The Virtual Schome Environment
The Virtual Schome Environment (VSE) is where we want to go next with our work in the Schome Park Programme.
Our experiences suggest that Open Virtual Worlds (OVWs) like Second Life lack structures/mechanisms (what Richard Millwood described as magnets) to draw people in so that they became active members of the community.
Most online games have these magnets and levels - there are clear goals and lots of signposts to tell you how you are doing and what you need to do next in order to progress.
We want to see if we can develop the VSE as an OVW that has magnets and levels - so merging the best elements of OVWs with the best techniques from online games.
Useful links
Blog post re games design which suggests strategies for building social time into online games http://www.raphkoster.com/2009/01/28/ways-to-make-your-virtual-space-more-social/
