Pixels and Policy

Want Virtual Worlds to Take Off? Simplify the Controls.

                         Is that a Wiimote?

We just got finished reading a well-researched and optimistic piece of Metaverse research by Shellie Karabell of the INSEAD Business School.

In his study, Karaball notes half a dozen reasons to be optimistic about the Metaverse over the next few years. But he also makes note of a major stumbling block to the wide adoption of virtual worlds without fully appreciating its importance:

For many curious potential users, logging in is easy. It's getting around that drives them away.

2009 in Review: Virtual Worlds Take Over Hollywood

As James Cameron's 3D epic Avatar surpasses record after record for a newly-released film, many in Hollywood are looking for the next big film. A few years ago it was teen wizards. Last summer it was sparkling vampires.

2009 may well be known as the year virtual worlds got their big-screen endorsement.

Pixels and Policy looks back at how three major films explored virtual reality and attracted new converts to the world of interactive synthetic environments.

2009 in Review: How Microtransactions and User-Created Virtual Markets Reshaped Business

As we close out a rocky, recession-plagued 2009, many of the real-world companies we thought indestructible last January are no longer with us. But in the virtual world, business is booming.

Pixels and Policy takes a look back at one of the biggest developments of 2009 - how a few small social gaming houses became industry titans by harnessing the power of microtransactions.

Audi Markets Real Car Through Virtual Test Drives

          Audi's electric R8: very very virtual

The old stereotype of the slick-haired, cheap-suited car dealer may be coming to an end, if German carmaker Audi has anything to say about it.

That's because this clever Volkswagen subsidiary is marketing their new electric Audi R8 by letting online gamers test drive it in a fantasy racing game.

Pixels and Policy investigates.

Politicians Stump for Elusive Virtual Votes

Barack Obama spent nearly $800 million pursuing the White House in 2008. Over half of that was media spending: Television, direct mail, rallies, and internet infrastructure, including a virtual Second Life headquarters.

Compared to his expansive broadcast media strategy, Obama's foray into virtual worlds hardly ranks.

Yet the campaign's tiny investment in a corner of the Metaverse will make a big difference in 2012, when politicians begin to integrate virtual worlds into official campaign strategy.