From jokaydia: Exploring Virtual Worlds and Games in Education

Virtual Worlds Listing

This list represents only a sampling of the types of virtual worlds, virtual worlds platforms, virtual worlds building tools and related technologies currently available or under development. This field is expanding so rapidly it is impossible to keep up with them all. Links to other detailed lists of different types of virtual worlds are at the bottom of this page.

To a degree these categories are arbitrary, particularly as we are seeing the convergence of virtual worlds, gaming worlds and social networking services. We are also seeing the distinction between virtual worlds and and the real world starting to blur with the development of mirror worlds, augmented reality and mixed reality applications.

General Information about Virtual Worlds

• Association of Virtual Worlds: http://www.associationofvirtualworlds.com/
  
• DigitalSpace: Avatars Book Home Page and Teleport: http://www.digitalspace.com/avatars/index.html
  
• IBM Virtual World Guidelines: http://tinyurl.com/2acpto
  
• Meta-Mole : The comprehensive database of Virtual World Environments: http://meta-mole.com/Default.aspx
  
• Metaverse Roadmap: Pathways to the 3D Web: http://metaverseroadmap.org/index.html
  
• MMOGCHART: http://www.mmogchart.com/
  
• MMOGData: http://mmogdata.voig.com/
• Terra Nova: http://terranova.blogs.com/terra_nova/
  
• Virtual Worlds News: http://www.virtualworldsnews.com/
  
• Web3D Consortium: http://www.web3d.org/
  
• Virtual Worlds Timeline: http://www.dipity.com/user/xantherus/timeline/Virtual_Worlds
  
• Virtual Worlds Timeline: Origins & Evolution of Social Virtual Worlds: http://www.vwtimeline.org/
  

2D & 2.5D Virtual Worlds

• citypixel.com: http://www.citypixel.com/
  
• Cyworld: http://us.cyworld.com/main/index.php
  
• freggers: http://www.freggers.com/
  
• Gaia Online: http://gaiaonline.com/
  
• Habbo Hotel: http://www.habbo.com/
  
• Meetsee: http://www.meetsee.com/
  
• Metaplace: http://www.metaplace.com/
• Mini Friday: http://minifriday.com/
• MoiPal: http://www.moipal.com/
  
• Muxlim Pal: http://pal.muxlim.com/
  
• Papermint: http://www.papermint.com/
• Rocketon: http://rocketon.com/a/intro.php
• SmallWorlds http://www.smallworlds.com//
  
• Yogurtistan: http://www.yogurtistan.com
• Yoville: http://apps.facebook.com/yoville/

3D Intranets, Virtual Workspaces & 3D Conferencing

• 3DCity: http://www.3d-city.net/
• 3Di Inc.: http://3di.jp/en/index.html
• 3DXplorer: http://www.3dxplorer.com/pages/static/newpages/OM_Overview.html
• IBM Innovate Quick Internal Metaverse Project: http://eightbar.co.uk/2007/05/08/the-ibm-innovate-quick-internal-metaverse-project/
• Immersive Workspaces: http://immersivespaces.com/
• InXpo - Virtual Events: http://www.inxpo.com/
• MPK20: Sun's Virtual Workplace: http://research.sun.com/projects/mc/mpk20.html
• Protosphere / ProtonMedia – Innovative Solutions for e-Learning, e-Meetings and e-Selling: http://www.protonmedia.com/
• Qwaq Forums: http://qwaq.com/
• Tixeo - realtime collaborative 3D work tool: http://www.tixeo.com/
• Unisfair - Powering the World's Virtual Events: http://www.unisfair.com/

3D Virtual Worlds

• 3B - your personalised 3D space in the 3D browser: http://3b.net/browser
• Active Worlds: http://www.activeworlds.com/
  
• Avatar Reality inc.: http://www.avatar-reality.com/
  
• Blue Mars: http://www.bluemarsonline.com/
  
• Club Cooee: 3D Avatar Chat & Virtual World Messenger: http://www.clubcooee.com/
  
