Mitch Wagner of InformationWeekly has written an article which poses the question "Are virtual Worlds really the Next Internet?" One chief proponent of the 'yes they are' theory is the article's other focus, Corey Bridges, co-founder of MDC Multiverse Network, perhaps most famous for its announcement to create a Firefly MMOG.Bridges' main point appears to be that the current generation, growing up as it is playing World of Warcraft and enjoying their Second Lives, will come to think of a 3D Internet as the Next Thing simply because they expect that it will be. Given that a percentage of these users will likely go on to develop applications for such a platform virtually guarantees such a vision.
At the same time, take a look at the money and time that big companies like IBM and Cisco are investing in SL alone, and it seems pretty clear that we're headed toward the next wave of Internet browsing standards. VRML, anyone?
1. As long as people will be there, advertisers will want to be there. Business naturally follows.
Most MMOs are not yet ready for good solid business use. If you evaluate them according to their current traffic and feature set skepticism is quite valid. But this doesn't mean companies are wrong to get involved now. The business model needs to evolve, just like it did on the web. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LkQrtCIFA4) If it doesn't, no one will remember. If it does, the early adopters will have a head start.
Posted at 8:23AM on Feb 1st 2007 by Jaymin Carthage