Here is a quick overview and educational resources for the Open Encounters skills challenge games that are currently available in Second Life. They are listed alphabetically by their related technologies.

This is handy reference for when you are not in world. But, the best thing to do is just teleport into Second Life and take the challenge.

New games will be continually be added, so check back often.

Blue Gene Tower (1 point)
Educational material: Chapter One: Advanced POWER Virtualization Redbook

Tiny Tux the penguin needs some direction! Touch him to start the game and help him through the maze. Questions will appear in a popup. Answer each question by selecting the button that corresponds to the correct answer. After answering a question, a new one will appear automatically. Correct answers put Tiny Tux on the right path; incorrect answers land him in a dead end!

Deep Blue Trivia (1 point)
Educational material: Linux on POWER overview

Select the square, answer the question, and win the game! Touch the game board to start, then touch a Tic Tac Toe square to select a corresponding question. Questions will appear in a popup. Answer each question by selecting the button that corresponds to the correct answer. Touch another square to answer another question. Correct answers put an "O"in the selected square; incorrect answers put an "X" in that square. Get three "O"s in a row, and you win the game!

The Power of Deep Computing (2 points)
Educational material: IBM Blue Gene video

Do you rule like a king? Click the crown to start the game, and then touch a red jewel to initiate a pop-up that contains a related question. Answer each question by selecting the button that corresponds to the correct answer. After answering a question, touch another jewel to view a new one. Answer correctly, and you'll find that you're rich in jewels! Answer incorrectly, and take nothing but rocks.

Blossoming Grid (1 point)
Educational material: GridCafe: How does it work?

It’s time to stop and smell, and touch, the roses to start the game. Questions will appear in a popup. Answer each question by selecting the button that corresponds to the correct answer. After answering a question, touch another petal to view a new question. Correct answers give you a sweet-smelling bouquet. Answer incorrectly, and things get thorny!

Control the Grid (1 point)
Educational material: GridCafe: How does it work?

Hmm, it looks like Gizzy, who normally mans the controls, has gone to lunch. Guess you'll have to step in! Sit in the control room chair to start. Your mission is to prioritize tasks that control this grid computing system. Some are top priority, with lives hanging in the balance, and need to be handled immediately. Some tasks are important, but can be tabled until critical issues are handled. Other tasks are worthwhile activities, but low priority. It's Gizzy's job, and now yours, to make sure each task is prioritized appropriately, ensuring the grid allocates the power needed to get through the critical tasks first.

Tasks will appear in a popup. Select a priority level for each by selecting the button that corresponds to the correct level. After answering a question, a new one will appear automatically. If you get through the priority tasks, the Earth continues to revolve on its axis. If you don't? Well, let's just say up will be down, and right will be left and other catastrophes!

Grid Evolution Search (1 point)
Educational material: GridCafe: What is the Grid?

Your mission, should you choose to accept it: follow the trail to freedom! Sit in the "Search and Destroy" hot seat to begin. Questions will appear in a popup. Answer each question by selecting the button that corresponds to the correct answer. Correct answers bring you closer to freedom; incorrect answers end your mission prematurely.

Grid Technology Ups and Downs (1 point)
Educational material: GridCafe: What is the Grid?
What it can do

Play time! Sit on the see saw to start the game. Questions will appear in a popup. Answer each question by selecting the button that corresponds to the correct answer. After answering a question, a new one will appear automatically. Correct answers bring you close to a nearby treetop so you can grab a piece of fruit. Incorrect answers leave you hungry!

Rise to the Top with Information Management (1 point)
Educational material: DB2 Hello World tutorial

Can you get safely back to the ground? Have a seat and touch the elevator control pad to start the game. Questions will appear in a popup. Answer each question by selecting the button that corresponds to the correct answer. After answering a question, click the elevator control to view the next question. Correct answers will help you get to the ground. Incorrect ones will see you rise - don't get stuck up in the air!

S’more Fun with Information Management (1 point)
Educational material: DB2 Hello World tutorial

Want s'more? We thought so! Sit on a log and touch the fire to get toasty! Touch each ingredient to view a question. Questions will appear in a popup. Answer each question by selecting the button that corresponds to the correct answer. After answering a question, click another ingredient to view a new question. Correct answers yield the perfect blend of marshmallow, chocolate, and graham crackers. Answer incorrectly, and your sweet dreams burn up.

Navigating Linux (1 point)
Educational material: About Linux Standard Base

Tiny Tux the penguin needs some direction! Touch him to start the game and help him through the maze. Questions will appear in a popup. Answer each question by selecting the button that corresponds to the correct answer. After answering a question, a new one will appear automatically. Correct answers put Tiny Tux on the right path; incorrect answers land him in a dead end!

The Search for Linux (2 points)
Educational material: linux.conf.au programme

Your mission, should you choose to accept it: follow the trail to freedom! Sit in the "Search and Destroy" hot seat to begin. Questions will appear in a popup. Answer each question by selecting the button that corresponds to the correct answer. Correct answers bring you closer to freedom; incorrect answers send you back to captivity.

