Archive for November, 2008

The online game Tabula Rasa is going away..

Nov 29, 2008 in Entertainment, Online Games, Personal, Virtual Worlds

Okay, it just figures. I found a game that I REALLY like a lot, and now it is going away. They say it is for popularity reasons, yet I know a lot of people really like it too. The general chat is full of unhappy players who really wish someone would pick this game up and get it back on track. Maybe someone will feel like purchasing the rights to it and give it the chance it deserves. I think the real reason behind this cut is that the owners of this game just have too many eggs in their basket, and something had to go so they can focus on their other projects. It just happens, but I am still not happy about it. The one bright spot in this scenario is that they are offering us a couple of interesting gifts to soothe our wounded game play.

Here are two news updates which reflect the Tabula Rasa’s reasons behind the closing of the game, as well as some incentives and goodies to keep Tabula Rasa fans happy…

Information for our subscribers – November 21, 2008

On February 28, 2009, Tabula Rasa will be shutting down its servers, and as of January 10, 2009, the game will be free to play.

To thank our loyal Tabula Rasa fans we’ve prepared a little closing down gift. Any active paying player as of 10:00 AM Pacific Time on November 21st, 2008 will be eligible for all of the following:

~ 3 free months of City of Heroes including digital client
~ 3 free months of Lineage II including digital client
~ Aion Exclusive Preview Event access (details coming soon)
~ Aion pre-order access (available in 2009)
~ 1 free month of Aion including digital client (available in 2009)

These offers are limited to active paying players. Subscribers who join or reactivate canceled accounts after 10:00 AM Pacific Time on November 21st, 2008 will not be eligible.

If you are an eligible Tabula Rasa player, you’ll be receiving notification directly from NCsoft in the near future with information on how to collect these thank you gifts.

If you are a player that has pre-paid for Tabula Rasa subscription time beyond January 10, 2009, you will be refunded for that pre-paid time by February 28, 2009.

Should you have further questions please don’t hesitate to contact our customer support team at http://www.plaync.com/us/help/.

From everyone at NCsoft, we’d like to thank you for the support and enthusiasm you’ve dedicated to Tabula Rasa over the last year.

Message from the Tabula Rasa Team – November 21, 2008

To the Tabula Rasa Community,

Last November we launched what we hoped would be a ground breaking sci-fi MMO. In many ways, we think we’ve achieved that goal. Tabula Rasa has some unique features that make it fun and very different from every other MMO out there. Unfortunately, the fact is that the game hasn’t performed as expected. The development team has worked hard to improve the game since launch, but the game never achieved the player population we hoped for.

So it is with regret that we must announce that Tabula Rasa will end live service on February 28, 2009.

Before we end the service, we’ll make Tabula Rasa servers free to play starting on January 10, 2009.

We can assure you that through the next couple of months we’ll be doing some really fun things in Tabula Rasa, and we plan to make staying on a little longer worth your while. For more details about what we are doing for Tabula Rasa players, please click here.

Stay tuned for more information. We thank you for your loyal support of the game and encourage you to take us up on the benefits we’re offering Tabula Rasa players.

The Tabula Rasa Team

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Playing with my Virtual Website

Nov 22, 2008 in Blog Themes, Blogging, Personal, Technology, Virtual Blogs

Now I am having fun! I decided I needed more options with my blog here at This Virtual World, as my old theme was virtually stifling as far as options. Although I did love the header design, and will possibly find a way to incorparate it into my new theme, for now I will just tweak the current design until I am happy with it. I do love lots of colour, and am trying not to add too much flare, yet still allow my own personality to show.

This Flexibility Theme gives me so many totally cool options, and features a great way to edit our theme right from our dashboard. We can change our header design, colour scheme, font size, etc. Basically we have control over just about every aspect of our blog, at the touch of our fingertips, which makes it easy for those with little html knowledge. This is a no brainer blog theme, and I highly recommend it to beginners and pros alike. It is fresh, clean and so very easy to allow our own personal creativity shine forth, giving our site a unique and professional look.

I have actually adopted this theme to three of my blogs thus far, and am very happy with the results. The designer gives options to upload nifty rss feeds, different header image backgrounds, and much more. Over all, I am a very happy blogger!

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Who wants to Tweet with me?

Nov 18, 2008 in Communications, Entertainment, Social Communities, Technology, Virtual Reality

I am a bit suprised it took me so long to discover Twitter. I have been a ‘tweeter’ for a couple of months now, and I am totally hooked. Not only am I able to connect with friends to hear the latest chatter going on in their world, I am virtually in touch with people from all over the world. We get the news as it is happening, not when it airs on TV or elsewhere. This is exciting to me! Some days I have to tune down the chitter chatter, as it is simply too much, yet most days it feels good to know what is going on. What an amazing concept!

