Linden Lab PR Update/2008 December
Week Ending December 31, 2008
Key Coverage by Market:
US
Trends we’ve noticed:
-- Continued momentum in government organizations and educational institutions utilizing Second Life.
-- LinuxInsider coverage of experimentation in Second Life and a UCSD student who is experimenting with Second Life for his final project.
-- Feedback about the new homepage.
-- Coverage this week of the City of Decatur’s plan for a virtual world.
Key Coverage:
San Diego Union Tribune - A UC San Diego’s art student will spend 365 consecutive hours in Second Life to investigate the transformation offered by contemporary technology.
LinuxInsider - Part one of a story about virtual worlds being used for research and experimentation, for which the team provided examples and a quote from Pathfinder.
LinuxInsider – Part Two of the story about research and experimentation in Second Life.
ENTERPRISE Coverage:
KSWO - Reports on the State Department’s interest in conducting business and holding events in virtual worlds like Second Life.
About.com – The City of Decatur is in the planning stages of building out a virtual version of its city, similar to Second Life, as a way to encourage community engagement.
CNET – Cover Decatur’s plans on creating a virtual world of the town.
Gizmodo – The City of Decatur’s plans on building a virtual world of the town similar to Second Life.
WIRED - Decatur, Georgia is considering establishing a virtual world like Second Life.
Virtual Worlds News - Reports on Decatur’s interest in creating a virtual world community.
EDUCATION Coverage:
Daily Iowan - The University of Iowa has bought a private island in Second Life, where five instructors will host meetings, speakers and other educational activities.
Smart Money - Discusses virtual charities as the new way to give back, highlighting the American Cancer Society’s fundraiser in Second Life.
ADULT CONSUMER Coverage:
Washington Post - Picked up by Gamasutra’s report on Gore Verbinski, who is working on a movie based on the 2007 Wall Street Journal article on virtual infidelity.
ReadWriteWeb - Reports on the new Second Life homepage, stating that by simply communicating more effectively, Second Life’s return to basics could make 2009 a better year for Linden Lab and its Residents.
Massively - Notes Linden Lab’s revamp of its Second Life homepage, which says that it is refreshing to see Linden Lab boldly try new things that may not be conventional.
Metaverse Journal - Reports that the new Second Life homepage has now gone live.
Virtual Worlds News - A positive piece about the homepage redesign, citing the increase in registration and traffic as a sign of the new page’s success.
Massively – Covers Linden Lab’s decision to announce the creation of a set of ocean sims to appease the group, United Sailing Sims, from not moving their operations elsewhere.
Massively - Second Life alternative, Litesim, has unexpectedly shut down its operations.
New World Notes - Revisits the question of how many bots are online during peak hours in Second Life.
WIRED - Gore Verbinski will direct upcoming movie based on a story in Second Life.br>
Metaverse Journal - Reports on the reaction of the Second Life community to the recent events in Israel.
Metaverse Journal - Tours Sony’s Home and brings up the differentiating factor of being able to create your own content in Second Life.
UK
OVERALL OUTLOOK:
-- Education and non-profit have received the most focus this week.
-- The key article this week was the Daily Telegraph article in which Philip and Second Life receive glowing praise. The article particularly reveals the economic benefits of the virtual world.
-- Jürgen Taeger, a lawyer from German Oldenburg, did an interview for the press agency dpa about crimes in virtual worlds. The interview is related to his work on a handbook he is working on with the Universities of Bremen and Lüneburg to help decision makers in any organization to deal with legal queries on the internet.
Key Coverage:
Daily Record’s - Influential and popular columnist, Joan Burnie, espouses about positive experience she has had with Second Life.
ENTERPRISE Coverage:
The Times - A virtual shopping world is to be created that replicates London’s West End. Second Life is described as already existing virtual world.
EDUCATION Coverage:
The Economist - Reveals that following the riots in Athens, a memorial was erected in Second Life giving users a glimpse of real-life material from the riots.
oneworld - Reports Barack Obama has appointed John Holdren as head of the president's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Last year, he took OneWorlders' questions from Second Life during last the "Virtual Bali" program from the UN climate conference.
