Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Government workshop on evaluation of broadband included Second Life users]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/06/government-workshop-on-evaluation-of-broadband-included-second-l/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/06/government-workshop-on-evaluation-of-broadband-included-second-l/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/06/government-workshop-on-evaluation-of-broadband-included-second-l/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

This morning's workshop on using broadband internet to increase the US government's transparency and citizen participation included a brand new feature -- Second Life participation.

The workshop was streamed live to the MacArthur Foundation's island in Second Life as a representative forwarded questions from the citizens over to the participants of the FCC's workshop. Second Life citizens were able to be hands on with the workshop, getting their questions sent over a specific channel to be answered as they came in.

"In developing our nation's National Broadband Plan, we are committed to finding innovative, cutting-edge ways -- both online and offline -- to reach out to the public and elicit suggestions, questions, and insight regarding our nation's broadband future," said Jen Howard, the FCC chairman's spokesperson, to New World Notes. "We are delighted that this first workshop will have an aperture into Second Life and that staff is experimenting in such ways to reach all stakeholders."

[Via GamePolitics]
Are you a part of the most widely-known collaborative virtual environment or keeping a close eye on it? Massively's Second Life coverage keeps you in the loop.

MassivelyGovernment workshop on evaluation of broadband included Second Life users originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Global Kids has been quite busy with their activities this year! They recently streamed Kofi Annan receiving the MacArthur Foundation's first International Justice Award. Not only was this event special and meaningful in the first place, but it was also fairly unique in how far it reached.

The award ceremony was broadcast to the web, Second Life on both the main grid and the teen grid, There, and Whyville! Could this be a glimpse of the future of event outreach? For more information, check out their site, Holy Meatballs!

If you have machinima or movie suggestions from any MMO, please send them to machinima AT massively DOT com, along with any information you might have about them.

MassivelyCinemassively: Global Kids Kofi Annan Simulcast to four different virtual worlds originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cinemassivelyglobal-kidsholy-meatballskofi-annanlinden-labmacarthur-foundationmain-gridmakenanew-titlesecond-lifeslteen-gridteen-second-lifetherevirtual-worldswhyvilleFri, 18 Apr 2008 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Visions of Global Justice]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/18/visions-of-global-justice/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/18/visions-of-global-justice/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/18/visions-of-global-justice/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

This coming Wednesday, 19 March, the USC Network Culture Project will feature the work of thirteen talented virtual world artists on the theme of justice, all specifically created for this event to celebrate the International Criminal Court.

The artists involved are a talented set indeed from visual, audio and performance fields: Tuna Oddfellow, AM Radio, Pavig Lok, Tooter Claxton, Juria Yoshikawa, Dancoyote Antonelli, Filthy Fluno, elros Tuominen, Chance Abattoir, Adam Ramona, Josina Burgess, Velazquez Bonetto, and Junivers Stockholm.

Continue reading Visions of Global Justice

MassivelyVisions of Global Justice originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Mar 2008 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam-ramonaam-radioartbettina-tizzychance-abattoirculturedancoyote-antonellidelia-lakeelros-tuominenfilthy-flunoglobal-kidsiccin-kenzointernational-criminal-courtsjosina-burgessjunivers-stockholmjuria-yoshikawajusticekofi-annanmacarthur-awardmacarthur-foundationpavig-lokpoliticssecond-lifesecond-life-placestheretooter-claxtontuna-oddfellowusc-annenbergusc-network-culture-projectvelazquez-bonettowhyvilleTue, 18 Mar 2008 07:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Curtain falls on "Shakespeare World"]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/08/curtain-falls-on-shakespeare-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/08/curtain-falls-on-shakespeare-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/08/curtain-falls-on-shakespeare-world/#commentsFiled under: , ,

shakespeareYou may never have heard of Arden, the brain child of Edward Castronova and now you never really will. The project was ambitious, aiming to create a MMORPG that also educated the players in the world and works of someone regarded by many as the greatest wordsmith the English language has ever seen.

According to this report in Technology Review, the virtual world failed because whilst it was crammed with educational content, no one went there because "it was no fun" and they forgot to include the puzzles and the monsters and the game-play elements. The work was supported by a $250,000 grant from the MacArthur Foundation's digital learning programme. Whilst this is pretty big money in educational grant terms, particularly in the humanities, it's a drop in the ocean when compared to the millions of dollars that go into creating the online MMORPGs that we normally review.

It is a lesson well worth remembering for everyone creating educational games, you need the educational content AND the game content. A hard balance to strike - I speak from personal experience here.

MassivelyCurtain falls on "Shakespeare World" originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ArdenDigital-LearningeducationEdward-CastronovaMacArthur-FoundationShakespeareTue, 08 Jan 2008 12:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Virtual worlds teaching kids consumerism]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/16/virtual-worlds-teaching-kids-consumerism/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/16/virtual-worlds-teaching-kids-consumerism/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/16/virtual-worlds-teaching-kids-consumerism/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Here's a CNet article about a USC panel discussion concerning how virtual worlds are affecting children, sponsored by the MacArthur Foundation, who are investing in research in virtual worlds. Telling points from the discussion:

Spaces like Club Penguin and Webkinz encourage consumerism as part of being a good citizen. Well, this is true, but let's lift our heads from the monitor and realize that American culture itself embraces that model, and virtual worlds are merely the latest iteration of that concept. If we're not careful, these things will become yet another scapegoat for undesirable behavior, just like videogames have been and continue to be.

Educators continue to extol the virtues of virtual worlds as beneficial for learning. One of the strengths of online distance learning is its ability to provide the chatroom experience, which is inherently social, with the ability to immediately gratify the desire to search for background information. Being in your class in Second Life and Googling facts at the same time brings to your education a valuable 'live' experience that is difficult to match with standard real life classrooms. Add to that the playful nature of speaking through a customizable avatar, and this is a worthy new color in any educator's palette.

Real world ugliness is promulgated throughout virtual worlds, including bullying, racism, and homophobia. The problem is that, no matter how you view virtual worlds, either as utopias or dystopias, human behavior is a learned thing, and that frequently begins at home. Respect for your fellow humans must be taught. If it isn't taught, it isn't learned. Of course online spaces are filled with abusive behavior; life itself is filled with it. Like consumerism, this is a problem that virtual worlds are only bringing into sharper relief, not engendering themselves.

[Via CNet]

MassivelyVirtual worlds teaching kids consumerism originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Nov 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rita J. KingIn the days of Second Life Insider, before becoming Massviely, we had already reported on USC microcontinent and Annenberg Island, home of the USC Center for Public Diplomacy at the Annenberg School in Second Life. We had also reported on the arrival of the MacArthur Foundation and their desire to understand virtual worlds and support activities that support their main aims that happen to operate within this environment.

Eureka Dejavu, also known as Rita J. King, is one of those exploring Second Life for the MacArthur Foundation, and as part of her work she attended Black Watch, a play and discussion about morality and violence, and the Virtual Jazz Festival hosted by the US State Department on Annenberg Island. Obviously rather different in style as well as location, but both fostering the ideals of peaceful cultural exchange rather than an exchange of bullets. Her piece makes for a good read of itself, and her blog is well worth a look as it presents a view on Second Life as a tool for developing consciousness and morality.

MassivelyPublic diplomacy through jazz in Second Life originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Nov 2007 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Black-WatchConsciousnessDancing-InkDiplomacyEureka-DejavuMacArthur-FoundationSecond-LifeState-DepartmentUSCVirtual-Jazz-FestialThu, 15 Nov 2007 15:01:00 EST