Atlantis, the underwater-themed kids community , opens it’s gates for users interested in participating in the closed beta tests (for free, of course):

Here are some screenshots, to give you some impression of what’s in store:

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I will update this space as soon as new information is released.

You will need an account on kidszone.de if you want to register for the beta there – if you don’t want to bother, drop me a note and I will add you to the list.

As auntie pixelante puts it:

achievement unlocked is a game the goal of which is just the simple accumulation of these arbitrary goals. there are a hundred. you’ll have unlocked at least two before you even start the game, at which point you’ll unlock four more: one for having started the game, one for having reached the game’s first (and only) screen, one for not having moved yet, and one for having unlocked at least one achievement.

…

all the things that satisfy the compulsive behavior publishers assume we have.

Now, as I’m in the process of implementing a MMO-light’ish platform, the topic of having achievements has been raised a couple of times in various discussions between the designer and me already… and I’m kind of undecided whether they should and would play an important role in the platform, or not.

Thinking about it, I observe how strangely fulfilling it seems to be to  just count and compare the numbers of “friends” or “buddies” in Facebook, Xing or other similar platforms, at least for some people…

Is this the true meaning of virtual life – to be friends with as many people as possible (especially if it’s as easy as inviting somebody as friend with a click of the mouse, and no obligation to do anything else afterwards – EVER)?