Public Service - Discusses the growing digitalization of the UK’s cities. Birmingham’s Second Life presence is mentioned.
East Kilbride News - Reports a project, which incorporates an educational programme held within the Second Life Teen Grid, has received an additional £227,000 boost in funding.
[Hamilton Advertiser - Reports a project, which incorporates an educational programme held within the Second Life Teen Grid, has received an additional £227,000 boost in funding.
ADULT CONSUMER Coverage:
Daily Record - Influential and popular columnist, Joan Burnie, espouses about the positive experience she has had with Second Life.
The Independent - Discusses 2009 fashion trends and Second Life is mentioned.
GERMANY
Trends we’ve noticed:
-- No negative coverage this week.
-- The interview with the Arch Bishop Robert Zollitsch in Wirtschftswoche Online is quite positive.
Key Coverage:
Wirtschaftswoche online - Published an interview with Arch Bishop Robert Zollitsch, leader of the Bishops’ Conference in Germany. He explains that the presence in Second Life will not replace the real-life services, but provides an additional means to address younger audiences and to adopt their means of communications.
ADULT CONSUMER Coverage:
Volksstimme.de - References the interview with Jürgen Taeger, with Second Life portrayed in a balanced article, stating that it was not only a game for computer fans, but also a platform for real business. As examples, companies like IBM, Sony, Mercedes, Adidas, as well as banks, universities and religious groups are mentioned.
Mitteldeutsche Zeitung - Posts about the Jürgen Taeger interview as well.
FRANCE
Trends we’ve noticed:
-- The highlight this week is an article about the future of Second Life, especially in 2009.
-- Coverage of Alcatel Lucent opening its island in Second Life.
-- Questions about links between real life and virtual life discussed.
Key Coverage:
Mascottus - Posted an article about 2009 being Second Life’s year, as it will reinforce itself, not by creating a buzz but with events being organized, new technologies being developed and new ways to connect to people.
Secrets de filles - An article about the Second Life phenomena, describing what it is, what is possible for anyone to do in it.
La Tribune de Geneve - Published an article about Second Life perspectives for 2009 and expresses through a monthly review the changes and possible announcements to be done in 2009.
ENTERPRISE Coverage:
Alcatel Lucent - Published an article about its island in Second Life and the fact that this was done to be closer to people and users need to build tomorrow’s communication.
EDUCATION Coverage:
Courrier Picard - Published an article about the creation by Amiens Academy of a virtual village where teacher can teach to student’s languages. The virtual academy offers also a visit trough the city of Amiens
ADULT CONSUMER Coverage:
Lettre du cadre.fr - Posted a news piece about the creation of the CANTAL region in Second Life.
Moovie - Published an article about the question: Are we virtual humans? As virtual worlds such as Second Life are becoming more and more like the real world.
TERREDARMOISE - Published an article about gifts to offer for Christmas in Second Life.
Week Ending December 19, 2008
Key Coverage by Market:
US
Trends we’ve noticed:
-- Positive coverage across topics, with a great piece on CNBC about the “sexiest man in cyberspace” and a story about positive relationships on CNN.
-- Increased news about Gore Verbinski’s movie.
-- Continued to coverage of HOME, which is generally positive or neutral for Second Life.
-- Positive news on virtual worlds being used more effectively in the enterprise space.
-- Growth in Second Life’s educational uses and seeing traction as a platform for support groups to bring people together.
Key Coverage:
CNBC – Covers the results of Second Life’s ‘sexiest man in cyberspace’ competition.
CNN International - Couples have met in Second Life and have gone on to meet and get married in real life.
Variety - Director Gore Verbinski has purchased the rights to do a possible movie about a married man in a relationship with a virtual wife in Second Life, based on the 2007 Wall Street Journal story.
ENTERPRISE Coverage:
TMC Net - Nortel’s virtual business environment could mark the future of B2B communications and also mentions businesses are already using Second Life in this way.