• Cybertown - Civilization for the Virtual Age: http://www.cybertown.com/
  
• Entropia Universe: http://www.entropiauniverse.com/index.var
  
• Exit-Reality: http://3d.exitreality.com/
• Gogofrog: http://www.gogofrog.com/
  
• Hipihi - Chinese Virtual World: http://www.hipihi.com/index_english.html
  
• IMVU - 3D chat: http://www.imvu.com/
  
• Just Leap In: http://www.justleapin.com/
  
• Kaneva: http://www.kaneva.com
• Meet-Me - Japanese Virtual World: http://www.meet-me.jp/
  
• moove online: http://www.moove.com/
  
• Mycosm: http://www.mycosm.com/
  
• Next Island: http://www.nextisland.com/
  
• Nurien: http://www.nurien.com
  
• Onverse: http://onverse.com/
• Second Life: http://www.secondlife.com/
  
• There.com: http://www.there.com/
  
• Twinity: http://twinity.com/
  
• uWorld: http://www.uworld3d.com/
  
• Vivaty: http://www.vivaty.com/
  
• Xbox.com | New Xbox Experience: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/nxe/\
  

Education-Focused Virtual Worlds

• Active Worlds Educational Universe: http://www.activeworlds.com/edu/awedu.asp
  
• Caspian Learning - Leaders in Immersive Learning Simulations: http://www.caspianlearning.co.uk/technology.html
  
• Enter Zon - Learn Mandarin Chinese: http://enterzon.com/
  
• The Forbidden City: Beyond Space and Time: http://www.beyondspaceandtime.org
• Greenbush EduSim: http://edusim3d.com/
  
• Heritage Key: http://heritage-key.com/
• Media Grid : Immersive Education: http://immersiveeducation.org/
  
• ScienceSim: http://sciencesim.com/wiki/doku.php
  
• Secret Builders: http://www.secretbuilders.com/
• Quest Atlantis: http://atlantis.crlt.indiana.edu/
  
• Whyville: http://www.whyville.net/smmk/nice
  
• WiloStar3D: Accredited Homeschooling and 3D Virtual Worlds for Education: http://www.wilostar3d.com/
  
• WizWorld Online: http://www.wizworldonline.com/
• Woogi World: http://www.woogiworld.com/
  
• Zora: a virtual world focused on child development and education: http://ase.tufts.edu/devtech/projects.html
  

Geospatial or 'Mirror' Worlds

• Amazing Worlds: http://www.amazingworlds.com/
  
• EveryScape: http://www.everyscape.com/
• GeoSimPHILLY – Where The Virtual Meets The Real: http://www.geosimphilly.com
• Google Earth: http://earth.google.com/
• Google Maps Street View: http://maps.google.com/
• Microsoft Virtual Earth: http://www.microsoft.com/virtualearth/default.mspx
• NASA World Wind: http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/
  
• Twinverse: http://twinverse.com/about.html
• Unype.com - multi-user google earth: http://www.unype.com/
• Virtuel City: http://www.virtuelcity.com/en/index.html
• Windows Live Local: http://preview.local.live.com/

OpenSimulator Based Projects

The following projects are using OpenSimulator to support 3D Virtual environments similar to Second Life.

