Avatar Reality, an organization dedicated to advancing online community building, announced the addition of virtual worlds studio Virtual Space Entertainment (VSE) to its third-party developer program.

Led by designer and "virtual futurist" Syd Mead, VSE will create the first fully functional city for Blue Mars, an upcoming "massively multiplayer virtual world" set in a terraformed Mars in the year 2177 AD, allowing players to build and simulate real-life scenarios.

Avatar Reality’s third-party developer program gives game developers, CG artists, and interested business partners an opportunity to create a in-world attractions, 3D art assets, and promotions for Blue Mars.

Blue Mars is schedule for a public beta launch at the end of 2008 and will be previewed at Avatar's Reality booth at the SIGGRAPH 2008 conference. Visitors to the VSE's virtual Blue Mars city will be able to explore and experience "the future of entertainment, social networking, commerce, and education."

Said VSE CEO Richard Childers: “We are thrilled to be developing the first city on Blue Mars. By combining the talents of our designers and the inspiration of Syd Mead’s magnificently appointed environment with Avatar Reality’s brilliant team, we expect to set a new benchmark for virtual worlds.”