Federal Computer Week - Posts about the launch of the army’s islands in Second Life to be used for recruiting.
TG Daily - Forterra Systems will soon issue a new report claiming that virtual worlds are much more effective than web conferencing for conducting business.
EDUCATION Coverage:
News 10 NBC – Reports that students from the Rochester Institute of Technology have created their own virtual island in Second Life and had an official ribbon cutting in-world.
Cutting Edge – Covers use of Second Life to form autism support groups where parents of those who are profoundly affected can communicate with each other.
ADULT CONSUMER Coverage:
PC Magazine - Director Gore Verbinski has purchased the rights to do a possible movie about a married man in a relationship with a virtual wife in Second Life, based on the 2007 Wall Street Journal story.
The Escapist - Reports that director Gore Verbinski has purchased the rights to do a possible movie about a married man in a relationship with a virtual wife in Second Life.
Variety – Coverage of Gore Verbinski’s film plans about the Second Life relationship.
Cinematical – Further coverage about Gore Verbinski’s film project.
CNBC - Reports results of Second Life’s ‘sexiest man in cyberspace’ competition. The team had coordinated with Jane Wells on this piece as well as secured her interest in luxury items in Second Life.
CNN – States that some couples who met in Second Life have gone on to meet and get married in real life.
Digital Trends – Coverage of Verbinski’s film project.
Kotaku - Gore Verbinski purchased the rights to a movie about a married man with a virtual wife in Second Life, based on the 2007 Wall Street Journal story.
ShackNews – More Verbinski film project coverage:
MTV - Director Gore Verbinski plans to make a film about a Second Life relationship, based on the 2007 Wall Street Journal story.
Slash Film – Continued coverage of Gore Verbinski’s film project.
ValleyWag - Posts on the movie that will be based on Second Life, taking a quick dig at Hollywood’s lag in keeping up with technology.
VentureBeat - Weblin, a Germany-based startup, has figured a way for users to export Second Life avatars to any web site.
HOME coverage:
The Wall Street Journal - Covered the launch of HOME, citing Second Life as its inspiration.
Philadelphia Daily News - Covers PlayStation Home in a news roundup and mentions it as the first “Second Life”-like virtual universe for gaming consoles.
GameDaily - Reports on the PS Home viral video of users hitting on female avatars.
Beta News - Negatively covers Sony’s HOME citing Eric Krangel’s posting and includes a favorable mention of Second Life.
UK
Trends we’ve noticed:
-- There has been a wide range of articles particularly focusing on the entertainment value of Second Life.
-- Particular focus on the consumer sector this week, with a range of articles discussing the virtual music scene.
-- BBC article, including a recording from Working Lunch, a popular consumer daytime TV show, has an amazing profile of a Second Life businessman.
-- Continued coverage of Second Life’s benefits to educators, and an article on the use of Second Life to consolidate political protest.
-- Discussion of the potential movie including Second Life as well as the growing popularity of the virtual music scene for the consumer sector.
Key Coverage:
BBC - Profiles a business that is run exclusively in Second Life.
HR Magazine - Provides an analysis of an e-learning roundtable which Clare Rees and Language Lab attended.
ENTERPRISE Coverage:
The Drum - Lists companies that have used Second Life to their business advantage.
EDUCATION Coverage:
Guardian - Mentions a company called TwoFour that has links to a school that conducts entire lessons in Second Life.
Indy Media - Looks into individuals’ use of Second Life for an interactive media installation in solidarity and support for the boy who was shot by Greek police.
ADULT CONSUMER Coverage:
BBC - Reports on EVE Online, and mentions that in Second Life, Residents are in a shared virtual world (rather than separate experiences).
PC Pro – A look at how far the Internet has come, including all the things you can do in Second Life.
Music Ally - Describes ‘Virtual Vancouver’, a virtual music festival.
Total Film - Covers Gore Verbinski’s (director of Pirates of the Caribbean) intention to make a film based on a man who plays in Second Life.
gloucestershire.co.uk - Briefly mentions Verbinski’s plans to make a film based on a man who spends 20 hours a day in Second Life.
