Quick update regarding last week's announcement by Ball State University

Many of you have been asking about last week's announcement by Ball State University.  Specifically, many of you have noted that the press release was pulled earlier this week.

The press release was removed due to some contracts that have yet to be finalized and signed.  Once that happens, we will release more information about the deal.

Fix available for Blue Mars and Blue Mars Lite auto-updaters

If you have not logged into Blue Mars and/or Blue Mars Lite recently, you may run into a problem where the auto-updater tries to update the client and fail because it cannot download the necessary patch files.  We recently moved to a different file hosting service, and this is a side effect of that change.

To work around the problem, please download and run the new auto-updaters below.  Once you have successfully run the updater and patched to the new version, you can delete them from your hard drive.

Blue Mars auto-updater
Blue Mars Lite auto-updater

Blue Mars+Xbox Kinect on Display at APEC!

We're posting from the Hawaii Convention Center, where we are showing a demo of Blue Mars to thousands of international delegates attending the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) 2011 conference!

We're part of an exhibition presented by SEE-IT, a non-profit organization (founded by our CEO Henk Rogers) whose mission is to showcase and promote innovative technologies developed here in Hawaii, and encourage more science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in Hawaii's schools.

In addition to our Blue Mars, Blue Mars Lite and Blue Mars Mobile applications, we're featuring a custom-made interactive display just for APEC, using Xbox Kinect motion sensors and a giant LED screen to enable visitors to interact with our avatars using movement.

We also released a new city in Blue Mars that will let you get a virtual taste of our exhibit, so be sure to check it out!

Happy Halloween from Blue Mars!

So what are you and your avatar going to be this Halloween?
We've prepared a special treat (or trick) for this fun holiday--click on the tombstone when you first enter the Welcome Area!

(Note: This trick is best enjoyed in Full Screen mode and first-person camera view.)

We've also added a special Halloween costume in your clothing inventory under Accessory: A pumpkin head for guys and a witch hat (with a nice fuzzy texture which can be seen on the full PC version) for the girls.

Hope everyone has a great Halloween weekend...Happy haunting!

Avatar Reality Recognized for Business Innovation in Hawaii

Please see our updated blog post live from the APEC conference!


The 2011 APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) conference will be hosted in Honolulu, Hawaii, where Avatar Reality's (real life) office is located. As part of the state's efforts to promote Hawaii-based businesses to the APEC delegates, the Hawaii Business Innovation Showcase was established, to "provide an unprecedented opportunity for businesses registered in the state to showcase innovation in products and services to an international audience during APEC 2011 Leaders’ Week."

Last month, Avatar Reality was selected as one of 35 finalists from over a thousand candidates, and was recognized at an awards event, where a plaque was presented by the Mayor of Honolulu.

To commemorate this event and to share the honor with our users, we have released a virtual replica of the award plaque as a default item for everyone. You can find this item, named Apec2011_Trophy, in your inventory under the "Accessory" section (available in Blue Mars, Blue Mars Mobile, and Blue Mars Lite). You can also see the plaque displayed in the Welcome Area (right at the spawn point) in the full PC version of Blue Mars.

We would also like to take this opportunity to send a big mahalo (thank you) to everyone that has supported Avatar Reality and Blue Mars!

Transformers Wearable Items on Sale in Blue Mars

Autobots, roll out!  In collaboration with , a virtual goods licensing, marketing and distribution company, we have released wearable head and arm parts of Bumblebee, one of the main characters in the Transformers movie series.

Now your avatar can become "more than meets the eye..."

Meemo, who obtained the rights from toymaker Hasbro to produce and sell virtual goods based on the Transformers movie franchise, has teamed up with Avatar Reality to release wearable body parts of the character Bumblebee. There are 3 parts: Head, Right Arm, and Left Arm, each being sold for 500 BLU.


Here is how you can purchase these items:

•  On Blue Mars Mobile for the iPhone and iPad:
• From the display avatars:
• Click on this avatar Blink for the male version, or this one for the female version.
• When Blue Mars Mobile launches and the Bumblebee avatar shows up, tap on the Item List tab on the right-hand side.
• Tap on any of the 3 Bumblebee parts to check out and purchase.
• From the Search function:
• Tap Search on the bottom menu tray, and tap Search by Item Name.
• In the search window, enter the keyword "bumblebee."

• On Blue Mars Lite for the PC or Mac:
• From the display avatars:
• Click on this avatar Blink for the male version, or this one for the female version.
• When Blue Mars Lite  launches and the Bumblebee avatar shows up, look on the Item List on the right-hand side.
• Double-click on any of the 3 Bumblebee parts to check out and purchase.
• From the Search function:
• Click on the Item Search icon on the top menu bar, or select Window > Item Search.
• When the search window opens, enter "bumblebee" in the Keyword field.

Check out Blue Mars Lite – Now in Open Beta

We are happy to announce the launch of our open beta for Blue Mars Lite (download available here).

The most notable feature is 3D Chat, which provides a new way to meet and socialize with others. By integrating Google Street View, 3D Chat allows avatars to meet at real locations all over the world and experience them together. Upon launching Blue Mars Lite, users will have the option to explore a pre-set location, such as the Las Vegas Strip or NY’s MoMA. Or, users can create their own groups by pasting the location link from Google Maps Street View into Blue Mars Lite.

Although not currently available, users will soon be able to use a Blink (Blue Mars Link) to Tweet the location of their Waikiki Beach Party, Eiffel Tower Soiree, or any other event. Invitees would then click on the Blink and if they have Blue Mars Lite, they will be taken to the location after login. Otherwise, they will be prompted to download the client.

In addition to 3D Chat, Blue Mars Lite incorporates many of the great features already available in our mobile app:

Personalize your avatar by selecting clothes and other items or customizing its makeup

Shop thousands of clothes, accessories and other items

Vote on other avatars, or post messages in their profiles. Right-click on any avatar to open up their information window.

Use multiple search options to view or find avatars or items, including Top Rated and Best Selling

Visit your Account Settings page to update your profile or view your BLU balance

See who’s left you comments or viewed your avatar on your Information page

Blue Mars Lite is compatible with most PCs and Macs, and is a considerably smaller download than the full PC version. Also of note: Blue Mars Lite is fully integrated with the rest of Blue Mars, so you can access your existing friends lists and inventories from the other applications.

Please share screenshots and your event details with us on our FB page.