| For those of you who don't know, the Sims | | | | In Facebook, the application shows your |
| Online is undergoing a revolution. Having | | | | Avatar's details (unless you have chosen a |
| been left standing for the last few years | | | | private setting) and picture, and whether or |
| with little to no input, EA are at last | | | | not you are logged on to the game. This is a |
| re-shaping the game, and the world of | | | | useful way for players to find out who is |
| multiplayer gaming as we know it. Sound like | | | | online without having to log in themselves. |
| hyperbole? Perhaps, perhaps not; check out | | | | You can also invite other users of Facebook |
| their latest addition to the online gaming | | | | who are not already Sims Online players to |
| experience: AvatarBook. | | | | download the application and see your Avatar |
| | | | profile -- a move that EA hopes will attract |
| Facebook made flesh | | | | more people to the game. |
| | | | |
| So what is Avatarbook? Well, the clue is in | | | | For the time being, then, the bulk of |
| the name. What is one of the largest social | | | | information that can be shared is |
| networking websites on the planet at the | | | | Avatar-related. Their skills, properties and |
| moment? That's right -- Facebook. With over | | | | friends can all be viewed, and their Wall. |
| 58 million users, Facebook is the primary | | | | The identity of the real-life person behind |
| reason that many of us log on in the morning. | | | | the Avatar is kept private, at least for now. |
| But, as we all know, it has its limitations. | | | | |
| As do online games. | | | | Privacy |
| | | | |
| One problem with online games is that they | | | | Privacy is a major issue as far as EA are |
| can be too divorced from reality -- you have | | | | concerned, so at the moment Avatarbook is |
| your online friends, and your real-world | | | | fairly limited in how much information can be |
| friends, and the two remain firmly divided. | | | | shared. In the Sims game you can add people |
| Ditto Facebook -- your user-circle is limited | | | | to your friends list, which will provide them |
| by who you already know, and it's hard to get | | | | with a link to your Facebook profile rather |
| to know people outside of that circle on a | | | | than making a direct link, though that is set |
| one-to-one basis without sharing all your | | | | to change as the application grows. Also, |
| private data or being introduced by a friend | | | | nobody in EA Land (the Sims Online world |
| of a friend. | | | | where the application will be available) will |
| | | | have access to your real name - you will be |
| All that is set to change, with a new | | | | searchable only by your Avatar's name. EA |
| application that could change our networking | | | | have stated that they intend to allow players |
| community forever. When Linden Labs made | | | | to lower their privacy settings so that more |
| Linden Dollars (the currency of the hugely | | | | information can be shared, but at the moment |
| popular game Second Life) exchangeable for | | | | they're playing it safe. |
| real-world currency, they opened up the world | | | | |
| of online gaming by bringing it into the real | | | | The Future |
| world. Now EA want to do the same thing, by | | | | |
| allowing users of the Sims Online to link | | | | This application obviously shows great |
| their Avatars' accounts to their Facebook | | | | potential, and it is something that EA are |
| profiles. | | | | going to continue to develop as they gain |
| | | | feedback from users. The Sims Online game is |
| Sharing Information | | | | going through a revolution at the moment, |
| | | | with their free trial set to become permanent |
| Avatarbook has two faces -- the in-game | | | | free play in the very near future (with |
| version and the Facebook version. In-game you | | | | limited gameplay for non-payers, much like in |
| can use it much like Facebook, in that you | | | | Second Life). For years now Second Life has |
| can find other Avatars and view their limited | | | | been leading the pack in terms of innovation |
| profiles. For friends the full profiles are | | | | and social interactivity, but if EA keeps |
| visible, with walls for people to write on | | | | this up then we could be looking at a new |
| and updatable status. Your profile will also | | | | contender for the crown. After all, they did |
| show if your lot is open or not, and the | | | | come up with the two most popular games of |
| application an be used to quickly make your | | | | all time (Sims and Sims 2), so some would say |
| way around EA Land as you jump from friend to | | | | that this is less of a surprise than a |
| friend. | | | | belated homecoming. Certainly one to watch, |
| | | | at any rate. |