Linden Lab PR Update/2008 November

This article is obsolete, but kept as a historical record. Do not rely on this information in any way. However, it may be used in the future, so please do not delete or modify.

Week Ending November 28, 2008

Key Coverage by Market:

US

Trends we’ve noticed:
-- Favorable comparisons against Sony’s Home.
-- MSNBC article on the appeal of avatars with prominent quotes from Philip.
-- Educational institutions continue to use Second Life in exciting and innovative ways.

Key Coverage:

MSNBC - Reports on the rise of avatars in virtual worlds such as Second Life, Sony’s Home and Microsoft’s newly revamped Xbox Experience. We did a briefing between Winda Bendetti and Linden Lab’s Philip Rosedale to shape this article and Philip is quoted throughout the piece.

ENTERPRISE Coverage:

Red Herring - Reports on Google’s short lived Lively, while Second Life continues to draw more people because it serves as a marketplace beyond just being a chat room.

CNBC - Reports Air France-KLM has set up an island in Second Life where users can view the company’s latest information including interactive 3D stock market information.

Aspen: a virtual tour Aspen Times - Reports the unveiling of Second Aspen, a virtual version of Aspen, in Second Life.

EDUCATION Coverage:

The University Daily Kansan - Reports the University of Kansas Medical Center has been using Second Life to simulate scenarios for training nurses and is looking to expand its programs in Second Life.

San Jose Mercury News - Reports the documentary filmmaker and self-described transmedia producer Nonny de la Pena spoke at UC Santa Cruz about "Gone Gitmo," a virtual reality film project about Guantanamo Bay.

ABC Baltimore - Reports on the US State Department using Second Life to break down barriers by recently sponsoring a global jazz concert in Second Life as well as the barriers technology is breaking in education with colleges and universities inworld.

E-Commerce Times - Reports how companies such as Palomar Pomerado Health and the CDC are using Second Life in a variety of ways including to spread awareness, create virtual tours and prepare people for disasters.

ADULT CONSUMER Coverage:

Sony Home

Yahoo Tech - Sony’s upcoming Home has Second Life-like spaces that are "nicely detailed" with "admirable" variety despite disconnection issues, a “serious lack” of available clothing and furniture and “heavy-handed” in-Home advertising.

New World Notes compares Second Life’s Shadowdrift viewer as being visually superior to Sony’s Home.

Other coverage

Other coverage:

I09 - Reports on the banking issue, based on the MSNBC article.

Dusan Writer - Blogs a recent interview with Mark.

New World Notes - Reports on Dusan Writer’s interview with Mark.

MSNBC via Live Science - Reports on the rise of avatars in virtual worlds such as Second Life, Sony’s Home and Microsoft’s newly revamped Xbox Experience.

InformationWeek - Covers the story of a prominent Second Life artist Eshi Otawara, who is fighting for her residency in the US due to her husband passing away before her residency application was complete.

New World Notes - reports on the number of hours spent in Second Life by bots, which Linden Lab estimates to be about 10-15% of total user hours.

UK

OVERALL OUTLOOK: -- Numerous articles on Google Lively and the future for virtual worlds.
-- Positive coverage on the effectiveness of SL in education.
-- Some highlights from this week include the BBC and The Guardian.

ENTERPRISE Coverage:

Guardian – Covers the shutting down of Google’s Lively application, a competitor of Second Life.

londonist.com - Reports the way visualisation is assisting architects in London.

Techradar - Mentions Second Life in a report on the launch of a web portal for Sony’s PS3 Home, a forthcoming virtual world for gamers.

FT - Refers to Second Life with reference to Google’s decision to close Lively.

absolutegadget - Refers to Second Life in report on Google’s withdrawal of Lively.

EDUCATION Coverage:

BBC - Reports how effective virtual environments can be for teaching purposes.

News Guardian - Reports pupils from North Tyneside used Second Life to assist them with a school project.

GERMANY

Trends we’ve noticed:
-- This week we saw a lot about religion and education in the media.
-- The Süddeutsche Zeitung summarizes the trends very well – the media considers SL as being in the after-hype phase. Instead of the former ‘me-too’ reactions, businesses are now looking closely at investments in SL and how they can benefit from the virtual world. The good news: SL is bucking the overall RL trend of a downturn in the economy.

ENTERPRISE Coverage:

Süddeutsche Zeitung Online - Published an in-depth article after the briefing with Mark Kingdon. Even though it states that the initial hype has gone it picks up on some of Mark’s statements regarding planned improvements. It highlights the fact the Second Life’s virtual economy is quite healthy despite the current real-world economic downturn and that Linden Lab has achieved record-breaking results in the last quarter.

ZDnet.de - An article about Google closing its virtual world Lively at the end of 2008 and will re-focus on core competencies in web search and advertising.

This has also been picked up in other media: [1]

EDUCATION Coverage:

Heise.de - Discusses the Catholic Church’s position towards virtual worlds and picks up the story about the Arch Diocese Freiburg opening in Second Life.

