IMVU Review - A 3D Chat Program

IMVU is a program that lets you create a 3D avatar, and then chat with people in little 3D worlds. Your words appear over your head in little speech bubbles. The 3D environment makes you feel like you are having a real conversation. Your 3D avatar can be customized allowing for a wide range of self expression. Other users create most of the content, such as clothes and accessories for your avatar, so there are a wide variety of choices. Each account gives you a profile page, giving you another outlet for expression.

Another impressive feature is the "Chat Now" button. If none of your friends are online, you can be randomly matched up with a random person online. This is a fun way to meet new people. There are often free and easy ways to earn credits to buy more things to personalize your avatar. The wide variety of rooms are loads of fun. Why chat in a coffee shop when you can chat on a flying carpet?

However, there are some disadvantages. The program requires a lot of bandwidth, because of all the graphical information going down your wire. If you have a slow internet connection, or are used to multitasking, beware. Once you take advantages of all the free credits available (of which there are only one or two thousand) then all additional credits must be paid for. Also, free credits are limited in their use. You cannot give them to other avatars, or use them to buy gifts for other avatars.

The "Chat Now" feature, while being one of the highlights of the program, has some disadvantages. However, these disadvantages are rooted more in the attitudes of the people on the program than, in any technical drawbacks. You may experience none of these difficulties. In my experience, many people would leave the Chat, just seconds after "Chat Now" matched them with me. This seemed exceedingly rude, especially because they had to accept the chat before I even was linked up with them. I have also had many people get offended when I didn't answer the popular "asl?" (age/sex/location) query, even when that information was on my profile. As you can see, though "Chat Now" can match you up with some very interesting people, but there is always the possibility of mean or stupid ones.

Overall I would definitely recommend this program. The Chat Now feature is amazing, and I would love it, if other instant messaging clients would do the same thing. Though you have to buy credits it is possible to get a full experience out of this program, without spending any money. If you like to chat, and like to express yourself, than this is the program for you.