Adults only? (imvu.com (IMVU))

Member Name: thole09

Product:	imvu.com (IMVU)
Date:	29/03/09 (483 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Customization, Graphics

Disadvantages: Userbase

IMVU Messenger is an instant messaging service developed by IMVU Inc. and launched in 2004 for the personal computer. It is a step away from the more traditional text based instant messaging services and incorporates a somewhat virtual reality presence. The user begins with an "avatar" which can be customized to his or her preference with different items of clothing, accessories and different background scenes which users can chat in. Memebership is free though the user may opt for premium paid features on a one-off cost basis. IMVU Inc. states that the client software has a required hardware specification of at least Pentium 3 at 800 MHZ, 128 MB RAM, 50 MB Hard Disk space, "any" sound card and "any" 3D video card.

I have had a constant love-hate relationship with the service since finding it shortly after its initial release. Prior to logging on to IMVU Messenger for the first time, I was a long standing member of Habbo Hotel. This membership spanned over the course of five years and numerous online usernames. Everything was fine at the Hotel but as I aged in years the userbase did not follow. I grew bored of talking about what Suzie Q. did during her lunch break on the playground and longed for more suitable adult conversation with similar minded adults. I found this initially on IMVU Messenger, however, it was very short lived.

IMVU Messenger was developed initially was a one-to-one conversation tool. Any user at any given time could interact with others by simply clicking the "chat now" button and be matched at random with anyone currently online who have also clicked the corresponding button. This matching is usually within five to ten seconds. The scene is initially set as "BuckStars Coffee" which is somewhat of a typical area for casual discussion. The scene features various chairs, tables and other objects which the user can interact with by locating its "action point", a blue chair icon, and clicking it. Clicking these points will alter the user's avatar into the select position, such as standing by a till or sitting in a chair. There is no element of free movement in IMVU Messenger; avatar positions are fixed in the environment. The avatar itself is also heavily animated with various expressions, moods and other actions executed through a simple click. There are also various word sensitive actions such as "LOL" causing the avatar to break out in a joyful laughter. The technology itself is fantastic and is also somewhat innovative in the field of instant messaging applications. Recently, as per user requests, IMVU Messenger expanded to feature "public rooms" where numerous users can exchange within conversation but has retained its initial two person "chat now" feature in the process. It is noteworthy that these "public rooms" require a more recent computer as loading times are exceptionally long to display the user's avatar and keep up with the chat in progress. It is not uncommon to wait in the region of five minutes for these rooms to load fully.

There is a strong sense of customization within IMVU Messenger. Users have access to what is regarded as the largest online catalogue of virtual items in the world. There are over three million items ranging from various hair styles, shirts, trousers, shoes and accessories available to forge a specific identity from realistic to absurd. To acquire these items, IMVU Messenger relies on a system of in-world credits. There are two different types of credits; "Predits", or promotional credits, being acquired for free through regular participation and "Credits" being acquired by purchase with physical currency. Their use appears identical but it is difficult to gain a substantial amount of Predits in a smaller space of time. In my experience, a typical full outfit change using Predits requires approximately two weeks of regular IMVU Messenger usage. There are also various background scenes which the user can purchase at a higher cost ranging from intimate bedrooms to "full scale" nightclub settings for use while chatting to other users.

IMVU Messenger's graphics are three dimensional and well drawn. The users have strong input in development and design work, and it seems as if the items are continually improving with time. The user is able to scale and zoom to his or her preference within a scene to gain the most pleasant vantage point within conversation. There are few audio cues which can be seen as positive.

The advertising schemes of IMVU Inc. initially led me to believe that the Messenger was somewhat of an adult dating service. The images at the time of my registration were very raunchy and almost always featured one male and one female engaged in conversation. Admittedly, this was somewhat of an off-putting feature to IMVU Messenger but I decided to try it out as the installer download was very small. I'm not able to recall my first conversations but do remember all of them as being, for a long while, mature themed (not a sexual mature but an overall adult mature). I was finally liberated from the progressively childish Habbo Hotel and had found a great niche for both intellectual and wise discussions. IMVU Messenger was something which I readily wanted to be a part of and looked forward to participating with a daily basis. It seemed as if almost overnight, though, that quickly changed. More often than not my avatar was matched with a younger individual and I was right back to where I started in discussing Suzie Q's antics on the playground.

IMVU Inc. was quick to respond to this sudden influx of minor users by implementing an "adults only" status which was meant to match only 18+ users with 18+ users. In my testing I found this to be inoperable and was frequently engaged with children. That is when I stopped using the service and migrated elsewhere. Available to the adult user is an "access pass" which can be purchased to unlock adult content within the catalogue which is heavily based surrounding nudity and other suggestive themes. It is also used as a method to ensure that only adults will engage in conversation with one another. It has remained priced at $19.95 USD since its introduction but, to me, that almost necessity of purchase to restrict myself to a true "adults only" status wasn't worthwhile.

I recently downloaded the most recent update of IMVU Messenger to see its latest developments and found an extensive catalogue of items, new background themes and almost a renewed sense of adulthood within the community. The IMVU forums are filled with articulate individuals but I don't quite feel that this has crossed over into the actual Messenger client. It does seem as if the "Adults Only" status is working but only time will tell with further usage. IMVU Inc's marketing does appeal to a more adult audience by continually developing and releasing new items and scenes specifically marked as "adults only". Could this be the originally adult service which I registered to in the beginning? I don't know, but I'm looking forward to finding out.

I'm split as to whether or not this could be recommended at this time. I do enjoy using it once again but am hesitant that my avatar's mood will change from "happy" to "sleepy" within days.

Summary: Thumbs in the middle