Spiegel.de - About studying with web 2.0 tools. It states that most students spend more than one hour on the Internet using Wikipedia and several social networks. One of the conclusions is that Second Life offers only limited value for study purposes.

This has also been picked up by: [2]

ADULT CONSUMER Coverage:

Pressetext.at - A story on sex in Second Life, which is based on the UK divorce story and follows the descriptions of Adrian Mars from BBC. The journalist also published almost the entire statement provided by Linden Lab to counter negative spin.

The story has been picked up with almost no additional news or amendments in the following media: [3]
[4]

FRANCE

Trends we’ve noticed:
-- Good coverage particularly because of Lively’s closure—Second Life survives while Lively fails.
-- Positive coverage focused on different subjects as law in virtual worlds, art, books…
-- Several articles this week around companies, initiatives in SL.

Key Coverage:

01net - Posted an article about the end of Lively.

Playtime - An article about the end of Lively.

Presse citron - Posted an article about the end of Lively.

Dueze – Covers the end of Lively.

Armand Diurea - About the end of Lively.

Interstices - Posted an article about the NTIC and the rights of avatars.

Informaticien – An article about the end of Lively.

du referencement - Posted an article about the end of Lively.

CanardPC - News about the end of Lively.<br.

Inworlds - Covers ScienceSim, a virtual world by Intel based on Opensim.

Digitalworld - Posted an article about the end of Lively.

Game focus - Posted an article about the end of Lively.

Benefices net - Covers the end of Lively.

PCWorld - An article about the end of Lively.

Datanews - Posted an article about the end of Lively.

L’Informaticien – An article about the end of Lively.

Zebulon – More about the end of Lively.

Net-actually – News of the end of Lively.

Le Mag IT – News of Lively’s end.

Memoclic - Covers the end of Lively.

Miwin - Posted an article about the end of Lively.

Neteco - An article about the end of Lively.

Tech.blog.challenge - Posted an article about the end of Lively.

Canoe - An article about the end of Lively.

ENTERPRISE Coverage:

Metaverse3D - Posted an article about APC entering SL.

Keepcontact - A page about the event Working World 3.0, a recruitment event hold on SL the November 27 with about 3500 candidates registered.

ADULT CONSUMER Coverage:

Stonefield Inworld - Published an article about the sale of SAAB cars on RIL Shopping on SL.

CasinoLas-Vegaslive - A note about the prohibition of Casinos on SL.

TopChretien - Published an article about Plus Belle La vie and all the products the serial has developed because of its success. Quick mention of SL about chats developed around Plus belle la vie.

[5]

Adviso - An article commenting the book “L’ère du vide - Essai sur l’individualisme contemporain” written by Gilles Lipovetsky.

Territoire Digital - An article about the future publication of “l’Encyclopedie des Elfes” on SL.

Stonefield Inworld - An article about the sale of SAAB cars on RIL Shopping on SL.

La Bibliotheque francophone - A news about a project: 3rd Edition “ Artificial paradises” on SL.

Gromike - An article about Jura French region in SL.

Tournicoton art Gallery - A page about their new exposition on SL on Kuai Hele.

Week Ending November 21, 2008

Key Coverage by Market:

US

Trends we’ve noticed:
-- The end of Google’s Lively was covered with a few pieces, including the AP, which highlighted Second Life’s leadership in the virtual worlds industry.
-- Great coverage in the education sector, with several stories about universities in Second Life.
-- Limited enterprise coverage, with a positive article from IT World.
-- Coverage of SAP’s plans to market to Second Life retailers.
-- Local coverage on universities investing in Second Life.
-- Continued political coverage of Obama’s pick for FFC Chairman’s involvement in Second Life.

Google Lively coverage:

AP - Google Lively has shutdown; article cites Second Life as the leader in the virtual worlds industry.

Mashable - Posts on Lively’s close.

ZDnet – News of Lively’s closing.

Web Pro News - Posts about the Lively news.

PC Magazine - Posts about the Lively news.

G4 TV - Posts about Lively, mentioning Second Life.

eWeek - Posts that Lively will close.

Tom’s Guide - Posts about the Lively news.

Wired - Posts about the Lively news.

PC World - Posts about the end of Lively.

Kotaku - Lively news.

CNET – Covers the end of Lively.

Computerworld posts about Lively.

1 Up - Posts about the Lively news.

BNet - Posts about the Lively news, tying it in with the launch of PlayStation’s Home.

ENTERPRISE Coverage:

Silicon Alley Insider - Reports that SAP may use Second Life to market its ERP systems.

IT World Canada - Reports that Second Life provides developers an opportunity for cost savings and redesigning processes that can’t be done in the real world.

EDUCATION Coverage:

College Media Network - Second Life serves as a new medium for communicating inside and outside the classroom.

Jacksonville News - Jacksonville State University will buy an Island in Second Life for education purposes.

