In designing the plans for VPLU, it is important to consider the design of other virtual online worlds. Whether it's the character design, layout, quests or activities, seeking examples from established games is necessary before building a new game. Multiple virtual online games (past and present) have been considered as inspiration for VPLU. The following screenshots are from various virtual online worlds. (Unless the screenshot is noted, the screenshots are taken by me).
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VIRTUAL MAGIC KINGDOM/MYVMK:
The Virtual Magic Kingdom was created by Disney to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Disneyland. The game opened in 2005 and closed in 2008. Users could create a character and explore the many rooms of the virtual Disney parks. Quests, games, special events, shopping, and designing rooms were some of the many activities offered.
MYVMK - The virtual map is organized into different lands which resemble the Disney parks. After selecting one of the lands, this brings the user to another screen, featuring all of the virtual rooms inside of the land. Screenshot taken April 21, 2019.
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Character design:
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Left: MYVMK: Many users on MYVMK celebrated together during the New Year's Eve in-game event. Uses can design their character from catalogs filled with clothing options, a catalog of hairstyles, facial features, eye shape, and skin tone. Screenshot taken 12/31/18.
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Right: MYVMK - a group of characters meeting in a guest room. Screenshot taken May 26, 2018.
Guest rooms (MYVMK) -There is a list of "guest rooms" which displays the rooms of users who are currently logged into the game. In MYVMK, the Mickey Mouse icon next to the room title indicates it is a special event, offered by the MYVMK staff. Screenshot taken March 24, 2019.
Guest rooms
Left: While some guest rooms are created as an original design, some rooms are modeled after specific spaces. For example, this guest room on MYVMK is designed to look like the Grand Hall in Harry Potter at Hogwarts. Screenshot taken May 23, 2018.
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Right: Whether it's a gingerbread house, fantasy castle or even a mermaid lagoon, the creative possibilities are endless. This MYVMK guest room offers a magical fantasy guest room design. The room model itself is a "dark ride room", in which users can build their own rides.
Screenshot taken April 7, 2019.
Virtual profile & pins
In various virtual online worlds, users can customize their virtual profile with a brief statement about themselves, as well as a display of virtual pins. Screenshots taken April 19, 2019
Left: The event calendar is available on the website for MYVMK, which conveniently displays a full calendar with a time, date and type of virtual event. Screenshot taken March 19, 2019.
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Right: On March 24, 2019, MYVMK hosted a virtual event called the Disneyland Ride-a-Thon. Virtual characters could ride through a series of virtual rooms designd after various Disney parks attractions. The room featured in this photo is the start of the ride, and designed after the Sleeping Beauty castle at Disneyland. The MYVMK staff are wearing the red Mickey Mouse ears and identifiable clothing. In phase 2 of VPLU, this can take on a similar form; VPLU student staff can wear identifiable clothing and lead various virtual events.
In another special event, users could join in a guest room queue event, and take turns sitting in one of the chairs, and spinning a number. The user who had the winning number received a prize.
Screenshot taken April 7, 2019.
MYVMK - The "Help" button is available on the toolbar and allows users to send a message to the MYVMK staff, indicating a concern. Before an alert is sent to the MYVMK staff, users must first fill out the following pieces of information.
Screenshot taken April 24, 2019
Virtual quests offer the user an opportunity to answer a series of questions and perform actions in a themed virtual activity, and win a virtual prize. One quest for the Virtual Magic Kingdom was called the "Disney Animation Quest." This quest was available at both Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, by visiting VMK Central. At Disneyland, VMK Central was located in the cinema on Main Street U.S.A,. In the Magic Kingdom, it was located at the Tomorrowland Hub. Disney fans could pick up a quest card containing the questions and multiple choice answers. Once the quest was complete, the user could take it back to VMK Central. Upon participating in this quest, VMK users could receive a virtual item prize.
This quest focused on Disney films and characters, to test the knowledge of Disney fans. Upon completion of the quest with correct answers, the prize was a virtual Animation Viewer which could be redeemed in VMK, and added a furniture item in the user's room.
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Here are a few questions from this quest:
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1) You can answer this if you try. Which of Ariel's friends can fly?
