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The Entrepreneurs Guide To Second Life to give readers in-depth look at businessness in Second Life

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secondlife.pngResearch and Markets has announced the addition of “Entrepreneur’s Guide to Second Life: Making Money in the Metaverse” to their offering. The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Second Life will give readers an in-depth look at businesses and other economic opportunities in Second Life, explain the business operations of each, and show readers how to identify, develop, launch, and profit from their own business.

Written by Daniel Terdiman, an award-winning CNET reporter and and Second Life expert with deep ties to the business community, The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Second Life begins with an overview of the virtual world and its flourishing economy as well as the challenges it presents to entrepreneurs. A virtual business basics chapter discusses important features of all successful Second Life businesses, including marketing and advertising avenues. The following chapters discuss how to plan, start, and successfully run such businesses as real estate, clothing and accessory creation, construction and landscaping, adult opportunities, music and video production, art creation, and building and running entertainment venues.

The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Second Life also features interviews with successful Second Life entrepreneurs, sidebars discussing practical considerations in each field, and useful resources for anyone who wishes to operate a successful, profitable business in Second Life.

Originally posted on November 23, 2007 @ 4:44 pm

Vivox secures $7.8 million funding

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vivox.pngVivox, provider of integrated voice services for online games and virtual worlds, has secured $7.8 million in a second round of equity financing led by Benchmark Capital led the round. Support was also received from the its existing investors, Canaan Partners and GrandBanks Capital.

Proceeds from the round will fund product development, sales support and marketing as the Company extends its technology and market lead. Vivox offers the only integrated platform and managed service available today to enable online games and virtual worlds to connect their communities with cutting edge features and functionality on a massive scale.

Vivox customers and partners include online game and virtual world leaders 1GPN, Inc., Alpha Innovation, BigWorld Technology, CCP Games, The Electric Sheep Company, FWD International, IBM, Icarus Studios, Illusion Factory, K2 Network, LanguageLab.com, Linden Lab, Monumental Games, Pixel Mine and Wizards of the Coast.

Originally posted on November 13, 2007 @ 12:38 pm

Activeworlds adds embedded 3D virtual worlds on Facebook platform

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new media newsActiveworlds, Inc., a leading provider of virtual world technology on the Internet, has announced the availability of the “Active Worlds 3D Avatar and World Explorer” application, built on Facebook Platform.

This enables companies and developers to build applications for the Facebook website, bringing the online 3D experience to an entirely new level of accessibility.

“I saw a huge opportunity to bridge the social aspects of Facebook with the real- time interactivity and building components of the Active Worlds platform. For the first time, millions of Facebook users that install the application can interact and chat with each other, explore sweeping 3D landscapes and environments, and build their own virtual structures for others to enjoy,” said Robert Frederick, the developer of the Active Worlds Facebook application.

Originally posted on November 1, 2007 @ 2:30 am

Playhut launches kid-friendly online world

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hut.pngPlayhut, Inc. announced the release of GoLive2.com Kraze, a free interactive virtual world where children can play games, have fun and interact with friends in a safe atmosphere.

In celebration of Halloween, GoLive2.com Kraze turns ghoulish with an online Halloween party. Children can explore Halloween-themed areas of the virtual world, play Halloween-themed games, and dress up their avatars’ in Halloween costumes.

To get started, a player can register for either the boy-themed Wowbotz universe or the girl-centered Mystikats Kutties world. After signing up for a world, an email is sent to a parent’s email address. After parental approval, players can then hang out with friends, instant message buddies, and create personal photo and video albums. Players can also play games where they earn virtual cash that can be spent to decorate their avatars’ personal rooms and customize their Wowbotz armor or get new Kuttie outfits.

Originally posted on October 23, 2007 @ 10:43 am

Warner Bros. launches ‘I Am Legend: Survival’ game playable in Second Life

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iamlegend.pngWarner Bros. Pictures unveiled an original, online, multiplayer first-person shooter/RPG game playable in Second Life. The largest and most expansive Second Life game ever launched in support of a film release, I Am Legend: Survival transports players into an eerie replica of over 60 acres of New York City set in the chaotic year preceding the movie. The future of mankind hangs in the balance as players choose to play in either of two rival factions, uninfected and infected. Uninfected characters must fight to survive as they desperately seek the cure for the terrible virus that is destroying mankind. Infected characters have only one objective: to stop uninfected characters at all costs.

The game features player-customizable avatars loosely based on characters in the film and New York City-based environments that change and expand over time, and supports both voice and text chat for in-game multiplayer communication. The game is available as a free download.

I Am Legend: Survival is inspired by the upcoming feature film “I Am Legend,” starring Will Smith as Robert Neville.

Originally posted on October 15, 2007 @ 7:24 am