Geek Top Sites

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be another person (and let’s be honest, who hasn’t), virtual world online games are the perfect opportunity. How would people react to you if you were a different gender, or if you were tall instead of short? Even beyond physical appearance, players can create entirely new personalities and show them off to the world. If you’re interested in joining such a world, there are plenty of options. Unlike games on social networking sites, which we’ve already discussed, all of these sites run on their own engine, although some incorporate social networking features like chat and browsing.Second Life is a well-known online world that has also become one of the most popular. In January 2008, players spent more then 28 million hours logged in, creating businesses, putting on performances, and simply chatting with other “residents.” Second Life has become popular as a teaching platform for colleges and universities, and religious website Islam Online purchased land to let Muslims and non-Muslims practice the ritual of Hajj.Kaneva is another growing choice for online geeks. Originally founded by an Atlanta start-up company, Kaneva differs from Second Life in that it urges people to use their real names and locations. This won’t keep you from creating a buff bodybuilder, of course, but it does encourage social networking to extend outside of the game world. You can chat with people from around the world and meet new pen-pals as long as you’re outgoing enough.Gaia Online is one of the most cartoony options, with an art style based on Japanese anime. The game combines chatting, collecting, and celebrating real world events like Christmas with in-game plots. Players are also encouraged to share their art and creative writing, where players can vote on each other’s works and award prizes.