Quick, get me a panel of experts! I have questions and need answers!

Gamasutra has the write-up from a panel titled "Virtual Worlds and the Massively Multiplayer Gaming Explosion" at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, involving such notables as Trion World Network CEO Dr. Lars Buttler; Bob Ferrari, executive director of business development and sales for Turbine; AMD senior product manager Ian McNaughton; Stormfront Studios president and CEO Don Daglow; Flagship Studios' business development director and general counsel Steve Goldstein; Akamai product line director Kris Alexander and business development and international operations VP David Christensen of Sony Online Entertainment.

Rowe began the discussion by raising the distinction between "virtualization" and online gaming and traditional console gaming.

Said Christensen, "I think that distinction is going away, but the big difference is play balance and controller versus keyboard and mouse."

"It's not just a port," Ferrari agreed.

Added Buttler, "Also, the difference between virtual worlds and games. It's much easier to monetize a theme park than a park. The virtual worlds don't have a good way to monetize today."

Continue reading the panel discussion at Gamasutra.

Last Updated: Mar 13, 2016

Comments