Media Shift Idea Lab - The Chronicle, an independent, student-run newspaper at Duke University, recently build a virtual replica of the Next Newsroom in Second Life.

My San Antonio News – Article explores the educational capabilities the Second Life has to offer educators.

The Signal - A College of New Jersey professor holds his lectures in Second Life.

Tuscaloosa News - The University of Alabama will offer classes that are held in Second Life.

Reporter News - TSTC West Texas offers an associate degree in Second Life.

University of Kentucky - An environmental artist plans to upload his work in the Second Life art gallery of University of Kentucky.

Terra Nova - Many virtual world researchers will start weekly seminar meetings in Second Life to discuss their findings.

ADULT CONSUMER Coverage:

The Industry Standard - Obama’s newly appointed FCC Chairman is a big fan of Second Life, which may influence telecommunications policy.

Repost: CNN Money – Covers the FCC’s new leaders and their support for Second Life and MMPORGs.

Warcry - The FCC’s new leaders support Second Life and MMPORGs.

New World Notes - Presents a story about Obama’s FCC representatives being Second Life supporters.

Boing Boing - Writes about the FCC’s new leaders.

Escapist Magazine - Reports that Obama’s newly appointed FCC Chairman is a big fan of Second Life.

Adotas - Reports that communities like Second Life are changing traditional forms of communication.

Linux Insider - Discusses the complexity of patent law in Second Life.

Popular Mechanics - Mentions that Second Life, in combination with a Japanese motion headset, is one of the 10 Tech Concepts You Need to Know for 2008.

The Click Heard Round the World - Global Kids is looking into Second Life to build a ‘serious’ teen based community.

JTB World - Blogs about virtual architecture in Second Life.

UK

Trends we’ve noticed:
-- More coverage this week than last week.
-- Continued coverage of Second Life’s application for politics and art.
-- The enterprise section has received the most focus with articles on business meetings in Second Life.
-- Coverage of the introduction of the Euro to Second Life.

Key Coverage:

BBC - Includes Philip’s byline in its ‘tech lab’ section profiling the views of technology leaders.

Silicon.com - Describes the use of Second Life in business meetings.

ENTERPRISE Coverage:

Financial Times (not available online) - reports Clare’s appointment as European Marketing Director.

Techradar - Discusses the release of the Linden Prize.

finextra.com - Reports the introduction of euro currency exchange for Second Life residents.

GlobalCollect - Reports the introduction of euro currency exchange for Second Life residents.

IT PRO - Reports the use of Second Life in CA World’s corporate presentations.

techradar - Suggests is described as proof of concept for virtual worlds.

EDUCATION Coverage:

Guardian - Describes the benefits of Second Life for music and art.

BBC - References Second Life in regard to the House of Commons becoming interactive.

webuser.co.uk - Refers to Obama’s use of Second Life in his campaign.

ADULT CONSUMER Coverage:

Independent - Suggests that Second Life has a young demographic.

pocketgamer - Describes Digital Chocolate’s party in Second Life.

GERMANY

Trends we’ve noticed:
-- More blog coverage of education uses of Second Life.
-- Consumer coverage was dominated by the divorce story from Britain.

Key Coverage:

Internet World Business - Publishes a part of the interview with Jean Miller at Medientage online. The whole interview is going to be published in the print edition of the magazine.

ENTERPRISE Coverage:

PR-Inside.com - Publishes the news about the cooperation between Global Collect and DX Exchange to change Euros into Linden Dollar.

OnlinePC.ch - Picks up Jean’s interview and quotes it online.

EDUCATION Coverage:

Merkur.de - Discusses the philosophic consequences of Web 2.0 and asks for the truth.

SLinside.com - Describes its first experiences with OpenSim.

Realtime-Collaboration.de - Publishes an event tipp on LEARNTEC 2009, called “Learning and Teaching in Virtual Worlds” as well as Linden Lab’s release about ONLINE EDUCA 2008.

SLinside.com - Published a long article about the National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration with beautiful pictures – definitely an exciting place to go to!

FRANCE

Trends we’ve noticed:
-- Coverage of new companies in Second Life and RIL Shopping, two news generated by Solution providers activities.
-- Real Life versus Second Life in terms of love: is cheating on SL as well as cheating in real life? No answer was found in those articles in reaction to the divorce of a couple. Journalist are just giving facts and bloggers take sometimes position (positively for SL).

ENTERPRISE Coverage:

Imarginal - Published a note about the coming of two new island (owned by a famous company) in Second Life.

Jean Michel Billaut - Posted a note about RIL Shopping, by Stonefield Inworld (the selling of real products in SL).

Bagatelle – The chocolate seller is organizing a private sale of its products in Second Life thanks to RIL Shopping.

Tapahont – Coverage of Mageekstore in RIL Shopping in Second Life.

CONSUMER Coverage:

Effet de presence - Posted a note about the magazine CIAC who edited its special edition about art in Second Life.

