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{{Infobox Website
| name = Habbo
| logo = [[Image:Habbo_logo.png]]
| screenshot = [[Image:Habbohomepage.png|300px]]
| caption = The home page of the social networking website, Habbo.
| url = See [[Habbo#Current_services|Current services]] below
| commercial = Yes
| type = [[Social network service]]
| language = [http://www.sulake.com/habbo/ Multilingual]
| registration = Required
| owner = [[Sulake Corporation]]
| author = [[Sampo Karjalainen]]<br />[[Aapo Kyrölä]]
| launch date = {{flagicon|Finland}} August 2000 <br /> {{flagicon|UK}} January 2001 <br /> {{flagicon|USA}} September 2004
| current status = Active
| revenue =
| slogan = Where else?
| alexa = 5,031
}}


habbo is a site for teens (13+) and is strictly prohibits young people because of it foul language. but habbo blocks such words by saying bobba but it is still not so safe for young almost teens (12-) there ar every fun chat room and you get to pick what your avatar looks like
'''Habbo''', formerly '''Habbo Hotel''', is a [[social networking]] [[website]] owned and operated by [[Sulake|Sulake Corporation]]. Aimed at teenagers, Habbo features [[chat room]]s rendered by [[isometric projection]] in the form of virtual [[hotel]] rooms. User pages on the website are linked to these rooms and allow users to share content and create groups with [[discussion forum]]s. Each user, called a Habbo, has a customizable [[avatar (computing)|avatar]] to represent him or herself. The service gains revenue from credits bought with real-life currency. Credits are used to buy products such as virtual furniture for the virtual hotel rooms and stickers for user pages.
im a habbo myself soso34 is my name password im not going to tell

The service began in 2000 and has expanded to 31 local communities,<ref name="habstats">
{{cite news|url=http://www.sulake.com/habbo/|title=Habbo - Where else? - Sulake|publisher = [[Sulake|Sulake Corporation Ltd]]|accessdate=2008-01-03|date=January 2007}}</ref> with new communities opening in [[Panama]], [[Uruguay]] and [[Venezuela]]. As of January 2008, over 86 million avatars have been created worldwide and there are over 8 million unique visitors to the Habbo websites around the world every month,<ref name="habstats" /> with 75,000 avatars being created every day.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sulake.com/press/releases/2007-10-25-80_million_Avatars|title=Habbo's Avatar Count Rises To 80 million |publisher = [[Sulake|Sulake Corporation]]|accessdate=2007-11-13|date=[[October 25]], [[2007]]}}</ref>

== History ==
Habbo's original concept came from Mobiles Disco, a 1999 project by [[Sampo Karjalainen]] and [[Aapo Kyrölä]] for the band Mobiles. The idea was successful, and so Karjalainen and Kyrölä created Hotel Goldfish.<ref name="efinlandarticle">{{cite web|url=http://e.finland.fi/netcomm/news/showarticle.asp?intNWSAID=20699|title=Making Business with Virtual Furniture|accessdate=2007-08-04|date=2004-01-30|author=Helsinki|publisher=eFinland}}</ref> That name was scrapped and replaced with Habbo Hotel, which was launched in August 2000 to [[Finland]].<ref name="history-sulake">{{cite web|url=http://www.sulake.com/company/history?navi=1.4|title=History | Sulake Corperation|accessdate=2007-08-05|publisher=Sulake}}</ref> The service then opened to the [[United Kingdom]] in January 2001. It has since been expanded to over 31 countries in five continents,<ref name="habstats" /> and has been invested in by venture capitalists.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-104810073.html
| title = Venture Capital Checks In To Habbo Hotel
| author = Leslie Walker
| work = [[The Washington Post]]
| date = [[2005-01-27]]
| accessdate = 2008-01-18
| format = fee required
}}</ref>

In December 2004, a 36-year-old man was imprisoned after persuading a 13-year-old girl over Habbo to visit him.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-18264946_ITM
| title = Paedophile jailed for grooming girl, 13, on Internet
| work = [[Hull Daily Mail]]
| date = [[2004-12-16]]
| accessdate = 2008-01-18
}}</ref>

In May 2006, the service, along with its [[Domain name|domain names]], were renamed to Habbo.