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Flounder
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Sebastian
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Scuttle
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Flotsam
2) Which movie answers this clue: It stars Nala, Timon, Pumbaa and Zazu.
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Tarzan
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Jungle Book
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Lion King
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Aladdin
3) Here's another question. Hope you're ready. Which movie stars two animals in love, sharing a plate of spaghetti?
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Lady & The Tramp
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The Lion King
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Oliver & Company
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The Rescuers
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this is from the MYVMK homepage.... showcases a daily event calendar and lists an event and description and time it is occuring in the game.
Virtual Family Kingdom:
Promotions:
To promote new Disney films, Disney park attractions or other themes in the world of Disney, the Virtual Magic Kingdom hosted various promotions. A promotion meant that new virtual prizes could be won, a new quest could be released. For example, in occasion of the attraction in Disney's California Adventure, "Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!", this was one promotion in VMK in Jan. 2006. For the promotion, a game was released for players to make their way through a maze of doors. The prize would be a pink door to serve as a teleporter from one room to the next.
In addition to guest rooms, each virtual game already offers public spaces for all users to visit, and can be accessed through the virtual map. Provided below are some styles which have been created by the gamemakers. these spaces can not be customized for users - simply to be visited.
The Virtual Family Kingdom is a virtual online world, designed with multiple lands inspired from historical periods, such as the Medieval Age, Western Age, and Colonial Age. There are also fantasy lands, such as a land where users can transform into a fairy. In addition to the rooms on the map, users can also design their own private rooms. Quests, special events, and holiday giveawways are a staple in VFK.
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The map on the Virtual Family Kingdom game allows users to navigate their virtual character across the map. Virtual characters walk to where they wish to visit, and once they step onto the title, they enter the room. this is opposed to simply clicking on the room. also, the tabs at the top of the screen, such as "Western Age" and "Retro Age", lead the user to explore other maps, which are themed for the area. it opens up into a whole another map.
Pins are also available in the Virtual Family Kingdom, showcased on the user's profile description box for user profile and pins. Screenshot from April 19, 2019
The "Daily Newsletter" is one of the features on the Virtual Family Kingdom. This pop-up box appears once the user logs in. This newsletter is provided daily, and emphasizes upcoming events in the game, and quests, scavenger hunts, and other activities.
Quests are a staple of VFK, offering users to learn about a specific topic. New quests are often available. These screenshots are from one of the quests about American Quilts.
Screenshots taken March 17, 2019
Left: On Buildabearville, users could visit the Coffee Shop. The users' character could sit down and even order a food or beverage item (left screenshot). A waiter would then take the character's order, and return with the item. The shop allowed for users to take a different "shift" and earn points.
Guest rooms
Left: This room is a model for one of the user rooms on Virtual Family Kingdom, titled "Sunlit Living." Screenshot taken April 7, 2019.
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Right: This photo features another user room model on Virtual Family Kingdom, titled "Country Garden Field." Screenshot taken April 7, 2019
Buildabearville:
Buildabearville was a promotion for the Build-a-Bear Workshop, which opened in 2007 and closed in 2015. Users could create a character, create a "cub condo" and make friends, chat, and play games. Even more, if a user purchased a furry friend from Build-a-Bear Workshop, they could enter the code from their shopping receipt, in which their animal could come to life in virtual form. Each virtual character could wear a virtual backpack around the virtual world, in which their furry friend would appear.
Maxine was the "Chief Executive Bear" who appeared in Buildabearville at random, surprising users with virtual prizes. Maxine the bear was the virtual presence for Maxine Clark, the founder of Build-a-Bear Workshop.
Photo from buildabearvilleblog.wordpress.com. Accessed April 19, 2019
Buildabearville users could often read through a virtual book to learn about topics, such as Earth Day. read a few pages of information with photos included. After this, users could take a short quiz and then be rewarded with a virtual prize. This is inspiring for VPLU; perhaps quizzes could be offered.
Photos from buildabearvilleblog.wordpress.com, accessed April 19, 2019
The "Chloe Rocks show" was a virtual show users could watch, in which Chloe (a mascot character for Buildabearville) would interview a certain individual who has made a positive impact in the world.
