| With the success of Second Life, virtual reality | | | | meet a wide variety of people in the virtual world, |
| simulations have come into their own in the past 5 | | | | all dressed as wildly as you can possibly imagine. |
| years. Promising users an experience that | | | | Where really shines is in its creation of a living, |
| transcends the limitations of real life, a virtual | | | | breathing world. You can buy and furnish your |
| reality sim lets you be whatever you want to be | | | | own house (and even put it up for rent), go |
| right from the comfort of your own home. No | | | | shopping for shoes and clothing, buy yourself a |
| wonder that the number of these virtual worlds | | | | car (or design your own ride), hold an exhibition of |
| simulations has increased exponentially in the past | | | | your 'art' (which you can later sell for Therebucks |
| few years. | | | | - There.com's virtual currency), create your own |
| There is a virtual world where you can create | | | | virtual movies, and lots, lots more. The way you |
| your own avatar and roam around in a 3D world | | | | interact with other members and the world |
| populated by other members. You can interact | | | | around you makes for a delightful experience, and |
| with other members, build your own houses, | | | | it is not extra ordinary to strike up deep and |
| dress up your characters, buy stuff for them, | | | | meaningful friendships with people halfway across |
| etc. In other words, There aims to create an | | | | the globe. |
| online identity for yourself that reflects the real | | | | However, in terms of pure features and |
| you, or, as itself puts it, be "everything you've | | | | interactivity potential, There cannot hold a candle |
| imagined and wished for". | | | | to Second Life. Although these are two |
| There is actually a downloadable application | | | | completely different beasts (Second Life is more |
| (around 500MB in size) that runs on your desktop. | | | | of a virtual reality simulation, while There is more |
| The system requirements are quite low and if | | | | chat and people oriented), comparisons to Second |
| you bought your PC within the past 2 years, you | | | | Life are inevitable, if unfair. |
| shouldn't have any problem running | | | | In terms of graphics, There does not match up |
| There works on a membership model. Basic | | | | to the latest PC games such as Call of Duty 4. |
| membership to the virtual world is free, but you | | | | Nonetheless, the "game" still looks quite good and |
| have to shell out money for premium features | | | | runs very smoothly on even old PCs. There's |
| like voice chat, or to buy virtual goods such as | | | | servers are more than capable of handling the |
| houses, clothing, accessories, etc. | | | | load of several thousand players, and there is |
| Once you install the application and become a | | | | hardly any lag while playing the game. |
| member, you will be prompted to create your | | | | Users concerned about privacy issues will have to |
| avatar. This 3D avatar will be your physical | | | | just buckle up and go with the flow. A virtual |
| representation in the virtual world, and you have | | | | world, by default, does not endear itself to |
| access to a wide variety of templates to pick | | | | privacy, and There is no different. Although you |
| from when making your avatar. You can dress up | | | | can block individual users (or groups of users), it is |
| the model from a few different sets of clothing | | | | very easy for other members to see what |
| and accessories. Later on in the game, you can | | | | you've been up to in the game. Paranoid people |
| buy different items for your avatar to trick out | | | | should best avoid this game. |
| his appearance. | | | | In conclusion, There is a great virtual world that |
| After your avatar is created, you can basically | | | | excels in its handling of chat and people-to-people |
| walk around the various environments (desert, | | | | interactions. If you are looking for something |
| tropical paradise, city, town, etc.) chatting up with | | | | more complex and demanding, you might be |
| other members. If you have a premium | | | | disappointed with the limited features that There |
| membership, you can even voice chat with your | | | | offers, but for those of you looking to meet new |
| fellow users. There essentially works like a | | | | people without all the hassles of a virtual life |
| somewhat surreal simulation of real life; you will | | | | simulation, There is the perfect tool. |