Venture Beat reports that a virtual space station inside the online world of Planet Calypso has sold for $330,000. The virtual space station was built by The First Planet Company. The space station was bought by a player named Buzz "Erik" Lightyear. We sure hope he enjoys his expensive virtual space station.
A Japanese man named Sal, who goes by Sal 9000, has married Nene Anegasaki, a virtual character from a Nintendo DS game called Love Plus. Sal even live webcasted his marriage to the virtual character. Sal says he understands it is a game and not a legal union but he isn't interested in having a real girlfriend. He thinks Nene is better than a human girl. Some sociologists that study Internet and gaming addiction says Sal 9000 isn't even unusual. They think it is a trend that is still growing. Just what until we have holograms and realistic virtual reality - there will be more of this. Take a look:
The BBC has an article about Linden Labs' virtual world called Second Life and how it has faded from the news. The BBC says media mentions of the virtual world peaked in 2008. Some retailers that opened up shop in Second Life when it was still getting lots of press ended up closing them. American Apparel's virtual retail shop in Second Life lasted just a year.
But just as quickly as it had flared, media interest ebbed away. References plummeted by 40% in 2008 and dropped further this year. And businesses diverted their resources back to real life.
American Apparel closed its shop just one year after opening. Reuters pulled its correspondent in October 2008. When asked about his virtual experience, Pasick says: "It isn't a subject we like to revisit."
Wired UK editor-at-large Ben Hammersley told the BBC that stores would get 20-30 visitors when they first opened in Second Life but then the number of visitors would quickly dwindle.
It could be that these stores were just too early and it will take time for Second Life to grow. Linden Labs claims the number of Second Life users logging in is still climbing.
"Monthly repeat login - a metric we use to gauge the number of users engaged with Second Life - grew 23% from September 2008 to September 2009," says Mark Kingdon, chief executive of Linden Lab.
In IBM's Virtual Green Data Center, avatars can seek IT advice
On average, a million people log in each month, he says. In October 2009, 75,000 of those were in the UK.
Second Life may need to find a way to go mobile if it is to become a hot property again. There might be a way the company can do this with augmented reality. If not, it will have to find a way to continue growing without the press it received during 2007 and 2008.
A New York company named Virtusphere, Inc. has created a virtual reality experience they call the Virtusphere. The Virtusphere is a 10-foot hollow sphere - big enough to contain a person. Virtusphere, Inc. calls the large sphere a locomotion platform that allows users to be completely immersed into their interactive virtual experience. The person wears a wireless, head-mounted display. The person feels as if they are moving in the virtual reality world as they walk inside the sphere. The company believes its device would work great in theme parks. They are also marketing it to the U.S. Department of Defense. Take a look:
A series of Britney Spears virtual gifts is now available for sale on Facebook. You can see the gifts here. BritneySpears.com says the gifts were designed by Susan Kare, the designer of some of original Macintosh computer icons in 1980s. The gifts cost $2 each.
We have to wonder how much Facebook is making from people gifting these virtual icons.
Spin Master Ltd. is launching Liv dolls, a line of teenage fashion dolls. Spin Master says the girls are targeted at girls aged six to ten. The dolls include
Daniela, Sophie, Katie and Alexis. Spin Master says some features of the dolls include 14 points of movement, easy to change wigs, insertable glass eyes and detailed fashions.
Accompanying the retail launch of Liv is livworld.com, which offers a daily narrative of each doll's life to anyone who's purchased the doll. Liv doll's have unique access code that opens an online world and invites girls to learn more about each Liv doll and play wth the Liv doll's virtual closet.
"Liv shines because it looks amazing and is incredibly realistic," says Nicole Perez, Senior Marketing Director helming Spin Master's new girls' division based in Los Angeles. "Not only do Liv dolls stand out because of their outstanding design and features, but they are deeper than your average fashion doll. Each teen has a detailed, relatable story that girls will love to follow."
Liv dolls are in stores now and retail for $19.99 and accessory items range from $5.49 to $19.99.
