IMVU

What forums, chat rooms and other social medias have in common is the fact that you can not see the persons you are talking to and if you can, there is no way to interact with them. If you are looking for a more interesting and fun way to pass the time, IMVU is definitely worth trying. It is a social media where you can chat with your friends, join chat rooms, play games and more. Its colorful 3D environments and the possibility of customizing your avatar (which is also rendered in 3D) is what makes it different from other social medias.

After creating an online account, you will have to download and install the IMVU application, because everything is done on your desktop and not on a web browser. The setup file is roughly 77 KB large, but it will download additional files when you run it. When all the files are downloaded, the installation process will begin immediately and you will not have to make any settings along the way.

The application's Home screen is where you can find various options for joining chat rooms, games and access many other features. Almost everything you access is loaded on separate tabs. It does not take long to get used to the interface. It is designed to be accessible to anyone, including inexperienced users.

Customization is one of IMVU's core features. You can change mostly any aspect of your avatar, from clothes to physical appearance. You are also provided with your own room, which you can decorate with different pieces of furniture and various household items. The room is rendered in 3D and you can use your mouse to zoom and pan the camera. The graphics are not state of the art, so anyone can join the online community, without having to upgrade their hardware.

Certain areas of your room and certain objects are highlighted with a bright dot. Clicking this dot will place your avatar in that particular place. If, for example, you click a chair, your character will sit on that chair. If you want new items to customize your avatar and your room, you may go to an online shop, on the same interface. Items are bought with credits, which, in turn, are bought with real money. You can buy new clothes for your character, pets, new rooms and furniture, so you will definitely feel like king of your own castle. In fact, you can actually buy a castle and anything else, from apartments to beach houses.

Chat rooms are rendered in a 3D environment as well. They are themed in various ways, from nature landscapes to clubs. When you join a chat room, you will see other avatars belonging to real persons, in the same 3D environment. You can chat just like on regular applications, but you can also interact with other avatars. The possibilities are many. Dancing next to another avatar, executing gestures or inviting them to your room are just a few examples. All you need to do is right click an avatar and you will find a long list of interactions. Unfortunately, some options are locked or available only for VIP members.