KidConfidence: IMVU - video game review for parents and kids

KidConfidence Rating: good

7/10

Gameplay

N/A

Multiplayer

N/A

Replay Value

N/A

Educational Value

N/A

Members' Ratings:

Members who recommended this

258/320

Number of members who emailed this

Number of members who bookmarked this

Game Review:

IMVU is a graphical instant messaging client, with social networking features such as blogs, personalized profile pages, friends and comments.

IMVU’s primary focus and “main attraction” is the ability to create high quality 3D avatars and environments that can be used to interact with other people while chatting. The program allows users to import their existing contacts from other IM clients. However, IMVU also offers a chat match option, which pairs the user with a random IMVU member (read: stranger).

Combined with sexy outfits and the ability to have avatars perform physical actions, ranging from handshake, dance to French-kiss, it is no surprise that the name of the game is flirting.

IMVU does try to keep under 13’s off the site – but of course it’s just as easy for a child to add a couple of years onto their age from the drop-down menu, as it is for a pedophile to knock a few years of theirs. And like other social sites; players can never be really sure if the person they talk to is truly who they let you believe they are.”

IMVU contains its own economy with a currency system based on IMVU credits. The credits are used by members to purchase virtual items like fashion pieces (hair, clothes, skins, furniture and accessories), pets, and 3D scenes. Credits can be purchased via a variety of payment methods, both through IMVU and third-party resellers. Additionally, IMVU provides free promotional credits to encourage member participation and referrals.
A primary element of IMVU’s economy is member-created content; consequently, IMVU allows members to participate in the Content Creator Program. Members can use IMVU provided software utilities to create virtual products, and can sell their products by listing them in the online IMVU product catalog. Content creators earn credits when their items are sold and are allowed to resell the credits they earn.

Basic Membership is free, allowing users to register an avatar name, utilize the 3D chat client, purchase virtual content, and customize a homepage. Free accounts are denoted by the prefix ‘Guest_’. Users can purchase their avatar name to remove the ‘Guest_’ prefix, and to participate in the content creation program. To buy an account name, the base price is $8.00; promotional credits cannot be used to buy a name. Access to restricted material is limited to accounts that have purchased an Access Pass.

Bottom Line,
From a technical perspective IMVU is great – From a parent perspective IMVU is a nightmare. We suggest keeping kids under the age of 17 away from this site. Late teens and young adults, however, may enjoy the immersive and at times risqué chatting experience.

The client must be downloaded and is currently only available for PC’s running Windows.

LSF

Mar 2, 12:04 AM

IMVU actually is NOT a teen friendly site as many people have said it to be. It is full of violent content accessible to ” Guest ” Accounts and minors, its contains copyright violating music – thanks to a number 3rd Party Developers who have chosen to violate the Virtual Goods Content Policy. It is also full of teenagers that are trading their ” online ” selves for free gifts, credits, etc. I suggest ANY parent who knows that their child is using this site to do some fact gathering. Simply search on Google for links regarding IMVU and you will find a number of sordid details. I could go on and on about IMVU – but consider this a quickie note.

Lord Tristan
Ex-APC Member ( IMVU Adult User Council )
CCI Staff Member ( Off-Site Forum )

Vosur

Mar 2, 03:50 AM

If you want proof of the “parental nightmare” that is explained in the Game Review of IMVU… below is a link to where IMVU’s safety for children is placed into details.

http://www.blogsafety.com/thread.jspa?forumID=1100000006&threadID=1100000166

IMVUexile

Mar 2, 11:08 AM

IMVU is definatly NOT SAFE for kids to be on. the group public rooms can and are created by anyone, even guest users who put HIGHLY inappropriate things in their public group. about s*x, wanting a younger person to be their doll ect. not safe at all.

Arwyn

Dec 19, 05:21 PM

Though IMVU isn’t at all for the younger crowd, those 16-17+ may enjoy it. I think that people do go a little too crazy in criticizing it for the sexualized content, as there is no open nudity in non-AP (Access Pass, their way of controlling and restricting adult content) areas. The staff is a bit apathetic and rarely intervenes unless they get a lot of complaints. They do remove sexual content and refund those who bought it if they get enough complaints.

If you’re concerned about your kids meeting someone, or think that they’re at risk of doing something stupid like giving away their information, I’d say to not let your kids use the site. But if you feel your older teen is mature and able to handle themselves, they might be safe, and you could find a good discussion about online safety and why it’s so important to your kids using this site as an example.

The graphical interface is beautiful, and the content creators here are very talented, making nice outfits, rooms, and furniture. It is, unfortunately, a money drain, and a person has to be careful about their spending on it. Too, it can be laggy on older computers.

It’s not the most teen-friendly site, but it’s better to find your child here than to find them using, say, the Adult areas of Second Life. If you allow your older teens to use this, set up a profile for yourself, and keep an eye on what they do. You won’t be able to talk to them, because those under 18 and over 18 are vaguely separated, but you can watch their friends list and outfits.

Usability: 6/10
Graphics: 8/10
Kid-Friendliness: 3/10
Overall: 6/10

Online enabled games are updated frequently and may include user-generated content. KidConfidence reviewed IMVU on Feb 1, 11:12 AM. Your experience may vary if played at a later date. For news visit our Blog.