Parallel Universes, Alternate Dimensions, Virtual Worlds, and Other Fictional Places
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Do you have a favorite book, movie, television show, or video game set in a world so richly imagined that you sometimes wish you could really live there? From wild and fantastic places, to existences much more familiar to the time and space in which we live, writers of fiction, especially speculative fiction, have ignited the spark that brings life to these other realms within our imaginations, daring us to travel there with them.
What I Might Do With This Lens
- Explain speculative fiction genres such as steampunk and cyberpunk.
- Provide links to speculative fiction sites.
- Provide links to online adventure games.
- Offer relevant items for sale at Amazon.com.
- Offer relevant items for sale at CafePress.
Navigating This Lens
Fictional universe
as explained by Wikipedia
A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with elements that differ from the real world. It may be called, variously, a fictional realm, world or universe. The terms Multiverse, Parallel Universe, Alternate history, Story or Screen Bible, Backstory and Crossover have a considerable amount of overlap with fictional universes.
A fictional universe can be almost indistinguishable from the real world, except for the presence of the invented characters and events that characterize a work of fiction. It can also bear little or no resemblance to reality, with invented fundamental principles of space and time. The subject is most commonly addressed in reference to fictional universes that differ markedly from reality, such as those that introduce entire fictional cities, countries, or even planets, those that contradict commonly known facts about the world and its history, or those that feature fantasy or science fiction concepts such as magic or faster than light travel, and especially those in which the deliberate development of the setting is a substantial focus of the work.
Best Fictional Universe Ever
a text list Plexo
Do you have a favorite fictional universe? If your favorite is listed below, vote for it; if not, add it to the list!
Virtual world
as explained by Wikipedia
A virtual world is a genre of online community that often takes the form of a computer-based simulated environment, through which users can interact with one another and use and create objectsBishop, J. (2009). Enhancing the understanding of genres of web-based communities: The role of the ecological cognition framework. International Journal of Web-Based Communities, 5(1), 4-17. Available online. Virtual worlds are intended for its users to inhabit and interact, and the term today has become synonymous with interactive 3D virtual environments, where the users take the form of avatars visible to others graphicallyCook, A.D. (2009). A case study of the manifestations and significance of social presence in a multi-user virtual environment. MEd Thesis. Available online. These avatars are usually depicted as textual, two-dimensional, or three-dimensional graphical representations, although other forms are possible (auditory and touch sensations for example). Some, but not all, virtual worlds allow for multiple users.
The computer accesses a computer-simulated world and presents perceptual stimuli to the user, who in turn can manipulate elements of the modeled world and thus experiences telepresence to a certain degree. Such modeled worlds may appear similar to the real world or instead depict fantasy worlds. The model world may simulate rules based on the real world or some hybrid fantasy world. Example rules are gravity, topography, locomotion, real-time actions, and communication. Communication between users has ranged from text, graphical icons, visual gesture, sound, and rarely, forms using touch, voice command, and balance senses.
Massively multiplayer online games commonly depict a world very similar to the real world, with real world rules and real-time actions, and communication. Players create a character to travel between buildings, towns, and even worlds to carry out business or leisure activities. Communication is usually textual, with real-time voice communication using VOIP also possible.
Virtual worlds are not limited to games but, depending on the degree of immediacy presented, can encompass computer conferencing and text based chatrooms. Sometimes, emoticons or 'smilies' are available, to show feeling or facial expression. Emoticons often have a keyboard shortcut. Edward Castronova is an economist who has argued that "synthetic worlds" is a better term for these cyberspaces, but this term has not been widely adopted.
Best Online Virtual World Ever
a links list Plexo
Do you have a favorite virtual world you visit on the Internet? If your favorite is listed below, vote for it; if not, add its URL to the list!
Suggestions For Creating Your Own Universe
featured lenses on Squidoo
Would you like to create a believable fantastic world? Here are some solid suggestions from two different perspectives. They're geared toward writers, but could also be useful for game designers.-
Creating a Fantasy Realm
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References for Hard Science-Fiction Writers
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Do you want your science fiction stories to make sense? Do you want a better description of your space drive than its fictitious inventor's name? Does the mere thought of characters leaping from faster-than-light ships brandishing swords make your re...


