Most of us have an alter-ego waiting to burst out, and now it can - on the internet, in virtual worlds that are springing up to suit every need and desire. Ian Douglas explores a universe of online possibilities
I couldn't wrap my nephew's birthday present last year. There was no box or batteries to be included because what I'd bought him was the ability to go online, pretend to be a penguin and talk to his friends.
Thin, tall and beautiful: this must be Second Life
A year's membership to Club Penguin, the icy virtual world for children aged six to 14, is less and less of an unusual gift. There are more than 700,000 members, all of whom pay from $60 (£29) a year.
For their money they get games, clubs, the possibility of earning "coins" through competitions and work, which can be traded in for objects in the game or in the real world. They can build their own igloo and fill it with objects they've collected, assemble a wardrobe of penguin clothes and go sledging.
Top 5 virtual worlds
Second Life (www.secondlife.com)
Club Penguin (www.clubpenguin.com)
There.com (www.there.com)
Habbo Hotel (www.habbo.co.uk)
Entropia Universe (www.entropiauniverse.com)
Top 5 online games
World of Warcraft (www.worldofwarcraft.com)
RuneScape (www.runescape.com)
Eve Online (www.eve-online.com)
City of Heroes (www.cityofheroes.com)
Final Fantasy XI (www.playonline.com/ff11us)
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