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April 13, 2012

Around the Virtual World

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A weekly wrap up of interesting news about virtual worlds, virtual goods and other social media.

10 Mind-Blowing Augmented Reality Campaigns

With the recent release of Google's 'Project Glass', the eyes of many consumers and marketers have drifted over to the idea of Augmented Reality. Augmented reality (AR) is a live, direct or indirect, view of a real-world environment that is digitally augmented by another device.

Attention, Frustrated Inventors: Wal-Mart Wants You on Aisle Two

Wal-Mart knew it was in unknown territory when it launched "Get on the Shelf," an Internet popularity contest in which inventors compete for a coveted shot at selling their creations through the world's largest retailer.

OBJE Explores Social Gaming's Next Big Trend: Education

As smartphone and tablet usage becomes more and more widespread among children and adults alike, app-based social games present a powerful new opportunity to boost learning and development--and Obscene Interactive plans to capitalize.

Casino Game Makers Target Zynga, Social Gaming

Web companies like Zynga ushered in a new era of "social" games on PCs and mobile devices that people can play online with their Facebook friends, forcing traditional console-game makers like Electronic Arts to join the fray to avoid being left behind. Now, as Zynga ponders a way to enter the Internet gambling world, the makers of real-world casino games are poised to enter Zynga's turf, newly emboldened by a Justice Department opinion that indicated that many forms of online gambling could become legal.

The pros and cons of social media classrooms

The debate surrounding social media as a learning tool is unlikely to abate any time soon. Is it just a distraction, or do the interactive educational tools available outweigh any disadvantages? Social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, are becoming steadily more integrated within a variety of apps targeted at learning. Real-time news feeds and instant accessibility make them a tool that can be used quickly and efficiently -- but due to its changeable nature, it can be difficult for school systems to keep up and compensate.


Posted by Pillsbury's Virtual World Team

Posted In: Augmented Reality , Gambling - UIGEA

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March 16, 2012

Around the Virtual World

A weekly wrap up of interesting news about virtual worlds, virtual goods and other social media.

Gaming is a top priority for mobile-tech makers

"Gaming is now a 'need to have' category, not a 'nice to have' category for mobile devices, whether they be tablets or phones," said PJ McNealy, videogame analyst at Digital World Research. "The days of a single-function mobile device are long gone."

PixyKids raises $3M for a social media platform just for kids

PixyKids has raised $3 million to develop its social platform for kids ages six to 12. It is built on the idea that kids want to socialize, even though they're too young for Facebook. Kids can join PixyKids under their parents' supervision and can share experiences and pictures the way that adults do on Facebook. The company is betting that social networks, not virtual worlds or education sites, will resonate most with kids.

FanCake Debuts as First Live Social Gaming Experience for Sports Watching

Kwarter, a mobile application factory building apps that lie at the intersection of the social, mobile and TV spaces, announced today the launch of its first app, FanCake. FanCake turns live televised sporting events into interactive and social games, connecting millions of sports fans, teams, broadcasters, brands and athletes to enhance the game watching experience.

LVFH Launches Real Vegas Casino on Facebook

Las Vegas From Home.com Entertainment Inc. is pleased to announce the launch of its social casino product, Real Vegas Casino, on Facebook to the general public. It is expected LVFH will launch more games under the Real Vegas Casino brand shortly, coinciding with a specialized marketing campaign.

 French City Implements Virtual Currency to Avoid Financial Ruin

The French city of Nantes has plans to introduce its own virtual currency as a complement to the euro. By 2013, participating local businesses will be able to pay, or be paid in virtual currency units called "Nanto."

Olympic stars brought to life in world's first 'augmented reality hotel'

From today, guests at the Holiday Inn London Kensington Forum will be able to use their smartphones or tablets to see athletes in virtual action in the reception, corridors and bedrooms. When the devices are pointed at specific sites in the hotel, the athletes will appear on the screen. BMX World Champion Shanaze Reade can be seen performing tricks on her bike in the lobby, while Paralympic table tennis world number one Will Bayley hits table tennis balls behind reception.  Meanwhile, UK long-jump record holder Chris Tomlinson can be seen to jump in a corridor. And leading windsurfer Dempsey will - somewhat bizarrely - do his thing in the hotel's bedrooms using a bed sheet.