In August 2007, Habbo's [[China|Chinese]] community closed down temporarily, the first time a Habbo website has closed. The challenging Chinese market and high operational costs led to the decision of closing the service. Customers in China were redirected to other Habbo communities.<ref name="china-close">{{cite web|url=http://www.virtualworldsnews.com/2007/08/habbo-hotel-chi.html|title=Virtual World News: Habbo Hotel: Chinese Market Too Challenging to Be Worthwhile|accessdate=2007-08-31|publisher=Virtual World News}}</ref>

On [[14 November]] [[2007]], a 17-year-old was arrested by police for allegedly stealing furniture bought with real money worth up to €4000. Five 15-year-olds were brought in for questioning.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7094764.stm 'Virtual theft' leads to arrest], BBC [[2007-11-14]].</ref>

== The website ==
Many activities and features that do not appear on the Hotel itself, are available on Habbo's website. The community section of the website features regularly updated news and events regarding the service. Recommended chat rooms, popular group pages and user pages are also accessible from the website. However, the websites main focus is the following two features:

=== User pages ===
This is a feature allowing users to customise their own web page displayed on the website, colloquially named ''Habbo Home''. The web page can be accessed from inside the hotel,<ref>
{{cite web|title = Sulake Press Releases
|url = http://www.sulake.com/press/releases/2007-02-01-Habbo_takes_creativity_and_self_expression_to_a_new_level|publisher = [[Sulake|Sulake Corporation Ltd.]]|date=2007-02-01}}</ref> and allow for user interaction with the home page of the user, as well as interaction within the Hotel. The web pages are displayed with the user's character appearance and motto. Users can customise their web page with a selection of widgets, stickers and backgrounds. Various widgets, stickers and backgrounds can be purchased with credits to add to the small default range of features.<ref name="habhome">
{{cite web
|title = Habbo Club: For Your Habbo Home
|url = http://www.habbo.co.uk/club/benefits/home
|publisher = [[Sulake|Sulake Corporation Ltd.]]
|accessdate = 2007-05-13}}</ref>

=== Group pages ===
Users can create groups and design a badge to display on their ''Habbo Home'' next to their avatar while in the Hotel. Each group also has a homepage which acts similarly to a ''Habbo Home'', but the group owner and group administrators can only edit it. The majority of the website's content and promotions organised by the site's management is now displayed in groups.<ref name="habgroups">
{{cite web
|title = Get Into Habbo Groups!
|publisher = [[Sulake|Sulake Corporation Ltd.]]
|url = http://www.habbo.co.uk/news/article181.html
|date = 2007-04-26
|accessdate = 2007-04-26}}</ref>

== The Hotel ==
The virtual Hotel is the [[chat room]] of Habbo. The Hotel consists of a client made using [[Adobe Shockwave]] technologies. Once logged in, the Hotel can be accessed via a [[popup window]] on the website. When a user accesses the Hotel they are brought to a screen colloquially known as ''Hotel View''. From this screen, members can contact another user via the ''Habbo Console'', which acts as the main form of communication throughout all areas of the Hotel and use the ''Navigator'' to navigate their way to a chat room.

=== Community ===
Habbo is home to a wide community of people all around the world. Many within the hotel spend their time meeting new people but some prefer to try and trade their items to make a profit. Competition to have the best "furni" is everywhere. However some have found a way to get free items by tricking other users to give up their paid for items. The average user spends $15-$20 a month, with some secretly spending their parents money. In some cases, user can be scammed out of several hundred dollars.

=== Navigation ===
[[Image:habbo.png|thumb|200px|right|The Hotel interface; pictured is a public room.]]
The centre for all navigation within the Hotel is the ''Navigator''. The Navigator allows users to travel from chat room to chat room around the virtual Hotel. Along as being an means of transportation it also shows basic information a chat room, such descriptions, online users and privacy settings.

