In the 1990s, American science fiction writer Neal Stephenson introduced the term “metaverse” in Snow Crash magazine. Little did he know that this concept would become what it is today. As technology advanced, metaverses like Decentraland and The Sandbox bridged the gap between the real and digital worlds, opening up countless possibilities.
According to Statista, the metaverse industry is projected to reach a staggering $507.8 billion by 2023, growing at an annual rate of 37.73% between 2024 and 2023. To enter the metaverse and immerse themselves in a virtual world, users must create avatars that represent them, allowing them to play games, shop, and interact with others.
What is the metaverse and the role of avatars?
The metaverse is a digital space that connects the internet, augmented reality, virtual worlds, and blockchains to create immersive experiences and interactions through avatars. These avatars, just like humans, can communicate with digital objects and each other. The metaverse is evolving into a dynamic network that blurs the lines between reality and the virtual world.
The idea of digital avatars has been around since the 1980s when they gained popularity in video games like Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar. Avatars allow players to fully immerse themselves in virtual worlds and experience the game as if it were real. They can access the metaverse through virtual reality headsets, PCs, laptops, and smartphones.
Types of metaverse avatars
Users have the option to choose from various types of avatars based on their preferences. Here are some of the avatars available:
1. Full-body VR avatars: These avatars provide a complete digital representation of a person, capturing their body movements through sensors and replicating them in virtual spaces. This offers a greater sense of immersion in the metaverse.
2. VR avatars: These avatars are used in virtual reality systems and don’t provide a visual depiction. Instead, they allow users to experience the virtual world in a “first-person” sense.
3. 2D and 3D avatars: 2D avatars are simple cartoon-like representations confined to 2D environments. On the other hand, 3D avatars offer customization options for elements such as skin tone, body form, and hair, providing a realistic multi-angle view of the character.
4. Humanoid avatars: These avatars resemble real humans and can even mimic the user’s exact appearance. They create a sense of familiarity and facilitate seamless integration between the virtual and physical worlds.
How to create a metaverse avatar
Creating a metaverse avatar may seem daunting, but the process is relatively straightforward. Here’s a general guide to creating a metaverse avatar:
1. Choose a metaverse or an avatar creation application: All metaverses offer the option to create an avatar to enter the digital realm. Alternatively, users can choose an external avatar creation app, downloadable via Google Play or the Apple Store, to create personalized digital avatars that can be used across multiple platforms.
2. Create the avatar: The system, whether on a metaverse or an avatar app, will typically ask for the user’s gender to choose an appropriate style for the avatar. Users can also add an image if they want the software to create an avatar that resembles their face. Most apps provide a selection of premade avatars to choose from.
3. Customize the avatar: Users can customize various features of their avatar, such as hair color, eye size, nose shape, lip shape, and other attributes, to reflect their preferences. A well-crafted avatar can enhance interactions in the metaverse.
Creating a custom avatar on Decentraland
Decentraland is a metaverse that allows users to explore a dynamic 3D universe and create their own avatars. Follow these steps to create a custom avatar on Decentraland:
Step 1: Log in to Decentraland and input the required details in the window. Depending on availability, the platform may accept or reject the username. If accepted, the user must input their email ID to create an avatar.
Step 2: After completing the process, Decentraland will take the user to the next page. They need to mint a name ID by clicking on “Claim your name” to assign a name to their avatar.
Step 3: At this stage, the user needs to purchase the Decentraland (MANA) token. Click on “Buy MANA” at the top right side of the screen to trigger a mint executed by a smart contract. MANA can be purchased using fiat currency or other digital currencies.
Step 4: Choose an avatar from the available options and customize its look based on body, face, hair, clothing, shoes, accessories, and skin tone.
The avatar is now ready to be used in Decentraland for gameplay and other activities.
Cross-platform avatars
Creating an avatar on every metaverse platform can be cumbersome and costly. Thankfully, some apps offer platform-agnostic solutions, allowing users to create an avatar and use it on any platform they visit. Users can update their avatar’s appearance to suit different environments by changing clothes, hairstyles, or accessories.
To use these services, users typically need to create an account using connected services like Google, Microsoft, or Slack. Alternatively, they can create an account using their email address. Afterward, the system will prompt them to create an avatar. Some apps even use artificial intelligence to create photorealistic 3D avatars from selfie photos.
The future of avatars
Experts predict that the popularity of the metaverse will continue to rise in the coming years. Pew Research Center reports that 54% of technology experts expect the metaverse to offer immersive experiences by 2040. To achieve this, customized and engaging avatars representing users themselves will play a crucial role.
Thanks to evolving technologies, avatar creation has become more accessible and personalized. Users can now create avatars that closely resemble them with just a few clicks or taps. As apps continue to develop and new innovations emerge, avatars will make the virtual world even more realistic and engaging.