Le Blog du Geek – Coverage of the divorce of a couple because the man had cheated on his wife in Second Life. The blogger explains that this affair is really non-sense.

Les 400 culs - Article about the divorce affair of a couple because the man had cheated on his wife in Second Life. The blogger thinks as for the majority that this reaction is exaggerated.

JAPAN

Trends we’ve noticed:
-- Tourist associations utilizing websites, blogs and metaverses, such as Iga-Ueno Tourist Association in Mie Prefecture.
-- Iga Ninja SIM is a popular tourist association and an example of a successful case study for local government promotion using Second Life.
-- Almost all enterprise and education articles and quotes are positive.
-- The book, Things that Don’t Exist in Physical Form, was published, and covers commerce and education in Second Life.

Key Coverage:

Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Nikkei Marketing Journal (newspapers) – Suburban tourist agencies attract tourists using Internet blogs and metaverses. The town of Iga-Ueno, where ninjas originated, has built a virtual ninja compound on Second Life, and as a result the number of real life tourists from in and out of the country has grown by double digits. “The key is to first gain virtual tourists, and then have them visit in real life” said Yasaka Inagaki, chief of the Iga-Ueno tourist agency.

ENTERPRISE Coverage:

Nihon Keizai Shimbun (newspaper) – Dentsu has commissioned SUN Co., Ltd. to run the virtual shopping mall Dentsu owns on Second Life.

Nihon Joho Sangyo Shimbun (newspaper) – SUN Co., Ltd. has formed business alliances with ngi group, inc. and its affiliated company 3Di, Inc.

Nikkei Marketing Journal (newspaper) – The Local Industry Innovation Group, a group consisting of small-to-medium sized manufacturers in Nakano Ward Tokyo, will open the “Metal Otaku” SIM on Second Life next year. The SIM will be in the shape of a large metallic robot. The aim is to gain otaku tourists from overseas.

The Second Times – Housing company Tohsho and the Vostera company will hold an exposition of houses and furniture, the “Home Expo 2008,” on Second Life.

Cnet Japan – IPROS Corporation created a 3D full-color printer “ZPrinter 650”. Companies that render 3D models of Second Life avatars use the printer.

EDUCATION Coverage:

Mainichi Shimbun (newspaper) – Students of the Ritsumeikan University have made a short film titled “2 way love” in collaboration with the students of Kyoto University of Art and Design and University of the Arts London. In creating the film, meetings were held on Second Life.

The Second Times – William H. Kelly, professor at Oxford University, gave a talk session on “Oxford Universities studies on Second Life” at “Subako,” a restaurant where users of Second Life and other metaverses gather.

ADULT CONSUMER Coverage:

The Second Times – “INET D@NCE LIVE Act.2”, an event collaborating real life dancers and Second Life avatars was held on November 16th.

The Second Times – An introduction to a book entitled Things that Don’t Exist in Physical Form. The business model of a virtual world” written by Miho Nojima.

Week Ending November 14, 2008

Key Coverage by Market

US

Trends we’ve noticed:
-- Generally positive coverage with a mix of traditional media and blogs.
-- Some of the highlights from this week included a segment on CNBC and the announcement of the $10,000 Linden Prize.
-- Response to the Q3 blog post, which shed some positive light on the current financial strength of the inworld economy.
-- Universities continue to expand into Second Life and we’ve seen more local coverage, especially school publications.

Key Coverage:

CNBC - Aired a segment on the Future of Collaboration, featuring Mark and highlighting the benefits of Second Life for business collaboration.

The Boston Globe - Second Life provides a cheap and effective way for businesses to communicate and collaborate.

San Francisco Business Times - Reports on the Linden Prize.

Virtual World News - Covers the Linden Prize.

Los Angeles Times - Second Life’s economy is healthy as the value of the Linden dollar remains fairly stable compared to the weakening dollar.

EDUCATION Coverage:

E-Commerce Times - Students at San Jose State University are able to attend lectures at its Second Life campus.

The Flat Hat -A College of William and Mary law professor held the schools first virtual lecture in Second Life.

Birmingham News – The University of Alabama is building a 3D virtual campus in Second Life.

Coshocton Tribune - Ohio University and Kent State University have started degree granting programs in electronic game development.

Intelligencer - Loyalist college, the first college in Canada to build a virtual world campus in Second Life, will receive that ORION Award for its achievements in research, education and scientific discovery.

Kirkwood Community College Blog - InfoIsland in Second Life is hosting a virtual college fair this weekend. Kirkwood will have a booth there to showcase Distance Learning.

Daily Kansan - The Spencer Museum of Art and Kansas University Department of Art will showcase artwork and provide interactive exhibits in Second Life.

eSchool News - Second Life is a huge success due to improved gaming technology and enthusiasm about video games.

Medical Education Blog - Virtual Ability, Inc. serves to enable people with a wide range of disabilities to enter into virtual worlds like Second Life.

