BBC Fights For Its (Second) Life
National broadcaster aims at pre-teens in virtual world
As if ‘the kids’ don’t already have enough to occupy their time – what with MySpace and Bebo.com, the BBC is gearing up to launch an online virtual world akin to Linden Labs' glorified 3D chatroom, Second Life.
Oh, great. Second Life for 4-12 year-olds, just what the world needs.
CBBC World will apparently offer kids the opportunity to create their own avatars, and explore different zones featuring content such as animations, games, music and videos. They'll also be given the opportunity to contribute to the world by adding content such as their own artwork which they can send to each other. Bless.
The world will closely mirror KetnetKick, a similar project developed by Larian Studios in Belgium for European TV channel VRT.
SPOnG spoke to the BBC about the project and was told that, as is the case with CBBC's forums, the site will be closely monitored and precautions taken to make sure that only Children are using the world.
Speaking on the BBC's aims for the project their children's controller, Richard Deverell, said:
The virtual environment is going to launch this summer as a lead up to CBBC's digital telly re-launch in September.
The question has to be asked: is the BBC pushing the boundaries of how media conglomerates disperse content? Or are is hopping on a well-established bandwagon and creating a glorified chat-room?
Or is this a desperate attempt to maintain an independent, ad-free, broadcaster in the face of calls for it to be broken up and sold off?
Let us know in the forum.
Source: The Guardian
Oh, great. Second Life for 4-12 year-olds, just what the world needs.
CBBC World will apparently offer kids the opportunity to create their own avatars, and explore different zones featuring content such as animations, games, music and videos. They'll also be given the opportunity to contribute to the world by adding content such as their own artwork which they can send to each other. Bless.
The world will closely mirror KetnetKick, a similar project developed by Larian Studios in Belgium for European TV channel VRT.
SPOnG spoke to the BBC about the project and was told that, as is the case with CBBC's forums, the site will be closely monitored and precautions taken to make sure that only Children are using the world.
Speaking on the BBC's aims for the project their children's controller, Richard Deverell, said:
"Over time we hope to enrich the world with better software. We hope then it can be adapted to make it more personal so it understands what kind of person you are, and offers you things you might like, such as our new show MI High."
The virtual environment is going to launch this summer as a lead up to CBBC's digital telly re-launch in September.
The question has to be asked: is the BBC pushing the boundaries of how media conglomerates disperse content? Or are is hopping on a well-established bandwagon and creating a glorified chat-room?
Or is this a desperate attempt to maintain an independent, ad-free, broadcaster in the face of calls for it to be broken up and sold off?
Let us know in the forum.
Source: The Guardian
Companies:
BBC
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Comments
Joji 23 Jan 2007 14:08
1/3
The BBC have for a long time been kind of anti games anyway. These spin-off they try under their banner are nowt but cash-ins on popular culture, that they always cherry pick from.
Still to this day, they can't produce a decent games show, at a decent hour, on the level or better than Channel 4's Gamesmaster, and that finished years ago. No competition, but obviously they aren't inspired either way.
Nothing to see here, move along.
Still to this day, they can't produce a decent games show, at a decent hour, on the level or better than Channel 4's Gamesmaster, and that finished years ago. No competition, but obviously they aren't inspired either way.
Nothing to see here, move along.
OptimusP 23 Jan 2007 17:01
2/3
As a belgian i can say you're wrong!
It isn't the VRT, they changed their name to Eén! And their a gouverment sponsored regional television net. Regional in the sense that they cater to the Flemish part of Belgium, the French-speaking being catered too by the RTBF...
I have no idea why I am posting this...
It isn't the VRT, they changed their name to Eén! And their a gouverment sponsored regional television net. Regional in the sense that they cater to the Flemish part of Belgium, the French-speaking being catered too by the RTBF...
I have no idea why I am posting this...
DoctorDee 23 Jan 2007 18:14
3/3
OptimusP wrote:
I have no idea why I am posting this...
To educate, to inform and to entertain?