How about a gaming panel at mesh?

    Posted by martin on October 24, 2006

The mesh conference is back. That’s good. What I would really love to see at the next mesh conference is a panel on gaming and virtual worlds. Since getting “a better understanding of the impact of new developments online” is part of the mesh conference mission statement, I think we’d be missing out a huge part of the latest online developments without it.

When I look at our consumer and interactive entertainment divisions and what kind of new work has emerged due to these online developments, and then I think back to the ancient times where I typed program code for games into my Amstrad computer or my friend’s Sinclair ZX Spectrum…we’ve come a long way! And yet it feels like the real deal in online gaming and virtual worlds hasn’t even started yet.

Being in the PR industry, I agree with David Jones that a PR panel at mesh would be nice. But if I only had one vote (not that I have any vote in it), it would go to online gaming.

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October 24th, 2006
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Comment Number:
1
Written by:
David Jones
Posted on:
October 24, 2006 at 1:42 pm

Virtual worlds is certainly getting a lot of buzz…I find myself talking about it more and more with clients. I’d love to see some examples of how it can be used in an innovative way. C’mon meshers…listen to Uncle Martin and Uncle Dave!

Comment Number:
2
Written by:
Stuart MacDonald
Posted on:
October 24, 2006 at 2:52 pm

But c’mon guys, is there anything to this “we must be in Second Life” stuff, really? With due respect to Reuters and American Apparel etc. isn’t this all abit overblown?

Product placement in games and whatnot, that strikes me as different somehow.

/S

Comment Number:
3
Written by:
Martin Hofmann
Posted on:
October 24, 2006 at 3:24 pm

Stuart, I don’t know if businesses have to be in Second Life. I tend to agree with you that some of the things that are going on are overblown. Some are simply PR stunts. But it is fascinating to watch. And last year you could have asked “is there anything to this Web 2.0 stuff”? So I’d find it worthwhile discussing.

I also think Second Life is only one aspect of it. I am also thinking of the huge community building aspect through consoles and PC gaming, and - to your point about product placement - the business opportunities that emerge from it.

Gaming is a place where a lot of the connecting and sharing (two of your mesh themes) is already going on in a big way (not so sure about the inspiring part :-)). And it is also the place where more and more companies make money, something a lot of Web 2.0 companies still have to figure out.

I think it would make a great event panel (and you could host it simultaneously in Second Life - just kidding…).

Comment Number:
4
Written by:
David Jones
Posted on:
October 24, 2006 at 5:19 pm

There is such a division among the SL evangelists and those who think it’s a bit “out there,” that it would make a great panel discussion.

Personally I find SL tedious and I just can’t see people spending the time on it in a work environment…but I’ve been wrong before. I can’t think of when, but it must have happened :)

Comment Number:
5
Written by:
Ryan Anderson
Posted on:
October 26, 2006 at 4:20 pm

I agree that there should be a gaming stream. I’ll put my two cents in, simply because online gaming is the world in which I live.

I wouldn’t call Second Life a game, but something on metaverse marketing would be interesting. What you have to remember is that advertising in games is not the same as advergaming - that’s creating a brand experience through a game. Candystand does it well, and FOX’s American Dad vs. Family Guy Kung Fu is a pretty good example as well. (Disclosure: The company I work for created it).

Branded entertainment in general is getting to become a major part of advertising and communication - it’s not a silver bullet, but it’s worth talking about.

@Stuart - I don’t get Second Life either. Don’t feel bad.