Twitter is a great way to socialize, yet it is also good in many other ways. If one is a business person, or expecting to launch a new business or line of products, what a great way to keep people posted and get the word out. Spam is as ugly on Twitter as it is anywhere else, so keep this in mind when you feel the need to tweet. But hey, if you or someone near and dear to you is having a baby, what an exciting feeling it is to get the message as it is happening! It is so much easier to tweet, as all your friends get the message at once, since we can tweet right from our mobile devices. We can even post pictures to make things even more personal. This is just pretty darn cool!

Yep, Twitter can be addicting, and the world keeps getting smaller and smaller. So many new and innovative ways to connect in the Virtual Realms… isn’t it exciting? So, if you are not already following me (as you know I am oh so cool and fun to follow), then feel free to visit Teri at Twitter so we can hook up virtually. Also, if you wish to get the scoop on Twitter in a bigger way, visit TwitTip. Here you will find a lot of cool ways in which to tweet on twitter, and the many forms in which this can benefit everyone. Talk about modern technology taking us into hyper speed when it comes to communication. Twitterific!

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Who wants to be a Star?

Nov 15, 2008 in Childrens Games, Entertainment, Social Communities, Virtual Reality, Virtual Worlds

Hmmm… I will give my own opinion on this one, simply because so many young girls love to play dress up, and the virtual realms offer so many cool opportunities to act out their fantasies of stardom. Today I ran across Stardoll, and although at times I am disgusted with the focus on ‘pretty’, ‘beautiful’, stylish and ‘popular’, I had to admit this might be a fun way to express a young girls sense of fashion and creativity without totally turning their heads.

Online Safety for our Children

The first thing I look for when a social type site for children catches my interest, is the safety factor. It appears that if you are under 13 and register for a Stardoll membership you will automatically get a Kid Safe membership. As a Kid Safe member you have access to all doll related games and features and you can access other member’s albums and own dressed up dolls. However, in the Stardoll Kid Safe Zone you can’t write any content on your own, like your own user presentation, StarBlog, Clubs or guestbook, and you can’t access other users’ own written content. You also cannot communicate with other members using our message center or any other forum.

If you are 13 or over, you have more socializing options, yet I would strongly suggest parents monitor these activities as a matter of safety. It is good to allow our young ones some privacy, yet one never knows when that supposed ‘girl’ is really a young girl, and not a roaming predator. Even adults are easily mislead and may not recognise the danger, so it is wise to be aware and talk to our kids. The idea is to allow them to have fun, while recognizing the dangers, without creating paranoia.

What can we do at Stardoll?

So with that said, let’s take a look at what this virtual realm has to offer. First and foremost Stardoll.com is a celebrity and dress up site. Your child can choose among a big variety of celebrity dolls that he or she can dress up in a variety of ways. Stardoll is a virtual paperdoll community site for everyone who enjoys fashion, design and making friends. At Stardoll you can create your own MeDoll or choose from our ever growing collection of celebrity dolls and dress them up in our wide selection of fashions. Every celebrity doll has a wardrobe full of unique clothes and there are new dolls released every week. The membership is FREE to join and most of their members are girls between the ages of 7 and 17. Stardoll is one of few places on the Internet developed with an emphasis on girls’ self-expression through fantasy and fashion play.

Well then, who wants to be a star? You can also learn a few cool facts about your favourite celebrity, star, idol, or role model. My daughter just adores Avril Lavigne, and I think she would probably choose her as her favourite dress up doll. Anybody want to share their favourite?

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Design our very own Virtual Dream House

Nov 11, 2008 in Entertainment, Online Games, Virtual Worlds

I am always getting inquiries into Virtual Worlds and Games for young girls. Although I generally search for free worlds, occasionally I am impressed with a world which involves a small membership fee, enough to give it a try. The following Virtual World is a young designers dream, and definately worth of my attention. My daughter will go bonkers over this one, so I will share our total experience at a later date. Meanwhile I would like to give some great details straight from the site of Digital Dollhouse, where we are able to design our own Virtual Dream Houses.

Digital Dollhouse is a friendly, safe and closed online environment designed for kids of all ages. There is NO CHAT on Digital Dollhouse and members will never be able to share personal location or other information while on the website. Members can create ‘My Friends’ lists that allow them to view other member’s Digital Dollhouses and give virtual items but no text exchange can occur between members.

It’s Creative!

Digital Dollhouse is all about safe self-expression and community Digital Dollhouse empowers kids to design and furnish their own virtual houses and then change their minds and do it all over again with hundreds of different paint, furniture and wallpaper choices.

It’s Educational!

Our Digital Dollhouses are designed by cultural historians who have selected every item, from furniture to paint color, based on the house’s time period. Many items contain interesting historical facts and the player will learn about the home itself and the people who lived in it.

It’s Fun!

Digital Dollhouse empowers kids to play interior designer as they decorate their rooms – and then change their minds and do it all over again with hundreds of different paint, furniture, accessories and wallpaper choices. They will also be able to collect and purchase animated pets and characters for their homes.

It’s Social!

Members can share their creations by posting “snapshots” of their room designs to a community gallery where they can be rated by other members or enter design contests where they can receive virtual prizes. Members can also view houses as they are being designed by other Digital Dollhouse members all over the world in a safe and contained environment.