The Liv Dolls are adorable. They do have a passing resemblance to Bratz dolls because of the larger head size, but they don't look slutty like the Bratz dolls do.
Update: Liv Dolls are now available on Amazon.com.
Virtual World News reports that Jay-Z's Rocawear clothing brand is now available in WeeWorld, a virtual world targeted at teens. The virtual articles of clothing sell for $1 to $4 each. A company named Virtual Greats facilitated the deal. Virtual Greats CEO Dan Jansen told Virtual World News that they have big plans for virtual fashion.
"Fashion is an area where we're making a big strategic push, and WeeWorld made particular sense because much of the activity there is associated with avatar customization, particularly through fashion," said Jansen. "We'll soon be targeting active teen and young adult sites with a focus on fashion, and reaching into other demographics in this market."
eMarketer is forecasting that the number of children using virtual worlds like Club Penquin, Pixie Hollow and Webkinz will reach 15 million by 2013. That would be 54% of all kids.
Altogether in 2008, an estimated 8 million US children and teens visited virtual worlds on a regular basis, and eMarketer projects that number will grow to over 15 million by 2013.
Virtual world usage among children in the US is already quite strong and getting stronger. eMarketer estimates that 37% of online children ages 3 to 11 use virtual worlds at least once a month. By 2013, 54% will.
It sounds like an accurate prediction. There seems to be a new online world for kids launching every week. EMarketer says that Virtual Worlds Management says there were 112 virtual worlds for kids under 18 as of January, 2009 with another 81 worlds in development.
Virtual Worlds News reports that Oceanside Interactive has launched MyDinos, an interactive world for kids themed around dinosaurs. The world will include 437 extinct species. It is currently free to sign-up but you need to request an invite code here.
"With the release of MyDinos we've recreated over five-hundred million years of life on Earth, from long-extinct trilobytes to the critically endangered Ganges Dolphin," said Michael Betti, co-founder of Oceanside. "Our mission is to deliver a highly relevant experience that fosters appreciation of our planet and the living things that depend on it while inspiring a respect for humanity's role in shaping the natural world."
"Play Games. Do Good." is the mantra of Elf Island, a tween virtual world trying to translate online gaming into tangible real world results. The virtual world weaves real world nonprofit projects into an interactive virtual environment. Kids in Elf Island will complete missions called GoodQuests that mirror a real world project. Here's a couple examples of GoodQuests.
Building virtual houses on Elf Island helps Habitat for Humanity build real houses. Elf Island has teamed with Habitat for Humanity to build houses for disadvantaged families in Honduras. The GoodQuest game involves building virtual houses that are true to the Honduran culture and structure with all kinds of fun colors and decoration. At the end of the GoodQuest, Habitat for Humanity will build real houses in Honduras, which will positively impact families' quality of life.
Planting virtual trees on Elf Island helps Plant-It 2020 and the Eden Foundation grow real trees around the world. Elf Island has teamed with Plant-It-2020 and the Eden Foundation to plant trees in the Tahout region Niger in Africa, where there is currently a dire need for vegetation and growth. The GoodQuest game involves planting and caring for lush, beautiful virtual trees. At the end of the GoodQuestTM, Plant-It-2020 and the Eden Foundation will plant real trees in the Tahout region of Niger, which will contribute to reducing starvation in addition to fueling the local economy by adding life to what is essentially a sandy desert region.
A 1-year membership to Elf Island is $27.95 - 50% off the regaulr price - until April 15th.
A British medical school is having students learn by treating virtual patients in the online world Second Life. The university has an online hospital in Second Life where med students can practice on virtual patients. Take a look:
TechCrunch reports that a Tokyo company named Genkii is launching an iPhone app called Sparkles that lets iPhone users connect to a virtual world. Thousands of iPhone users can exist in the virtual world at the same time. TechCrunch says Sparkle will have its own economy, avatars, customizable personal spaces, virtual goods, games and more. The first version of Sparkle called Sparkle IM went on sale yesterday on iTunes. It costs $4.99.