==== Chat rooms ====
There are two types of chat rooms within the virtual Hotel. The interface of both chat rooms remains the same, however, the designs portrayed as rooms themselves differ.

* Public Rooms are rooms which are available to all members, they often depict scenes such as restaurants, cinemas and dance clubs. Most Public Rooms contain an automated [[robots]] which shout pre-recorded messages. Public rooms are designed by Sulake and are not customisable by users.

* Guest Rooms are rooms which users can customise to endless lengths with virtual furniture, wallpaper and floor patterns, which can be purchased with ''credits''. Users can also choose from a range of room templates that determine what shape the room is. Guest rooms can be created by any member and can be locked to allow access to specific users.

=== Currency ===
Credits, also known as Coins in other websites, are the currency used in Habbo. Credits can be purchased using a variety of different services, such as [[credit card]], a [[telephone]] service and via [[Short message service|SMS]]. Credits are often given out as prizes for competitions held in the community. The Credits are stored in the user's ''purse'' accessible in any public or private room as well as on the Hotel view and while logged in on the website. Credits can also be redeemed into ''Exchange'', which displays the Credits as an item of virtual furniture, the furniture can then be traded among users, and redeemed back into Credits.

Credits for a variety of different features within Habbo, these features are listed below:

==== Virtual furniture ====
Virtual furniture can be purchased inside the Hotel from the Catalogue using Credits. Users then can use the furniture to decorate and furnish their Guest Room. The furniture can be traded among users using a trading dialogue. Many users strive to collect more rare and exclusive furniture. Rare furniture is often sold in the Catalogue, but for a limited amount of time, and thus increasing it's value after it leaves the Catalogue. Furniture can also be won by competitions held on the website.

==== Habbo Club ====
Habbo Club is a premium subscription that offers many additional benefits which can be purchased using Credits. All subscribers receive a badge, that is placed next to their avatar, and can be seen by all other users. Every month an item of virtual furniture is delivered to every subscriber which varies monthly. Subscribers also gain access to a separate queue when attempting to enter full Public Rooms and access to special Public Rooms which are not accessible non-subscribers. Along with this, they also get access to special clothing and accessories, more Guest Room layouts, no website advertisements, a larger friend list capacity and special room commands. <ref name="habboclub">{{cite web|title = Habbo ~ Habbo Club|url = http://www.habbo.com/club|publisher = [[Sulake|Sulake Corporation Ltd.]]|accessdate = 2008-01-10|}}</ref>

==== Accessories ====
User and group page accessories can be purchased on the website using the user page interface with Credits. Although there are free accessories available, additional accessories such as stickers, notes, widgets and backgrounds can be dropped from the Inventory onto a [[drag and drop]] interface in which users can design and save their page. Accessories cannot be traded among users.

==== Games ====
There are also many games available to users that require credits to be played. These games are often more popular than the free games available in other areas of the hotel.
* Wobble Squabble — a game played on inflatables in a swimming pool in the Hotel. Players must nudge, slap and push their opponents off the inflatables and into the water using various keys on the keyboard.
* Snow Storm — Players must throw snowballs at the opposing team. More snowballs thrown by a player that hit, the more points that player gains for their team. There are also many different scenarios and maps that players can choose to play in.
* Battle Ball — a game played on "space hoppers". Teams of a minimum of 2 must try and "claim" as many squares as possible, by bouncing on them with their individual space hopper within the time limit set. When a square is bounced on by a player, it changes the colour to the team's colour. A recent update to the game was released to some hotels, including many new features.<ref name="bb2">{{cite web|title = BattleBall: How To Play|url = http://www.habbo.com.sg/games/battleball/how_to_play.html|publisher = [[Sulake|Sulake Corporation Ltd.]]|accessdate = 2007-06-07}}</ref>
* Diving — Located in the Hotel's main swimming area, users use the diving board to complete their own unique diving sequences. Moves include: stars, flips, and air punches. Points (up to 10) are awarded by other users and the divers ultimate score is displayed on the video screen.

