Found this Habbo's New Virtual World quite interesting. It appears Sulake is building a 3D virtual world. Although it doesn’t specifically state what their plans are, it kind of makes sense for them to create an environment into which older Habbos can graduate. Is this the beginning of virtual world interoperability? Habbo may not have plans to transfer the currency/status earned by millions of kids in Habbo to WoW, but this may allow a Habbo to retain and transfer his blood, sweat and tears as he gets older.

I found this article Four Patterns of Thinking quite interesting. It discusses thought process and challenges us to consider whether we are cognisant of how our differing thinking patterns affects our actions, which clearly it does. But more importantly, how might we ‘borrow’ from a different type of thought process to more affectively make decisions?

In considering how this relates to our business, it is clear that our kids game designers think differently than our creative directors think differently than our strategists, and this intersection of thought is what truly fosters great work.

From another perspective, how much of this is considered when designing games and virtual worlds, specifically for kids? Clearly, it is important to provide experiences that different types of people can interact with and enjoy. When designing games and virtual worlds, the first question often asked is for what demographic are we building, and once that has been defined, it is dissected further. But as we design, its important to consider how different minds and different behavior patterns will experience the same environment.

Being in the online industry and having a daily goal of figuring out how to help brands and entertainment companies reach people online, I obviously work under the auspice that people are spending more time online, so reach them in the location where they are.

Because I am immersed in these worlds, I am often asked (generally by an older inquisitor) whether I think the Internet, and more specifically virtual worlds / social networks, is causing kids to become anti-social, creating an eco-system that hinders their ability to converse face-to-face and disallows their ability to learn. Generally, my response is simple. There is good and bad to every new technology, but I believe the pros of the social internet far outweigh the cons. That when I was a kid, my world was confined to my class and my soccer team, but now kids are more aware of the world around them than ever before.

In support of my thoughts, I found this BusinessWeek article particularly interesting, as it describes how the Internet, although may be causing many kids to stop reading books “cover to cover,” has actually made them more able to parse information quickly and turn that analysis into personal thought, rather than following the line of a book directly with no choice in its outcome. Kids today expect to be part of the conversation. They require the conversation to be had. And they are not afraid to share their opinions. I don’t think anyone can argue this is a detriment to the future of society.

Can it be argued that people reading books less is generally a bad thing? Are we beginning to engage in a time where kids stop reading classics we all read in high school? Perhaps. But are they becoming stupider? Are they becoming less social? I think the answer is unequivocally no. The article itself says that the # of students taking AP classes has increased 75% from 1999 to 2005. I imagine you can find a statistic that leans the other way, but I welcome your thoughts.

It’s been nearly a year since that serendipitous United Airlines flight I took from NYC to San Francisco. I sat down in seat 5C, only to take a seat next to these two crazy but brilliant internet guys who would later come to change my life. It started out as simply hysterical conversation. If I remember correctly, the first interaction involved us making fun of a guy wearing zebra patterned loafers. Yeah‚Ķwe didn’t get it either. But those gotti loafers just may have gotten me my job with Millions of Us.

Nearly a year later, I come to find myself back in the city where my virtual life began, this time, however, to open the MoU New York office. I look back on the preceding year and a few distinct thoughts come to mind. First, which goes without saying, it went incredibly quickly. We’ve grown from a company with 8 or so people to one with over 30. We’ve worked with some of the largest brands on the planet and have simultaneously created some of the most engaging branded experience across virtual worlds. Our small, talented group of employees has grown into a team of experts with incredibly diverse and rich experience in video game, interactive media and film design. More importantly, we’ve created a team of people who more closely resemble a family than a group of employees at a company. Second, I’ve never worked so hard and had so much fun in my life. The life of a bus dev guy at a successful start is by no means a walk in the park. But it is a good time. And finally, and this is only more recently learned from a New York native (thanks Nathan), Brooklyn is considered to be “in the city.” I won’t get in trouble with that small mistake, again.

So with all this new knowledge, here I am, one year later heading down the oft referred and a tad clich√© rabbit hole. This time, however, I’m taking MoU with me. Where will we go and how we will do it? What is going to happen in 3, 6, 9 and 12 months? I think I’ve got a pretty good idea. But in an effort to keep everyone on their toes and yearning for more‚Ķ

For all those reading that happen to be in NYC or on the East Coast (or anywhere for that matter), please feel free to reach out and say hello (jeff@millionsofus.com). I’m looking for interesting people doing interesting things with interesting experiences‚Ķvirtual or otherwise. I’m looking for people who want to join me for a drink (or 3), lunch, or perusing of my new city. I’m looking for people who want to join me at MoU in New York to help us grow our once small company into the world’s leading agency specializing in connecting brands with online communities. I’m even looking for people who have an interest in rock climbing, hiking, even skiing wherever it is you East Coasters ski. Finally, I’m looking for people who want to show a lifetime West Coaster how things go on the other side of the country.

I leave you now with a quote that one of our producers, Emma, lent to me. Cheesy maybe, but I kind of like it. “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” -Muriel Strode