Virtual Worlds News

New Study Shows Virtual Worlds Strong on ROI for Training and Collaboration

Next week Forterra will release a white paper detailing the results of a joint experiment with members of The Masie Center's Learning Consortium on learning of virtual worlds. The two established a 3D Sandbox for members to explore different use cases for virtual worlds. While the white paper outlines certain challenges to be met, the two final participants, Accenture and ACS Learning Services both saw a great deal of promise. In particular, ACS plans to continue its experiment next month.

"What I think is going to be even more exciting is--I feel that what we did was replicate to a certain degree an instructor experience. In the collaborative environment, I feel the benefit is collaborative learning, almost like Harvard Business School Cases," explained ACS Learning Strategist Caroline Avey. "They go out and find these answers and the facilitator will brief. We plan to trial that in January."

NCsoft to Defend Itself Vigorously Against Worlds.com

Earlier this week we reported that Worlds.com, one of the early developers in the virtual worlds industry, had filed suit against NCsoft for patent violation. Worlds.com alleges that NCsoft is infringing on patent 7,181,690, "System and Method for Enabling Users to Interact in a Virtual Space," which governs a system of architecture for 3D virtual worlds and MMOGs and what is displayed at any given time. If the suit and patent are upheld, it could put many other companies at risk of litigation as well. An NCsoft representative told the Korea Times that the company hadn't received court papers yet or analyzed the patent. It appears the company is preparing, though.

"We can't comment on potential litigation except to say that NCsoft takes all legal action seriously -- even if the company believes a lawsuit has no merit," a representative told me via email. "We intend to defend ourselves vigorously."

Canterbury University Receives $1M for Virtual Environments

Canterbury University in New Zealand has received NZ$1.77 million (about US$1 million) from Encouraging and Supporting Innovation Fund for a three-year project designing virtual environments for work training. The first departments to receive training are in chemical engineering, audiology and health sciences. The students will be able to explore the inside of ears, chemical models, and hospital and health scenarios for on-the-job training.

"With chemical engineering plants, it's hard for students to go there and see what's happening, and even if they do it's mostly processes inside large vats," Canterbury University HitLab director Mark Billinghurst told Stuff. "You can use computer graphs and immersive photography to give people a view of what it looks like in a plant and simulate the processes and chemical reactions inside those vats."   

Autodesk Developing Immersive Game Engine for Architects

Autodesk is showing off a new real-time, immersive game engine for architects at its recent Autodesk University. Project Newport is still in early stages, but the company describes it as a "real-time 3D story building technology for architectural visualization and presentation" that lets architects "explore design options, visualize changes instantly, and create vivid, immersive 3D presentations."

The goal seems to be to let designers who would otherwise really on expensive physical models or simulations to make use of game-like technology to demo and customize their buildings and interiors. Users can interact with photorealistic environments using traditional game controllers, like the Wii's remotes, or surface technologies like the Kommerz table. It's not clear how  far along the  project is, but Autodesk says it's already generating strong interest from the architectural community. [via The Arch]

PayByCash Launching New Alternative Payment Method

PayByCash announced today that in January it would launch a new payment alternative allowing online merchants who take credit cards and debit cards to accept codes from the  PayByCash Card, a prepaid digital code issued to users. The new system complements PayByCash's Ultimate Game Card, which sells in retail stores as a generic prepaid card for hundreds of online games and virtual worlds. The PayByCash Card, though, can be accepted through traditional checkout pages, according to the company, just like credit and debit cards. PayByCash was acquired this summer by virtual goods platform operator PlaySpan.

“This is a great leap forward for the payments industry,” said Kevin Higgins, president of PayByCash. “Not only does this open up huge new markets, but in these economic times of tightening credit, many customers in countries where credit card use is common are losing access to their cards. The PayByCash Card provides those customers with the ability to retain the convenience and value associated with Internet shopping. The PayByCash Card is the only pre-paid card with truly global reach. It’s a payment vehicle that merchants can safely accept from customers virtually anywhere in the world.”

FooPets Revamps Realism for User Demand

Just before the holidays, FooMojo rolled out of stealth mode, changing its Facebook app Pokey into FooPets. With the change came greater realism, more options, and the ability for users to take their pets out of Facebook and on to the Web and beyond. Judging from comments, reviews on the Pokey app, and user communities, it wasn't entirely well received. FooMojo, though, has been revamping its original product and strategy to address those complaints.

Worlds.com v. NCsoft Update

Earlier today we reported that Worlds.com had filed a complaint against NCsoft for infringing on its patent for enabling users to interact in virtual spaces. When the company  announced previously that they had selected intellectual property law firm Lerner David Littenberg Krumholz & Mentlik LLP, to represent Worlds.com's interests, they explained that they would soon begin contacting representatives throughout the industry. '

When asked if this was just the beginning, LDLKM's Stephen F. Roth, who is serving as lead attorney, demurred: "I wouldn't call it 'starting with NCsoft,'" he said. "It is a very robust patent."

Worlds.com Files Suit Against NCsoft for Patent Infringement

On Christmas Eve, Worlds.com filed a complaint against NCsoft for infringing on its virtual world and MMO patent. Worlds.com, which was one of the early virtual world developers from the '90s, made waves earlier this month when it announced that it had selected an intellectual property firm to defend its two patents related to scaling virtual spaces and enabling users to interact and chat in 3D environments.

Club Penguin Contributing Additional $500k to International Charities

Club Penguin's Coins for Change campaign has concluded for the year. Users vote with currency that they've built up over time on how the virtual world's associated non-profit, New Horizon Foundation, would portion out $1 million.   Due to a strong response, Club Penguin announced last week that it would donate another $500,000 to charities in countries where it maintains international operations.

Additionally, based on the original campaign,  Partners in the Horn of Africa will receive $30,000 for AIDS orphans in Ethiopia, War Child will receive $340,000 for children affected by war in Georgia, Afghanistan and Northern Uganda,  Partners In Health will receive $300,000 for care to children in Haiti and Rwanda, and Free The Children will receive $330,000 to build schools in India, Ecuador and rural China.

Rebel Monkey Accepting Registrations for CampFu

Rebel Monkey has opened up a registration page for what looks to be its first product, CampFu. It's not clear exactly what direction Rebel Monkey is working on. The company describes itself as working to "carry casual gaming into the future," but seems to be involved in the virtual worlds space as well. That's especially true considering that Rebel Monkey hired Jeff Kesselman away from Project Darkstar and has now developed CampFu on J2EE and Darkstar.

Rebel Monkey, which raised $1 million from Redpoint Ventures in February 2008, is targeting the core casual demo of females in their 30s and 40s as well as younger players looking for online communities.