== Moderation and management ==
[[Image:Scott606.gif|left|thumb|An example of a Habbo avatar.]]
There are 18 office branches globally operated by Sulake employees; these office branches are the workplace of the respective Habbo's senior staff.<ref name="sulake-offices">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sulake.com/contact/local_offices?navi=6.2|title=Local Offices - Sulake|publisher=Sulake|accessdate=2007-08-09}}</ref> These staff generally include a "Hotel Manager", or Content Manager, who oversees the community as a whole by communicating with users through newsletters, creating competitions, and managing the content of the website; a Community Manager, who is responsible for moderation and guidance throughout the virtual community by managing [[#Moderator staff|in-game Moderators]], [[#Habbo eXperts|Habbo eXperts]]; and a Country Manager, who manages the business side of the community such as sales, finance and administration.

Office staff may also consist of customer support staff, who respond to queries sent via contact forms by users; and graphic designers who create the vast amounts of [[Pixel art|pixel imagery]] used both in-game and on the community's website.

Automatic moderation exists in Habbo's language filter, the "Bobba Filter", which replaces offensive text with the simple word "bobba". Replacement applies anywhere from mild to highly offensive words, phrases, and even websites. In this way, the filter assists in moderation of Habbo. However, users now have the option disable the filter in their personal settings, in which they would view all unfiltered chat.

Habbo's moderation is covered by paid [[Forum moderator|moderator]] staff; police vetted [[Sulake]] employees.<ref name="moderators">
{{cite web
|url = http://www.habbo.com.au/help/faqs?faq_1_categoryId=5
|title = Habbo Hotel Australia - FAQs - "Moderating"
|publisher = [[Sulake|Sulake Corporation Ltd.]]
|accessdate = 2006-12-17}}</ref> Tools utilised by moderator staff allow them to send messages to individual Habbos in the hotel, which appear as in-game [[popups]]. As well as this ability, moderator staff can also ''kick'' Habbos from any room, mute them (''prevent them from speaking'') and ban them from the hotel entirely.<ref name="moderators" />

===Habbo eXperts===
[[Image:HabboBrandedPublicRoom.png|thumb|250px|right|An example of a [[#Public Rooms|public room]]; branded by Habbo sponsor [[Axe (deodorant)|Axe]].]]
''Habbo eXperts'' (often shortened to just ''Habbo Xs'' &ndash; although names differ throughout many websites) are experienced users who volunteer to welcome newer users to Habbo and explain its features.<ref name="habboX">
{{cite web
|url = http://www.habbo.com.au/help/faqs?faq_1_categoryId=26
|title = Habbo Hotel Australia - FAQs - "Habbo X"
|accessdate = 2006-12-17
|publisher = [[Sulake|Sulake Corporation Ltd.]]
}}</ref> They are not employees of Sulake and have no powers or abilities except for being able to enter rooms which have reached their occupant limit.<ref name="habboX_SG">
{{cite web
|url = http://www.habbo.com.sg/help/faqs?faq_1_categoryId=28
|title = Habbo Hotel Singapore - FAQs - "Habbo X"
|accessdate = 2006-12-17
|publisher = [[Sulake|Sulake Corporation Ltd.]]
}}</ref>

==Sponsorship==
As a website geared towards teenagers, Habbo often attracts sponsorship from outside entities. This sponsorship includes visits by musicians and bands<ref name="ukcelebarch">
{{cite web
|title = Habbo: Celebrity Visits
|url = http://www.habbo.co.uk/entertainment/celebrity_visits/
|publisher = [[Sulake|Sulake Corporation Ltd.]]
|accessdate = 2007-05-13}}</ref> (such as [[The Veronicas]], [[Gorillaz]],<ref name="gorillaz">
{{cite web
|title = Sulake Press Releases - "Gorillaz live at Habbo Hotel"
|url = http://www.sulake.com/press/releases/2005-08-17-Gorillaz_live_at_Habbo_Hotel
|date = 2007-08-17
|accessdate = 2006-07-03
|publisher = [[Sulake|Sulake Corporation Ltd.]]
}}</ref> [[Skye Sweetnam]],<ref name="skye">
{{cite web
|url = http://www.skyesweetnam.com/index.aspx#6138
|title = SkyeSweetnam.com - "Skye Chats LIVE on Habbo Hotel"
|accessdate = 2006-07-03
}}</ref> [[Little Birdy]], [[Stephanie McIntosh]], [[Operator Please]] and [[Evermore (band)|Evermore]]), as well as various corporation giants.

