guilds or clans...