Virtual worlds in the media

1. USA Today (USA) - Spending on virtual goods continues upturn. "Spending on virtual goods in games, virtual worlds and on social sites such as Facebook continues to show real increases. About 13% of Americans bought virtual goods in the last 12 months, with average spending of $99, up from $87 last year (a 14% increase), finds a new survey from research and consulting firm … [Read more...] about The Watch – virtual worlds in the news

1. The Australian (Australia) - When games start playing you: cyber addicts. "Obsession, fantasy and the internet can be a destructive trio, as a South Korean couple learned last month. The pair were sentenced for negligent homicide after allowing their three-month old daughter to die of malnutrition. In the cruellest irony, the couple apparently neglected the infant for up to … [Read more...] about The Watch – virtual worlds in the news

1. Edmonton Journal (Canada) - City leads Second Life in virtual world. "Here's a surefire way for Daryl Katz to get the arena he wants. Join Second Life. Edmontonians, including Katz, may soon be able to revisualize the city the way they see fit when Edmonton goes virtual later this summer in Second Life. In the 3-D virtual world of Second Life, users create avatars that … [Read more...] about The Watch – virtual worlds in the news

1. Wall Street Journal (USA) - Q&A: A Real Study of Virtual Worlds. "Students of Ulrike Schultze might know her better by her Second Life avatar, Uskla. That’s because the Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business professor utilizes the online game to connect to her students in an unusual way. Ms. Schultze, who teaches management and information technology, leads … [Read more...] about The Watch – virtual worlds in the news

1. Los Angeles Times (USA) - A real-world battle over virtual-property rights. "Architect David Denton spends much of his time on a lush tropical island, where he experiments with cutting-edge building designs and creates spaces for artists to showcase their work. Never mind that the island only exists in the virtual-reality world of Second Life, a popular online venue where … [Read more...] about The Watch – virtual worlds in the news