WebProNews

API Released for Second Life Plug-Ins

You don't hear as much about Second Life these days as you did several years ago. For a while, articles were being written left and right about how to leverage this virtual world from Linden Lab as a business tool. Lately, not so much.

Kids/Teens Drawn to Virtual Worlds, Not Marketers

What do you get when you cross a video-game with social networking? Virtual worlds – and they're no joke, particularly with younger generations who are immersing themselves in increasing numbers.

Second Life Still Alive and Kicking

Remember Second Life? While the virtual world disappeared from the media spotlight some time ago, it’s alive and well and continues to attract a new member every second. A few months back you couldn’t escape media coverage of the brave new virtual world of Second Life. Major brands were building virtual HQ’s, holding virtual meetings and developing virtual marketing campaigns. Coca-Cola, IBM and even the NBA was making its second home there.

At Least the Virtual Economy Isn't Too Bad Yet

More people might want to start using Second Life, because the economy in that world doesn't seem to be as bad as that in reality. Linden Lab, the company behind Second Life, released some data about their third quarter, with user hours reaching their highest ever.

Nickelodeon Adding Virtual Worlds

Nickelodeon is developing a virtual world based on the popular animated series "SpongeBob SquarePants."The virtual world will feature games, avatars, and social networking connected to the series. The network is also expected to launch Monkey World, a social networking and massive multiplayer game that is an original concept that is not associated with any of its current franchises.

PBS Launches Site For Young Kids

PBS has launched an online neighborhood aimed at preschoolers called PBS Kids Play. The site is currently in beta and is available to try for free. The site will become a subscription based service later this quarter and fees will be $9.95 a month, or $79 a year. The site is ad free and focuses on children ages 3 to 6. A discount to use the service is being offered if you contribute to your local public television station.

Virtual Furniture Thief Arrested

 The question of who has metaphysical jurisdiction in virtual worlds is not one so carefully addressed in Amsterdam as police have arrested a virtual criminal. In the Netherlands, at least, theft is theft and has real-world consequences.

Who Has 'Metaphysical Jurisdiction' In Second Life?

 Before the end of this sentence you will have to make a choice between the blue pill and the red pill, for as soon as we step over the period we will enter an alternate reality and it will not be easy. Lawyers are looking into virtual worlds like Second Life, studying whether the environment is suitable for regulation and asking who has "metaphysical jurisdiction."

Are Virtual Worlds Now Passe?

There are plenty of virtual worlds around and as proof one can point to the second Virtual Worlds Conference and Expo, which begins today in San Jose and runs through tomorrow.

Virtual World Marketing

I'm racing headlong to age fifty, but some days I feel older than others. Lately I have been feeling oh-so-twentieth-century whenever someone talks about marketing campaigns in virtual worlds, such as Second Life. I admit it. I just don't get it. I'm not saying that virtual worlds aren't important. I'm not even saying that marketing in virtual worlds won't go on just as it does in the real world. What I don't get is the kind of marketing that we're doing in virtual worlds.