Has Ameba Pico become AmeBORING?

"Booooooooring." Chances are you have seen that word uttered a few times while playing Pico. Usually, it comes from the mouth of younger kids who have the attention span of a... a... oh, I'm sorry. I thought I saw something shiny. Anyways, you get the point. However, while reading the comments from a recent article of mine, I started to think about this in an entirely different way.

Gummies: Currency or Creatures?

Gummies. They are what make the Pico world go 'round. Without them, there's a whole lot we wouldn't have right now. My room would be a barren wasteland since it consists mostly of blocks, which have been purchased using Gummies. Yes, we should all be thankful for this under-appreciated online currency. However, there's something about them that's a bit... disturbing. Or cute. Or strange. It's probably one of those, so you'll have to decide for yourself.

Seeing that Gummies are considered a form of currency just as gold is in Pico, I always looked at them as being tiny "coins" of sorts. Plastic, rubbery coins. When you see them from afar, they look like your average penny or quarter except more colorful.



However, when you zoom in a bit...

IMVU vs. Pico

Hello Picozoids!

Like the rest of you, I am desperate for gold. It doesn't help that Ameba has been releasing new items every freakin' day for the past three weeks! Between premium gacha, halloween costumes, and now AWESOME WIGS, how can you NOT be tempted to sell your soul to get this stuff?

So instead of exhausting my bank account, (which I've already done at this point >____>; ) I've tried doing some offers. When my brain has had enough surveys, and I couldn't possibly send myself any more coupons in the mail, I decided to fulfill the IMVU offer for 240 gold. The shtick is to sign up, do some shopping, dress your avatar, furnish your room, and go chat.

I wish I knew what I was getting myself into.
First of all, Ayuhime was TAKEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I settled for ayuhlme (LOL) and off I went.

Step 1: Sign up
Nothing really terrible about this part... pick a username, password, enter your birthday (gotta be 18+). Now you pick a base look, you can change it later.



Yes, it gives you a preview of your gigantic booty. PROCEED!

Step 2: Go shopping
These clowns are generous enough to start you out with a bunch of options for hair, face, and clothing, so pick something. Don't want to look like a sex addict? Too bad.

Continue shopping for your slutty outfit and try not to have a seizure from all of the BLINKING and SPARKLING going on in the item descriptions. Seriously, every item is an animated gif with sparkling and blinking and seizures.

Oh, this old thing? Oh no no it's just from my young days as a prostitute.

Yes, there's IMVU Ayuhime. Try finding an outfit that doesn't make you look like a coke addict stripper, please.

3: Furnish your room
Again, IMVU supplies you with furniture, but good luck placing it into your room.

The camera is adjustable and very jumpy, your avatar cannot move about freely (you choose from predetermined places on the furniture to sit or stand on), and you must SCALE the furniture once it is placed. So you can make a couch gigantic, or on the wall (your avatar WILL sit in it!)

The controls are counter intuitive and a pain to maneuver. I barely placed a lamp and a chair and had had enough. LOL!

Oh, and here's one of those predetermined poses I mentioned.



Really?

Step 4: Chat

Go to chat and you'll find that the chat rooms have an incredibly small capacity (10 or less) and are always full. Plus, they're user made. So the names are "YO YO MAD FAT BEATS PLAYA #1 SHOW IN TOWN DOG" or "sundown suicide emo club." I didn't really feel like going to those...
If you manage to get into a room, the environment will take about 10 minutes to load, as well as your avatar.

All in all, IMVU is really not built that great. The interface is not user friendly, the graphics are slow and choppy, and it's just not fun.

Plus, I never got my gold.

Do yourself a favor and keep enjoying Pico, don't bother with IMVU, and have a lovely night my dears.

xoxoxoxo,
Ayuhime

University vs. Pico Woes

Yeah, that's me right now; on campus, holding my head, with a concerned look on my face. Probably wearing similar clothing too. You see, I'm a senior university student, and it's taken over my life.

I can't think of anything to blog about. I feel awful. Right now I'm the most BORING blogger!

I don't even have my own "thing" that I blog about. I mean, Pinkerton features new things, Peggy does Pico cribs... but me, I have nothing. My brain is totally fried ...

I don't even get to play Pico as much as I'd like to. Instead, I'm stuck doing assignments.

ICK!



But my blogger and Pico buddies have kept me afloat. Even when I'm sleeping in class. Huhuhuhuhu~ UM I MEAN WHEN I'M GIVING UNDIVIDED ATTENTION TO THE PROFESSOR! >____>

So what do you think your lovely Ayuhime should feature? I don't just want to talk about myself all of the time ... I want to talk about you! How do you like these ideas?

• Pico gossip (weird or random user conversations :P)
• Things that ruin Pico for the rest of us (scams, con-artists, bullies)
• Interior design tutorials and suggestions

Let me know what you think! The blog can only continue when it has fans like you :)

Love,
Ayuhime

P.S. I just remembered that I have to finish the "Get to know your bloggers!" feature!

Double the Pico, Double the Fun?

I am discovering a lot lately that several Pico players have created and control a second Pico account.

I've cleverly deduced a number of reasons:

• Some have another Pico to create a twin of them (twins are the "in" thing, people!)/
• Perhaps their first account got banned :x
• Constructing devious plans for Pico takeover, or
• Simply helping out their main Pico

Even I have created a second Pico account, MattoVarius. Originally, I created it in hopes that my boyfriend would play. Turns out, it's not really his thing. So I took over playing, and realized how I could use MattoVarius to my advantage. I could send myself exclusive Facebook gifts and give myself props, rings, and food daily.

Am I cheating?

Pico: A mom's perspective ... continues

Written by sweet_mom

I make it a commitment to travel to the Stone Age era at least once a week and contribute with my Volcano Dance in hopes of helping those who go in search of the dino to gain their star.

However yesterday's visit turned out to be one of the most memorable moments I had experienced here in Pico.

Like a ray of sunshine, wearing a yellow dress, thirteen-year-old KrazyKandy from Illinois, USA, cheerfully approached me. She had recognized me from my first Picostyle post and greeted me with a big smile.

"Really cool!! and awsome to meet u!!" she said to me. Her enthusiasm left me speechless and I wondered ... 'Am I really worthy of such loving admiration?'

After visiting with her, meeting some of her friends, and taking a picture together, she proceeded to say, "I think it wud be cool to have my mom play Pico." That's when I realized she had truly understood and appreciated my article. Then I was overwhelmed with gratitude.

My sweet girl, you are truly an inspiration and it is my greatest honor to have met you, and I'll conclude by saying ... KrazyKandy is the perfect example of what a true Pico is all about!

Pico: A mom's perspective

Written by sweet_mom

What is this "Pico thing" I hear my 14 year old daughter so excitedly talk about? As a concerned parent, I joined Pico with the only intention of monitoring its content for safety precautions, and in the process I too found myself intrigued by this wonderful virtual world.

I am totally fascinated with what Ameba Pico has to offer its members. Not only the chance to meet people from all around the world and learn from their different cultures, but the opportunity to actually befriend them and see how our "Buddy List" keeps growing everyday. Also, the excitement of earning daily "Gummies" all while having fun getting those props, rings, food, and playing games (which I might add I never win).

Though at the beginning some Picos found it strange that I, a real mom, would dare enter this virtual world to the extent of leaving me messages and letters of cruel matter, most recieved me with open Pico arms.

Isn't Pico big enough for us moms? And why not even grandmas? The answer is yes!

Pico is a great place to share with anyone that wants to join for the right reason: friendships!