• 3rd Rock Grd: http://www.3rdrockgrid.com/
• Avatar Hangout: http://www.avatarhangout.com/
• C.U.O.N. Grid: http://sim-linuxmain.org:8081/CuonGrid/index.html
• Cyberlandia: http://www.cyberlandia.net/
• DSGrid OpenSim: http://www.dsgrid.eu/
• FrancoGrid: http://www.francogrid.com/
• GermanGrid: http://www.germangrid.eu
• GiantGrid: http://www.giantgrid.nl/
• Grid4Us: http://www.grid4us.net/
• Jamland Opensim Grid: http://www.jamland.de/
• K-Grid: http://www.k-grid.com/
• Logicamp: http://www.logicamp.com/
• MetropolisMetaversum: http://www.hypergrid.org/
• MyOpenGrid: http://www.myopengrid.com
• The New World Grid: http://www.newworldgrid.com
• OpenKansai: http://os.taf-jp.com/
• Open Neuland: http://open-neuland.talentraspel.de/
• OSGrid: http://www.osgrid.org/elgg/
• Playneko.de: http://www.playneko.de/
• Project Monolith: http://www.emeraldnetwork.com/
• Pseudospace: http://www.pseudospace.net/
• ReactionGrid: http://reactiongrid.com/
• realXtend: http://www.realxtend.org/
• ScienceSim: http://www.sciencesim.com/
• Segarra Private Grid: http://privategrid.segarraestates.com/
• Tertiary Grid: http://tertiarygrid.com/
• Twisted Sky: http://twistedsky.net/
• Unica Universe: http://grid.unica.it/
• Uvatar: http://www.uvatar.com/
• v-Business Grid: http://v-business.com/
• Wilder Westen: http://wilder-westen.talentraspel.de/
• WorldSimTerra: http://www.worldsimterra.com/
• Your Alternative Life: http://www.youralternativelife.com/

See Also: OpenSim Grid List - http://opensimulator.org/wiki/Grid_List

'Vertical' or Niche Virtual Worlds

• CC Metro (MyCoke): http://www.mycoke.com/index.jsp
• MTV's Virtual Worlds: http://www.vmtv.com/
  
• Music Mogul: http://www.musicmogul.com/ (under development)
• NFL Rush Zone: http://nflrz.nflrush.com/
  
• Sony's PlayStation Home: http://www.us.playstation.com/PSN/Home
• vSide: Music Virtual World: http://www.vside.com/
  
• Wells Fargo Stagecoach Island Community: http://blog.wellsfargo.com/StagecoachIsland/
  

Virtual Worlds Building & Development Tools

• 3D Network Professional Virtual Enterprise Initiative: http://www.3dnetpro.com/
• 3DXplorer: http://www.3dxplorer.com/
• Badumna Network Suite: http://www.badumna.com/
• Croquet Project: http://www.opencroquet.org/ & OpenCobalt: http://opencobalt.org/
• Forterra Systems' Olive: http://www.forterrainc.com/
• IBM's BlueGrass:Virtual Worlds for Business: http://tinyurl.com/yssu4s
• Metaplace: http://metaplace.com/
• Multiverse: http://www.multiverse.net/
• Open Source Metaverse Project: http://metaverse.sourceforge.net/
• SceneCaster: http://www.scenecaster.com/ (no avatars)
• Solipsis - Opensource Decentralized Metaverse: http://www.solipsis.org/
• Sun's Project Wonderland: https://lg3d-wonderland.dev.java.net/
• Torque Game Engine: http://www.garagegames.com/makegames/
• Uni-verse: http://www.uni-verse.org/
• VastPark: http://vastpark.com/
• VRML/X3D - Web3D Consortium: http://www.web3d.org/
• web.alive - Nortel's enterprise virtual world (Project Chainsaw): http://www.projectchainsaw.com/blog/

Virtual Worlds for Kids, Tweens & Teens

• Audition Online Dance Battle: http://au.mmosite.com/
• BarbieGirls World: http://www.barbiegirls.com/
  
• Be-Bratz!: http://www.be-bratz.com/
  
• Bella Sara: http://www.bellasara.com/
• Bots: http://bots.acclaim.com/
• Club Penguin: http://www.clubpenguin.com/
  
• Club Pony Pals: http://www.clubponypals.com/
• DinoKids: http://www.dinokids.com/
• Dinosaur Junction: http://www.dinosaurjunction.com/
• Disney's Toontown Online: http://play.toontown.com/
  