How Does It Work?

Subscription or Home Ownership We have several subscription offerings to choose from to suit different pocketbooks. Subscriptions come with Digital Dollhouse Dollars and a Parlor Suite of twenty items to get your child started right away. There is also an option to simply purchase a house outright, and that option comes with DDH Dollars as well.

Micro-Transactions

You can purchase DDH Dollars in the Boutique in varying amounts via credit card. Virtual Items can be purchased in the Boutique via credit card or DDH Dollars. (One Digital Dollhouse Dollar = 1 US cent.) Your child can also earn Dollhouse Dollars by participating in different activities on the site.

Boutique Members can buy and gift virtual furniture and other items in a advertisement free environment in the Digital Dollhouse Boutique. They can purchase virtual items with Digital Dollhouse Dollars that can be acquired as part of the subscription or given via a gift card so no need to worry that your child is actually spending real money.

“Digital Dollhouse was created as ‘wish fulfilment’ for girls,” CEO and Founder Jesyca Durchin said in a statement. “I wanted girls of all ages to have a realistic interactive environment that they could design and control, rather than a cartoon-like technological world that was controlled for them. I truly believe that beauty and technology can co-exist in amazing and wonderful new ways.”

**Personal Endnote -

This does sound fun, and a great way for girls of all ages to express their inner creativity, as well as learning how to manage their Dollhouse dollars in a responsible manner. I would greatly appreciate any feedback, thoughts and/or opinions from those who may already have a personal experience with this Virtual World for girls (and boys too, for that matter). It is free to a limited degree to check out, just so you know. Enjoy!

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My first day in Second Life

Nov 07, 2008 in Entertainment, Personal, Social Communities, Virtual Reality, Virtual Worlds

Finally! I couldn’t enter the Virtual World of Second Life when I first discovered it, as my computer was not compatable. Now that I have a new computer, and a great new upgrade on my video card, I am all set to go. Although I have been spending my play time in Tabula Rasa, I am happy to finally get a chance to explore Second Life as well.

I am still learning the ropes, yet I can see the exciting possiblilities. We are fortunate in that when we first enter the world, we arrive on a great little island full of tutorials. This gives us a chance to tweak with our Avatar until we are happy with our appearance. We can create our look, from head to toe, giving us the opportunity to express our own unique personalities. We are given an inventory folder with some accessories to get us going, so until we are comfortable with designing our own fashions, or can earn some Linden$ to buy something new, we at least have the option to wear something besides the starting outfit. I must say, my girl Geni is stylin’ and looks pretty sharp!

Right at the beginning island we are given a tutorial on how to build. I did give it a try, learning the basics, so when I am ready to take the next step I am at least a bit familiar with the process. I have a huge imagination, and I love to figure out how things work, so this will be an exciting adventure in itself. I love to build! I was even given a free house, which is pretty cool.

We are able to travel around, and we can even fly! Although we are a bit limited without Linden$, we are given handouts from money trees, and one or two other options. I have no wish to remain a beggar, so I am seriously considering upgrading to a premium account, as the amount for this option is quite reasonable, and totally worth it in my own opinion. We can get a job to earn Linden$, or start a career if we wish. People are pretty friendly, so don’t be shy about asking questions. Just watch out for sharks, as just like in real life, some people aren’t totally honest. Be careful, and you won’t get burned.

There are many places to explore, and as I am still totally new to this experience, I am ready to get out there and see what else this world has to offer. My friend Jordi over at Hiperia3D News has a Quickstart Guide to Second Life if you wish to check it out. Although I met Jordi elsewhere, he is my first friend in SL. If you are already a citizen, feel free to look me up. My name in Second Life is Genifer Quintessa. Enjoy!

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Find your favourite Rare Games and Collectables

Nov 03, 2008 in Entertainment, Gaming

Being an avid old school gamer, I tend to get excited when I run across a place where I can easily locate rare and hard to find titles of my favourite past-time, and present love of playing. Gaming is just one of my greatest passions, yet anyone who knows me can tell you how much I love to play. This is a great reason to pass along a valuable resource I found at RarityGuide.com – Rarity Guides, Price Guides, Old School Video Games Information, Collectibles and more. I can tell you, just browsing a bit sure brought back some very fond memories.

Whether you are an old school gamer like me (a lot of new school gamers I know will jump on this one as well), or even a collector, you will not be disappointed with the titles I have discovered thus far. Adventure Island III is a game I would love to get for my daughter, as I had so much fun playing this series, yet had to let go of the game and system many years ago due to a break up. I really miss those fun games, and it took years to build up my collection. This is just one game that caught my eye, yet I investigated further and found many more that I would love to revisit.

I will always love playing games, so I am bookmarking this site. RarityGuide.com has a great forum we can join to ask questions, share gaming ideas, experiences, and suggestions, possibly locate your favourite hard to find title, or just chat about your favourite game or gaming techniques. No matter what, I’ll just bet this is an interesting place to visit for all those avid gamers in the world that are just like me!

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