Today we have a guest post from Bro. Robbie Smith, who is on the PA DeMolay Committee for the Kingdom of DeMolay. He writes:
The Kingdom of DeMolay will be back up and running for current members as of 1/7/12. We ask that new members stay tuned, as your admission into the Kingdom will be soon. The staff has moved the Kingdom to better servers for better connections and in game physics. Everything will run a lot smother now, except for the few minor bugs that need worked out. Any bugs should be reported to KingdomOfDeMolay@gmail.com.
The next Round Table will be held on January 15, 2013. Anyone who attends will be given a free in game Flying Dragon. Please come and bring your ideas, comments, questions and concerns.
I received this from Bro. Robert Smith, Kingdom of DeMolay Committee member.
The Kingdom of DeMolay is going to be down from 12/12/12 until further notice. We are going to "InWorlds" for better connection and to get rid of the bugs. Anything you have in the Kingdom will be returned to your inventory. The new website will be www.kingdomofdemolay.org when it goes live. I will update you on any further information when it becomes available.
Today, I'm pleased to have a special guest post. Bro. Robbie S., from Westmoreland Chapter located in Greensburg, PA, has taken to the Kingdom of DeMolay like a fish to water. He, as well as several PA DeMolays, are very active in the Kingdom and they wanted to give everyone an update on what's going on with the program.
The Kingdom of DeMolay is a virtual world where anything is possible. You can talk with brothers from far out lands. You can also build almost anything and have fun. A recent event included a Halloween themed region with festivities for the whole community!
Many regions and islands span the Kingdom of DeMolay world. Each DeMolay Jurisdiction gets its own sandbox region to let the Brethren create their own content. The possibilities for creativity are endless! Currently the Kingdom is open to any suggestions to tailor the experience to its players. Developers have put many hours and much imagination into creating the Kingdom. Now its up to you to shape it the way you want.
On Thursday, November 8th, 2012 there will be a open "round-table" where anyone who wants to express their ideas and concerns may do so. The meeting will convene at 7 pm and run for about two hours. The round-table will take place in the kingdom of DeMolay on Faith Island.
Everyone should make it a goal to get a brother signed up for the Kingdom of DeMolay. With each Brother that joins the Kingdom of DeMolay, the more fun we all will have. See you online!
We have been talking about "the Kingdom of DeMolay" for a couple of months now. What is the Kingdom? In short, it's an initiative being financed by DeMolay International that includes funding for marketing, advertising, and invigorating the DeMolay program. One of the largest components of this push was the development of a virtual 3D world based on the Second Life engine.
What does that mean in lay speak? Well, think of it like the SIMS or perhaps World of Warcraft (albeit with less fighting and no monsters.) Once released, any DeMolay or Advisors with a DeMolay ID Number will be able to log into the virtual world and participate. DeMolay ID Numbers are issued automatically to everyone affiliated with the program, so you should already be good to go when the product fully launches next year.
In the mean time, DeMolay International asked for several testers to begin entering the world and working out the kinks. Each jurisdiction was allowed to nominate some testers, including Pennsylvania. Right now, "Dad" Tom Labagh, "Dad" Zack Panitzke, Matt Blaisdell, Alex Rauschenberger and myself have all be granted access. We've been busy looking at the environment with a critical eye and trying to find ways to make it better for DeMolays when open access occurs.
It really is an interesting addition to the DeMolay program. I was quite skeptical at first, but the more time I spend in the realm, the more I find to do and explore. There are still lots of glitches, but the amount of control is amazing. You can build anything you want and modify almost any portion of the game. What was the first thing I did? Figure out how to build a fez of course! We are already developing plans for a virtual Patton Campus to build inside the Kingdom, so DeMolays from all over the country can visit our greatest physical asset!
Keep your eyes on this blog and over on Facebook for even more updates as we continue to explore and enhance the Kingdom of DeMolay. If you have any questions about the program, leave them here in a comment or shoot an email to webmaster@pademolay.org and I'll be glad to answer them!
