Association of Virtual Worlds

The Business & Social Network

Here in the second (or perhaps third) wave of virtual worlds adoption, certain industries remain conspicuously absent.

I'm not talking about the fields we all know are emerging (such as education) or not yet supported (gambling, banking). I'm talking about the businesses that should have been spotted in virtual worlds, but haven't yet.

Consider this list a (somewhat humorous) study in the state of virtual worlds in relation to the real world.

1. Where is the Avon Lady?
I cannot believe the Avon lady is not yet a fixture in all of our worlds. The timeless salesperson of "hope in a jar" translates as well into any virtual world as into any region in flat land. Did you know there are over 700,000 Avon ladies in Brazil? I have not seen a single one in Second Life, nor anywhere else virtual.

Some of you are laughing now, but am I joking?

2. Grocery stores
I am not about to suggest that grocery stores are a good topic for virtual worlds: On the contrary, I think they are extraordinarily bad. Possibly second only to soft-drinks in the poor chances of connecting with the audience, or providing any value. It is nearly impossible to be of tangible benefit to the users of either product given the current technologies.

Still: That doesn't explain their absence. Plenty of ill-advised campaigns have been undertaken on behalf of even less relevant products. So where are the virtual shopping carts to complicate my essentially web-based purchase? I don't want to see it - I just want to know where it is.

3. Heavy Metal Music
Other musical initiatives have taken the leap: Where is the hairy, ear-splitting mosh pit crowd?

I'm dead serious: Metal is big business. Three of 2007's top 10 albums were heavy metal. Do metal-heads just not like virtual worlds? Do they even have computers?*

Perhaps they're simply waiting for a virtual world they can operate while plastered. Platform developers: You must include the staffs of "Creem" and "Kerrang" in your product test cycles.

4. Oprah
Actually, this is not a business - it's an autonomous nation.

We must presume that the only reason behind this absence is the imminent debut of The Opraverse.

5. Viagra, Ciali-something, and those other pills too
I'm just saying: I can't believe one of these hasn't sponsored a giant phallus yet. Duh.

I suppose we will simply remain grateful that some of these have never made it past the login screen. Particularly that last one.

If I've overlooked an implementation that conflicts with these, drop me a line - we wouldn't want to miss any of these glorious milestones! ;)

*Psst: Yes, some of us do have computers.

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Love the Avon and Oprah listing. Ah! What about Absolute Vodka! They recently marketed a, "In an absolute world" project using 3D with Flash and the results are amazing. Carlos Ulloa of Papervision3D (he has a blog here) helped in creating it.

I think that Absolute Vodka SHOULD DEFINITELY be in SL with their, "In an absolute world" project .. that would be awesome. Hmmm.. I'm going to send them an email.

Reply to This

Actually Carmen, you've just tapped the lid of what I've thought for years is a massive Pandora's box.

Alcohol and tobacco are restricted from almost all forms of advertising - there are so few alternatives, these industries are known to go to extremes to find new venues.

Talk about industries we can't believe aren't "activated" yet.

How will the public respond? How will the providers respond and - uh oh - how will the regulatory agencies respond? Can they advertise here - or not?

Despite the fact that I'm highly active in this industry, I do not want to be anywhere near that box when it is opened.

Any takers? ;)

Reply to This

RSS

Sign in

E-mail

Password
 or Sign Up
By signing in, you agree to the amended Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Forgotten your password?

Badge

Loading…

AVW Blogs Widget

Latest Activity

Wurlitzer Seisenbacher added a blog post
FRIDAY NIGHT TALKSHOW Presents:A special concert/interview with singer:NESTO SILVERFALL discussing his involvement with music performance & his debut album.[9:30pm SLT/PDT] [LIVE/VOICE]http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cevedale/70/22/2538
45 minutes ago
Wurlitzer Seisenbacher added an event
September 3, 2010 from 9:30pm to 11pm
FRIDAY NIGHT TALKSHOW Presents: A special concert/interview with singer: NESTO SILVERFALL discussing his involvement with music performance & his debut album. IM Wurlitzer Seisenbacher for info. [9:30pm SLT/PDT] [LIVE/VOICE] http://slurl.com/secondl
48 minutes ago
15 hours ago
15 hours ago

AVW Member Poll

What Can the AVW Do For You?
Please send your thoughts and ideas directly to either Dave or Edita.

Virtual Leadership

The Association of Virtual Worlds provides leadership through an advisory board, member committees, publishing activities, educational programs, special projects, and other collaborative activities. To learn more and get involved click here.

© 2010   Created by Edita.

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service