![]() “The technology origin myths say that the Model T Ford made cars, books made e-commerce and pornography made VHS. The Telegraph (UK) – Advertisers pile into augmented reality. The size of the Asian virtual goods market reached $7 billion in 2009.”Ĩ. “While virtual goods have been driving revenues in Asia and Europe for years, 2009 will be remembered as the year virtual goods-based businesses began to scale in the United States,” said Insight network editor Justin Smith in a statement. virtual goods market doubled in size from 2008, to reach $1 billion this year, according to a new report from Inside Network. Hypergrid Business (Hong Kong) – Virtual goods hit $1 bil in U.S. ![]() Whether they play with strangers, friends or alone, Warcraft’s polished virtual world proves easy to get into and hard to get out of.”ħ. Players create characters and develop them over time, forging relationships with other gamers and going on quests to gain experience or loot. And each of them pays developer Blizzard Entertainment $15 per month for the privilege. They embark on epic adventures, battle other players or just hang out. More than 11.5 million players from around the world, from all walks of life, spend hours a day in the world of Azeroth. 23, 2004, the massively multiplayer online role-playing game has set the standard for the genre. ![]() “After five years, it’s hard to imagine a world without World of Warcraft. Wired (USA) – World of Warcraft Quests Remain Compelling, 5 Years On. After a dismal September 2009 the industry has seen the first signs of turn-around as initial Q4 sales data is starting to come in.”Ħ. When the recession hit it wasn’t immune, but the gaming growth curve lasted longer, and has kicked back in sooner, than many other industries. Shortly before the recession kicked in computer gaming overtook movies in entertainment spending, and was on track to surpass music too. This trend has affected almost all industries, with computer gaming being one of the few exceptions. “News headlines for the past year have been dominated by the effects of the global recession. Marketing Web (South Africa) – Real-world value of virtual markets. And they include nifty extras like embedded external video, as well as voice technology.”ĥ. The environments Corporation Pop creates can be used for anything from team training and game-based learning to consultations and ceremonies. So, even when individuals are hundreds of miles apart, they can almost shake hands thanks to their virtual avatars. That’s why UK-based Corporation Pop is making use of the Second Life platform providing a secure place for folk to meet and communicate. Its private beta begins in less than 30 days.”Ĥ. Next Island will be the “planet” going live in the virtual universe. That means it has licensed virtual world technology from MindArk, whose technology is behind Planet Calypso, which until now has been the only virtual world in the Entropia Universe. The company is announcing today that it is building a world in MindArk’s massively multiplayer online virtual universe, Entropia Universe. But this sci-fi adventure paradise comes with an interesting twist: time travel. “Next Island is the latest company to launch an ambitious virtual world. VentureBeat (USA) – Next Island to launch sci-fi adventure virtual world - with time travel. Stationary bikes take cyclists on virtual rides through scenic routes, and provide the opportunity to compete in a virtual race against the cyclist beside you or in the next country.”ģ. Even those without a smartphone can hop on the technology bandwagon: Nike and Apple have teamed up to track runners’ stats through an in-shoe transmitter and an iPod. And runners aren’t the only exercisers being courted by technology: There are smartphone apps for cyclists, gym junkies, triathletes and swimmers. Today, people run with a phone that not only plays music and takes calls, it maps your run while tracking speed, mileage, pace and calories burned. Of course, so was talking on a cellphone the size of a brick. “It wasn’t that long ago that running with a Discman was considered cool. (Canada) – Embracing the future of fitness. According to Subrahmanian and John Dickerson, a UMIACS computer science researcher, “Defense analysts can understand the repercussions of their proposed recommendations for policy options or military actions by interacting with a virtual world environment.”Ģ. The scientist in question is VS Subrahmanian, a Maryland computer science professor and director of the University’s Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS). “A scientist of Indian origin has determined that advances in computers are making possible virtual worlds in which defense analysts can explore and predict results of many different possible military and policy actions. DNA (India) – Virtual worlds will provide real security: Indian origin scientist.
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