Linden Prize Coverage:

Central Daily

New World Notes

Common Sensible

The Click Heard Round the World

Profy

Second Thoughts

The Metaverse Journal

Beaten Networks

Other coverage:

Los Angeles Times – Says many entrepreneurs are taking advantage of Barack Obama’s presidential win by selling virtual Obama t-shirts to Second Life residents.

Tech News World - Reports on the difficulty of defining and enforcing trademark law in virtual worlds like Second Life.

IT World - Discusses how the Matrix (film) helped inspire Philip Rosedale to create Second Life.

The New York Times - Reports that Amanda Van Nuys will join Linden Lab as director for enterprise marketing.

Profy - Second Life third quarter financial data shows solid growth in its in world economy as people turn to entertainment and relaxation during tough economic times.

Web Pro News - Current economic downturn seems to have no effect on Second Life with t user hours reaching there highest ever.

Profy - Posts on the growth of the Second Life economy amidst the recession.

The Metaverse Journal - Presents commentary on the Q3 blog post.

Second Thoughts - Provides commentary about the strength of the inworld economy.

UK

Trends we’ve noticed:
-- No negative articles about Second Life.
-- Case studies make up the bulk of coverage with highlight articles looking at how Obama fans celebrated his win in Second Life.
-- The enterprise section continues to receive the most focus, but again there has been coverage about using Second Life for training particularly for education institutions.
-- Continued coverage of Second Life being used for training purposes, increasingly amongst universities and colleges.
-- Jimmy Carr brings the first stand-up show into Second Life.

Key Coverage:

timesonline.co.uk - Dancing avatars created to mark Obama’s victory.

ENTERPRISE Coverage:

Silicon.com - Discusses the launch of the Linden Prize.

onlyfinance.com – An American life insurance company has set up a space on Second Life.

melcrum.com - Recommends Second Life as a cheaper alternative to travelling to achieve a personal sense of communication.

independent.co.uk - Second Life used by Obama’s supporters to celebrate his victory.

trainingzone.co.uk - Reports Cranial Tap launched a business solutions showcase located on Cortex Island in Second Life.

EDUCATION Coverage:

Guardian blog - Discusses how useful Second Life could be for education and research.

Guardian.co.uk - Discusses how useful Second Life could be for education and research.

trainingzone.co.uk - Reports the use of Second Life amongst universities and businesses for lectures and internal training.

eveningnews24.co.uk - City College Norwich has built virtual college for student use.

ADULT CONSUMER Coverage:

porstmouth.co.uk - Jimmy Carr is the first ever comedian to perform a stand-up show on Second Life.

GERMANY

Trends we’ve noticed:
-- No negative coverage this week.
-- A lot of coverage in the Adult Consumer section.
-- Companies develop new services on Second Life’s technologies.
-- The archdiocese of Freiburg’s presence is still a topic for journalists.

Key Coverage:

Computerzeitung.de - Describes how Internet traffic rose to incredible heights after Obama’s victory. Second Life experienced a lot of log-ins as well, plus dancing avatars on the streets.

ENTERPRISE Coverage:

Bild.de -- Avadeal, a platform where you can sell and buy virtual goods from several virtual worlds and online games.

Computerwoche.de - Publishes the next part of its journey to Palo Alto and stops by at Qwaq, a virtual word that's only for “professional clients”. Qwaq wants to do better than Second Life and is supposed to have more than a thousand clients now, among them BP.

Visavis.de - Reports that the Chinese government is planning to impose taxes on virtual revenues.

EDUCATION Coverage:

[http://debatte.welt.de/kolumnen/55/meine+woche/98382/nachtgebet+im+internet Welt.online] - Comments on the archdiocese in-world and describes what is offered there. The journalist also alludes to the fact that the church loses a lot of acceptance among the people and needs to attract new target groups.

ADULT CONSUMER Coverage:

OpenPR.de - Tells us about Mickey Mouse’ birthday party in Apfelland.

tecchannel.de - A new book was published called “Second Life – to live, to love and to make money”.

Netzwelt.de - Published an article about short movies made in virtual worlds. “Molotov Alva” in Second Life is mentioned as well.

FRANCE

Trends we’ve noticed:
-- Less coverage this week and quite neutral.
-- This week there has been coverage on various topics such as competitors and on potential usage of Second Life.
-- Region le Jura is now in Second Life and this is an interesting step forward on the Government side.

Key Coverage:

LeMonde.fr - An article about a new virtual world dedicated to Muslim community, which is inspired by Second Life model.

Jeux online – Covers the Nexon G-Star 2008 events’ announcements, which should include a social network similar to Second Life.

Bases Publication - Reports about Google’s diversification with Google Lively which is inspired by Second Life.

Overgame.com - Published an article about how gaming or virtual worlds (such as Second Life) stakes for military usage and simulation.