Newswire - Announces that World Music performing artist Ridha Ibrahim will debut his album, ‘Amalgam Feelings’, in Second Life.
HOME coverage:
The Independent - Mentions that Microsoft prefers Second Life to Home.
digital spy - Microsoft prefers Second Life to Home.
Spong - Mentions that Microsoft don’t see Home as competition for Second life.
GERMANY
Trends we’ve noticed:
-- No negative coverage this week.
-- We saw a lot of coverage in the “Education” section.
-- More coverage about the scientific use of Second Life.
Key Coverage:
Industrie.de - Published a long article about the possibilities for scientists in Second Life and virtual worlds in general, quoting Stefan Seitz from Fraunhofer-Institut Stuttgart.
ENTERPRISE Coverage:
Marketing+Verdienstmoeglichkeiten+nun+auch+in+virtuellen+Welten-/09300.html Fair-news.de - News about Solution Provider Liventura who are currently building up the Telekom’s T-Home presence in-world.
Spiegel.de - An article about Sony’s HOME, which includes a short film in it that shows how HOME works.
EDUCATION Coverage:
SLtalk.de - Coverage about a new institution in Second Life: Welcome to Universität Braunschweig!
VDI-Nachrichten.com - A long article about IBM’s engineers who look for the right interface to make virtual worlds accessible for blind people.
FRANCE
Trends we’ve noticed:
-- News published this week around Home and the first muslim virtual world.
-- News about competitors and SL’s leading role in the Virtual World industry since 2006 in France.
-- Continued coverage of Second Life’s use for business and recruiting.
-- Positive focus on musical and charity events in Second Life.
Key Coverage:
Le Point.fr - An excellent article about Second Life and the creation of Issy les Moulineaux City hall in-world.
Univers virtuels.fr - A note about Immersive workspace.
Premiere.fr - Covers Gore Verbinsky’s film project in Second Life and the consequence of virtual worlds on human’s relation with other people.
Buzzomatice - Covered the article from DVDRama about Gore Verbinsky’s project to do a film about Second Life and the consequence of virtual worlds on human’s relation with other people.
Sortiraparis.com - An article about Alain Chabat , French actor and producer, who will produce the film by Gore Verbisky about virtual worlds immersion and its consequence for human relations.
mk2.com - Published an article about the video game industry and the consequences of the crisis on it. Mentions Second Life as a virtual world gaining confidence even in these tough times.
Numerama.com – Reports on the opening of the first virtual world dedicated to muslims: Muxlim Pal.
20 minutes.fr - Published an article about the opening of the first virtual world dedicated to muslims: Muxlim Pal.
Gamekult – Covers the launch of the Home beta.
Vnunet.fr - Published an article about the launch of the Home beta.
Aterlier.fr - Posted an article about avatars and their social influence.
Numerama.com - An article about Home beta and the disappointment to its users.
Le point.fr - Published an article about the failure of Home’s launch.
ENTERPRISE Coverage:
Silicon.fr – An article about the interest of companies to propose a social network to their clients.
ADULT CONSUMER Coverage:
Blogabulle - A note about the first Champaign sale on RIL Shopping in Second Life.
En direct de second life - Covers the presentation of the book “l’encyclopedie des Elfes” on Second Life.
Week Ending December 5, 2008
Key Coverage by Market
US
Trends we’ve noticed:
-- Several positive stories this week across all topics, including articles on Howard Look’s appointment.
-- Coverage in mainstream press and the blogosphere about the Army in Second Life and benefits of using the platform for training.
-- Stories about Reuters leaving didn’t spread beyond in-world press and blogs.
-- Positive coverage of university expansion, more schools are increasing courses in Second Life and several organizations are conducting studies in the virtual world.
Look appointment coverage:
ReadWriteWeb - Linden Lab has hired Howard Look as SVP of Customer Applications.
Virtual World News - Reports on the Look appointment.
Second Life Update - Reports on the Look appointment.
World In Motion - Reports on the Look appointment.
Inquisitr - Reports on the Look appointment.
