virtual worlds

12 Stories

IKEA Will Pay People to Work in Its Roblox Store

For 10 people, heading to work will mean logging into a virtual world

(Newser) - If you'd rather hide behind a computer than interact with real people, IKEA might have just the customer service job for you. The furniture chain is looking to hire workers for a virtual store on the popular gaming platform Roblox. The "Co-Worker Game" launching June 24 allows players...

UK Police Investigate Girl's Virtual Rape

Traumatic VR attack and others like it could spawn new laws prohibiting such behavior

(Newser) - Police in the UK have launched what's believed to be the first investigation of an alleged virtual rape. A girl younger than 16 was using a virtual reality (VR) headset when avatars controlled by adult men attacked her avatar, causing what a senior officer describes as "psychological trauma...

FarmVille, Mafia Wars Coming to Yahoo

Virtual worlds get a huge new userbase

(Newser) - Fans of FarmVille and Mafia Wars will soon have a huge new virtual world to conquer. Zynga, creator of the Facebook sensations, has struck a deal to make the games available on Yahoo's homepage and games section, reports Mashable . That will give Zynga a new potential userbase of about 600...

Forbidden City Opens Its Doors—to Virtual Eunuchs

Second Life-style game allows tourists to enter Chinese palace complex

(Newser) - It's now possible to visit one of Beijing's premier tourist sights without having to worry about bad air quality or hard-to-get visas, Reuters reports. A new computer game allows users to experience the Qing emperor's Forbidden City complex as member of his court, embodying any character from soldier to eunuch—...

More Businesses Turning to Virtual Trade Shows

Companies head online to skip hassle, cost of real-world conventions

(Newser) - Hoping to dodge the hassle and cost of real-life trade shows, more companies are heading online to show off their wares. The San Jose Mercury News takes a look at this new, virtual business terrain, and what companies are doing with it. The online shows cost about $25,000 and...

US Spies Getting Own Version of Second Life

Military is planning a virtual world for agents, complete with a 'time machine'

(Newser) - Call it 007 2.0, if you will. The US military is planning a Second Life-style virtual world just for spies, complete with a “time machine” feature. But some are skeptical. "They can't do plain old forensics right and they're going to develop a mechanism that rolls the...

Virtual Disney Closing its Doors

Company pulls plug tomorrow, and fans aren't happy

(Newser) - Diehard fans are outraged at plans to shut down a virtual version of Disneyland tomorrow, the Wall Street Journal reports. Players of Virtual Magic Kingdom, a free online game Disney started to celebrate the theme park’s 50th anniversary in 2005, are protesting throughout the blogosphere; some 20,000 have...

Exploding World of Warcraft Population Hits 10M

Online fantasy game has most subscribers in genre

(Newser) - Online role-playing game World of Warcraft has topped 10 million subscribers, making it by far the most popular game of its kind, GamePro.com reports. The fantasy kingdom of Azeroth now has a higher population than many of the real world's countries. More than half of the game's addicts are...

Build Your Personal 'Second Life'
Build Your Personal 'Second Life'
Jan 11, 2008 3:59 PM CST

Build Your Personal 'Second Life'

Metaplace wants to let users create and host their own virtual worlds

(Newser) - Ever dream of creating your own virtual world, a la Second Life or World of Warcraft? Soon you’ll be able to, thanks to Metaplace, a company that lets users host virtual worlds online, building them the same way they’d create other Internet content, reports Technology Review. Using a...

Dutch Teen Busted for Virtual Theft
Dutch Teen Busted for Virtual Theft
Nov 15, 2007 5:01 AM CST

Dutch Teen Busted for Virtual Theft

He ripped off Habbo game 'furniture' that cost players $6K: cops

(Newser) - In what's believed to be the first arrest ever for theft of virtual property, a Dutch teenager has been busted for stealing "furniture" from an online game. He allegedly stole login information from gamers playing "Habbo Hotel," a Sims-like operation in which players create guests and furnish...

Ghosts and Ghouls Invade Virtual Worlds

Digital realms like Halo and Second Life are getting in the Halloween spirit

(Newser) - Take a break from scarfing candy to join in silly spookiness online. Wired gives you the inside scoop on special events and areas in your favorite virtual worlds dedicated to the holiday:
  1. Halo 3: A seasonal addition to the matchmaking playlist should keep players entertained for the 27 hours surrounding
...

Insurer Opens (Virtual) Island Getaway

Another corporate marketing scheme pops up on Second Life

(Newser) - Cruising over to Insurance Island might not sound like the most fun thing to do with your virtual life, but Assicurazioni Generali SpA is dedicated to being the rare corporate Second Life island that works, offering a car chase game, and manning the island with real employees. The 176-year old...

12 Stories