Best Of WorldsInMotion: From Travian to eRepublik

Regularly, we'll be featuring the top stories from the surging online/virtual world space from Gamasutra sister site WorldsInMotion.biz. Recent notables in the space include an Online World Atlas entries for browser-based MMOs Travian and eRepublik, and an interview with the CEO of Shidonni, Ido Mazursky. Here are the highlights of the last few weeks on the site: - American Idol Virtual World To Feature In Habbo "Beginning with the kick-off of the eighth season of the distressingly popular series, an American Idol "virtual world" is to be launched within Habbo. Habbo are to introduce virtual items and activities related to the show weekly throughout the twenty week long series." - Online World Atlas: Travian "Perhaps it's unfortunate that I played Ikariam before Travian, but in comparison the game is deeply disappointing, suffering all of Ikariam's flaws and more. It does ultimately offer more to the player willing to put in the effort (especially when it comes to interactions with other players) but I can see few reasons for the average gamer, or online world connoisseur, to bother." - Cartoon Network Launches FusionFall "The title was developed using the Unity platform, and includes Crisp Thinking's NetModerator technology to provide a safe environment for child users. It features over 50 characters from Cartoon Network's shows (including Dexter's Laboratory and Samurai Jack) and features 3-D platforming with light-RPG aspects." - Interview: Ido Mazursky, CEO, Shidonni "When we started out we wanted to focus on a fun experience based on kids' imagination and their endless creativity. We felt then as we do today that a lot of games on the internet are based on templates, ready-made items and a very commerce oriented flow. We wanted to offer a different approach which is no less fun, and focus on children development, empowerment and education." - Online World Atlas: eRepublik "I'm not trying to say here that eRepublik is a case of the emperor's new clothes -- the wider picture is deeply interesting -- but the player experience is deeply poor, so much so that I wonder why players have managed to make the simulation work as well as it does." Interested? Read daily news on the online/virtual worlds space at the WorldsInMotion.biz weblog, with the next Worlds In Motion Summit planned for GDC 2009 in March 2009.