virtual world
Sign in to saveAlso known as MMOW, massively multiplayer online world, virtual space, virtual universe, virtual environment
computer-based simulated environment populated by many users who can create a personal avatar, and simultaneously and independently explore the virtual world, participate in its activities and communicate with others
~40 min read
Encyclopedic overview
Users exploring the world with their avatars in Second Life
A virtual world (also called a virtual space or spaces) is a computer-simulated environment which may be populated by many simultaneous users who can create a personal avatar and independently explore the virtual world, participate in its activities, and communicate with others. These avatars can be textual, graphical representations, or live video avatars with auditory and touch sensations. Virtual worlds are closely related to mirror worlds.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “virtual world” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.