Linden Lab PR Update

nks to Linden Lab's International News Archives=

Here are links to the various Linden Lab websites where we catalog the press we receive. (Not all of these are up-to-date, but we are constantly working on it.)

English
French
German
Japanese
Korean

Weekly Reports

Week Ending June 13, 2008

In this section, you will find the media trends we are tracking in some of our key markets.

Key Coverage by Market

US Trends: Many reports on business uses of Second Life

The Dallas Morning News presents an article on using Second Life for higher education

The San Francisco Chronicle presents a story about the San Jose Tech Museum using Second Life to gather exhibit ideas.

LinuxInsider discusses the use of Second Life for virtual space exploration and experimentation.

Planadviser discusses Second Life as a potential tool for the financial industry to reach out to a younger, more tech-savvy generation.

The Examiner posts an article from Suzanna Stinnet, author of “”Little Shifts,” about her experience in Second Life.

SlashGear mentions a demo of Second Life for Intel’s new Mobile Internet Device platform.

Network World discusses the launch of two new virtual worlds, positioning Second Life as the leader of this growing space.

WebCPA reports on several CPA firms that have set up shop in Second Life, including Maryland Society of CPA’s “CPA Island.”

IntoMobile reports on Vollee’s announcement to bring Second Life to mobile phones.

Reason Online discusses the new age of reason, citing Second Life and virtual worlds as liberated spaces for identity experimentation.

Insurance and Technology mentions the marketing strategies of a few insurers in Second Life.

Kotaku posts on the paralyzed Japanese man who was able to walk in Second Life.

UK Trends: Many stories of business use of Second Life

Business Feet describes the impact of Internet marketing on the American presidential candidacy. Hillary Clinton is described as being involved in the virtual world

Marketing Week reports on Random House which has launched a series of digital initiatives involving Second Life, which includes the creation of a digital warehouse which will store every book written by a Random House

Pocket Gamer.Biz reports on popular online MMOs and virtual worlds, including Runescape, Habbo, Second Life and Club Penguin:

Online Recruitment describes the opportunity to do job-hunting via the mobile phone. Innovative employers are said to be recruiting through Second Life:

HRZone reports on using Web 2.0 online methods to attract or recruit employees, using technology such as Second Life

Families in Business reports on a shareholders meeting held by steel giant ArcelorMittal. While some will travel to sit in a large auditorium in Luxembourg, others will participate through Second Life:

The Guardian describes the work of a charity, which has set up an office in the Second Life. ‘Contact a Family’ helps the parents of disabled children to communicate and to access services:

The Inquirer describes the coming up of a mouse specially adapted to 3D computer models, web sites and virtual worlds. Linden Labs recently upgraded Second Life to support the innovative mouse, which is priced at $60

Techradar describes virtual brothels, for example brothel owner in Second Life who might make around $50k per year in real money by selling virtual sex

eGov monitor reports on Union Island (www.slunionisland.org), the Second Life home for trade unionists:

Principia reports on businesses that have launched virtual worlds. The adoption of virtual worlds for the enterprise began picking up steam this year, buoyed by the success of Second Life, a 3D environment in the consumer space where people interact with one another as avatars

Eurogamer describes a research by Strategy Analytics. The report suggests that 22 percent of all broadband users will register to a virtual world by 2018

LX News reports on the Liverpool Sound City. It will be the first event to be simultaneously webcast on the hugely popular Second Life online platform

Germany Trends

-The Focus interview of Mark Kingdon caused some commotion in Germany, as the magazine published an online article with some incorrect quotes from Mark. Unfortunately these quotes were misinterpreted and put into a negative perspective
-The Vollee release is still picked up by some publications
-The IT publication Computerzeitung covered the findings of a research, which said that by 2017 every fifth broadband user will be in a virtual world

On Monday Focus, one of the biggest German business magazines, published an interview with Mark. Unfortunately there is no online link available yet. Other pick up in Magnus.de, Portel.de, Onlinekosten.de and Die-Topnews.de

