Connecting Worlds

Four weeks away from the Virtual Worlds Conference and Expo in LA. (We’re going to be there for the week, so if you want to meet up ping us.) The second annual Virtual Worlds Expo takes place September 3-4, 2008, at The Los Angeles Convention Center. Virtual Worlds Expo - www.VirtualWorldsExpo.com - is the premier event for businesses intent on maximizing revenue opportunities using virtual worlds.The early registration has ended a few days ago, but as partners of the Expo we have a special code for registering with a 15% discount. The promotional code is MyrlVIP, good for the LA conference as well as for LONDON.Virtual Worlds Expo includes four dedicated conferences: Virtual Worlds Hollywood, Enterprise Virtual Worlds, Virtual Worlds Kids, the Future of Virtual Worlds and a Technology and Results track that will be fully unveiled closer to the show. The event provides extensive best practice discussions on the application of virtual worlds for consumer, corporate, educational and training solutions. The Exhibition Hall showcases the latest tools, technologies, products and services from all the leading vendors.And Virtual Worlds Management has recently announced that Jon Landau will be keynoting! Academy Award(R)-winning producer of Lightstorm Entertainment Inc. and advisor to The Multiverse Network, Inc., Jon Landau will deliver a keynote address at Virtual Worlds Hollywood and Virtual Worlds Expo at 9 a.m., Wednesday, September 3, 2008 in the Los Angeles Convention Center. Currently in production on the widely anticipated James Cameron film, AVATAR, Landau will address how virtual worlds are affecting the traditional entertainment industry.”Jon has the unique ability to combine media-related technologies with the highest caliber of creative talent. We are extremely pleased to have him join us at Virtual Worlds Hollywood and Virtual Worlds Expo,” said Christopher Sherman, Executive Director of Virtual Worlds Management. “James Cameron and Jon Landau are developing digital production tools to enable filming and mass digital distribution of 3D movies. Virtual world technologies are a high priority in their film making process.”Virtual Worlds Management, the leading trade media company focused on virtual worlds, conducts ongoing analysis of this rapidly growing industry. Their latest research highlights that the industry continues to attract attention from venture capital and media firms, which invested $345 million in virtual worlds-related companies in the first six months of 2008. According to venture capital firm Charles River Ventures, consumers spend more than $1.5 billion on virtual items every year.A visionary who saw the early potential of virtual worlds, Landau has been an advisor to Multiverse since 2005. Landau is also working in close collaboration with Microsoft and its partners to streamline the production and visual effect process through the use of “Virtual Production” technologies. Over the course of his career, Landau produced such films as James Cameron’s TITANIC and Steven Soderbergh’s SOLARIS. He also co-produced Warren Beatty’s DICK TRACY and the family comedy hit HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS. Throughout the early ’90’s, Landau was Executive Vice President of Feature Film Production at Twentieth Century Fox.Landau joins world-class speakers knowledgeable in all aspects of virtual world development and implementation. Virtual Worlds Hollywood, part of the Virtual Worlds Expo, caters to entertainment industry professionals looking to understand how companies ranging from Disney to Google utilize virtual worlds to engage audiences and generate new revenue.——-Virtual Worlds Expo sponsors include: The Multiverse Network, Inc., The Electric Sheep Company, Millions of Us, Electrotank, Linden Lab, Makena Technologies, ProtonMedia LLC, ALTADYN, Icarus Studios, Forterra, Qwaq, Fatfoogoo, Parature, Paybycash, Frima Studio, MASA Group, NITCTA, Wyndstorm Corporation Avatar Reality, Egencie, Novamente, Shanghai Pop, Smeet, Wyndstorm Corporation and www.VirtualWorldsNews.com