Many of you have heard inklings about a project known as "The Kingdom of DeMolay." Rather than go into specific details about it here, I'll refer you back to a previous blog post, written by "Dad" Tom Labagh, EO of PA DeMolay. In that post he talks about the background of the program and some of the finer points of what this exciting new way of promoting DeMolay is going to be like.
Recently, we came across some more test videos for the program and wanted to share them here with all of you. Remember - this program is for the active DeMolays and young men who may be interested in what we do. So, check it out and let us know what you think so far!
First up, we have a wide, sweeping view of the forests and vales of the Kingdom of DeMolay:
Check out this view of an armored DeMolay Knight, receiving the "blessing" of a ghostly hand.
Wow - this 3D interactive tour of castle ruins is pretty awesome! ... and check out that knight!
Here is another amazing view of the ruins - check out the water effects and the armor on those guys!
Holy cats! This cloister scene is fantastic - plus, you'll get to see a familiar face staring back at you from times long past!
Now, for the grand finale, we have the first preview of the Castle of Mont St. Michel (which really exists in France) and serves at the centerpiece for the Kingdom of DeMolay thus far.
If this doesn't get you excited about the Kingdom of DeMolay project, I don't know what will!
Have you heard about the KINGDOM OF DeMOLAY, yet? The KINGDOM OF DeMOLAY is a developing online virtual world, or community, where DeMolays, Advisors, Sweethearts and possibly even prospects will be able to gather and meet and interact using avatars (simulated characters) for gaming and competition, discussion, socialization and learning. Yes, learning-- this is not just a video game-- and the possibilities of this are mind-bending.
Can you imagine going to a DeMolay meeting, without ever leaving your home?
Or a Ritual practice? Or a soccer game? Or a sailing competition?
NO? THEN, WATCH THIS, and come back to read the rest of this blog!
Interesting, isn't it? Just a little tiny peek at what is being "built" for us.
John E. Lester is the lead programmer on the project. He is well-known in the development of the Second Life community. His biography is included in the PDF file of an explanatory PowerPoint program presented to me at the Executive Officer's Conference. Check it out, here. http://www.deldemolay.org/flyers/DeMolayInternationalMarketingPresentation.pdf
The Graphic Designer of this Kingdom
RJ Kikuchiyo, is a 20 year veteran of 3D design for media. His real-world experience in machining and set design for the film industry adds to the ability to use the tools effectively and produce works of realism depicting historic and accurate objects and places. He now finds the virtual reality world known as “Second Life” to be a creative expression of experience that can be shared, and he is using his skills in the tools of "Second Life" to animate an incredibly realistic environment for the KINGDOM OF DeMOLAY.
Here you can see a tentative Map of the Kingdom has been revealed. It is complex, and will have multiple levels of play and interaction. Prospects and non-affiliated parties will be able to explore a basic level, and members will be able to progress further into the realm, and to access features reserved only for members.
The following test videos will show you more of the complexity of the site where DeMolays will be able to meet and interact:
RHODES FLY-OVER
RHODES OLD TOWN GRAND MASTER'S PALACE
And, yes, it does look like that-- Dad Williamson and Dad Boyce and I were there a few years ago!
Here is an unsolicited (and very complimentary) review of the development of the Kingdom of DeMolay by someone who is active in the Second Life virtual reality world. He talks a language that I don't fully comprehend, but what I do understand further convinces me that DeMolay International is on the right track with a first-class team of visionaries who are going to give DeMolay International something that no other youth organization has!
Here is a link to a blog written by ONE of the animators or designers (of HAIR no less!) The video she refers to was removed, but, read of her enthusiasm for the project! This is new ground being plowed-- this is a cutting edge world, and people OUTSIDE of our usually secluded fraternal community are looking in and getting excited about something WE are doing! This hasn't happened for DeMolay since before Dad Land died in the late 1950s!
These are just a few glimpses of something that I think will be very exciting for the DeMolay program. DeMolay International has committed a very large amount of funding to this project, which also includes some traditional radio, TV and poster-style promotion. Hopefully it will also make use of a marketing campaign on Facebook and other social media.
It will take a long time to build all the details of the Kingdom, and then it will take a lot of members using it to make it really valuable to us all. Look for details in the future months, and we hope everyone can be active in the Kingdom by the new year!