Posted by Pillsbury's Virtual World Team

Posted In: Augmented Reality , Gambling - UIGEA , Video Games , Virtual Currency

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April 22, 2011

Around the Virtual World

A weekly wrap up of interesting news about virtual worlds, virtual goods and other social media.

Is Online Poker Over?

This week, the FBI landed a crushing blow on all of the online poker sites that are advertised nightly in the United States. Individuals involved with internet gambling companies PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker were indicted for bank fraud, money laundering, and illegal gambling and sued in a companion civil suit that seeks at least $3 billion in forfeitures and penalties.

HP Rolls Out Virtual Banking With Avaya's Web.alive

Building on HP's Unified Communications and Collaboration Services portfolio for the enterprise, HP and Avaya today announced a strategic offering that provides banks with a customer-centric, humanizing element for assisted self-service.

What Effect Has the Internet Had On Religion?

The concept of religious ritual is so deeply embedded in our social fabric that it is natural for it to have made the leap to virtuality. And it hasn't just reared its head in worlds such as Second Life. Social networks, including Facebook, have active and close-knit communities of religious followers of all creeds, gathering in what science writer Margaret Wertheim described in her 1999 book, The Pearly Gates of Cyberspace, as "a new kind of realm for the mind".

Hackers Go After Points, Credits, and Virtual Currency

Virtual thieves can sell stolen points in online forums or on eBay, or they can try to exchange points for rewards. However, most online retailers, social media, and gaming websites recognize the thieves' behavior patterns when cashing in stolen points. By analyzing the history of the device being used to access a website, the website's operator can prevent fraudulent transactions.


Social Gaming on Track to Become $5 Billion Industry by 2015

Parks Associates, an internationally recognized market research and consulting company specializing in emerging consumer technology products and services, forecasts revenues in the social gaming market will increase by five times from 2010 to 2015, due in large part to advertising revenues and sales of virtual items. These factors already pushed revenues over $1 billion in 2010.

FNB's eBucks Buy 19 Million KMs of Fuel

In December 2009, members of eBucks, First National Bank's rewards programme, were given the ability to pay for fuel with eBucks, FNB's virtual currency, at participating Engen service stations around South Africa. Since then, FNB has enabled eBucks' members to fill up on fuel to the value of over R13m at participating Engen service stations - which is enough fuel to drive almost 20 million kilometres or - more accurately - to make 25 trips to the moon driving an average family sedan.

IU Shares $297,929 NSF Grant to Study Use of 3D Virtual Worlds

The National Science Foundation has awarded $297,929 to a multi-disciplinary team from Indiana University and Arizona State University. The award supports on-going research concerned with the use of computer-generated 3D virtual environments by business and educational enterprises.

Virtual Currency Drawing in More Viewers

Virtual currency isn't just for gamers any longer. New data from Jun Group indicates that video viewers are also interested in virtual currency. According to their report on incentivized social video, virtual currency is pushing consumers to watch more video content in the social space.


Posted by Pillsbury's Virtual World Team

Posted In: Gambling - UIGEA , Virtual Currency , Virtual Goods , Virtual World IP Policies

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April 16, 2011

Feds go "All-in" against Online Poker

The US Attorneys for the SDNY and the FBI unsealed an indictment against the three largest online poker sites on Friday, alleging an elaborate scheme to circumvent the federal law prohibiting certain gambling related activities (UIGEA).

The Indictment and Civil Complaint seek at least $3 billion in civil money laundering penalties and forfeiture from the Poker Companies and the defendants. The District Court issued an order restraining approximately 76 bank accounts in 14 countries containing the proceeds of the charged offenses. Pursuant to a warrant for arrest in rem issued by the U.S. District Court, the United States also seized five Internet domain names used by the Poker Companies to operate their illegal online businesses in the United States.

When one tries to access the seized domains, here is what they now see:



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Posted by Pillsbury's Virtual World Team

Posted In: Gambling - UIGEA

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April 16, 2011

No Dice for Private Cause of Action Under UIGEA

no dice.jpegA Federal Court recently confirmed that the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) does not provide a private right of action. The court granted the Defendant's motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim citing to prior precedent

The UIGEA provides for regulatory, federal and state, and criminal enforcement. It seeks to effectively prevent gambling by people in the US, by requiring certain payment providers to identify and block payments for illegal internet gambling transactions facilitated by their commercial customers.


Posted by Pillsbury's Virtual World Team

Posted In: Gambling - UIGEA

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