How to Design a Virtual World

Create a Virtual World to Connect People Together.

Virtual worlds allow users to interact with players all over the earth via chatting, competing, and collaborating. Some players actually live an entire alternate life in their virtual worlds. However, there are many educational and business applications for virtual worlds as well. You can create your own virtual world for yourself and others after identifying the specific goals you want to accomplish.

Instructions

1. Decide on the purpose of your virtual world. Some people join online virtual worlds to develop business relationships, others play just to interact with people, and still others seek out a role-playing experience. These different worlds you can create all require different kinds of objectives. Also think about how realistic you want your world to be. Many players enjoy worlds based on pure fantasy. The purpose of the world should be relevant to the intended audience.

2. Make it a big world. A big, expansive world where players can have new experiences all the time is a necessity for keeping everybody interested in the game. Give players a seemingly opportunity for action. Users want to feel they are in control and not just following the game's cookie-cutter story.

   You can deepen the virtual world by implementing rewarding games or by giving players ideas for creative ways to live in the world. Constantly adding to the material -- and also letting other players add to it -- will help to enrich the virtual world.

3. Create a series of goals to guide players along the game. Make sure not to make the goals too narrow. Players want to experiment inside your virtual world, but ultimately they do need to find some kind of a purpose in their wanderings. You will want to build a world that is highly goal-oriented while still offering something unique for many different types of players.

4. Give players ownership in the game. Allow the players to design their own buildings or artifacts. If players feel a sense of responsibility, they will get more enjoyment out of the experience. Give them tools so they can build their own objects and experiences.

Tips & Warnings

• Read Richard Bartle's book "Designing Virtual Worlds." Bartle is the authority on the design of virtual worlds. His book is used in college courses to teach virtual design.

References

• Ralph Koster's Website: The Laws of Online World Design

Resources

• Designing Virtual Worlds
• Netiquette Guide
• Virtual Worlds: No Interface to Design