1. A method comprising: determining, at a server system, a number of avatars in an area of a virtual universe associated with an environmental chat associated with an avatar; determining, at the server system, a chat distance associated with the environmental chat associated with the avatar based on the number of avatars in the area of the virtual universe associated with the environmental chat, wherein the chat distance is inversely proportional to the number of avatars; and modifying, at the server system, the chat distance in response to detecting a change in the number of avatars in the area of the virtual universe associated with the environmental chat.
1. A method comprising: determining, at a server system, a number of avatars in an area of a virtual universe associated with an environmental chat associated with an avatar; determining, at the server system, a chat distance associated with the environmental chat associated with the avatar based on the number of avatars in the area of the virtual universe associated with the environmental chat, wherein the chat distance is inversely proportional to the number of avatars; and modifying, at the server system, the chat distance in response to detecting a change in the number of avatars in the area of the virtual universe associated with the environmental chat. 6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the avatar associated with the environmental chat is controlled by a user, wherein the change in the number of avatars in the area of the virtual universe associated with the environmental chat is detected in response to the avatar, being controlled by the user, moving to a different location within the virtual universe, or in response to additional avatars moving into or out of the area of the virtual universe associated with the environmental chat.