Reviving IMVU: Supporting Creators, Users, and listening more to Community Feedback
IMVU has always thrived on its creators and users working together to build a unique, engaging virtual world. However, recent changes—such as requiring a Platinum or Diamond VIP subscription to cash out earnings have made it harder for creators to justify their time and effort. Many join IMVU to make money or earn credits, but having to pay just to create, only to see low sales and little return, is discouraging. A lot of creators feel they don't get a return on their investment, which ultimately results in them stopping their subscription, and stopping creating. As it is, IMVU already takes a large cut of creator's earnings. IMVU is a business at the end of the day, But some changes could be made to make the system more fair to creators in general - old and new. In the same light, regular users have also faced issues, from a shrinking catalog of fresh content to frustrations with the desktop client. To bring the community back to life, IMVU must take steps to support both its creators and users more fairly and be more responsive to community feedback.
Revise the VIP Cash-Out Policy
IMVU should remove the requirement to pay for VIP just to receive earnings. Instead, a system should be in place that rewards creators based on their commitment, sales, and contributions. A tiered approach could ensure that both long-time and new creators have a fair path to success.
Introduce Flexible Monetization Options
Rather than forcing creators into a subscription-based system, IMVU should implement a fair revenue model that encourages quality content and growth. This can be done through a performance-based bonus system that adds rewards instead of reducing base payouts.
For example:
Standard Creators (those meeting basic sales and engagement levels) could cash out without needing VIP.
Established Creators (who consistently contribute quality content) could receive better rates or priority cash-outs as a loyalty bonus.
Top Creators (those who reach high milestones) could earn extra perks, such as reduced VIP fees (Gold VIP requirement), or higher earning percentages.
This approach rewards dedication without forcing creators to pay upfront, making it easier for small creators to grow and keeping the platform open for all.
Base Payout:
Every sale earns a standard payout for all creators, as it currently does, ensuring fairness.
Performance Bonuses:
Creators can earn extra payouts when their items reach certain milestones. For example:
An item selling 100+ times could receive a bonus.
High user ratings or engagement could lead to increased earnings.
Dynamic Scaling:
This system ensures that creators always get their fair share while providing added incentives for those who create popular content. Other platforms like YouTube and Etsy use similar models to encourage quality without punishing those who are still growing.
Enhancing User Interface and Experience:
IMVU’s updated desktop client has significantly improved visual quality, yet a majority of longtime users feel that the interface lacks the intuitive and familiar elements of the classic client, which has caused many players I have known to outright stop using IMVU, as they feel veteran users don't get the same recognition as newer mobile/desktop users. A user-centric redesign could serve both new and veteran players:
Offer a "Legacy" Interface Option:
Implement an optional legacy mode that replicates the classic client’s layout—complete with familiar home screens, chat boxes, and inventory displays. This dual-interface approach would respect the nostalgia and ease of navigation for long-term users while still embracing modern graphic enhancements.
Prioritize Customizability and Accessibility:
Allow users to personalize key aspects of the interface, ensuring that both creative expression and ease of navigation are optimized. This could include adjustable chat layouts, customizable menus, and enhanced accessibility features to cater to a broader audience.
The Bigger Picture
The current system discourages new and small creators from continuing, as they often don’t make enough sales to justify paying for VIP. Additionally, I feel there aren’t enough active users to fuel strong sales for smaller creators, making it harder for them to succeed. Meanwhile, regular users who are not creators are left with fewer options, Both in terms of the shop, And client, Which in turn results in a less enjoyable platform overall.
If IMVU makes it easier and more rewarding to create, while also improving the user experience for the desktop client, it can attract back both creators and players, leading to a healthier, more engaged community. IMVU as a business, and a platform, must also engage more with community feedback—by listening to concerns, making changes based on user needs, and ensuring that both creators and regular users feel valued.
By reworking these policies and improving communication, IMVU can rebuild trust, restore its player base, and grow into a thriving, creative platform once again.
1 Votes
2 Comments
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Recyclingbenzposted
about 1 hour ago
These are legitimate and amazing points! I actually have a few of my own that I would like to add, but for the sake of brevity and visibility, I’ll vote and attach that forum post elsewhere! :)
1 Votes
S
Spikesposted
about 8 hours ago
I've been part of the IMVU community since 2007—nearly 20 years now—and I have seen the platform evolve in many ways. I vividly remember when IMVU was thriving with over 500,000 players online at one time. Today, it struggles to hit 40,000 concurrent users, a shift I believe is closely tied to current business practices and a growing disconnect with the community.
I was on IMVU long before the introduction of the original classic client—back when friends were called "buddies" and the buddies panel was separate from the main client. I've been with IMVU since the Windows XP days. While I understand that IMVU is a business and must adapt to market realities, I find it increasingly concerning that creators, who are the backbone of this community, are now forced to purchase a $10 VIP tier (or any VIP tier, for that matter) in order to cash out. Previously, as a grandfathered creator, I and many others enjoyed being able to cash out at no extra cost. It's almost like your employer is charging you to get your paycheck. This change feels like an undue burden and, frankly, an exploitation of those who have supported IMVU over the years.
And to keep this comment a bit shorter - Classic users would be much more likely to adopt the desktop client if it had a dual interface design - allowing veteran users to select a legacy interface in the settings, while keeping the current interface the default selected interface.
I strongly believe the changes mentioned in this post would facilitate more enthusiasm from the community to create, as well as bring more players back to IMVU.