Millsberry:
Millsberry was an online game created by General Mills, to inspire the target audience of children to lead healthy life habits. On Millsberry, users could create their own character and house. Users could explore the various rooms throughout the map, such as the school, pet shop, clothing store, library, and entertainment complex. Milsberry offered an arcade with many games to earn credits to purchase items, and even gain virtual trophies. Millsberry was not a massively multiplayer online game, in which characters could navigate within the virtual rooms and chat with players. An illustrated page would appear (such as in the two screenshots below). ItMillsberry was filled with product placements for General Mills; for example, users could purchase virtual Lucky Charms cereal for their character at the Grocery Store (see below).
Left: The Grocery Store was where users could purchase virtual food products for their character- General Mills cereal included. Screenshot from the Millsberry Fandom, accessed April 19, 2019. To note, the places in Millsberry were not designed for the user's character can walk through - it simply appears as an illustration.
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Right: The Career Center allowed users to learn about various careers. Screenshot from the Millsberry Fandom, accessed April 19, 2019.
The "Millsberry Gazette" was the homepage for Millsberry users, which featured the latest news in the world of Millsberry
Photo from: researchgate.net/figure/Screen-capture-of-Millsberrycom_fig1_312701926
CAMPUS QUEST:
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One character in Campus Quest is called "Orientation Guy" (see screenshot above). Upon clicking on the character, a chat box comes up with predesignated phrases. Users select one of the responses, which will influence the response from the character. Throughout Campus Quest, there are also characters to interact with in "quests." For example, the user's "roomate" character expresses that they can't log into their student account, and their online assignment deadline is coming soon. In this quest, the user is tasked with finding the student services building to ask or help.
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Campus Quest is an educational and entertaining virtual opportunity. It does not function like other virtual experiences, in which users chat with other players, decorate rooms, go shopping, and explore all the virtual rooms. Rather, Campus Quest is a learning opportunity for college students.
Buildabearville special prize giveaway - virtual celebrity guest, designed to look like Lucas Grabeel. Buildabearville occasionally partnered with various celebrities to incorporate them into the game.
screenshot from buildabearville blog on wordpress, visited the site on April 19, 2019
Screenshots taken on April 15, 2019.
Second Life:
VIRTUAL WORLD FOR LEARNING:
As part of the Rutgers Division of Continuing Studies, there have been a few virtual online worlds created for students, in which they can role play in different scenerios tied to their current course of learning. For the Rutgers School of Social Work, a virtual online world has been created for students. According to the description, his virtual online world is designed as "A multiplayer online game for students to roleplay as therapists and patients in a therapist office simulation"
(onlinelearning.rutgers.edu/virtualworlds). It is inspiring to see how students could a virtual online world to test and experiment with the skills they have learned, in an environment which is both somewhat realistic and recognizable, but not concrete.
Virtual online world for the Rutgers School of Social Work. Site accessed April 21, 2019.
onlinelearning.rutgers.edu/virtualworlds
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Second Life is a virtual online world in which users can encounter countless virtual spaces called destinations) which are created by the users. Second life launched in 1999; creator Philip Rosedale said Second Life would not be a game, but "a new country” (Morgan, 548). All types of spaces exist in Second Life - from restaurants and coffee shops to museums and even virtual universities. With its socialization and learning potential, perhaps the platform for VPLU could be on Second Life.
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There are several educational opportunities through Second Life. For example, students can visit different countries in Second Life, communicate with others in a new type of communication, developing friendships, learn about different cultures, and solve problems (vrs.org.uk/virtual-reality-education/benefits-of-second-life.html). Matthew Trevett-Smith, who taught a class at St. Lawrence University, said that Second Life allowed his students to "experience other cultures without leaving the classroom let alone leaving the country. By virtually traveling to Second Life they can exercise the same skills needed to navigate a different culture as their more traditional study-abroad experience" (Trevett-Smith, 2010).​
A few styles of Second Life avatars. Screenshot taken May 11, 2019.
