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Similar to Second Life, IMVU also has a secondary focus on the people-powered economy where users can buy and sell virtual goods, some of which they've created themselves. It's this virtual market that has grown right alongside IMVU's population, reaching over 1.5 million items to date. IMVU credits viral growth, its economy, and its ability to offer a niche environment for a wide range of users, from Anime fans to Goth and Latino.
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And as Second Life, which reportedly has about 7 million less users than IMVU, hopes to reverse its growth slump in the coming years with improved technology and networks, the trend towards combining avatars with a recognizable and familiar chat environment is one that works quite well across the board.