World of Warcraft is a popular avatar game.
Avatars are graphic images that can represent you on the Internet highway. You can use them to accompany your email messages, or for forum postings. In this case, a static image of yourself, or a favorite object or cartoon artwork works as an avatar. However, if you want your creation to grab attention, or to use it to interact with others in online virtual worlds, it must incorporate movement. You have several online options for creating moving avatars.
Instructions
1. Browse Meez, through which you can create cartoon-like avatars with movement and backgrounds. You start with one of a dozen avatars (six per gender) before needing to register to continue. You then buy avatar options through the use of Coinz, which is the game money that you earn by completing certain tasks or winning games, or through buying with real American dollars. You interactively make such selections as hairstyles, costumes or body type on the right side of the site window, and then see your choices instantly reflected on the avatar image on the left side. You can then export your avatar as an animated picture that you can include in your emails, or as a direct upload to Facebook or Twitter. You can also fully control your avatar's movements when chatting in the virtual Meez world.
2. Join a virtual world like Second Life, if you want more realistic creations. You can control each aspect of your avatar's appearance, such as arm length, or eye slant. However, your avatar can only exist in this world. You import animation and picture files from outside the game, or use ones that other players have created. The world has its own programming and shape-building tools. You can thus design things like pets, furniture, vehicles and robots, and have them move and interact with the world. As with other virtual worlds, you can buy and sell your creations to other players. However, unlike other games, you can actually convert your earnings into real American money, thus allowing you to profit from your efforts. The world is free, though you'll need to pay for a subscription if you want to own land. This land affords you a permanent presence on which you can build a home or operate a store.
3. Enjoy a multi-player game such as World of Warcraft, if Second Life is too open-ended, and you want a goal for your avatar to exist. Your creation journeys through a virtual fantasy world where you can join guilds, fight monsters and battle against other avatars. Your choices are limited to predefined races, appearances, classes (such as wizards, rogues or warriors) and professions (such as engineer or jeweler). However, your animations achieve goals such as slaying monsters or opening doors. The game requires a monthly subscription, plus a one-time fee on the game program itself. A free trial is available from the website.