Some universities have even used Second Life to resemble their university and use it for virtual lectures, teaching, and even group projects. Second life can be used for students to meet and connect with other students, and even help students experiencing isolation and loneliness (vrs.org.uk/virtual-reality-education/second-life.html). Texas State University, for example, has created a virtual resemblance of the university. Some professors at the university have used second life for their teaching. The “Bobcat Village” offers students to visit areas including a virtual library, art galleries, and an auditorium used for classes and events (txstate.edu).
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Left: Bird's eye view of Texas State University on Second Life. Screenshot taken May 16, 2019.
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Right: Texas State University campus on Second Life. Screenshot taken May 10, 2019.
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Left: President's Office. Screenshot taken May 11, 2019.
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Right: Bobcat mascot standing near the entrance of the Old Main Building. Screenshot taken May 11, 2019.
Left: Bobcat Village Auditorium of Texas State University in Second Life. Screenshot taken May 10, 2019.
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Right: A Field School has been created for the university. In this screenshot, a professor (Dr. Brock Brown) gives a lecture for his geology class, using the voice chat tool and slides. Screenshot taken May 10, 2019.
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There are many other examples of Second Life and learning opportunities. In the virtual destination of Cypris Village, English language learners can practice their English (Chen, 2011). According to creator Mike McKay, people can actually speak with others; there are also tutoring sessions, and lessons (Chen, 2011). According to McKay, "you don't have to necessarily know someone to practice language skills, or go to another country to learn a language" (Chen, 41). After interviewing the users who visited Cypris Village, it was determined that students who took classes within Cypris Village learned English (Chen, 2011).​
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History professor Eric Morgan taught an online class through the University of South Florida in 2011, called “The Second World War: A Global History.” Morgan says that Second Life allows students to experience historical sites (when it isn't realistic to travel to the site itself). His class met virtually on the USF Ecampus in Second Life. Morgan led two “welcome sessions" and eventually, his students engaged in virtual discussions using voice chat. Morgan says Second Life is beneficial for students who experience shyness in speaking in front of others in a traditional classroom (Morgan, 2013). During the midterm of Morgan’s online course, his students took a survey about their experience with Second Life. Seventy-six percent of students agreed (either indicating "strongly agree" or "agreed") that "the virtual discussions in Second Life have been a meaningful way of learning and interacting with classmates and the instructor" (Morgan, 552).
Other destinations in Second Life:
Left: A virtual library space on Second Life. With all the different places users can visit, Second Life can allow individuals to engage in an immersive environment to practice problem-solving, and Second Life could also be used for tutoring in areas such as math (Burges & Caverly).
Screenshot taken May 3, 2019.
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Right: Second Life also offers virtual spaces for users to support one another. For example, nursing students can visit "Nightingale Isle". The destination described as a space which "fosters collaboration, research and education between nursing students, educators and healthcare professional"
Screenshot from: secondlife.com/destination/nightingale-isle
"Virtual Mental Health in Second Life offers free resources on mental health, relationships and wellness. Beginning in 2005, SL resident (RL licensed psychotherapist and educator) Avalon Birke and her team have worked to create an inworld space where individuals and groups can find genuine support."
From: secondlife.com/destination/virtual-mental-health. accessed april 21, 2019
Art galleries are other destinations on Second Life, such as the gallery called "Fractal Insanity". According to the description, visitors can "explore this exhibit featuring original fractal and fractal-based digital abstracts and neural art by Milly Sharple. The gallery is updated regularly and there is always something new to see"
Theatres are also destinations on Second Life - such as the Rose Theatre. According to the description: "Themed as a modern day aristocratic palace, we welcome people into this twelve sim grand estate that celebrates the creativity, artistry & skills of all people."
Screenshot taken May 15, 2019
In Second Life, it's also possible to listen to a radio broadcast. This screenshot represents the Classic Hits 109 Radio Station, which visitors can hear once they enter the virtual space. Not only can visitors listen to the music, but they can interact with the virtual studio:
"Classic Hits 109 Radio Station playing great country hits/. Stroll down a musical memory lane & listen to songs from the days gone by and some newer ones. Tune us in at http://listen.classichits109.com:6986."