OH DEAR LORD… NO!

No explanation needed:

Image courtesy of Perezhilton.com

 Is this a joke? Or fake? Anyone????

Dizzywood gets props: 1 million of ‘em.

Dizzywood, a kids-oriented virtual world, has received $1 million in Series A financing from Shelby Bonnie, co-founder of C-Net, and Charles Rivers Ventures. Dizzywood opened in November with the aim of providing “an environment that would open up kids’ imaginations and inspire them to create.” While many other worlds have shifted towards ad-supported or virtual goods business models, which Charles Rivers Ventures’ Susan Wu is a big proponent of, Dizzywood is free to use, but will offer a subscription for premium content in the future.

Virtual Worlds News: Dizzywood Gets $1M in Series A from Shelby Bonnie and CRV

Well done, Dizzywood! If you haven’t taken a peek at this VW, I suggest you do. It has some VERY unique outlooks on VW/MMO territory. The size, the space, the interactions, the traveling– all new concepts in a giant new puzzle.

What I’m curious about with Dizzywood, and have been watching: Their mod/policing practices, How story/Imagination builds upon the a-typical VW format, and the goal for the user (other than chatting and collecting). There are so many great opportunities based upon the info I’ve read and heard. I’m interested to see the impact of a place like this on the development of VW’s and spurring innovation.

**UPDATED: Here’s more regarding dizzywood’s objectives via big co-chief Scott Arpajian.  What I found uber-interesting (more reactionary interest due to my own current VW-struggles, le sigh) is the 15% drop when Neopets opened the micro-transaction store (I’ve reported on the community reaction previously).

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Pirates Online, Disney, Toon Town, and Safety

Disney wants your child online: MMOs for tweens (and below)

By Ben Kuchera | Published: February 06, 2008 – 11:48PM CT

Early-morning meetings at CES are nice. Your feet aren’t quite falling off your legs, you’re not yet suffering the intestinal distress from eating the crappy (but free) food in the press room, and it’s easy to find your notes since your bag isn’t yet cluttered with free flash drives. At one of these early sessions, I got the chance to talk with the creative director of Pirates of the Caribbean Online, Joe Shochet, and the vice president of Disney Online’s VR Studio, Mike Goslin, in Disney’s suite in Las Vegas.

Disney wants your child online: MMOs for tweens (and below): Page 1

Interesting article– 3 pages. Good for those following the Dis/MMO future.

Does anyone else find it interesting that Disney/Iger = the only ones outspoken continuously about this market?  Even Viacom has gotten relatively quiet with corp views, etc.  Thoughts?

p.s. I’m currently on excitement countdown for (Cartoon Network) FusionFall’s sneak preview at GDC this month.  I’m so pumped to see that bad boy in action.

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Tags: Disney, Pirates of the Caribbean online

Creating subcultures in VWs

• True members-only content - The good news is that many organizations have content that really is members-only: training materials, dedicated research, etc. This can, of course, go in a members-only section. Make sure, however, that you pay attention to this content and keep it fresh. You should also use tools like SlideShare that bring presentations alive as opposed to just posting PPTs and PDFs.

• Access to experts - The Post article cites one of my favorite examples, ESPN.com. ESPN gives away all its stories, but requires a subscription to access high-value interactions with its experts (chat transcripts, blogs, some rankings, etc.). Its clearly takes time to do this, but granting privileged access to experts, but not their publications, might provide value without limiting the spread of the message (this also enhances the stature of the expert).
• Enhanced networking - Many members find the offline conferences groups put on to be most valuable for the networking the offer. Some organizations seem timid about allowing true member-to-member interaction. Within a closed space, though, and with some careful management (mostly rules, norms, and community policing), the ability to interact with other members and build a profile within the community might be a value-add to the membership.
• Enhanced event access - So much energy typically gets devoted to a few days of an offline event that there tends to be a boom-and-bust cycle of attention for the organization. It might be valuable to allow members to help participate in the event online before and after. Allow members to shape the event (surveys to design sessions, submission of questions in advance, etc.) and participate in the take-aways (figure out projects members could take on collaboratively that add value to all members and increase their own stature.

The “in” club – thinking about members-only sections – Influence

Okay– this is a toss out for those building/growing virtual communities. I found this post extremely helpful for solidifying my own ideals regarding exclusive sub-groups within communities… VIP kids.  Of course, don’t take the steps LITERALLY… but maybe they can help create epiphanies for you & the development of your environment.

Sometimes people create these subcultures to help encourage leadership/specialized behavior within the world to sustain the citizenship within an overall community.

I won’t get more into it than that– but these tips from InFluence were insightful. Best of luck to you

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Tags: communitymanagement, virtual worlds, online communities

OMG: "Henson” the movie?!

Empire Film Group Acquires Rights to Jim Henson Screenplay

$30 Million Budget Anticipated for Summer Production

BEVERLY HILLS, CA–(Marketwire – February 4, 2008) – Empire Film Group, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: EFGU) (“Empire Film”) (http://www.empirefilmgroup.com) has acquired the motion picture production and distribution rights to “Henson,” an original screenplay by Robert D. Slane that chronicles the life and achievements of Muppets creator, Jim Henson. Empire has pegged the film for production in late summer with a $30 million budget to be funded through a consortium of international presales and co-production partners.

“This is a major project about an entertainer of legendary stature and worldwide acclaim,” said Dean Hamilton-Bornstein, CEO of Empire Film Group. “The script is superb and should provide a terrific roadmap for a completed film that will satisfy both mainstream audiences and critics. We’re very excited about this acquisition and the commercial caliber of this project.”

“Henson” covers the life of puppeteer, filmmaker and entertainment mogul Jim Henson, from his early fascination with television as a teenager, through his spectacular career and life achievements. Empire anticipates hiring a major director, such as Penny Marshall, and hopes to attract notable star cast in key roles. Bornstein will act as Executive Producer, with Empire Home Entertainment President Eric Parkinson producing the film along with Xavier Mitchell.

“Jim Henson is one of the best known and most beloved entertainers of all time,” said Parkinson. “His story is inspiring, tragic, heartwarming and epic, and will make for an important and entertaining motion picture. This is the sort of movie that Empire will be pursuing as we build the company into a leading independent studio.”

Learn more about Empire Film Group by visiting www.empirefilmgroup.com.

Empire Film Group Acquires Rights to Jim Henson Screenplay

MANY MANY THANKS to TY’S TOY BOX for finding that gynormous gem!!!

If it’s as beautiful, poignant, and insipiring as say…. Finding Neverland (of course, in it’s own Henson-esque oddball way), I’ll expire from glee.

The man is a genius. I watched the Labyrinth this weekend (for maybe the umpteen hundredth time and 2 VHS, 2 DVDs worth later), and still marvel at the amazing creativity and FREEDOM the man had. There isn’t anything out there to compare to his unique vision– and the subtle effects/changes he’s given pop culture and multiculturalism and creativity.

I gush for him, his legacy, his stories, his muppets, and the people around him who participated, inspired, and encouraged him.

I’m doing the antsy-pants chair jig due to overwhelming excitement of having a glimpse into this hero’s life. And yes, my co-workers are looking at me. Ain’t nothin’ new, lol.

(Older Henson-esque posts here: Rant: No New Muppets, I’m always gonna…, Sign of the times)

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Tags: JimHenson, Muppets, Sesame Street, Labyrinth, Entertainment, Movies, Children, Youth, Pop Culture