Active Worlds

October 28, 2024

My Journey Through Online Communities: Active Worlds and EVE Online

Today, I want to share about some of the online communities I’ve been part of throughout my life. There have been quite a few, but two stand out as my homes on the net.

First, there’s Active Worlds, or AW as most of us call it. It’s a 3D sandbox where you can build cities and worlds, and socialize with others. Active Worlds has been around since about 1995, providing a virtual space for creativity and connection. In Active Worlds, I go by the name Dovestar. I’ve built a few cities and created around seven different worlds. For quite a few years, I also hosted parties within the AW universe with a live DJ. Over the years, I’ve made many friends in Active Worlds. Sadly, I’ve lost some to death and others have left AW for various reasons. Like any community, it has had its drama, but in the long run, it has been a pleasure being part of that community for 28 years of my life so far.

EVE Online

The other is EVE Online, a space-based game that I believe has been around since about 2007. EVE offers a vast array of activities, from industry and mining to PvE and PvP battles. You can join or create Corporations and Alliances, making it a complex and often dramatic online community, much like any other. In EVE Online, my main character is named Nomad Ratsevod. I’ve made a lot of friends through the corporations and the alliance I’m part of. The game has its fair share of drama, but considering it includes pirate-like mentalities and warfare, it’s expected. You gain allies and enemies within the game, sometimes just to be content for another alliance or corporation, and individual players too.

So far, I am proud to be a part of both these communities and enjoy the gameplay along with the socialization within both. If you find yourself in either of these games, feel free to add me as a friend and send me a message.

Active Worlds : https://www.activewords.com

Eve Online: https://www.eveonline.com/

March 2, 2023

Online Families, Real and Important

In this modern age, the old practice of writing letters between penpals has pretty much faded into the anals of history. Now it is all social media, online communities, email, and chat programs. Sometimes you get lucky and find yourself extended family online, and if you are really lucky you will find someone who is like a real family member. Just because you never meet physically does not mean the friendship you built is any less valid or important to you.

I have been fortunate enough to be a part of one such family, I belong to a community on a 3d environment platform called Activeworlds (www.activeworlds.com) and have been building 3d cities and worlds for decades along side some of the most unique individuals I have ever known. Sure the community is like a somewhat dysfunctional family at times but I love everyone there. Even those who probably do not like me very much.

Just like in real life, I have lost quite a few people who were like real family to me, most of them to death a few to circumstances or they just moved on for one reason or another. Each one of them as they left our community took a piece of me and the community with them. Currently, I am praying for a few of those people in Activeworlds that are dealing with some medical issues of their own. I also worry over one or two that decided to either leave the community or just decided to no longer communicate with me.

The point is, does not matter if it is online, or if its in real life. Friends are friends, and they all mean something to your heart and soul. Just don’t forget those friends online are real people and need your support and deserve respect as well. Cherrish them for there is no guarantee of how long any of us are here on this shiny blue marble we call home. That really goes for both online and real-life people, life is short so forgive, forget and embrace those in your life that you have been blessed with to have as family and friends.

Be good to one another, rememebr to be kind and respectful.

Ray Barbier

September 12, 2015

Thanks To all you Dedicated Active World Citizens!

Active worlds Turned 20 years old this year, Aw is more than just a 3D Environment or Chat program. It is a community, a family of sorts. Though sometimes that family can be a tad dysfunctional, usually when they work together they can do some very amazing things. AW has many worlds to offer and each world is unique in their theme and building styles. Though the technology that is used within AW is older than some of the other 3D environments the capabilities is still quite amazing. The AW 3D engine is the same as the one used in the older Grand Theft Auto Games, The flexibility and capabilities of the 3d engine has yet to be fully utilized.

Many of the citizens of Active Worlds dedicate many volunteered hours to improve and / or promote Active worlds. Some even host blogs, websites and even a few Internet Radio Stations that promote AW in one form or another. I am amazed at some of the wonderful builds that citizens make, some builds really push the limits of the Active Worlds platform, others defy any kind of logic but in the end all of them are quite amazing. This Post is for all of you Citizens that put so many hours into making Active Worlds a better place, be it via building, instructing, helping new citizens or just being a friendly person to chat with. There are many of us who are thankful for your many hours, days , months and even years of dedication to Active Worlds and its community.

The More you Give to Active Worlds the More you Get out of it!

Build, Be Friendly, Be Helpful and Volunteer if you can to one of the organizations and projects going on in Active Worlds. Don’t be scared to be a part of something as wonderful as our great community within Active Worlds.

Ray Barbier A.K.A. Dovestar.

Thanks To all you Dedicated Active World Citizens! was originally published on RJB Networks