Virtual worlds virtually exploding in popularity

by Kevin Kelly { Apr 25th 2007 at 6:29PM }

Gamasutra has a interesting article that wraps up the Virtual Worlds 2007 spring conference and asks if they are the future of gaming. They cite the growth and expansion of sites like Disney's Virtual Magic Kingom, Nickelodeon's Nicktropolis, and MTV's Virtual Laguna Beach -- which is soon to include Virtual Pimp My Ride and Virtual Hills, and be connected by a virtual superhighway.

Anyone else tired of the word virtual? While virtual worlds might become the future of social networks, we're not sure that they're the future of gaming. It's hard to imagine a Virtual Halo, where you stroll around, chat with other Spartans, Elites, Grunts ... or is it? "Hey, anyone wanna pile in this warthog and go sightseeing?" Maybe it isn't so far-fetched.

With Sony's upcoming PlayStation Home network, and Nintendo working on some sort of a Sims-like Wii virtual world, the virtual experience could grow beyond Second Life and into the console gaming realm.

Tags: Nicktropolis, Second Life, Virtual Laguna Beach, Virtual Magic Kingdom, Virtual Worlds, VirtualWorlds

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Alex @ Apr 25th 2007 6:38PM

Virtual Worlds are lame as hell, What's the point of sitting in front of a computer/TV doing something you could do in real life (which would be much more rewarding, since it really happened). Virtual world games the future? I hope not, I imagine that they would somehow merge with onlnie classes and forums, etc. and eventually people of the future live their life matrix style, like hermits secluded to their PC and "living" most of their lives virtually.

Anonymous (He who does not forgive) @ Apr 25th 2007 6:49PM

Halo is already virtual...

Rubang B @ Apr 25th 2007 6:51PM

Whoa whoa, chill out. This is not the future of gaming. It is one of many futures of gaming. Gaming is not a linear history. It is growing and expanding in every possible direction, like say, that one giant blob in Akira.

Mr Khan @ Apr 25th 2007 7:13PM

Rubang's right

just because the current console offerings seem to force you to choose between the amped-up traditional experience and a low-budget revolution doesn't mean that one of these philosophies has to dominate, or that others have to go by the wayside

Alex @ Apr 25th 2007 7:19PM

Its not the future of general gaming, but could it be the future of online gaming? Every major company in the industry has or are making a Free-roaming MMO style online franchise. World of Warcraft, and onlnie war game, Final Fantasy XI, EA with sims, MS with Halo Online, Fable 2, etc. even Nintendo with its Animal Crossing franchise (except their version of a virtual world is retarded by the friend code system)

Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if Midway introduced a virtual world to the MK franchise with all the crappy features they have been adding to the franchise lately.