RECENT NEWS ABOUT VIRTUAL WORLDS

If you are a registered user and would like to add recent news stories here (p.s. we would prefer to avoid press releases), please feel free to do so.

VIRTUAL SECURITY TEST FOR DOLLHOUSE PROMISES REAL-WORLD BENEFITS http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/feb/26/internet.buildings (guardian.co.uk, Feb. 26, 2008). "We have created a virtual gateway that allows you to link real buildings to virtual worlds."

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAKES MAJOR INVESTMENT IN E-LEARNING http://www.examiner.com/a-1242143~National_Geographic_invests_in_social_networking_site.html (examiner.com, Feb. 26, 2008). “As we’re starting to take our content more digital, this is just one more step,” said Ted Prince, chief operating officer of National Geographic Ventures.

SEVEN MUSTS IN KIDS' VIRTUAL WORLDS http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2008/2/prweb666803.htm (eMediaWire.com, February 4, 2008) By 2011, it is estimated that half of the 35 million kids in the U.S. who are online will be in virtual worlds. Find out from this article what will bring them to yours.

HOME COMING FOR SONY THIS SPRING http://www.localtechwire.com/business/local_tech_wire/news/story/2389864/ (LocalTechWire? .com, Feb. 3, 2008) The entertainment giant reports it already has more than 10,000 beta users.

HABBO SAYS HELLO TO PARAMOUNT PICTURES http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN2952653520080129 (Reuters, Jan. 29, 2008)

FAS PLANS SERIES OF VIRTUAL WORLD SUMMITS

THE WORLD IS VIRTUAL -- BUT THE TAXES WILL BE REAL! http://www.accountingweb.co.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=178346 (Accounting Web, Jan. 20, 2008) My favorite quote from this thought-provoking article is this: "Perhaps some of us need to get a first life before we start mucking about with a second.”

SECOND STORY COMES TO SECOND LIFE http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-secondlife22jan22,1,5958139.story?coll=la-headlines-business&ctrack=1&cset=true (Los Angeles Times, Jan. 22, 2008) A sordid saga of lost loot in Second Life.

NASA SEEKS DEVELOPERS FOR MMO http://procurement.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/synopsis.cgi?acqid=128415 (NASA Website, Jan. 16, 2008) This link will take you to the RFI.

NEW PBS ONLINE WORLD TARGETS PRESCHOOLERS http://www.paidcontent.org/entry/419-pbs-begins-testing-subscription-based-ad-free-virtual-world-aimed-at-to/ (paidContent.org, Jan 15, 2008) It will be interesting to see how many three year-olds are prepared to fork over $9.95 a month for this service...

GAIA MAKES TEENS GO GAGA IN FACEBOOK http://www.socialmediaportal.com/News/2008/01/Virtual-world-for-teens-Gaia-goes-live-in-Facebook.aspx (Social Media Portal, Jan. 15, 2008)

KIDS BECOMING REAL PRESENCE IN ONLINE ARENA http://www.statesman.com/life/content/life/stories/other/12/23/1223onlinetoys.html (Austin American-Statesman, Dec. 22, 2007)

VIRTUAL FOOTBALL LEAGUES -- A REALISTIC GOAL! http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/games/archives/2007/12/20/the_future_of_football_a_virtual_certainty.html (Guardian Unlimited, Dec. 20, 2007) P.S. We mean as in European football here!