InternetCompany to create Chinese virtual world (AP)
AP - Swedish software company MindArk, which operates the online game "Entropia Universe," has authorized a Beijing company to create a version of its online game for the Chinese market.
HONG KONG - Swedish software company MindArk, which operates the online game "Entropia Universe," has authorized a Beijing company to create a version of its online game for the Chinese market. "Entropia Universe," which has more than 580,000 players, is set game set on a fictional planet in which users can work, meet friends, trade and buy virtual land. It's unusual among online games in that its currency is convertible at a fixed rate to the U.S. dollar. Gothenburg-based MindArk said in a statement Friday that the Chinese virtual world will have a capacity of 7 million concurrent players and aims to draw 150 million users in total. It said the new game is expected to generate $1 billion in economic activity every year. Elina Heng, a spokeswoman for the new project, said MindArk aims to launch the new game in August 2008. Online games are already tremendously popular in China. U.S.-based Blizzard Entertainment Inc.'s "World of Warcraft," the world's most popular online game, already has a licensed Chinese version with more than 3.5 million subscribers. Chinese company Shanda Interactive Entertainment Ltd. has 2.3 million active subscribers for its various games. MindArk Chief Marketing Officer Carl Uggla said MindArk will train artists from its Chinese... [ Read more on www.yahoo.com ]
InternetWeb, computer "widgets" offer branding opportunities (Reuters)
Reuters - Pop quiz: What technology is on the cusp of changing the face of Internet advertising as we know it?
InternetAsustek previews Net radio, overclocking laptop (InfoWorld)
InfoWorld - If the Internet radio with iPod port and laptop PC built for microprocessor overclocking that Asustek Computer showed off on Monday are any indication of things to come at the Computex Taipei 2007 trade show, then be prepared for a few surprises.