This document provides an overview of Cosmos, a proposed virtual world for 8-12 year olds. It describes Cosmos as a browser-based MMORPG set in a fictional deep space universe where players can create alien avatars to explore planets, customize homes and vehicles, and participate in games and missions. Key aspects summarized include The Embassy, which acts as a central hub; the various planets that can be explored; exciting space missions players can participate in; opportunities for creative expression and making friends; customizing one's home and avatar; and the business plan, which involves a freemium model with subscription packages that unlock additional features.

1. An exciting, new and unique online virtual world for 8-12 year olds

2. 2 What is Cosmos? Cosmos is a new and original browser-based MMORPG for 8-12 year olds set in a fictional ‘deep space’ universe. It is free to play with an option to pay a subscription fee in order to unlock more features in the game. Children playing the game create and customize their own unique alien avatar which they use to explore planets in the Cosmos universe and create their own. The universe will support thousands of other players simultaneously making for an exciting shared experience for players and their friends. An ever expanding universe full of games and missions, customizable homes and vehicles, the chance for players to share content and much more makes Cosmos a stimulating and absorbing new game for children worldwide. We know that for children the mysterious setting of outer space is an exciting concept, and the Cosmos Universe gives them the opportunity to explore a fantasy version at their own will, as well as own their own piece of it.

3. The Embassy New players spawn at ‘The Embassy’; the biggest building in Cosmos, everything about the game can be found out here. Designed like an actual embassy with different floors for forums, general enquiries, complaints, money etc. Initially players find themselves at the ‘Flight Arrival Area’ when they first create an account. Similar to an arrivals lounge, here they can partake in a tutorial explaining all the different things they can do in Cosmos and make quick friends with other players who are also starting out. Automated characters will be positioned here to welcome new players and give advice on home creating, vehicle and character customisation and the best places to visit as a new player. This will let the player become comfortable with the new universe and will also excite them to leave the embassy and start exploring, just like stepping out of an airport in to a new country.

4. The Embassy The biggest building in Cosmos, everything about the game can be found out here. Designed like an actual embassy with different floors for forums, general enquiries, complaints, money etc. Users must enter an elevator which will give them an option for a floor, once selected the elevator will either open up to the floor or users will be directed to another space (for forums and other aspects that can not be contained in the virtual world). The main floor will act as a welcome area. On this floor there will also be help desks. The second floor will be the area to access to forums, where users will be directed to the forum web page and can easily return to game play once they are done. The third floor will be for complaints, users will again be directed to a page to make a complaint and then returned to gameplay when finished.

5. The Cosmos Universe There will be many planets available to explore, each one completely different to the last, making for an exciting exploration of worlds within a virtual world itself. These worlds will include: an ocean planet, a fire planet, a mountainous planet, a gaseous planet, a junk yard planet, and many more. From the launch of the game onwards, every few months a new planet will be ‘discovered’ and made available to explore. While these planets will not be available to players as free roaming landscapes, the sectors and scenes made available to players will have all sorts to see and do.

7. Exciting space missions Players can play a wide array of mini games and space missions to earn in game money and to become the top of the High Scores Leader Boards. Who will be the best on their planet, and ultimately, the best in the universe? … From simple mini games to more difficult space and planet based missions, there are hours of fun to be had for every skill set, with the added bonus of collecting in game money for beating other players. Some of these games involve your personally modified space craft and alien avatar, for example a battle arena and space race games, making the gaming experience more personal based on how well customized your avatar and space ship are. Keeping the game appropriate to the target age group, any violence depicted in the game will be of a cartoon nature, free of any blood or genuine horror. This keeps the mood of the game light hearted as well, a very important factor to making the game popular.

8. Getting creative As well as holding FAQ’s and general discussion (on the topic of the game and also general chat) the players’ message board will encourage those who use it to upload and share videos and pictures relating to the game. Regular competitions will be held to award user generated content with in game currency and a front page spot in ‘The Cosmos Gazette’; the universe’s weekly electronic newspaper which can be accessed in the game for free. The message boards are regulated by a team of moderators who both enforce the forum rules and award prizes to competition entrants. All of this intends to strengthen the inter-planet and universal community aspect we aim for players to enjoy.

9. Making new friends safely Meeting new friends and chatting in Cosmos is easy. Players can roam around the provided areas on planets and start chatting when and where they wish, even during multiplayer games. There will be areas on each planet created specifically for meeting other players. Players will have a 'Space Licence' with a certain amount of points on (much like a driving licence). If players are caught abusing the rules of Cosmos then they will lose points according to severity. Once all points are lost, players will be banned either temporarily or have their account deleted completely and all unused in game currency refunded. Players will also be watched over by moderators. While some moderators will clearly be visible to users (appearing as astronauts), most will be undercover in order to secretly monitor their natural bahaviour.

10. Making new friends safely Temporarily banned players may still access Cosmos but will be automatically sent to the 'Sub Zero' level of the embassy, where there will be automated characters and signs to instruct players on how to behave. Players must take a quick quiz on the rules of Cosmos before they can return to the game (and after their ban has timed out). There will also be an area for players to 'cool off'. They will be sent here by moderators as a warning before being banned. This area will be a relaxing zone where a player will be alone for a set amount of time (chosen by the moderator over-seeing the player) and will be returned to gameplay when they have calmed down.

11. This is a very basic mock up of the player interface we plan to use in the game:

12. Home sweet home Every player is given their own living space and space ship on a planet of their choice. By giving players a chance to choose the planet they live on they will have the chance to be part of unique communities that will differ from planet to planet. They can customise and furnish their living spaces and vehicles using the in game currency space dust. Dedicated stores in game offer a wealth of items and decorations for players to purchase for their homes, as well as workshops where they can choose to modify their current vehicle or purchase new ones. With an especially large range of customizable avatar features, every player is encouraged to make their personal alien as unique as possible; no two avatars will be the same.

13. Home sweet home Personal living spaces and every other building in Cosmos will have strange and foreign styles of architecture and appearance, here is a mock up example:

14. An ever expanding universe The Cosmos universe will be updated and developed constantly with new ‘sectors’ on planets opening regularly, bringing with them new games, new hang out spots and plenty more. Some of these new sectors and ‘newly discovered planets’ will be restricted to players with a paid membership only. Paying players will also have the choice to vote which planets are ‘scouted’ next, this way they have a say in how the game progresses and what new possibilities are given to them.

15. Business plan We plan to use a ‘freemium’ business model, wherein players who play without a paid subscription are paid for by the players who choose to pay. There are three subscription packages that players can choose from: Three Months: £12.99 One Month: £4.99 Six Months: £24.99 As an additional source of income we will also have advertisements running alongside the game for players who do not pay a subscription fee. While smaller amounts of ‘space dust’ can be obtained in the game through various achievements, larger amounts can be bought with real money as well in a dedicated floor in The Embassy.

17. A wider range of modifications for the player’s vehicle as well more new vehicles to purchase

18. The option to move your home to another planet

19. The option to create your own planet

20. Sums of free ‘space dust’ each month depending on subscription fee

21. Exclusive access to new content (‘newly discovered planets’)

22. As well as the ability to vote for new content where non-paying players can’t

23. Space pets.We have produced the following flow chart to show how our business plan works.

25. Thanks for watching