Dusan Writer’s - Reports on the Look appointment.
Metaverse Journal - Posts on the Look appointment.
Other coverage:
TIME Style and Design - Presents and article on virtual luxury. The team connected the journalist with Jeska as well as several inworld designers.
WIRED - Reports that the U.S. Army is building two training islands in Second Life to attract new recruits.
CNET - Posts about the Army’s presence in Second Life.
ENTERPRISE Coverage:
CBS WBZTV - Thanks to the popularity of Second Life, the article states, 80 percent of active Internet users will live a virtual life within the next three years and the government is becoming more involved as well.
New York Times - Mentions that it is important that the government engages in technology like Second Life to, “develop understanding between American people and peoples of other countries.”
Government Technology - Mentions that in 2007, Missouri created an employee-recruiting site and held job fairs in Second Life.
T + D - Reports that it is important for companies to invest in Web 2.0 technologies, mentioning Second Life.
Inside CRM - Virtual worlds like Second Life can improve upon and expand Web conferencing technologies for businesses.
SD Times - Reports that Asynchrony, an IT consulting firm, is using Second Life to run ‘agile projects’ for its developers.
Biz Informer - Mentions that there are uses for Second Life beyond just sales and marketing, including virtual conferencing.
New Brunswick Business Journal - Reports that the Syntesi Corporation is using Second Life to train current and future workers.
Fist Full of Talent - Blogs that at the HR Leadership Forum, there was a strong emphasis on the use of Second Life for HR professionals.
EDUCATION Coverage:
Reflector.com - Reports that high school students will soon be able to take classes at East Carolina University through Second Life.
CFO - Reports that Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business will offer classes in Second Life for their executive-education program.
Dr. Dobb’s Journal – A University of California, San Diego student will spend 365 consecutive hours immersed in the Second Life to study how people adapt to virtual environments.
Inside the University of Florida - Reports that the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (at the University of Florida) will try to improve language teaching and cultural awareness using Second Life.
The Star Press - Reports that the Las Americas Network of architecture students from 30 Latin American colleges collaborated with graduate students from Ball State in Second Life.
Associated Press - Reports that studying avatars in Second Life will help researchers determine how people become satisfied or dissatisfied with their bodies.
Discovery Magazine - Virtual reality platforms like Second Life can be used in psychotherapy.
CONSUMER Coverage:
Escapist Magazine - Reports that the U.S. Army is building two training islands in Second Life to attract new recruits.
Virtual World News - Reports that the U.S. Army is building two training islands in Second Life to attract new recruits.
Serious Game Blog - Mentions the Army setting up in Second Life.
C2 - Blogs that the U.S. Army is building two training islands in Second Life to attract new recruits.
Kotaku - The U.S. Army is building two training islands in Second Life to attract new recruits.
Virtual World News - Reports that the U.S. Air Force will also set up an island in Second Life to help recruit and inform civilians, and train cadets.
Maxwell Gunter Dispatch - Blogs that the U.S. Air Force hopes that their MyBase island in Second Life will attract people interested in learning more about the Air Force.
CNET - Sweden and South Korea are attempting to tax virtual goods and currency.
Cornell Daily Sun - The lines of infidelity are being blurred due to complex relationship and interaction between people in Second Life.
The Observer - Online images and real-life personalities are melding as evident in the vast character customizability in Second Life.
Wallet Pop - An assembled virtual orchestra plans on performing on YouTube and in Second Life in the near future.
Union Leader - A woman has won the first federal registered trademark for an avatar used in Second Life and the real world.
New World Notes - Blogs that Barack Obama’s two new cabinet appointees to his ‘Innovation Agenda’ group are regular users of Second Life.
TED - iIn an interview with Philip Rosedale, he discusses the future of Second Life.
Dusan Writer’s Metaverse - Posts the interview on Ted Talks.
UK
Trends we’ve noticed:
-- Coverage this week has been mainly positive but with little key focus on Second Life. There have been positive articles in The Daily Mail, The Sun and The Guardian, with the rest of the coverage lacking focus on Second Life.