ENTERPRISE Coverage:

News Press - Published an article about Government Regional District Le Conseil du Jura launching a project in Second Life. The region has been recreated in 3D inworld to visit: Juracom.

ADULT CONSUMER Coverage:

Virtuel News - Posted an article about Artists without Linden dollars creativity space in Second Life.

L’Express - Article about William Scherrer, famous French singer who explores Virtual Worlds, as Second Life that he visits regularly, that inspired his last album.

JAPAN

Trends we’ve noticed:
-- Almost articles and quotes are positive.
-- A number of articles covering Second Life in trade newspapers.
-- Following the overheated anticipation for Second Life, each industry, seeking future business opportunities, seems to be looking at ways to utilize Second Life.
-- Educational and research organizations still remain very interested in Second Life and many universities have been promoting SL-related projects. Mycom Journal’s article about the “3Di Education Summit 2008” on November 4th reported about these activities.
-- The US presidential election was also big news in Japan; articles reported on how the election campaigns utilized the Internet, since using the Internet for campaigning is prohibited in Japan. The article from Second Times on November 3rd showed some of the differences in elections between Japan and the US.

Key Coverage:

Insatsu Shimpo (newspaper) – A recruitment consulting company from Osaka Japan started a service this October enabling college graduates currently searching for employment to talk in real time with recruitment staff and senior employees through Second Life. Over 14 million people use Second Life from over 90 countries worldwide. The business activities between users can reach as high as 30 million dollars a day (sic, the journalist made a mistake), and Congress is debating whether imposing taxes is possible.

ENTERPRISE Coverage:

The Second Times – American Vostera Company and Japanese choumi-shouji, Inc., are presenting a photo exhibit of Burkina Faso in Second Life.

The Second Times – Linden Lab announced they will not raise the price of Openspace SIMs under certain conditions. They will provide a new type of SIM, “Homesteads,” which is something between Openspace and ordinary SIMs.

The Second Times – In order to make “the first hour” a more pleasant experience for first-time Second Life users, Linden Lab has hired design agency Big Spaceship.

EDUCATION Coverage:

Nikkei Sangyo Shimbun (newspaper) – A short article explaining what a metaverse is. Metaverses gained attention when Linden Lab released Second Life in 2003. There are currently more than 15 million users around the world.

Nikkei Marketing Journal (newspaper) – Internet point exchange service NetMile, inc. has started reciprocal exchanges between NetMile's and MMP (the currency used in metaverse “meet-me”.) This is the second time NetMile has set up an exchange with a metaverse after Second Life’s Linden Dollars.

The Second Times – University of Florida built “The Second China Project” on Second Life. “The Second China Project” is a virtual training facility intended for diplomats who have decided to take up a post in China, in order to get used to Chinese culture and customs before they go there in real life.

Mycom Journal – 3Di’s educational event using 3D Internet, the “3Di Education Summit 2008,” was held October 15, hosted by Uchida Yoko Co., Ltd.

ADULT CONSUMER Coverage:

Nihon Keizai Shimbun (newspaper) – Article introducing the book “Why people buy things with no shape.” The book analyzes how a metaverse -- starting with Linden Lab’s Second Life and other online games -- functions as a business, and as a place for business between individual consumers.

The Second Times– The “Second Miyagi” SIM has reopened, with more free items and accessible stores.

The Second Time – An article introducing the various communities and SIMs on SL supporting Obama and McCain.

The Second Times - An article showing photos of the dance parties being held at SIMs supporting Obama after he was elected president. On the other hand a photo of a McCain-supporting SIM shows that things there were pretty frigid.

[http://www.secondtimes.net/metaverse/event/20081104_ioi.html The Second Times (online, 11/3) – Japanese Aioi Life Insurance is holding a charity event on Second Life. The money made will be donated to JCV (Japan Committee Vaccines for the World’s Children).

Week Ending November 7, 2008

Key Coverage by Market

US

Trends we’ve noticed:
-- Generally positive with coverage from major media outlets.
-- The presidential election was a big trend in the news this week, with several mainstream publications picking up on the events going on in Second Life.
-- Coverage of new Openspaces policy.
-- Collaboration was a theme this week, with Second Life featured as a great training and distance learning tool.

Key Coverage:

CNBC - Reports on the election activities in Second Life, allowing Residents to participate in the presidential election through inworld events.

BusinessWeek - A story about the election activity in Second Life, featuring crowded gatherings. The journalist talks about events taking place and the groups that have been active during the presidential race.

Computerworld - Observes presidential election activities in Second Life including events at Obama’s Headquarters in Victory Plaza and discussions held in McCain’s Straight Talk Café.

AP - Obama’s Second Life headquarters were so packed that some avatars weren’t even able to get in.

AP - Hundreds of volunteers have been unofficially campaigning for the election in Second Life.

GigaOM - Second Life is one of the top three virtual worlds to be in for Election Day.

Virtual Worlds News – Covers the update for land pricing and Mark’s response to the community.

