Years ago... I'd guess about eight or nine years ago, I was a memeber of this virtual community called "Worlds Away". I don't know if it still exists, but it was pretty cool. You had avatars that walked around, carried things, etc. You would earn money and you could get your own apartment, if you missed your rent they'd lock you out of it. Anyway, you could walk down to the mall and purchase furniture, etc, for it, bricks... all sorts of things, to build things in there. There were bars where you could go and meet up with people and have virtual drinks, throw bar stools at the bullies, etc. Auctions going on all over the place, a haunted mansion for Halloween... ummm... you could change your clothes, hair, etc by going to the mall. It was fun! I was quite addicted to it at that time. There were "hidden" clubs in the apartment building, some of which you had to earn access to from other members, others you could sneak into.

Anyone else a member of this virtual community?

I acutually went to two of their Worlds Away Meet and Greets... it was a little weird. Everyone wore name tags with their online names (mine was AzureStar at that time, too) and we ate dinner and had drinks. The last one did me in because I realized how... well, some were a little weird and I realized that I, too, may be a little weird, so I stopped going there!


EDIT: Apparently it is still around:

Developed in conjunction with Fujitsu in Japan and Lucasfilm in the US, Worlds Away was the first virtual world made available online, exclusively on CompuServe. The stuff of science fiction movies from as little as a few years ago, Worlds Away lets you create a virtual persona - an "avatar" - whose appearance you can constantly alter, as you explore the graphically rich virtual world online. Our metaworlds allow you to do more than just chat with other avatars you come across, you can have your avatar show various emotions, gesture, even dance! And now Worlds Away has come to the web! Check out www.worldsaway.com for more - access is free with your CompuServe membership!

EDIT #2: Okay. Maybe it isn't around anymore. That report was from years ago. I dunno. Anyway....

EDIT #3: Okay. It is called VZones now. www.vzones.com They have a neat little intro that shows you what I was talking about.



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[This message was edited Tue Jun 22 15:25:27 2004 by AzureStarr]

so it's like the sims?

"Over the years there have been thousands of meaningful relationships built between VZones members. There's even been hundreds of virtual weddings! Members strike up long term friendships that are as real and satisfying as those in the real world."

Natsume said:

Yeah... that's what I mean. It was all a little too weird for me. That was literally going on. People would be in relationships at home, but have a separate relationship in this virtual world... they would get married in there, live together, etc... while their partner was doing the same in there (generally). I didn't think much of it until I was actually thinking about it at the second Meet and Greet and it was all a little "odd" I guess. Actually seeing people who I knew as "couples" or "married" people in Worlds Away, being at the restaurant and eating and dancing and kissing someone elses "Worlds Away" husband or wife (who was really their partner in "real life"... if that makes sense... lol)!

Anyway, it was fun for a couple of years. I was seriously addicted to painting and decorating my apartment and going to auctions. I'd stay on that thing for hours... WAY too many hours.

I don't know if it is like Sims, because I don't know what Sims is.

Just thought I'd add something... I became good friends with a girl on there and she lived very close by. We'd do lunch or hang out now and again. Well, she was married (in real life), but her husband was shacked up with some other chick in this virtual community. She'd go on and on and on about it to me... saying how he was cheating and what not, at first, I'd say no.. it wasn't cheating, however, after it completely destroyed their marriage it became very clear to me how serious these things can become. He would pay more attention to this online girlfriend than he would to his wife... hitting the computer and logging on there the moment he came home, with nothing but a quick "hello" to her as he was sprinting towards the computer.

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[This message was edited Tue Jun 22 15:36:14 2004 by AzureStarr]

AzureStarr said:

the sims is great, Azure! It's a computer game where you make a family then move them into a house (that you build and furnish and decorate). You get your characters jobs, and they get promoted - earning them more money for bigger houses, better furnishings, etc - by gaining the needed points. e.g. if you need body points you make them work out, or if they need logic points you make them play chess. You can also make friends with your neighbors, which helps you become promoted, and have children and affairs and lots of other stuff!


btw, would you consider having another spouse on worlds away cheating??

Natsume said:

I'd better steer clear of that then! Seriously... decorating and earning coins for bigger apartments and furnishings had me wasting away my entire day and, often, the entire night and well into the early morning hours. Imagine me out there earning money to get a bigger house and better furnishings and meeting neighbors! I'd have eyes from zoning into the computer for so long!!

No, I never would consider it. There were people on there that I was attracted to... their personality, their avatar (yes, as silly as that may sound), the conversations, etc... but, no. I was very unhappily married at that time, too... and I never took anything too far, nor did I consider it. I pretty much just backed away. And, if you think the org is bad in the drama factor.. you should have seen the drama there... when one person walks around the corner in the park and sees their partner kissing and hugging another person or holding hands with another. It was a mess at times.

People sitting around all day at a computer screen "talking" with people they've never met?

Sounds ludicrous.

2the9s said:

Yeah... I know. I guess we should all be thankful we don't have avatars that move. Otherwise, I have a feeling the org would be a very, very messy place!

Wanna drink some wine?! I'ma gonna break into the Amaretto shortly!

AzureStarr said:

Yeah! We can get drunk and make fun of Natsume!

2the9s said:

Get him, Nat!

Sounds scary!

I can barely handle this place...

sag10 said:

Sag, stop being fresh.

2the9s said:

9s

2the9s said:

Sorry!

Is this like a hippie commune?