Makies, the customizable avatars that become 3D printed dolls, just Alpha launched, so you can go to the site and create a customized avatar of your own -- and when you're ready, you can get it printed up, and sent right to you in a tube in the mail. Makies are the brainchild of my friend the lovely and brilliant UK game design star Alice Taylor, who co-founded the company with Sulka Haro, formerly lead designer for Habbo Hotel. And Alice has a special message for readers of this blog:

"As trufans of the genre -- avatars and virtual worlds -- we're really excited and nervous to hear what your readers will think. Obviously we're at maybe 10% of what we want to be: Selections and actions are currently super alpha, but over the next 12 months we're going to be building all sorts of things: creativity tools, games, unusual items in both digital AND physical.