The online portal medienhandbuch.de has published an article about a research from “House of Research”. Their chief researcher Rolf Amann contacted OCTANE last year and asked for support. He conducted 500 interviews with German Residents. Unfortunately the article just talks about Second Life as the archetype of virtual worlds and not the findings. Despite of the hype cycle the numbers of active users have increased steadily:

The University of Bamberg is regularly hosting the “Hegelwochen”, named after the famous German philosopher. This year the event’s topic was “Second Life – Avatars – Cyberworlds. Is there a second life?”. The newspapers Fränkischer Tag and Coburger Tageblatt published some articles about the event

Shortnews.de, Handy-mc.de and Infoweek.ch covered the Vollee release, that it is possible to have Second Life on your mobile phone

According to Ecin.de, Pixelpark regards Second Life as a serious game

Computerzeitung, one of the most important IT publications in Germany, quotes a study, which says that by 2017 every fifth user of a broadband access will use virtual worlds. Companies should consider this in their marketing strategies, according to “Strategy Analytics

France Trends
-A lot of coverage to announce the meeting with ArcelorMittal in Second Life by the end of June
-The great article published earlier last week in Challenges has a good echo in blogs and website

A surprising announcement on the Virtual World Agencies French market Heaven Agency buys Extralab Journaldunet.com neteco.com mass-media.fr

Many publications relayed the ArcelorMital announcement. ArcelorMittal is organising a meeting in SL with its CEO and stakeholders] boursica.com fininfo.fr euroinvestor.fr zonebourse.com boursedirect.fr lesechos.fr

Second Life is still a recruiting and training for companies Autorecrute.com details how Michelin trains its team in Second Life

Michelin won Intraverse event first prize thanks to its traning tool in Second Life. eduborse.com journaldunet.com

Japan Trends: Philip Rosedale's Japanese Visit at the end of May resulted in the following press coverage.

Coverage from the Virtual Worlds Conference
[http://www.4gamer.net/games/033/G003334/20080529043/ 4Gamer.net: Report on Virtual World Conference & Expo 2008, LL Chairman Phillip Rosedale stated, “virtual worlds will grow 100 times n scale.”

CNET Japan: SL founder Phillip Rosedale gives first lecture in Japan. Virtual World, not a mere GUI, nor a mere business chance.

IT pro: LL Chairman Phillip Rosedale talked about the current and future state of SL.

PC Online: (Same article as above)

Nikkei Trendy Net (Shorter version of the two articles above)

Here is coverage from the Business Roundtable with Philip and various community members and Solution Providers CNET Japan : “The Japanese are good at reconstructing the real world and connecting it with sales and marketing opportunities” – SL Chairman.

THE SECOND TIMES Because of the “Virtual World Conference & Expo 2008” held last week, our article updates have been slow, but at the same time our top page-view article was: “’The Japanese Market is important. We will enhance support’, SL founder and main SL players in Japan hold a opinion exchange session (roundtable).”

MYCOM Journal: SL founder & Chairman Rosedale visits Japan, holds roundtable discussion.

INTERNET Watch: The Cabinet Office, Nihon Television, Hatake (musician) and others exchange views with founder of LL.

IT media: SL founder visits Japan for the first time, says “We will improve user-friendliness.”

Mainichi JP: SL founder, Chairman Rosedale visits Japan. “Japan is an important market” – to create an enhanced structure.

Coverage from Roundtable -- Print • Weekly Toyo Keizai (magazine, 6/14, w/photo) – Metaverse “Second Life” will enhance its services in Japan. They will increase the number of staff and start a Japanese telephone support, and will set up a server in Japan for faster connections. Japan is 4th in monthly time spent in-world after America, Germany and England, and is an important market with over 150 companies participating online. LL founder Phillip Rosedale said he wants to, “increase user-friendliness and gain more Japanese users.”

Coverage from the community party at Bar Tube in Tokyo:

THE SECOND TIMES A link to featured segments on various topics discussed on VWCE2008.

All-in-One Internet Magazine LL founder Phillip Rosedale visits BarTube!