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Linden Lab acquires Avatars United, Enemy Unknown AB
In a move that will no doubt perplex, flummox and befuddle many media commentators and technology columnists who erroneously believed that Second Life was a Web 2.0 social networking tool, Linden Lab has acquired social networking site, Avatars United (and developers of same, Enemy Unknown AB). This also has the side-effect of shooting down any semblance of Wallace Linden's identity piece last week being an overture of a conversation, instead making it look like the usual introduction to a Linden Lab fait accompli. We've written about Avatars United on a couple of previous occasions, but never really had much call to get involved ourselves. The social networking tool includes a large number of MMOGs and non-game virtual environments, being best known for it's strong application support of open-ended space-based MMOG, EVE Online.
EVE Online achievements via Avatars United
CCP Games may not feel that an Achievements system (beyond the bragging rights with Certificates) really fits the setting of EVE Online, but it's something players can get via Avatars United, a social network for MMO gamers. More specifically, Avatars United is a social network for your avatars across a wide range of MMOs. We mentioned Avatars United and its growing EVE Online community a while back. The guys at Enemy Unknown -- the people behind Avatars United -- have built some EVE-specific apps for their users which might be of some interest our readers. These apps make use of a player's (full) API allowing the apps to access and display all sorts of character information within the Avatars United social network.
Social networking meets MMOs at Avatars United
Social networking already intersects with gaming through GAX Online, but there's a newer MMO-centric community that's growing in popularity. Combine the anonymity of being identified only as your avatar with a way to connect with gamers across many MMOs and virtual worlds, and you've got Avatars United. It's like Facebook for your virtual personas. Avatars United has found favor with a number of EVE Online players, according to an interview in the most recent issue of E-ON; EVE players account for roughly 40 percent of the sign-ups. Certainly part of the draw is that Avatars United makes use of EVE Online's API, allowing character data to be displayed along with the other features you've come to expect from a social networking space. Namely -- messaging, blogging, photos, and video. Avatars United isn't just a site for EVE gamers though, and is seeing growing popularity with players from the entire gamut of major MMO titles out there, ranging from Age of Conan to World of Warcraft.