As ''Habbo'' is targeted at teenagers, and 90% of its users are between the age of 13 and 18,<ref name="habstats" /> it receives much attention from youth organisations, who educate players about many topics such as Internet safety, and [[drug education]].<ref>An example of an organisation educating users about drug education on the UK's website, can be found [http://www.habbo.co.uk/help/infobus/frank_faq.html here]. [accessed [[August 5]] [[2007]]]</ref>

==Reception==

In November 2001, ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' listed Habbo as a top-10 chat and instant messaging site, describing it as "great-looking" and "proving popular with teenagers."<ref name="tdt">
{{cite web
| title = Top 10 sites: chat and instant messaging
| url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/connected/main.jhtml?xml=/connected/2001/11/01/ecrtop01.xml
| acccessdate = 2007-05-18
| date = November, 2001
| publisher = Telegraph Media Group Limited}}</ref>
In 2005 and 2006, Habbo [[Australia]] received the [[NetGuide]] Online Web Award for "Best kids’/youth website".<ref name="netguide">{{cite news
| title = NetGuide Australian Web Awards
| url = http://www.netguide.com.au/v2/webawards/06winners.php
| work = [[NetGuide]]
| accessdate = 2007-05-14
}}</ref>
In September 2006, [[Sulake]] won [[Deloitte]]'s Fast 50 competition.<ref name="deloitte">{{cite web
| url = http://www.deloitte.com/dtt/article/0,1002,cid%253D130581%2526pv%253DY,00.html
| title = Technology Fast 50/500
| publisher = Deloitte
| quote = {{fi icon}}
}}</ref><ref name="deloitte2">{{cite web
| title = Sulake wins Deloitte's Technology Fast50 competition
| url = http://www.sulake.com/press/releases/2005-09-15-Sulake_wins_Deloittes_Technology_Fast50_competition
| publisher = [[Sulake|Sulake Corporation Oy.]]
| date = 2005-09-15
| accessdate = 2006-10-12
}}</ref>

Habbo is often victim to various [[Troll (Internet)|Internet troll]] groups, which "raid" public rooms with vulgar gestures and comments.<ref name="raids">{{cite web|url=http://www.myfoxla.com/myfox/pages/ContentDetail?contentId=3894628
|title=FOX 11 Investigates: 'Anonymous'|publisher=[[Fox Interactive Media]]|accessdate=2007-09-07
|date=2007-07-26|author=Phil Shuman}}</ref> Some trolls collectively customize their avatars as dark-skinned men with afros wearing [[Giorgio Armani S.p.A.|Armani]] suits.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://www.wired.com/gaming/virtualworlds/magazine/16-02/mf_goons
| title = Mutilated Furries, Flying Phalluses: Put the Blame on Griefers
| author = Julian Dibbell
| work = [[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]
| pages = 1
| date = [[2008-01-18]]
| accessdate = 2008-01-18
}}</ref>

==Current services==
There are currently 19 websites in operation.<ref name="habstats" />

