Meez

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Meez/67848

URL	http://www.meez.com
Commercial?	Yes
Type of site	Avatar
Registration	Recommended
Owner	Donnerwood Media
Created by	Donnerwood Media
Launched	March 28, 2006

Meez is a social network service based in San Francisco, CA.

Meez combines avatars and games within a virtual world, creating an environment where users can personalize their identity, connect with friends, socialize, and share media. While there are free customization items on the website, Meez has a currency called "Coinz" that allows for further customization. Users acquire Coinz by playing games and through paid subscriptions. Pre-paid Meez Coinz are sold at certain retailers, such as Best Buy and Target.

Meez originally began as a website where users could export avatars onto other sites and social networks. In June 2008, Meez launched Meez Nation, a browser-based virtual world composed of a variety of neighborhoods.^[1] MeezNation offers a range of places for avatar networking, including public spaces called Hangouts and custom-built, personal spaces called Roomz. Users control avatars by pointing and clicking on environments. Users interact with other avatars in Meez Nation by typing in a text box.

Meez was developed by Donnerwood Media as an "online entertainment" web service. Meez was founded by Sean Ryan, former VP of Music Services of Real Networks. Meez's CEO, John Cahill, is a former Yahoo executive. Meez launched on March 28, 2006. Currently, Meez has 3 million unique users, who average around three hours per month on the site. There are 13 million registered Meez users, 90% of which are in the United States.^[2] Meez advertisers have included Nike, Rocawear, the NBA, and the NHL.^[3]

Partners and history

In August 2007, Meez launched its mobile service with partner Vringo,^[4] and in September 2007, Meez launched its Games Channel by partnering with publishers such as iWin and Last Day of Work.^[5]

In October 2007, Meez released chat integration with AOL Instant Messenger.^[6] Similar, but not identical to, competitor avatar WeeMee's AIM integration, Meez users' avatars will appear in the chat window and react to chat triggers.

In January 2008, Meez launched its in-browser world on Facebook, called "Meez Roomz and Games". On top of its core avatar-building feature, the Facebook application allows Meez users to customize their rooms, chat with friends, share music and video, and play online games. The roomz feature and room decor are currently found on Meez's home site.

In June 2008, Meez launced Meez Nation, an in-browser virtual world ^[7].

In December 2008, Meez acquired Pulse Entertainment to develop a mobile version. ^[8]

In October 2009, Meez integrated the virtual world MeezNation into MySpace.^[9]

Avatars

After registration, users choose the gender of their avatar, called a Meez. The avatar technology allows users to create digital representations that can be used throughout Meez.com and exported to other social networks, instant messaging platforms, and mobile devices. Avatars can be customized with physical attributes, clothing, accessories and animations or actions. Meez users can create homepages, send and receive personal messages, and manage lists of friends.

PetzMaker

After customizing a Meez avatar, VIP users have the ability to choose a pet for their avatar. Creatures include a cat, dog, gerbil, dragon,robot, and bird. You can mix them up so make thing like a Dragon-Gerbil or a robot-Cat. You have to pay 2000 coinz.

RoomzMaker

The RoomzMaker allows users to design a personal space for avatars. Users can customize these spaces by choosing among various themes, walls, floors, and items. Some items are free, while other RoomzMaker options require Meez's Coinz currency.

Special Events Meez holds special events and has specialty items throughout the year, typically related to holidays. Special events sometimes allow users to collect Coinz to upgrade their avatar. Starting in October 2009, Meez allows users to collect a daily prize, called a Daily Boost. The Daily Boost usually gives users additional Coinz for visiting the site.

Games

Meez offers a variety of online games. Games can be rated with up to 5 stars on the site by users. Categories for games on Meez include Action, MeezInside, Cards and Casino, Daily Content, Match 3, Platformer, Puzzle, Strategy and Simulation, and Time Management. Popular games include Emerging Squirrel, Quercus Triumverate, Rocket Squirrel, Missile Master, Ranch Rush, Xtreme Sports Challenge, Takuta, Dream Runners, The Call of Atlantis, and Crazy Go Nuts.

MEEZ VIP

Meez VIP is a paid subscription that allows users to have unlimited access to all Meez clothing, accessories, and animations. Other Meez VIP benefits include sneak previews of new MeezMaker items, free Meez VIP-only animations each month, the user's name has a gold display in MeezNation, access to prioritized customer support, and pet customization options in PetzMaker.

Past Meez VIP animations include:

• February 2009 - Blow Kiss
• March 2009 - Invisibility
• April 2009 - Glow Gold
• May 2009 - Levitate
• June 2009 - Levitate (extended from May 2009)
• July 2009 - Lay Side
• August 2009 - Sparkle
• September 2009 - Shrink
• October 2009 - Ghost
• November 2009 - Turkey
• December 2009 - Snowing
• January 2010 - Stanky Leg

References

January 2010- Satnky legg march 2010-new vip danceĀ

External links

• Meez
• Meez Insider Blog

Reviews

• "Express Yourself - For a fee" Forbes.com
• "Virtual Wardrobe: Get your alter ego all dolled up" San Francisco Chronicle
• "Break-dance online with Meez.com" ZDNet
• Time Magazine's Five Worst Websites