While we’re putting the finishing touches on the Rumsey Maps islands in Second Life, we’ve opened them to residents. And, so far, the first impressions have been positive:
And the photos have been spectacular:
The official launch happens on March 6. Expect a press release with full details shortly.
In the Web 1.0 era, we produced websites for people we’d never met, and that was groundbreaking. Today, we’re hiring people we’ve never met, and it’s worth mentioning in the NY Post:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/02042008/jobs/sight_unseen_289356.htm
On a side note: since then, I’ve met Nathan, and promoted him to Associate Creative Director.
So, today we’re proud to announce a much deeper relationship between Centric, HiPiHi, and 3Di–a relationship that brings unparalleled marketing, story development, and technology development expertise to the Chinese virtual world of HiPiHi.
And we’re aiming straight at the heart of the entertainment market.
Why? Well, when people get into virtual worlds, they get really, really into them. As in, television viewing shrinks, conventional web browsing shortens, and other forms of media go by the wayside.
Long-time gamers aren’t surprised, but others are concerned: What does this mean for the future of entertainment? Is this another blow to theater attendance? Or is this a fringe effect that we shouldn’t worry too much about?
Actually, from our point of view, it’s a convergence of almost everything that’s happening today–from marketing to entertainment and beyond.
From the marketing point of view, we’re moving past the day when you could pound simple messages into someone’s head over and over, day after day, for 40 years, to create powerful brand icons. Marketing today is 2-way. It’s give-and-take. It’s a conversation. And what sparks conversation are powerful stories.
At the same time, entertainment today is rapidly moving past the "pack them into theaters" method of distribution. Today, people want to play in the same worlds as their entertainment. They want to see the stories they create make it out to the big screen. They want to talk with, interact with, and extend their favorite worlds, places, and characters.
And virtual worlds like China’s HiPiHi are the places where the most interesting interactions will take place–on both the marketing and entertainment side.
You can read the press release for the full scoop.
As you may have seen from our press release, Centric has aquired Green Apple Media, a Webby Award-winning studio that specializes in developing rich media sites for entertainment clients.
"Now, what the heck did you go and do that for?" you ask. "I thought you were an agency working in social spaces and virtual places."
Yes, we are. And skills on the rich media side of things are more important than ever for both areas of marketing. Almost no virtual world project we’re currently doing doesn’t include some aspect of rich media and web development. In fact, many of them look like complete brand or product launch campaigns, from the development of identity to collateral to website to social media program to virtual world development to launch and post-launch marketing. So it makes sense for us to bring a leading Flash and motion graphics development studio in.
And it makes sense to them. Steven Apple, founder and CEO of Green Apple Media, told me, "Studios are looking for a complete solution now. The website is the start, now we have to span the social networks, and even reach into virtual worlds." So now, as Centric’s Vice President, Business Development, Steven Apple has the team he needs to give them a complete promotional solution–from conventional interactive development to virtual worlds in China.
So welcome Green Apple Media to Centric, and welcome the additional capabilities they bring!
I was interviewed for an article in the Asia Times about China and virtual worlds. Talked about Second Life, HiPiHi, QQ, and the future. Good stuff all around.
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