March 25, 2004

Avatar


There was a really interesting article in the Wall Street Journal (for which I can't provide a link because I don't subscribe online) about Avatars. It appeared in Monday's paper, page R4. The point of the article is that online virtual alter egos are big business in Korea, where 3.6 million Koreans shop for everything from cosmetic surgery to clothing for their avatars. The passage that was most fascinating to me follows:

"These colorful avatars are proving to be a popular method of escapism and self-expression. Office drones who long for the slopes have their avatars merrily skiing down digital Matterhorns. Skinny youths who want to project a tough image might purchase stubble and scowling eyes for their online selves. Others might head in the opposite direction, to a virtual beauty shop where you can purchase a tan, blue eyes or a perm for less than a dollar."

The article goes on to say that the expansion of the personal avatar business is dependent on growing and maintaining online communities that are culture specific. There is quite a bit of growth also in the branded "products" available to these avatars like Levi Jeans and Nike sportswear that not only provide the avatar with chic clothing but enhance their performance in the gaming world.

Finally, and also very interesting to me, is that the products available for the avatar are time/season/current event specific. During the Sars outbreak, one could buy a mask for their avatar - so it wouldn't catch a virus? The line between the real and the virtual is really blurry.

I'll bring the article on Wednesday if anyone wants to see it.


Posted by beth at March 25, 2004 03:10 PM
Comments

I'm thinking maybe I could sell parts of *myself* to avid avatar-heads. Anybody want part of a shaved-head, zen, gandhian, novelist, web designer, dulcimer-playing, queer, hippie, academic?

Egad, this sounds like a personals ad. Signing off...

Seriously, interesting stuff. Thanks for posting it, Beth.

Posted by: Joseph Byrne at March 29, 2004 12:51 PM

Dear Joseph,

I could use a bicep and a femur for a creature I'm building^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^Hclass project.

As long as it doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

(Beth, do bring the article... I'm fascinated with the whole avatar-building phenomenon.)

Posted by: Jess at March 29, 2004 02:24 PM