Designing my virtual identity/avatarMy chosen virtual world is Toontown. The name of my avatar is Miss Dee Dee Twinkletoes. My avatar’s virtual identity is in the form of a dark purple dog with floppy ears, white gloves, a green shirt with stripes, and green shorts. My avatar is very joyful and happy, and isn’t mean or rude to any of the other avatars. She never denies a friend request and always chats with avatars that approach her. However, she is a strong competitor in games and challenges. Her goal is to defeat all the cogs in ToonTown, but her real dream is to be an actor. When she obtains more jellybeans, she’ll probably pay for acting lessons. She’s a pretty fast runner and she’s not afraid of heights. She’s somewhat of a tomboy, but has a passionate approach to life. She grew up in a loving happy family of dogs and has a great sense of humor.
In Toontown, I couldn’t really find an event schedule that had social events listed. However, the playground is where all the avatars meet and can chat with one another. Therefore, I felt that the playground was like a community social gathering. I entered the playground where there were about 20 avatars. Some avatars were walking or running, others were fishing, some were chatting/instant messaging, and others were looking through the schticker book that all players receive. Since my second ToonTask was to ride the trolley, I went there first and played a few games to earn jellybeans and points. When I went back into the playground, there were over 30 avatars online. I started requesting friends, almost everyone I asked accepted my friendship. Then I began chatting with a few other avatars. Many of the avatars were friendly, but some wouldn’t respond or would just run away. I started fishing for a while, but there was a long line and didn’t want anyone to complain so I stopped fishing to chat more. I have never been a member of a virtual world, so having this type of experience to chat with other people through avatars was very interesting. Even though you have no idea who the other person really is, it doesn’t matter because you’re in character.
Research design questions1.Identify 3 components in the interface or world provide you with TEXT-based information. How are they designed and how do you interact with them?
One component in the interface that has text-based info is the schticker book. The schticker book is a little green book icon with a question mark on it in the bottom right corner of the interface. You interact with it by clicking on it and turning the pages. The schticker book includes options, districts, maps, gags, ToonTasks, gag track training, cog gallery, fish bucket, albums, trophies, calendars, hosting and invitations. Another component in the interface that is text-based is the friend icon. The friend icon is a green small circle with three characters in the center. When you click on the circle, it shows your online toon friends and all toon friends while giving you various options to do with your friends. The third component that is text-based is the ToonNews icon which is also in the interface. Its right next to the friend circle, but this one is red and has a centered picture of a typewriter. When you click on the red circle it shows the Toon Newspaper which contains large amounts of text.
2. Identify 3 components in the interface or world provide you with NON-TEXT-based information. How are they designed and how do you interact with them?
One component in the interface that provides non-text-based info is the laff meter. The laff meter is in the bottom left of the interface and it provides no text. It’s designed as a small smiling head that’s the same color as the avatar. You interact with it by adding or losing laffs, this is a significant item for the toons because laughter is a big part of their existence. Another component that provides non-text-based info in this world is the fishing pond. There are no signs posted that state fishing is at that location, but they do have about four small decks for avatars to stand on and cast their poles. You start by standing on the deck and your fishing pole pops out, and then you click the cast button while swinging it back. The third component in the world that is non-text-based is some of the houses in the neighborhood that my avatar lives in. You are able to enter the homes but they are empty inside with no text or images anywhere. They are designed like my house but with only carpet inside.
3. Give 3 examples of how color, shape, contrast, position, motion, or sound function in the world or interface design?
In ToonTown, sound functions in the world by making you aware of who is talking. All the sounds in this world are animal noises and robot mumbling. Motion functions in this world by advancing you in the game and interacting with other avatars. For example, when you motion towards another avatar, it shows that you either want to have a conversation or be their friend. Color functions in this world by showing you when the cogs are near and where they have changed environments. The toon buildings are bright and colorful, whereas the cog buildings are dark and gruesome.
4. How are various tasks and goals communicated to you at the start? How does this evolve as you gain more experience? Name a few ways that you are encouraged to complete tasks and attain goals.
Tutorial Tom helps in the beginning by telling you how to move, how to attack cogs, and gives you prank items to defend yourself with. This evolves the experience of the avatar by helping you defeat cogs and gain points. Encouragement to complete tasks and attain goals comes from the Head Quarters officers and also the rewards of jellybeans and points. 
5. Which features of your selected world contribute to an immersive feeling (like you are really there) (reading: HOH-Immersion) and which features break it?
In ToonTown, one aspect that makes me have an immersive feeling is when I’m chatting with other avatars. I start to phase out all the colors and background motion and just focus on the conversation which makes me feel like I’m really in the game and seeing the world through my avatar’s eyes. Like in the reading, it’s true that my words through the keyboard feel like they’re processing as fast as I’m thinking them. The only feature that breaks that feeling is the animal noises and clicking sounds.
6. Attempt to socialize with other avatars. Describe the basics of what you did and the results. What were the limitations you experienced?
While attempting to socialize with other avatars, I first found that I only had speedchat. Speedchat is pre-defined list of words and phrases you can choose from to say. I experienced a lot of limitations with this type of chatting because it took me a while to find responses to what the avatars were asking or stating. So I went back to my account management to open my chatting options. Now I can type in my responses and questions without looking through a list, there are no limitations to this type of socializing.
7. What is the basis of the economy of your selected world? Give some concrete examples of ways your avatar participates in that economy.
In ToonTown, the basis of economy is jellybeans. The use of jellybeans is like money in reality. My avatar collects jellybeans by participating in trolley games and uses those jellybeans to buy housing supplies, clothing, lessons, and prank objects to defeat cogs.
8. Identify your favorite in-world activity and why it was your favorite.
My favorite in-world activity is the trolley games because there are always different challenges. Sometimes you have individual challenges and sometimes it’s teamwork that helps you win. Sometimes my avatar has to work as a team with other avatars to complete a challenge to receive more jellybeans. The games are not too hard, but they are pretty entertaining.
9. How do in-world objects tell you how to operate them and/or aid in that operation?
The avatar first learns how to use their in-world object when they receive it from Tutorial Tom or a Head Quarters officer. However after that, the in-world objects tell you how to operate them by sliding the mouse over the object and a little box pops out with instructions. Some objects you need to click on to make work.
10. Identify 1 aspect of your selected world that relates directly to the HOH-Agency Chapter and explain how.
One aspect of ToonTown that relates directly with the Agency Chapter of HOH is the pleasure of navigation. In ToonTown, your main purpose is to move through different virtual lands and experience different avatars and environments. The users of ToonTown find pleasure and enjoyment in navigating through different places and obstacles of this world.
No comments:
Post a Comment