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Utsukushii...just...unbelievable.^^ The [Japan Tea Ceremony] bundle enhances the chat experience like nothing else I've purchased! It's beautiful to look at just sitting still...the textures are *gorgeous*! But when things start moving, the animation is very fluid and graceful. I can't gush enough about this! Seriously, it's amazing!^^
I bought the Male Bundle, so I also got the [Animated Tea Drinking Cup] accessory (dark). The chawan animation is also superb.^^ More details of the animation and chawan craftsmanship later in the review...
Even the [Tea Ladle & Whisk] are so well-modeled, I like just looking at them.^^ Seriously. (Actually, the "Groovin" mood with these is really cute!^^) I love all my avi customization stuff, but no single item (well, ok..."bundle"^^) has had as great an effect on immersing me in the IMVU experience as this one. It allows me to actually "entertain" my guests and offer them refreshment. So cool!^^ And it makes our idle animations more interesting, sipping tea.
I suggest saving some credits to send animated cups to each of your closest regular chatting partners. It's not so suave to invite your best friends to tea, and then ask them to go buy a cup, IMHO.^^ Giving the chawan, I think, is a beautiful way to begin the ritual. I invited my friends into chat, sent the gift, set up the ceremony, asked them to check their messages, and enjoyed their pleasant surprise.^^ Then we sipped tea together. The animation is so graceful. When you give this cup, it's like making your friend's avatar more stylish and poised...and remember, they'll be able to use it to enhance their "idle animation" anytime, even when relaxing in their own room (but they'll still think of you and their first ceremony every time^^). It's a really quality gift.
*HINT: Try timing when you type "tea" (you can do this again and again to reset^^) so that your avatars drink in sync. This makes some great photos!^^ Also, makes it feel more like doing something "properly," like a ritual. May be impossible to sync on both IMVUsers screens, though. No point frustrating yourself; take turns!^^
And...it includes the beautiful, practical [Kneeling Cushion]. You get a simple, elegant piece of furniture that you can copy and use all over your room, or in all your rooms!^^ For me, this is actually a really great bonus. This is my basic "chair," for all my rooms. It comes in classic black, so it matches almost any decor, and the pose is so *care*ful. The size of the cushion and the positioning of the knees and spine are perfect. It's kinda too bad it's flat rather than 3D, but it's so *functional* that it's a non-issue, really. There are other options, but for my money, this is what sitting on the floor - with style and grace - looks like.^^ If I was only gonna have one "chair," this would be it.
*NOTE: Some people may not like that you cannot express any Moods on this cushion. Or, rather, there *is* a mood of detached serenity that comes with sitting on the cushion.^^ Personally, I like that sitting here puts one in a mood of peaceful, graceful composure. Triggers like "lol" and ":)" all still work, too.^^ But the default mood is open awareness.
The [Japan Green Tea 2] dark chawan furniture piece is the least exciting part of the collection, since it doesn't really "do" anything.^^ It is, however, exquisitely crafted and matches the animated cup exactly. This piece is one of those useful "lived-in" furniture items that I'm certain will come in handy as I get more detailed with my decorating. I'm glad to have it and am sure I will use it.
Rating:  [5 of 5 Flaming Jalapenos!] |
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