Web site of the week
7/30/2008 10:29:39 AM
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By Eric Goodwin

McClatchy-Tribune News Service

As China prepares to host its first Summer Games in August, Gaia Online set the stage for some games of its own.

The teen social networking Web site held its Rejected Olympics (http://www.gaiaonline.com/event/olympics200 cool , with its own irreverent spin on the age-old athletic competition.

Participants in the Rejected Olympics competed in approximately 100 Flash-based mini-games spread out over the course of the week. Some of the events include bottle cap shooting, inflating balloons and trivia questions. Clearly, athletic prowess isn't required.

Site members, including recent sign-ups (registration only requires a valid e-mail address), will choose to represent one of four teams, whose symbols make up the Rejected Olympics logo. To help users determine which team to align with, Gaia Online is releasing a series of Web comics that explain each group's storylines heading into the competition.

Clearly inspired by Japanese manga, Gaia Online is open to users 13 and older, and appeals to creative types. Members are invited to upload their artwork for other users to critique. Registered users can also explore the site's virtual world, joining groups and towns and participating in forum discussions (as always, discretion is advised). There are even town cinemas where you can watch streaming movies such as "Men In Black,""The Fifth Element" and "Space Jam."

The more you use and explore the site, the more virtual currency you accrue. Called "Gaia gold," this money can be used to update site avatars and more.

Anyone can participate in the Rejected Olympics. If winning virtual gold is as satisfying to you as earning the real thing, Gaia Online is worth checking out.

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