General Discussion

I used to play an MMORPG until they stopped been free. It is the same thing you are talking about only people instead of just walking around are playing in a massive multiplayer game to make friends/ enemies and to rise up in the society (of course you can just walk around like 23 huge worlds (maps) and do nothing, or chile inside your apartment or a penthouse (if you have enough money) with you friends), it is very fun to play once you know what you are doing, but it is not easy. There is a lot of gun action, body guards are wanted. Go ahead check it out:http://www.fomportal.com/

I wish I had time and money to play it :(

I remember those, there were also some 2D virtual chat areas like Palace, with rooms and stuff like that.

I think it will never actually get to work because as just a chat room there is actually nothing much to do. I remember I browsed some of them and got bored and went back to IRC or something.

You will find out that now there is quite common for people to use 3D MMORPG to chat and, as they get bored, do something in the virtual world, than using any 3D chat only system. I used to play Ragnarok and 90% of the time I were with friends chatting AND doing something in the game. There are prople who just go and chat, then play a little.

You have to give them a reason to use something extra than a simple-to-use text system like IRC or foruns or it will not prevail, what's the fun on having like a whole 3D world just for chat? explore the world? there, we have a reason ... add stuff on the world, quests, things to do, the chat is now becoming a game see? if you want just to idle around somewhere and chat you can, and when you get bored (and you do), you can go do stuff with your friends. In IRC you just idle and ALT+TAB, in foruns you go browse somewhere else, in 3D chat systems (w/o other things to do) ... you close it lol

And after a few logins you delete it xD

Yep, they certainly do exist in the form of MMORPGS as people have stated. I think there are pros and cons to this kind of system though. It is good because people have to pay for this service, meaning that there will always be people required to fix bugs in a timely manner, and to release new content. This kind of stuff costs money to fix, and a subscription service sees to it that those benefitting from the work are deserving. The downside (with your focus in mind) is that the bulk of the people in that kind of 3d community will be there for the mass appeal of the game, such as getting phat lewts or player killing other pcs, etc.

I have never played the Sims online, only role playing games that involve killing stuff, leveling up and getting different equipment. But I'd imagine that kind of community to be the most like a RL online community. You can't even imagine the amount of women that play the Sims. I played the single player version on my sister's computer, and got really into it, due to all the player made mods for building and customizing houses. A lot of the modders are women, who create amazing things for it. (not just clothes, lipstick and other girlie things, but also fences, hottubs, terrain, walls, and other construction type stuff) That leads me to believe that you would find a more gender-balanced world in an online Sims game. (unlike most RPGS where you meet one woman out of every 30 players)

Anyways, I play my MMORPGs to kill stuff and to play characters and do things that I can't do in RL, but if a close-to-life 3D environment is what you are seeking, I'd look to the Sims online.

MMORPGs right now are just huge virtual communities. You make a character, go into that world and do whatever the game has to offer in order to make a living in that game. There're plenty of flash-based MMORPGs in addition to fullsize MMORPGs like World of Warcraft and Ragnarok Online, so our technology's already at this level.

There's also games like Second Life (which I probably won't play due to its realistic nature =p), and that game has millions of players, so I'd say that online communities are definitely very popular.

Online forums/message boards are also huge communities, places like AnimePaper are as well.

I prefer a real life. I play WoW, but that's different. i kill mobs and go to dungeons. games like sim city is not for me. being into virtual life to much will make you feel empty in the real life.

I reckon they're already too popular. Most of my school plays or has played MMORPGs like Runescape and many play on a regular basis. A lot of people go on Habbo Hotel and hardcore gamers play World of Warcraft. I reckon people are spending too much time on virtual communities like those. (hypocrite) It's still fun and addictive though... >w<

I think that's what I was trying to touch upon when mentioning the Sims online. I have only played the single player, but I know that it is very much modeled after the real world, working, clubbing, finding a place to live, social mobility, with a large element being talking to other sims. Anyways, this is the closest example I can think to match the model you speak of. Check out the official website, you could be inclined to agree.