Here's a video that shows Sparkle in action. Note: There is no sound with this video clip.
Nickoledeon and Mattel have released this silhouette of new tween Dora doll (note: a new image has since been released). The companies also released a press release titled Dora Grows Up which talks about a new Dora doll targeted at tweens that will be out this Fall and retail for $59.99. There will also be a new virtual online world that the tween Dora doll can literally plug into.
The cornerstone of the entire line is the Dora Links fashion doll. By plugging the doll into the computer, girls can access Dora's brand-new interactive online world. This exciting innovation in computer-connected play offers girls a unique interactive experience: as girls are playing online they can customize their doll and watch as she magically transforms right before their eyes. For example, by changing Dora’s hair length, jewelry, and eye color on screen, the Dora doll magically changes as well.
The online world will include descriptions and biographies of Dora's Explorer Girls and an immersive online world that will be tied into the complete collection of toys. Online, girls can explore Dora’s world, talk to the characters, earn currency, and help Dora solve mysteries which will be uploaded on a regular basis. As girls explore and solve mysteries online, the doll's speech will change to correspond with their play. In addition, Dora Links features a magical alert system that lets the doll know when new mysteries are being uploaded to the Dora site. Even when the child is away from the computer playing with the doll, she will let girls know what new things are happening in the online world.
Dora's a huge hit with preschoolers and some parents are concerned Nickelodeon and Mattel are going to make Dora too sexy for young kids. CNN's Carol Costello says the concern is that Dora will be "Bratzed Out." Mattel told CNN that tween Dora is not like Barbie but more like an anti-Barbie. Take a look:
Update 3-16-09: You can see an image of the new Dora the Explorer doll here.
Lego has decided to postpone its virtual world called Lego Universe. The online world was expected this year but now won't be launched until after 2009. The company did not say the economy was to blame for the delay. A spokesperson for Lego says the reason for the delay is they don't want the launch of the online world to conflict with other product launches.
Today, Lego announced that its upcoming Lego MMO "LEGO Universe," developed by NetDevil, will not be released this year as planned. In a phone interview conducted moments ago with the LEGO Group's director of business development and project lead Mark Hansen, he said the decision was not because of development but because of other products.
"We've made a strategic decision within Lego to delay the launch of 'LEGO Universe,'" Hansen said. "It's more strategic in relation to product launches that we have within Lego and not the game. [We have] new product lines that are coming out.... We don't want to make a big splash [with 'LEGO Universe'] in the market where its success could take focus away from [the other products]. It's about finding the timing, and when it is correct that we should actually launch ['LEGO Universe'] to get the most effect out of it."
The Lego video games like Lego Star Wars have been very popular so an online Lego multiplayer game will probably attract a large following once it finally launches. You can read more about Lego Universe here. (via Virual World News, Ypulse)
Brandweek reports that Brides.com and Bloomingdale's have teamed up for a new virtual feature that will let people set a virtual table. The virtual tool lets consumers see how different china colors and patterns work together.
The new 'Set Your Table' tool enables users to set a virtual table step by step, from selecting a "charger" (decorative plates) to drinkware and flatware, mixing and matching various colors and patterns. The tool features images and specs on 300 different products sold online by Bloomingdale's from 19 different brands, including Baccarat, Kate Spade, Lenox and Vera Wang. More products and brands will be added.
Once setting combinations are completed, couples can add their choices to wedding registries on Bloomingdales.com, where guests and loved ones can purchase the items as gifts.
Set Your Table appears on Brides.com but is clearly presented as a co-branded product and labeled "from Bloomingdale's and Brides.com." Links to Bloomingdale's Wedding Channel are given prominent placement throughout the table-setting process.
You can find the tool here on Brides.com. The virtual tool also lets users quickly add items they have selected to their registry on Bloomingdale's.
Virtual World News 
Virtual Worlds News 
"Play Games. Do Good." is the mantra of 
Lego has decided to 