• Disney Fairies - Pixie Hollow: http://pixiehollow.go.com/
  
• Dizzywood: http://www.dizzywood.com/
  
• Fantage: http://www.fantage.com/
• Free Realms: http://www.freerealms.com/
  
• Freggers: http://www.freggers.com/
• Fresbo World: http://www.fresboworld.com
• Hello Kitty Online!: http://www.hellokittyonline.com/us/
  
• JumpStart 3D Virtual World: http://www.jumpstart.com/
  
• Lego Universe: http://universe.lego.com/ (under development)
  
• McWorld®: http://vw.happymeal.com/en_US/
  
• Mokitown: http://www.mobile-kids.net/mokitown_prehome/home_en.jsp
• Nicktropolis: http://www.nick.com/nicktropolis/
  
• ourWorld: http://www.ourworld.com/
  
• Planet Cazmo: http://www.planetcazmo.com/
  
• Puzzle Pirates: http://www.puzzlepirates.com/
• ROBLOX: http://www.roblox.com/
  
• Shining Stars: http://www.shiningstars.com/
• Teen Second Life: http://teen.secondlife.com/
  
• The Travels of Wiglington and Wenks: http://www.wiglingtonandwenks.com/
  
• WebbliWorld Home: http://www.webbliworld.com/
  
• Webkinz: http://www.webkinz.com/
  
• Whirled: http://www.threerings.net/whirled/
  
• Wiggle Time: http://wiggletime.com/
  

Other Lists of Virtual Worlds

• Virtual Worlds Platform Matrix: http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=ppnM8o4SM2ttEabKCnRxcag
• Virtual Worlds Management - 200+ Youth-Oriented Worlds Live or Developing - January 2009: http://www.virtualworldsmanagement.com/2009/youth-01-26-2009.html
  
• Virtual Worlds Management Youth Worlds Analysis - August 2008: http://www.virtualworldsmanagement.com/2008/youthworlds0808.html
• Online Virtual Worlds: A Mini-Guide - Robin Good's Latest News: http://www.masternewmedia.org/virtual_reality/virtual-worlds/virtual-immersive-3D-worlds-guide-20071004.htm
• Virtual Worlds Comparison Chart: http://www.virtualenvironments.info/virtual-worlds-comparison-chart
• Virtual Worlds Review: http://www.virtualworldsreview.com/
• Alternatives To Second Life: http://slgames.wordpress.com/2007/04/12/alternatives-to-second-life-uber-edition/
• Virtual Universes Landscape | FredCavazza.net: http://www.fredcavazza.net/2007/10/04/virtual-universes-landscape/
• A round-up of 50 virtual worlds: http://fabricoffolly.blogspot.com/2007/10/second-life-in-perspective-round-up-of.html
• Casual Immersive Worlds - A Comparison Chart by TechCrunch: http://www.techcrunch.com/wp-content/casual_immersive_worlds.html
• Virtual Worlds News: Virtual Worlds Platforms and User Numbers: http://www.virtualworldsnews.com/2007/10/virtual-worlds-.html
• The Federation of American Scientists Virtual Worlds Almanac: http://vworld.fas.org/wiki/Main_Page
• 3Di Vendor Analysis by NCSU MBA Student Team « Learning Matters!: http://wadatripp.wordpress.com/2007/11/07/3di-vendor-analysis-by-ncsu-mba-student-team/
• Virtual Pursuits - Who’s on the Radar? : Kzero (virtual worlds by sector): http://www.kzero.co.uk/blog/?p=2325
• More 3D Virtual Worlds: http://arianeb.com/more3Dworlds.htm
• 2008 Metaverse Tour Video: The Social Virtual World’s A Stage: http://www.personalizemedia.com/2008-metaverse-tour-video-the-social-virtual-worlds-a-stage/
• The Blue Book - A Consumer Guide to Virtual Worlds: http://associationofvirtualworlds.com/thebluebook/the_blue_book_august_2008_edition.pdf
• Virtual Worlds Facet Study - Sarah Robbins - Google Docs: http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pgKqGR6eOiPOKjMG9f856Sw

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