Branson's Gaming Virtual World Set to List for €1B in UK
A World of My Own, the upcoming virtual world based around selling and delivering video games, is set to list in the UK with a €1billion ($1.38B) valuation, reports The Independent. The paper calls it a Second Life rival, but the start up backed by Sir Richard Branson sounds more like a PC-based opponent for the Playstation 3's Home. The first phase of the project involves digital game delivery like Steam or Game Tap, but with new delivery methods, including “AI-based content loading” and “stripping games down to their core component", that “negates the need for broadband” and enables minute-long downloads instead of hour-long waits. The second phase includes a full virtual world experience on a tropical island.
Developer Game Domain International describes the second phase of the project as a place where avatars in designer brands will be able to mingle. "A truly global community will be welcomed to meet their friends or make new ones," the company says. "There will be shops, clubs, restaurants, apartments to rent and beach houses for sale. Cinemas, music venues, sports and even a motor racing circuit are there for the asking."
A World Of My Own is currently open for Beta membership.
Joey Seiler
www.VirtualWorldsNews.com
joey (at) showinitiative.com
(512) 535-8650
skype: joey.seiler.vwnews
That's lunacy. If they can pull of a float at any valuation, let alone $1BN, for this pre-product company I'll be shocked and awed.
Posted by: Daniel James | July 16, 2007 at 12:49 PM