22nd
Virtual Worlds Indespensable . . Eventually
According to Linux insider:
“In 20 years, there will be no debate about the utility and importance of virtual worlds; they will be an indispensable part of consumers’ connected life, similar to today’s Internet. However, most of our readers are likely to be more interested in what will happen in the next 12 months than in the next 20 years.
We hereby offer the following near-term predictions: * Sony will finally launch and create lucrative opportunities as content providers deal and negotiate premium placement and marketing E-Mail Marketing Software opportunities within the world.
* Another 6 million to 8 million Internet users will try a virtual world in the next 12 months, and weekly active users will grow.
* Increasing stickiness and trial conversion rates remain top priorities for virtual world operators.
* Competition for eyeballs is heating up, especially in the child-oriented worlds; new worlds without significant IP will find it difficult to survive.
* There will be many experiments with platform interoperability and universal avatars. Several efforts are already underway, including IBM and Linden Labs’ collaboration in pushing an open standard and the China Recreation District initiative to build a virtual platform that can host millions of avatars.
* Social networks will add 3-D virtual world features, and 3-D virtual worlds will leverage Web 2.0 lessons, including enabling more user-generated worlds.
* 3-D virtual worlds will become more user friendly and compelling.
Michael Cai is director of broadband and gaming for Parks Associates.