-- The educational and enterprise sections have received the most focus this week.
-- Positive education coverage, calling Second Life the potential future of education and nurses being able to train online.
Key Coverage:
Daily Mail - Writes about how a womens’ magazine editor found love in Second Life.
ENTERPRISE Coverage:
The Guardian - Looks into web 2.0 as a tool using Second Life as an example of online copyright laws.
The Guardian - Explores the research done by high tech industries for online and real life shopping tendencies.
Earth Times - Talks about the appointment of Howard Look as senior vice president of customer relations at Linden Lab.
EDUCATION Coverage:
The Sun - Talks about nurses being able to train in Second Life.
The Guardian - Discusses whether or not Second Life is the future of Education.
CONSUMER Coverage:
Daily Mail – A women’s magazine editor found love on Second Life.
GERMANY
Trends we’ve noticed:
-- Business applications are less interesting at the moment, Second Life is pictured as a quite sexy place.
-- Coverage of the use of Second Life for scientific purposes.
Key Coverage:
UniCompact (not available online) - Published in its print issue the interview we sent over with Jean at Medientage. It has a really nice layout plus an attractive heading (”I sit on a marshmellow”).
ENTERPRISE Coverage:
-- Positive coverage regarding Second Life, and may even welcome a very interesting new resident.
turi-2.blog.de - An interview with Professor Thomas Schildhauer from the Institute of Electronic Business at Berlin University. He recommends companies to do some careful virtual steps. There is also a video stream of the interview.
SLtalk.de - Good news published, that German county Saarland has got its own presence in-world now. On 7 islands, it shows its sights as well as some companies.
EDUCATION Coverage:
Neuepresse.de - Presents a lawyer who is writing a book on legal matters within virtual worlds.
Deutschlandradio.de - Published a program about the Matheon at Berlin University that took the concept of avatars to help teachers to explain complicated molecular structures to them.
ADULT CONSUMER Coverage:
SLinside one of the most important German SL blogs, is celebrating its fifth birthday!
FRANCE
Trends we’ve noticed:
-- It seems that some journalists are overall becoming more confident about Second Life.
-- Several articles this week around companies, initiatives in SL. They also insist on the fact that SL is really a good way to recruit nowadays.
-- Musical events and public affairs covered, such as the music event “Transusicales de Rennes.
Key Coverage:
Virtuel News – Coverage of the fact that maybe journalists and other people have dismissed SL too quickly.
Mascottus - Published a review about Second Life.
ENTERPRISE Coverage:
LeMondeInformatique.fr – Coverage about the best practices in terms of recruitment. Mention of SL as one of the best ways to recruit.
Johanmarketeur - A note about AIR FRANCE KLM being in Second Life.
Pyrennéesgascognemag - Posted an article about RIL shopping, the first private sales space on SL.
Duperrin – Coverage of the fact that even in crisis, social networks continue to exist. Mentions Second Life as a virtual world reaching its “second life”.
Alltrends -Covers Second Life professional utility thanks to Immersive Workspaces.
Brocateo - Promotes on its website its sale on RIL shopping in Second Life.
ITRGames - Published an article about the Bank SOFINCO entering Second Life.
Educpro - Published an article about the first virtual recruitment of SUPELEC in Second Life.
Indice RH - An article about the first virtual recruitment of SUPELEC in Second Life.
CXP.fr - Published an article about the first virtual recruitment of SUPELEC in Second Life.
ADULT CONSUMER Coverage:
Wangxiang - An article about the musical event “Transmusicales de Rennes”. Mentions Second Life, where there will be a live re-transmission of the concert.
Francomix - Published an article about the Musical event “Transmusicales de Rennes”. Mention of Second Life due to coming live retransmission of that concert.
nt2 - Published an article about Cyril Thomas’ conference on SL about the status of objects and documents inserted in SL.
Louche - Published a note about the Musical event “Transmusicales de Rennes”. Mention of future retransmission of that concert in Second Life.
Inworlds – Coverage of a guide for compression format for Second Life.