GigaOm - Linden Lab has significantly revised its pricing policies due to mass protest from Second Life Residents.

InformationWeek - What future does Second Life have; will it fulfill its goal to be mainstream, embraced by everyone? Some argue that Second will always be a niche product.

Virtual Worlds News - Posts our statement about the layoff rumors.

ENTERPRISE Coverage:

Demoines Register - AvivaUSA (life insurance and annuities) is marketing itself to young, prospective agents through Second Life.

Inform IT - CODESTATION (by IBM) is viewed as a general meeting place for Second Life’s development community.

Government Technology - Missouri state government recently hired its first IT employee recruited directly from Second Life.

EDUCATION Coverage:

Digital Burg - Through Second Life, participants can hear guest presentations from around the world – developing the tremendous potential of distance learning.

Mass High Tech - The Naval Undersea Warfare Center has created a virtual model of itself in Second Life for training purposes.

About.com - Explores how ESL might be taught in Second Life.

IT Business - Numerous Canadian colleges are using Second Life to train and teach their students.

Educational Gaming Commons - Covers Second Life as a toolkit for educators.

Virtually Blind - The Second Life Bar Association will include a discussion about “Ethics of Practice in Virtual Worlds” in Second Life Saturday.

CONSUMER Coverage:

CNBC - Covers election activities in Second Life, allowing Residents to participate in the presidential election through inworld events.

GigaOM - Reports that Second Life is one of the top three virtual worlds to be in for Election Day.

AP - Obama’s Second Life headquarters were so packed, that some avatars weren’t even able to get in.

AP - Hundreds of volunteers have been unofficially campaigning for the election in Second Life.

1UP - Hundreds of Obama supporters also held virtual rallies in the online virtual world game Second Life.

16 WNDU - Obama’s unofficial Second Life headquarters was so popular that many Residents couldn’t get in.

The 33TV - Numerous election parties held in Second Life.

Peace, Earth and Justice News - Obama’s campaign has been working hard in Second Life to win the global vote for President of the US.

New World Notes - Posts a poll about the Openspace pricing policy, with 48.8% of respondents satisfied or at least tolerant and 44.2% more suspicious.

GigaOm - Linden Lab has significantly revised its pricing policies due to mass protest from Second Life Residents.

MMORPG Bay - Linden Lab has announced a new land product for Second Life in response to the negative feedback from the price increase for Openspaces.

IGN - Reports that Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski may soon be producing a project about a man’s addiction with Second Life.

Inform IT - Provides a step-by-step process to sign up and use Second Life.

Contra Costa Times - Reports that virtual worlds like Second Life are particularly poised for growth.

T+D - Second Life is an example of a public virtual world. It is extremely accessible, and users have the option of building their own custom space within the public program.

Video Game Media - The 2008 Machinima Awards included many filmmakers, cineastes, gamers, students, and technologists from Second Life.

Clickz - Linden Lab selected Big Spaceship to consult on its user experience design.

Virtual Worlds News – Covers the partnership with Big Spaceship to improve the first hour user experience.

New World Notes - Big Spaceship is being brought on to “re-invent” the user experience.

Technology Story - Sun and Samsung have demonstrated working applications of Second Life on mobile phones.

The Industry Standard - Linden Lab oversees one of the most successful social virtual worlds in existence, but it is still struggling with Residents about how Second Life should be governed, especially over the use of Openspaces.

e-Consultancy - Second Life faces a real estate crunch of its own.

UK

Trends we’ve noticed:
-- Enterprise has received the most focus, with the coverage on Clare’s appointment and Silicon.com’s image display of enterprise use being the highlight articles.
-- Continued coverage of Second Life being used for medical training purposes, in particular the training of paramedics in-world.

Key Coverage:
Silicon.com - Provides a selection of photos showing enterprise use of Second Life.

[Brand Strategy] (not published online) - Discusses the debate around virtual world branding. Catherine Smith forms part of the six contributors.

Marketingweek.co.uk - Clare Rees’ appointment as European Marketing Director.

ENTERPRISE Coverage:

Silicon.com - Provides a selection of photos showing enterprise use of Second Life.

cambridgenetwork.co.uk - Second Life aids the evolution of corporate websites.

EDUCATION Coverage:
Guardian.co.uk - Paramedic students at St George’s Hospital have been using Second Life to help prepare them for the real life situations they could face when they qualify.

ADULT CONSUMER Coverage:

Earth Times - Avatrait Digital Galleries, the Second Life gallery, has teamed up with the we-R-you Corporation to use their fully integrated social network platform, coRe, within the existing Avatrait website.

GERMANY

Trends we’ve noticed:
-- There was still some coverage about churches in Second Life and, of course, the presidential elections in the US.
-- Article in Handelsblatt about consultancies urging their clients into Web 2.0.
-- Financial Times Deutschland has published an article about business schools using Web 2.0 features to communicate with students.

Key Coverage:

Noows.de - A long news about the presidential elections within Second Life and Obama’s victory inworld.

