Pixels and Policy

LudoCraft Pilots Virtual World Aimed at Virtual Conventions

You may not have heard of LudoCraft, a small games designer responsible for the realXtend engine, but it wants to get to know you. In fact, it wants you to throw your next industry convention or cultural expo in its open-source virtual world.

Pixels and Policy takes a look at how one company is banking on an increase in virtual business conferencing in 2010.

PBS Frontline to Take a Deep Look at the Social and Cultural Impact of Virtual Worlds

PBS Frontline is one of the few mainstream news sources really taking a look at how virtual worlds are changing our politics, policy and culture. They've looked at everything from the rise of religious organizations in worlds like Second Life to the development of a digital-age telecommuting workforce, and each area of study has advanced the discussion on virtual worlds as a permanent fixture in our lives.

Now, on February 2nd, PBS will take a look at its broadest and most interesting topic so far. In a special event called Life on the Digital Frontier, Frontline takes a look at the many ways online interaction and virtual environments are changing our culture and social norms.

Read on to check out the program's trailer and find out more.

ComputerWorld, Consumers, and the Uncertain Future of Augmented Reality

Ever since Augmented Reality hit the mainstream, it seems like every sector of the consumer market is rushing to develop the next major "Augmented Reality capable" technology. Eagle-eyed consumers have been bombarded with everything from pop-culture magazines rendered in augmented animation to the music industry developing interactive AR albums.

Pixels and Policy has always been wary about the proposed miracle of Augmented Reality, even as we cautiously hope for its continued development and fine-tuning. If some recent articles from across the media are any indication, our skepticism about Augmented Reality is becoming a new fad.

Facebook Integrates Its "Credits" System into Zynga's Vastly Profitable Games

One of Pixels and Policy's favorite discussion areas is digital integration - whether we're looking at how augmented reality is finding a niche in the music industry or how virtual currency standardization is moving much quicker than many suspected.

Facebook's recent announcement that the social gaming titan Zynga would be accepting Facebook's pay-to-play "credits" in addition to Zynga's PayPal currency transfer method went relatively unnoticed, but it could be the catalyst for more major changes in how we fund our virtual lifestyles.

Pixels and Policy investigates.

Companies Consider Virtual Employee Standards of Conduct

Scantily-clad waitresses may move burgers and wings at Hooters, but companies like IBM are less than pleased to find employees involved in virtual worlds dressing in bondage gear and digital phalluses.

A recent press release from industry research firm Gartner, Inc. sheds some light on the obvious reasons why big business might not want its employees' virtual representations dancing around in a Department of Energy-themed ballgag:

As the use of virtual environments for business purposes grows, enterprises need to understand how employees are using avatars in ways that might affect the enterprise or the enterprise’s reputation

We covered the possible professional conflicts of real-world workers indulging in virtual fantasy last week. In light of the Gartner report, this controversial issue deserves a closer look.