Reviving IMVU: Supporting Creators, Users, and listening more to Community Feedback
IMVU has always thrived on its creators and users working together to build a unique, engaging virtual world. However, recent changes—such as requiring a Platinum or Diamond VIP subscription to cash out earnings have made it harder for creators to justify their time and effort. Many join IMVU to make money or earn credits, but having to pay just to create, only to see low sales and little return, is discouraging. A lot of creators feel they don't get a return on their investment, which ultimately results in them stopping their subscription, and stopping creating. As it is, IMVU already takes a large cut of creator's earnings. IMVU is a business at the end of the day, But some changes could be made to make the system more fair to creators in general - old and new. In the same light, regular users have also faced issues, from a shrinking catalog of fresh content to frustrations with the desktop client. To bring the community back to life, IMVU must take steps to support both its creators and users more fairly and be more responsive to community feedback.
Revise the VIP Cash-Out Policy
IMVU should remove the requirement to pay for VIP just to receive earnings. Instead, a system should be in place that rewards creators based on their commitment, sales, and contributions. A tiered approach could ensure that both long-time and new creators have a fair path to success.
Introduce Flexible Monetization Options
Rather than forcing creators into a subscription-based system, IMVU should implement a fair revenue model that encourages quality content and growth. This can be done through a performance-based bonus system that adds rewards instead of reducing base payouts.
For example:
Standard Creators (those meeting basic sales and engagement levels) could cash out without needing VIP.
Established Creators (who consistently contribute quality content) could receive better rates or priority cash-outs as a loyalty bonus.
Top Creators (those who reach high milestones) could earn extra perks, such as reduced VIP fees (Gold VIP requirement), or higher earning percentages.
This approach rewards dedication without forcing creators to pay upfront, making it easier for small creators to grow and keeping the platform open for all.
Base Payout:
Every sale earns a standard payout for all creators, as it currently does, ensuring fairness.
Performance Bonuses:
Creators can earn extra payouts when their items reach certain milestones. For example:
An item selling 100+ times could receive a bonus.
High user ratings or engagement could lead to increased earnings.
Dynamic Scaling:
This system ensures that creators always get their fair share while providing added incentives for those who create popular content. Other platforms like YouTube and Etsy use similar models to encourage quality without punishing those who are still growing.
Enhancing User Interface and Experience:
IMVU’s updated desktop client has significantly improved visual quality, yet a majority of longtime users feel that the interface lacks the intuitive and familiar elements of the classic client, which has caused many players I have known to outright stop using IMVU, as they feel veteran users don't get the same recognition as newer mobile/desktop users. A user-centric redesign could serve both new and veteran players:
Offer a "Legacy" Interface Option:
Implement an optional legacy mode that replicates the classic client’s layout—complete with familiar home screens, chat boxes, and inventory displays. This dual-interface approach would respect the nostalgia and ease of navigation for long-term users while still embracing modern graphic enhancements.
Prioritize Customizability and Accessibility:
Allow users to personalize key aspects of the interface, ensuring that both creative expression and ease of navigation are optimized. This could include adjustable chat layouts, customizable menus, and enhanced accessibility features to cater to a broader audience.
The Bigger Picture
The current system discourages new and small creators from continuing, as they often don’t make enough sales to justify paying for VIP. Additionally, I feel there aren’t enough active users to fuel strong sales for smaller creators, making it harder for them to succeed. Meanwhile, regular users who are not creators are left with fewer options, Both in terms of the shop, And client, Which in turn results in a less enjoyable platform overall.
If IMVU makes it easier and more rewarding to create, while also improving the user experience for the desktop client, it can attract back both creators and players, leading to a healthier, more engaged community. IMVU as a business, and a platform, must also engage more with community feedback—by listening to concerns, making changes based on user needs, and ensuring that both creators and regular users feel valued.
By reworking these policies and improving communication, IMVU can rebuild trust, restore its player base, and grow into a thriving, creative platform once again.
1 Votes
2 Comments
Recyclingbenz posted about 1 hour ago
These are legitimate and amazing points! I actually have a few of my own that I would like to add, but for the sake of brevity and visibility, I’ll vote and attach that forum post elsewhere! :)
1 Votes
Spikes posted about 8 hours ago
I've been part of the IMVU community since 2007—nearly 20 years now—and I have seen the platform evolve in many ways. I vividly remember when IMVU was thriving with over 500,000 players online at one time. Today, it struggles to hit 40,000 concurrent users, a shift I believe is closely tied to current business practices and a growing disconnect with the community.
I was on IMVU long before the introduction of the original classic client—back when friends were called "buddies" and the buddies panel was separate from the main client. I've been with IMVU since the Windows XP days. While I understand that IMVU is a business and must adapt to market realities, I find it increasingly concerning that creators, who are the backbone of this community, are now forced to purchase a $10 VIP tier (or any VIP tier, for that matter) in order to cash out. Previously, as a grandfathered creator, I and many others enjoyed being able to cash out at no extra cost. It's almost like your employer is charging you to get your paycheck. This change feels like an undue burden and, frankly, an exploitation of those who have supported IMVU over the years.
And to keep this comment a bit shorter - Classic users would be much more likely to adopt the desktop client if it had a dual interface design - allowing veteran users to select a legacy interface in the settings, while keeping the current interface the default selected interface.
I strongly believe the changes mentioned in this post would facilitate more enthusiasm from the community to create, as well as bring more players back to IMVU.
1 Votes
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