SOA Reference Architecture (2 points)
Educational material: Book intro   Terminology   Podcast: Advantages of SOA

SOA is the hottest thing going, and this game provides you with access to three great resources to learn SOA basics. Right-click and touch the puzzle to access the SOA questions and reveal the SOA blueprint. Each question will appear in a popup. Select your answer by clicking on the button that corresponds to your answer. After answering a question, a new one will appear automatically. Correct answers reveal a piece of the SOA blueprint; incorrect answers leave you needing to know more!

The Art of the Sale (1 point)
Educational material: Video 1   Video 2   Video 3

Think you're ready to care for a mainframe? Complete a short self-paced eLearning module, then take a seat and find out. Questions will appear in a popup. Answer each question by selecting the button that corresponds to the correct answer. After answering a question, a new one will appear automatically. Answer correctly and your server environment will function properly. Answer incorrectly and you face a meltdown!

The Case of the Missing Millions (1 point)
Educational material: Power of Many video
Cost comparison article

Think you have what it takes to run a detective agency? Pull up a chair, have a seat, and see if you can solve the mystery after watching an animation and reading a short article. Once you are seated, questions will appear in a popup. Answer each question by selecting the button that corresponds to the correct answer. After answering a question, a new one will appear automatically. Answer correctly and you can proudly call yourself a gumshoe. Answer incorrectly, and you'll just find yourself wearing cement shoes.

Entering the Mainframe Habitat (1 point)
Educational material: Mainframe Environment

Think you're ready to care for a mainframe? Complete a short self-paced eLearning module, then take a seat and find out. Questions will appear in a popup. Answer each question by selecting the button that corresponds to the correct answer. After answering a question, a new one will appear automatically. Answer correctly and your server environment will function properly. Answer incorrectly and you face a meltdown!

The Invasion (1 point)
Educational material: Take back control video   Office Observer video   Virtualization article

Is your world being overrun with servers? Watch two short videos and read an overview of virtualization technology. When you're ready to start the game, right-click and “touch” the mainframe (the biggest box in the middle of the room). Then right-click and “touch” a server to receive a new question via a popup. Answer each question by selecting the button that corresponds to the correct answer. After selecting an answer, click another server to view another question. Answer correctly and you'll take back control of your organization. Answer incorrectly, and you'll find yourself drowning in hardware!

Mainframe Dating Game (1 point)
Educational material: Dating game video

Are you involved in a fulfilling IT relationship and want to help others? Watch three short dating videos, then sit in the comfy chair to start the game and see if you have what it takes to assist three IT professionals locate their soul mate. Questions appear via chat. Answer each question by touching the picture of the person who made the statement in one of the videos you watched. After answering a question correctly, a new one will appear automatically. Answer correctly and consider yourself a master IT matchmaker. Answer incorrectly, and consider taking a refresher course to build your IT love connection skills!

Mainframe Processing Abounds (1 point)
Educational material: Mainframe tutorial

Do you understand the characteristics of mainframe processors? Complete a short self-paced eLearning module. Touch the book to start the game and find out if you're on the right page! Questions will appear in a popup. Answer each question by selecting the button that corresponds to the correct answer. After answering a question correctly, a new one will appear automatically. Answer correctly and you turn to the next page. Answer incorrectly and you see just what Fahrenheit 451 is all about!

Stay Secure with Tivoli Access Manager
(1 point)
Educational material: Tivoli Access Manager overview

Step right up, step right up! Dare you face ... The Tiger Pit? Sit on the tire swing to start the game. Questions will appear in a popup. Answer each question by selecting the button that corresponds to the correct answer. After answering a question, a new one will appear automatically. Correct answers keep you away from the hungry beast; answer incorrectly and you might be lunch!

Harness the Power of Web 2.0 (1 point)
Educational material: What is Web 2.0

Are you ready for some extreme learning? Touch the climbing harness to begin your ascent to the top! Questions will appear in a popup. Answer each question by selecting the button that corresponds to the correct answer. After answering a question, a new one will appear automatically. Correct answers give you a boost, while incorrect answers knock you down a notch.

Matching Mashup (2 points)
Educational material: Ultimate mashup tutorial

Time to match wits against the system! Click the center square in the game board to start. Click a tile on the board to flip it over, and then flip another to try and match the tiles. Successfully pair every tile on the board to answer the final question. Answer it by selecting the button that corresponds to the correct answer.

Web Services Campfire (1 point)
Educational material: Ultimate mashup tutorial

Want s'more? We thought so! Sit on a log and touch the fire to get toasty! Touch each ingredient to view a question. Questions will appear in a popup. Answer each question by selecting the button that corresponds to the correct answer. After answering a question, click another ingredient to view a new question. Correct answers yield the perfect blend of marshmallow, chocolate, and graham crackers. Answer incorrectly, and your sweet dreams burn up.

XML Basic Ingredients (1 point)
Educational material: Intro to XML tutorial

If I knew you were coming, I'd have baked a cake! Touch the mixing bowl to start mixing it up. Touch each ingredient to view a question. The ingredient hover text will tell you how many servings you need. After answering a question, click another ingredient to view a new question. Answer correctly and things start cooling. Answer incorrectly, and it all falls flat!