Big Stage Goes to Public Beta

Big Stage Entertainment launched to public beta today, letting users create custom avatars based on photographs and integrate them in digital media across Big Stage's platform. Right now that's focused on pictures and videos, but the company is looking at virtual worlds as well and collaborating with other studios, portals, and social networks. Big Stage is set for a general launch in Q4 2008.

"As a gamer, I quickly understood the power of the USC-based research and how it could impact all forms of media and entertainment," BigStage founder and Chief Creative Officer Jonathan Strietzel, said in a statement. "From day one, I could easily envision a world where everyone was truly part of the entertainment they consumed, from simple images to video games and virtual worlds. It is why I chose to build a company around this extraordinary technology and why we are so excited about the less obvious applications in the future that will surprise us all."