Virtual Worlds News

New 3DTLC Blog Launches

To support the growing community using virtual worlds for training, learning and collaboration, we have created 3DTLC.net, a new blog focusing on timely issues, trends and best practices of business applications of virtual worlds technologies.  3DTLC-related news that would have previously surfaced in VirtualWorldsNews.com will now be available on 3DTLC.net so please set your bookmarks and RSS feeds to 3DTLC.net.

3DTLC.net coverage will include detailed interviews, analysis, trends and news, with the goal of assisting corporate customers of 3DTLC-related technologies and services to allow them to maximize the value of their implementation. 3DTLC.net also reports on the individuals that are making virtual worlds a viable option for business, academia and research.

American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Science & Technology Law to Co-Sponsor Digital Law Conference

American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Science & Technology Law has signed on as a Co-Sponsor of our Digital Law Conference taking place September 23-24, 2009 in San Jose, CA alongside Engage! Expo. The growth of games, social media, virtual goods and virtual worlds has raised legal issues with no clear precedent. Digital Law Conference provides a detailed examination of the legal issues raised by these technologies and offers key insight into where the industry is headed and what the associated legal implications are. Continuing Legal Education accreditation (CLE) will be requested for the programs in the Digital Law Conference from every state with mandatory continuing education requirements for lawyers.

4 Conferences in 1 This Fall: Engage! Expo, Virtual Goods Conf., Digital Law Conf., 3D TLC Conf.

We are in the process of putting together the content for our big fall show and just wanted to alert you to how this fall will work. This year's fall Engage! Expo takes place at the San Jose Convention Center on September 23-24, 2009 and includes 4 complete conferences plus an expo hall.  The best part?  1 attendee fee gets you into everything:  Engage! Expo, Virtual Goods Conference, Digital Law Conference and the 3D TLC Conference - and of course the joint tradeshow hall.  Early registration is open so nab yourself a spot here at a discount.  More details on all these conference in very short order.

Engage! Expo Call for Speakers Deadline Extended

The call for speakers for our upcoming fall show, Engage! Expo - San Jose, has been extended to June 8, 2009.

We are seeking the best and the brightest speakers to share their knowledge, expertise, and vision for what is on the horizon. Our audience is looking for real data, current metrics, definitive case studies and practical knowledge.

The event is taking place September 23-24, 2009, at the San Jose Convention Center. 

Announcing Engage! Expo San Jose And Call For Speakers

We are now proud to announce our fall show, Engage! Expo - San Jose, taking place September 23-24, 2009, at the San Jose Convention Center. 

This is the year for Engagement. You have no doubt seen the frequent stories discussing how businesses are working to understand and leverage social media like Facebook and Twitter to better engage with their audience or read the reports on the many companies using virtual worlds and the related technology to engage with employees and partners for immersive training, learning and collaboration. And of course all this activity on the electronic frontier has spawned much discussion of the associated legal issues. There is just one conference that focuses on the whole engagement picture. That conference is Engage! Expo - San Jose.

First Batch of Engage! Expo Presentations Now Online

The first batch of Engage! Expo presentations are now online here:

Beyond the Cathedral and the Bazaar: MMOGs, VWs, SNs - Mike Sellers
It's The Activity Stupid: Keeping Them Engaged - Michael H. Pinkerton
State of the Virtual World Market: Overall Growth and Market Dynamics -  Barry Gilbert
Tap Into the Emotional Triggers of Tweens - Sally Schmidt
Understanding Your Audience and Optimizing Revenue Streams - Ian Swanson
Virtual Goods on the iPhone - Ravi Mehta

We will continue to add presentations here as they are made available to us by speakers.

Engage! Expo Coverage Round Up

If you couldn't join us in person at Engage! Expo last week, hopefully you were able to follow along with some of the coverage coming out of the event or the conversation on Twitter. If not, we'll also be posting some slides and presentations, but you can still catch up with others'  reports from the event itself. 

Engage was smaller than our previous Virtual Worlds Conferences, but a large part of that comes from splitting out half the show to 3D TLC, our more business-focused event next month. (Check out our three-minute video overview for more info.) I'm biased, but I think that let us put together a concentrated group of sessions and panels that dove deeply into both virtual worlds overall. Judge for yourself from the write-ups. If I've left out any coverage, please do let me know at joey [at] showinitiative [dot] com or just post a link in the comments. 

Engage! Expo Registration Ends Today, Grab your Tickets Now

Engage! Expo registration ends today.  We've kept the price as low as we could. Our Stimulus Package Discount Registration brings the online rate down from $895 to $595 but the rate ends tonight at 11:59 pm pacfic time. Take advantage of this discount now.  Engage! Expo (formerly the Virtual Worlds Conference) is the event for youth and young adult brands, media and agencies to meet and learn how to combine their existing online efforts with the unparalleled engagement opportunities and new revenue streams of attention-based media.

Online Registration for Engage! Expo Ends Tomorrow (Save $700)

Where can you find Run-DMC's Darryl "DMC" McDaniels rubbing elbows with the folks at children's educational firm Knowledge Adventure, as well as execs from MySpace, Cookie Jar Entertainment, Sony, American Idol and more?  Engage! Expo of course.  These companies get it.  Save $700 off the onsite price and join us to learn how to combine your existing online efforts with the unparalleled engagement opportunities and new revenue streams of attention-based media. Register now. Online Registration for Engage! ends tomorrow. 

Run-DMC's Darryl "DMC" McDaniels To Make Appearance at Engage! Expo to Preview his Virtual World

The Engage! Expo is just days away (March 10-11 in NYC) and we wanted to make you aware of an exciting event with Run-DMC cofounder Darryl "DMC" McDaniels that is being held at our conference on March 10th. Hip hop artist and co-founder of Run-DMC Darryl "DMC" McDaniels - to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this April -- is opening a whole new world to his fans: DMC's 3D Virtual World. On the leading edge of the trend for musical artists to engage with their fans via the interactive media world, DMC (http://www.me-dmc.com) will host a preview for invited media and special guests of his very own 3D virtual world at Engage.

DMC was responsible for igniting the hip hop/rock revolution in 1986 with the incredible Run-DMC/Aerosmith collaboration on "Walk This Way" and now he is the first hip hop artist to lead the charge into the virtual worlds arena.  With virtual worlds on the forefront of social media and entertainment, DMC's World is a perfect forum for DMC and his fans to interact with one another and his music and just have fun in an innovative way. Additionally, it provides an opportunity for DMC to raise awareness and support The Felix Organization (http://www.adopteesforchildren.org/)   501c3 charity, which DMC co-founded to provide positive life experiences for foster kids, including opportunities to go to summer camp.

Online Registration for Engage ends tomorrow.