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3DXplorer, Benaroya Hall, Casual Connect(ion)?

Posted by King Buzzo - 07-15-08 18:09 - 2 comments

Browsing the news wires last week I came across an announcement from 3DXplorer. They have created a rendering of the home of the Seattle Symphony, Benaroya Hall, here in Seattle. This is also the location of the event we will be reporting from next week, Casual Connect Seattle.

With my interest peaked I clicked the link in the Press Release. Instantly I was teleported into a virtual rendering of Benaroya Hall. Grand, elegant and almost exactly as I had remembered it from my first concert there years ago. I was surprised to find it was set up just like the conference we are set to attend next week. Now I was definitly interested. What are they doing here? Will this be some sort of live demo? I reached out to the Casual Games Association folks only to have the trail grow cold due to the dreaded "We cannot comment on this at this time." I teleported back to Benaroya to do some further investigation. Vendor booths from Sandlot, Microsoft, Big Fish and many more. No leads here. It seemed that all was lost, back to chasing down one of the other stories I have in my inbox.... Then, as I navigated away from the page, it hit me, I had done all of this without a download! It was seamless! A seamless, no download, persistent Virtual World without a download!

3DXplorer runs based on Java, so, assuming you have Java (who doesn't?) there is no download required. As Greg Millikin (RCE Universe Member suntzujr) explained, "We believe that providing an open and programmable web3D platform will open up a new level of access to 3D on the web as compared to closed, proprietary platforms like Second Life. For instance, if someone sets up a 3D space in Second Life, it is accessible only to people who visit Second Life. However, with an open platform like 3DXplorer, effectively the same 3D space is accessible by anyone who can visit a web site."

With support for standard 3D modeling tools like Google Sketch-up or 3DSMax it is easy to see the benefits of such an environment. "A simple application is to allow people to just explore 3D spaces, whether real places that exist today, like the Benaroya in Seattle, or a model home being shown by a builder." says Greg, "It could also be places that are totally imaginary as in a fantasy virtual world or a casual game. The possibilities are almost limitless."

There is alot more here to be explored. I will be meeting with Greg next week at Casual Connect Seattle to discuss things in more detail. For now, here are some links to the space.

Grand Lobby: http://www.3dxplorer.com/download_file/wor...grandlobby.html

Entry Way: http://www.3dxplorer.com/download_file/wor...aygateslob.html

Founder's Room: http://www.3dxplorer.com/download_file/wor...x_founders.html

You can also learn more about the facility by visiting the Benaroya web site at http://www.seattlesymphony.org/benaroya/.

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Live from Casual Connect Next Week

Posted by Administrator - 07-15-08 05:17 - 0 comments

Stay tuned to RCE Universe next week as we report live from Casual Connect Seattle! Casual Games Association Events are the premiere events for the casual games industry with over 3,000 professionals attending Casual Connect Events each year.

Casual Connect Seattle brings together the most talented and knowledgeable experts in the casual gaming field to further the casual games industry with the best of networking and learning.

With the popularity and reach of Virtual Worlds expanding daily, the casual gaming industry is looking to stay in front of it's audience by leveraging these worlds. We will be attending sessions on monitizing virtual worlds, reaching virtual world audiences and much more. The attendee list is deep and rich with everyone from Google to Adobe, EA Sims Group to Gaia Online, Microsoft to Sun Microsystems. The list goes on and on.

As one of a handful of Media Sponsors for the event, we will be there to bring you exclusive interviews and insight from inside the eye of the storm.

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Gibson Guitars Enters Second Life

Posted by Administrator - 07-15-08 05:09 - 0 comments

Gibson Guitar Enters Into Virtual World of 3-D With Launch of Gibson Island on Second Life.com, an Industry First. The Gibson 3-D Virtual World Launches Wednesday, July 16, 2008 with Inaugural Concert Series by Legendary Musician Bob Welch

NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 14, 2008 PRNewswire via COMTEX -- Gibson Guitar, the world's premier musical instrument manufacturer and leader in music technology announced the launch of the official Gibson Island on Second Life.com (SL). Gibson is the first major music manufacturer to establish an official island in Second Life and has advanced the opportunity for consumers to participate in an exciting virtual world complete with digital luthiers, instruments and guest stars. The Gibson Island will officially launch at 8am SL Time on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 with an exclusive live music performance at 6pm SL Time.

In tribute to the legendary Gibson Les Paul guitar and the musician, the Gibson Island is in the shape of the famous guitar body and rises up from the ocean in Second Life. The "island" will feature humbucker mountains, full theatres, mini-theatres and other areas resembling pick ups and other aspects of a Gibson guitar.

As part of the launch, 70s multi-platinum solo artist and former Fleetwood Mac vocalist/guitarist Bob Welch will perform in an exclusive concert with other Second Life musicians. Bob Welch's avatar, "Bob Welch Magic" will also appear on stage along with celebrity musicians Cypress Rosewood and Von Johin. The concert kicks off a series of concerts which will be produced and performed only on the Gibson Island in Second Life over the period of a few months. Wednesday's inaugural concert series is a first for the musical instrument manufacturing industry and features an entire day of exclusive performances on the Gibson Island.

The Gibson Island features various stages including mini-theatres featuring classic blues performances by Matt Murphy, Howlin' Wolf and more. A variety of movie screens scattered around the island provides exclusive audio content and experiences along with news and information sites.

Second Life residents will have the opportunity to experience some of the world's most popular Gibson guitars for free. Over two-dozen "high prim" virtual Gibson models will be available throughout the Gibson Island only, allowing Second Life residents to own their dream guitar in this virtual world.

Second Life is a dynamic virtual world in which to participate in. A whole world of information and creativity is at your fingertips. To create a Second Life account/avatar and enter the Gibson Island, go to SecondLife.com, and follow the instructions to setting up a new account, for free. Once you have set up your account and installed custom software you will go "inworld" to the Second Life grid. At the bottom of the Second Life user interface, you will find a "Map" button. Press the map button and then type in "Gibson Island" in the field next to the "search" button. Then select the "search" button. The map will then locate Gibson Island and you will then select the "Teleport" button. At that point you will transport to Gibson Island.

About Second Life:

Second Life is a 3-D Virtual world entirely created by its residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown to host over 14 million inhabitants from around the globe. From the moment you enter the world, visitors discover a vast digital continent, teaming with people in entertainment, other experiences and new opportunities. The millions of users launched Second Life five years ago along with Linden Labs and some of the world's greatest musicians have already created their own avatars to explore the virtual capacity of Second Life. The virtual world is free to join and available for Mac, Windows and Linux computer platforms. To register go to http://www.secondlife.com

About Gibson Guitar:

Gibson is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins, and banjos. Gibson's HD.6X-PRO Digital Guitar and the Gibson Robot Guitar represent the biggest advances in electric guitar design in over 70 years. Founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and headquartered in Nashville since 1984, Gibson Guitar Corp.'s family of brands now includes Epiphone, Dobro, Kramer, Steinberger, Tobias, Echoplex, Electar, Flatiron, Slingerland, Valley Arts, Maestro, Oberheim, Sunshine Piano, Take Anywhere Technology, Baldwin, J&C Fischer, Chickering, Hamilton, and Wurlitzer. Visit Gibson's website at http://www.gibson.com or http://www.gibson.com/press.

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