Community

Are you interested in connecting with us?  Here is an epic list of the different ways you can interact with Akoha!  Note: We’ll keep on editing this list as we add/change/remove accounts and notify you accordingly.

Frequently updated accounts

We use these accounts on a regular basis to give updates on where we are and to interact with others:

• Akoha blogs: We’re blogging regularly at http://community.akoha.com.  We usually blog 3 to 5 times a week, but we promise that we won’t flood you with posts.  Blogs are the best way to get news and updates about Akoha before anyone else does.  You can subscribe to the feeds on that page.
• Akoha forums: You can hang out and discuss with other Akohans at http://forums.akoha.com.  This is a good way to get connected with others and to share your Akoha experiences.
• Akoha twitter account: We’re pretty active on Twitter.  Our account can be found at http://www.twitter.com/akoha.  If you add us, we’ll add you in return.
• Akohans Twittering:  Many of us on Akoha are Twittering as well.  You can find additional team blogs and Twitter accounts on the Akoha team page here.
• Your voice: We have a GetSatisfaction account that you can access here: http://getsatisfaction.com/akoha

Akohans on Akoha

You can find the Akoha team on Akoha as well!

• Alex, Chaos Wrangler
• Anthony, Unix Pipefitter
• Austin, Executive Instigator
• Benoit, Frontend Ninja
• Eric, Chief Geek
• Georges, Simplicity Engineer
• Harlene, Taskrobat,
• Juan, Software Janitor
• Malini, Apprentice Ninja
• Martin, Python Charmer
• Mélanie, Professional Vandal
• Maxime, Apprentice Frontend Code Wrangling Ninja Instigator
• Rosalie, Assistant Controller
• Sean, Community Gardener
• Simon, Drunken Master
• Todd, El Luchador Financiero

Other accounts

We check these accounts periodically:

• Facebook: We have a Facebook account that we’ve quite a bit in the past.  We will be looking for new and creative ways to use this account to keep you all updated.
• Microblogs: We’re on Plurk, pownce and Identi.ca, though we’re not yet actively using these accounts, we’re looking at doing so.  Help us by telling us what you’d like to see.  Feel free to add us as well, so we can get started!

We also like to have fun

• Flickr: You can find pictures of us on Flickr.  We usually update this account once or twice a quarter.
• MySpace Music: We even have an Akoha Myspace page!  Akoha team members can post music that they’ve done or are working on.  We use this account purely for fun

Are we missing a network that we reaaaaally should be on?  Let us know!  Now you know how to reach us!

Dear Akohans,

The Akoha forums have just opened! You can now enjoy another place to get together with other members of the community.  The forum itself can be found at http://forums.akoha.com and you should probably read the rules first.

Once you’ve read the rules, check out the “Introduce yourself” thread and tell everyone a bit about yourself!

You can also access the site by going to http://community.akoha.com and clicking on Forums. You can also visit the forums directly at http://forums.akoha.com.

You’ll find a place to discuss missions, to talk about your Akoha experiences, to ask questions, or simply give suggestions to us or to others.

The forum is in total beta mode; there are many features that we’re planning to add when we get a chance (such as RSS and Email notification).

See you there!

Excited about Akoha and want to share it with the world?  We love it!  We’ve had great posts already that not only showcase Akoha, but also have neat pictures of Akoha cards in action.

We advise you to smudge out or remove Mission or Deck IDs from pictures or videos if you can.  This way, stealthy ninjas can’t try and claim your cards.

Enjoy and keep playing it forward!

Woo hoo!  We went through the mission queue and accepted many missions today.  You’ll find them by clicking on the Mission HQ tab inside Akoha.

The new missions are:

• Bust a bone marrow myth by Tamu
• Help someone by TAK
• Cheer someone up by TAK
• Give someone a hug by TAK
• Give Someone a Greeting Card by targeteer2k
• Pay someone a compliment by Tamu
• Invite Someone for Ice Cream by danielmilner
• Cook Dinner for Someone by cc
• Say You’re Sorry by comechi
• Tutor someone by lance
• Give a Friend a Memory by targeteer2k
• House cleaning help by conniecrosby
• Give someone bacon by boris
• Give someone a cookie by josh
• Invite Someone for Lunch by xurxo
• spend some time by Annieimp
• Send the next table a dessert by skinnyjeans
• Share a recipe by skinnyjeans
• Make someone a smoothie by skinnyjeans
• Make breakfast for someone by dgryski
• Give someone a Back Massage by fred
• Sing Someone Happy Birthday by janafalls
• Call up an old friend by tilman
• Give Someone a Cup of Tea by xutopia

At the bottom of the mission list, you’ll see a “See more” link.  By clicking on that, you’ll be able to see all approved missions.

Enjoy!

Akohans,

This post contains guidelines that will help you suggest great missions. The primary reason why we’re moderating missions is to make Akoha safe. We want to make sure that you, the player, are able to play missions with confidence. We also want to make sure that the missions are good in nature and inspire others to play them forward.

With this in mind, let’s talk about good mission attributes:

• It can be played forward. This is a mission that someone can easily pass from one person to the next. It is usually has a “one-to-one” ratio, meaning that you play it from one person to another person.
• It is good-natured, and is “a launch pad for kindness”. We want a mission library that promotes good actions in the world, although if your missions is especially fun or witty but still good-natured in spirit, we may let it pass.
• It allows everyone to benefit their own cause, not your particular one. “Donate to the Red Cross In Someone’s Name” won’t get accepted. “Donating to a Charity In Someone’s Name” will.

There are many mission types that are great in principle but does not work with our game play. “Donate Money to the Red Cross”, while perhaps noble in its intent, would not be approved for two reasons. First, it cannot be played forward. Secondly, it directly benefits a particular organization. Instead, the mission “Give To A Charity of Your Choice In Someone’s Name” would be more appropriate.

Successful missions are ones that prompt you to do an action for someone.

These are some of the reasons why missions might not be approved:

• Missions with religious and philosophical undertones will be rejected. We want to keep Akoha non-denominational for the time being.
• Political missions will probably not be approved. We want non-partisan missions.
• Missions that are not in English will be rejected. We do not want to alienate anyone who does not speak English, we’re simply not yet ready to handle other languages for the time being.
• Offensive, creepy or hostile missions will be rejected, no questions asked.
• Non-violent missions are essential. No room for debate on this one.
• We will not be approving missions that fall within grey areas, or subjective categories, for the time being. We’re simply not ready to accommodate these types of missions right now.
• Anything else that we haven’t thought of that might not uncool.

We hate rules just as much as you do, but safety needs to come first, especially while we’re all at such an early stage of the game.

Once you’ve got a great mission to suggest, you’ll need to get three things ready.

1. The mission title. For example, “Give Flowers To Someone”
2. The description. Think of this as a subtitle, a short and fun description of the mission. For example, “Flower Power”
3. The mission pitch. This is the description of the mission. It should include a description on how it can be played forward, why this mission needs to be sent out to the world, and anything else you can think of that would prompt complete stranger to play this mission.

As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions.

Thanks!