Habbo Hotel

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Habbo Hotel a social networking service operated by Sulake Corporation that is set up as a virtual world. Targeting English speaking teenagers between the ages of 13 and18 (2009, TechCrunch), this world consists of lobbies, lounges, and party rooms where Habbo citizens can socialize and lead an alternate life. The initial user experience in this virtual utopia may seem perfect at first, but certain things like product placement and theft can sway users’ ultimate experiences in this virtual community. With further research, I believe that positive elements of the Habbo world can be improved and negative elements mitigated to improve the online experiences of Habbo citizens.

Habbo Hotel does not require users to download any software, operating instead as a Java application in users’ browsers on the Adobe Shockwave technology. Habbo offers a point-and-click interface for users to move about in the virtual hotel rooms, and provides a text field in the menu bar for users to compose messages. Citizens can freely access Habbo, but the economy of this virtual world is powered by Habbo Credits, a proprietary virtual currency users can purchase for twenty cents per credit. Habbo offers limited free content including chat rooms, four free games, and basic customization and animation for users’ Avatars. However, most content like furniture accessories and popular games require Habbo credits. Players can trade credits and furniture with other fellow Habbo citizens. Credits may also be used to pay the monthly cost of membership to the Habbo Club, which provides citizens with access to exclusive items and VIP chat rooms for thirty credits per month. Members can also earn badges of honor for subscribing to the club and even earn rev...

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Fro’s Blog. (2009). Habbo, Habbo Hotel, and Online Virtual Worlds. Retrieved October

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Smith, Steve (2009).Seventeen Checks into Habbo Hotel, Retrieved October 31, 2009, from

http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.lib.sfu.ca/bsi/pdf?vid=2&hid=4&sid=ba8b8502-27c2-4fbe-80f8-12dfc76036c6%40sessionmgr12

TechCrunch. (2009). Habbo Pulled In $74 Million In Real Revenues Last Year From Virtual Goods

And Advertising. Retrieved October 13, 2009, from http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/03/30/habbo-pulled-in-74-million-in-real-revenues-last-year-from-virtual-goods-and-advertising/

Worlds in Motion, (n.d.).Habbo, Retrieved November 1, 2009, from

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