EDUCATION Coverage:

[Financial Times Deutschland, Nov 31] - Published an article headlined “Business School 2.0”. The article is very positive overall and amongst others introduces the virtual campus that Insead Business School is running in Second Life. This is backed with positive quotes of a marketing professor.

ADULT CONSUMER Coverage:

Heise.de - Writes about an artist who takes care of the avatars that are not in use anymore.

PR-Inside.com - US elections inworld and how they are taken up within Web 2.0.
SL Inside.com - A video called “The witches of Eastgrid” which is quite nice to look at.

FRANCE

Trends we’ve noticed:
-- Coverage of Tom Hale’s appointment.
-- Focus on recruitment in-world and how it can be used by enterprises to get new interesting profiles with several big companies mentioned.
-- New employment agency for French community is now located in Liberta island.
-- Reality Festival in Paris, the first international festival dedicated to virtual realities. Media wonder if Second Life is really a space to create and it has been demonstrated partly by this successful event. Even French singer William Scherrer exploration of Second Life inspire creativity in his latest album.

Key Coverage:

Virtuel News - An article about Jack Linden answering to demands in Second Life. This follows a series of posts on pricing increase, riots inworld, and service interruptions.

Gromike - Covers Cold War Kids in Second Life, that demonstrates how you can be creative inworld.

IndiceRH.net - An article about Tom Hale’s appointment as Chief Product Officer of Linden Lab.

Tribune de Genève - Covers new virtual world dedicated to people who have AIDS to discuss their issues.

ENTERPRISE Coverage:

La Tribune.fr - A very positive article about what can recruiters expect from an avatar-candidate. Interview with several recruiters: AXA France, L’Oréal, La Caisse d’Epargne.

PC World - About how to survive economic crisis by developing Internet technologies usage, and mentions immersive workspaces as those proposed by Second Life that can enable to make real economies.
Virtuel News - On VirtuelJobs: a bridge between Real Life and Virtuel Life in Second Life. This is about a new employment agency located in Liberta French community island.

Pink-SEO – Virtual shopping in Second Life.

L’Atelier.fr - Covers how to detect false CVs when recruiting where Second Life is mentioned: even in Second Life, you need to have a detailed and strong CV to be enable to meet recruiter.

Sud Ouest - Stonfield Inworld initiative of e-commerce in Second Life.

Direction Informatique - How to attract new talents from Generation Y into your enterprise by using Social networks or Second Life, for instance.

Direction Informatique - Digital networks or players, mentioned Second Life as one of the active places to be in.

EDUCATION Coverage:

VirtuelNews - Posted an article on Distance Learning Day in the virtual world Second Life.

Daneel Ariantho Digital Log - Distance Learning Day in the virtual world Second Life.

Vagabondages - Distance Learning Day in Second Life.

ADULT CONSUMER Coverage:
Liberation.fr - Reality Festival with 4 days dedicated to Virtual Worlds. Second Life is mentioned as being an exciting laboratory for artists to experiment their creativity. Only regret is that they often reproduce real experiences inworld rather than developing new types of creativity.

Vnunet.fr - Obama’s success also amongst Web electors in Twitter, Facebook or Second Life. Obama headquarters in Second Life has been filled with people during elections. Celebrations in Second Life have brought huge crowds of avatars together.

Causeur Salon de Réflexion – Says Sarah Palin is not human at all but rather like an avatar from Second Life. This qualification about her non humanity has been given by journalist Christian Salmon on RTL radio broadcast.

Chronicart.com - Reality Festival with an interview of artists Camille Bovier Lapierre and Paul Coudamy. Both artists have worked on the Virtual but not on Second Life. They have been asked if they considered Second Life as a creative space and if it was not dead as a creative environment. Answer is complexity and richness of use is one of the reasons why some have abandoned creating in Second Life but Reality Festival creations hopefully will change things by showing extent of possibilities.

Afjv.com - Reality Festival and Second Life true Creative potential for Artists: “Your World, Your Imagination”.

Afjv.com - About Reality Festival, and Second Life mentioned as a creative space.

RFI - Article about William Scherrer, famous French singer who explores Virtual Worlds, as Second Life that he visits regularly, that inspired his last album.

EditoWeb Magazine - Obama in Second Life.

LeMonde.fr – Covers politics “second life” meaning that politics are now focusing on virtual news or virtual political effects based on no reality. Thus, journalist qualifies politics as becoming “second life” politics. He is the same author, Christian Salmon to qualify Sarah Palin as Second Life woman and not real human being.

Vnunet.fr - Weblin new technologic application to surf and chat online as an avatar in this social network and meeting website. Second Life avatars are allowed.

LeMonde.fr - Covers Thriller’s birthday where it is explained Michael Jackson dance has been reproduced many times as in Second Life.

20 Minutes.ch - About Swap, a new service to exchange/convert virtual money. This service is available for Second Life.