Software company Oddcast will provide ICQ with customizable animated avatars for instant messaging.
In Neal Stephenson’s “Snow Crash“, visitors to the MetaVerse appear there via custom avatars. The appearance of those avatars range from very basic, black-and-white representations, to custom designed looks featuring the latest in exclusive virtual “attire.”
While the Internet hasn’t yet reached Mr. Stephenson’s vision, AOL’s ICQ instant messaging platform will now support Oddcast software’s customizable animated avatars.
Today, ICQ users worldwide can choose from 13 entirely customizable male and female human characters, as well as 10 creature avatars. Everything about the human models, from hair, eyes and skin tone to face shape, age, clothing and accessories, can be customized according to ICQ users’ individual tastes.
The creature avatars, including holiday icons, aliens and dragons, can also be altered using a full palette of colors.
Also, a new ICQ Xtra, that lets users create or change their human or creature avatars using Oddcast’s advanced conversational character software.
The animated human or creature avatars can be embedded in users’ ICQ messages and can even exchange stock verbal sayings with users’ correspondents. For instance, when an emoticon is used in an ICQ session, the life-like avatars will speak using pre-recorded sayings in male and female voices.
“Millions of ICQ users now benefit from enhanced communications through speaking avatars. The instant messaging experience is further personalized, more creative and more fun,” said Adi Sideman, CEO, Oddcast.
Currently, the voices are pre-recorded in English only. As part of a special introductory offer, ICQ users will be able to customize their animated avatars in the new ICQ Devil Factory, and display them during instant messaging sessions, at no charge. Thereafter, individual characters will be available for a standard price adjusted for local markets.
David Utter is a staff writer for Murdok covering technology and business. Email him here.