{| class="wikitable"
!Country
!URL
!Opening date
!Country
!URL
!Opening date
|-
|{{flag|Australia}}||[http://www.habbo.com.au habbo.com.au]||November 2004||{{flag|Malaysia}} <small>(links to Habbo Singapore)</small>||[http://www.habbo.com.my habbo.com.my]||July 2006
|-
|{{flag|Austria}} <small>(links to Habbo Switzerland)</small>||[http://www.habbo.at habbo.at] ||May 2006||{{flag|Mexico}} <small>(links to Habbo Spain)</small>||[http://www.habbo.com.mx habbo.com.mx] ||July 2006
|-
|{{flag|Belgium}} <small>(links to Habbo France)</small>||[http://www.habbo.be habbo.be] ||May 2006||{{flag|Netherlands}}||[http://www.habbo.nl habbo.nl]||February 2004
|-
|{{flag|Brazil}}||[http://www.habbo.com.br habbo.com.br]||February 2006||{{flag|New Zealand}} <small>(links to Habbo Australia)</small>||[http://www.habbo.co.nz habbo.co.nz]||August 2006
|-
|{{flag|Canada}}||[http://www.habbo.ca habbo.ca]||June 2004||{{flag|Norway}}||[http://www.habbo.no habbo.no]||June 2004
|-
|{{flag|Chile}} <small>(links to Habbo Spain)</small>||[http://www.habbo.cl habbo.cl] ||July 2006||{{flag|Poland}}||[http://www.habbo.pl habbo.pl] ||Unknown
|-
|{{flag|China}} <small>(temporarily closed<ref name="china-close" />)</small>||[http://www.habbo.cn habbo.cn]||January 2006||{{flag|Portugal}}||[http://www.habbo.pt habbo.pt]||March 2006
|-
|{{flag|Colombia}} <small>(links to Habbo Spain)</small>||[http://www.habbo.com.co habbo.com.co] ||July 2006||{{flag|Russia}}||[http://www.habbo.ru habbo.ru]||October 2006
|-
|{{flag|Denmark}}||[http://www.habbo.dk habbo.dk]||November 2004||{{flag|Singapore}}||[http://www.habbo.sg habbo.com.sg] ||December 2004
|-
|{{flag|Finland}}||[http://www.habbo.fi habbo.fi]||August 2000||{{flag|Spain}}||[http://www.habbo.es habbo.es]||September 2003
|-
|{{flag|France}}||[http://www.habbo.fr habbo.fr]||November 2004||{{flag|Sweden}}||[http://www.habbo.se habbo.se]||December 2003
|-
|{{flag|Germany}} ||[http://www.habbo.de habbo.de]||March 2004||{{flag|Switzerland}}||[http://www.habbo.ch habbo.ch]||August 2002
|-
|{{flag|Ireland}} <small>(links to Habbo UK)</small>||[http://www.habbo.ie habbo.ie] ||July 2006||{{flag|United Kingdom}}||[http://www.habbo.co.uk habbo.co.uk]||January 2001
|-
|{{flag|Italy}}||[http://www.habbo.it habbo.it]||September 2003||{{flag|United States}} ||[http://www.habbo.com habbo.com]||September 2004
|-
|{{flag|Japan}}||[http://www.habbo.jp habbo.jp]||February 2003||{{flag|Venezuela}} <small>(links to Habbo Spain)</small>||[http://www.habbo.com.ve habbo.com.ve]||July 2006
|}

==See also==
*[[List of social networking websites]]
*[[Sulake]]

==References==
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{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.sulake.com/ Sulake Corporation]
*[http://www.sulake.com/press/?navi=4 Sulake Press Room]

[[Category:Community websites]]
[[Category:Finnish brands]]
[[Category:Online social networking]]
[[Category:Virtual reality communities]]
[[Category:Web 2.0]]

[[ca:Habbo Hotel]]
[[da:Habbo Hotel]]
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[[et:Habbo Hotel]]
[[es:Habbo Hotel]]
[[fr:Habbo Hotel]]
[[it:Habbo Hotel]]
[[hu:Habbo Hotel]]
[[nl:Habbo Hotel]]
[[no:Habbo Hotel]]
[[pl:Habbo Hotel]]
[[pt:Habbo Hotel]]
[[ru:Habbo Hotel]]
[[fi:Habbo Hotel]]
[[sv:Habbo Hotel]]

Revision as of 04:30, 23 January 2008

habbo is a site for teens (13+) and is strictly prohibits young people because of it foul language. but habbo blocks such words by saying bobba but it is still not so safe for young almost teens (12-) there ar every fun chat room and you get to pick what your avatar looks like im a habbo myself soso34 is my name password im not going to tell