Pora Ora
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Pora Ora is a free online 3D virtual world where children in the primary school age range can learn, socialise and play games.

It is, essentially, a social world where children can explore, connect with friends and have fun but, within this social world, children are encouraged to engage with educational content by a variety of means such as in-game currency, character progression and the unlocking of new levels.

Pora Ora maps all educational content to the national curriculum, allowing content to be levelled according to each user’s own ability. The game also provides meaningful and accurate reports to parents and teachers.

At the heart of the game is the childâ€™s “Pora Pal”; a pet, sidekick and guide wrapped into one whose mood and well-being depend on the childâ€™s regular gaining of knowledge. This makes learning a central element of the experience as well as compelling the child to return due to the emotional attachment formed.

The game is free to play, with advanced features available for premium subscribers later in 2011.