Leading Conference and Tradeshow Provides Attendees
The Knowledge To Leverage Consumer and Business Virtual Worlds

Los Angeles, California - May 13, 2008 - Virtual Worlds Management, the virtual worlds trade media company, announced today that the second annual Virtual Worlds Conference and Expo will take place September 3-4, 2008, at The Los Angeles Convention Center.  Virtual Worlds Expo - www.VirtualWorldsExpo.com - is the premier event for businesses seeking to understand and maximize opportunities using virtual worlds.

The multiple track conference will provide extensive best practice discussions on applications and implementation of consumer, corporate, educational and training virtual worlds as well as emerging media and communication applications. The Exhibition Hall will showcase the latest tools, technologies, products and services from all the leading vendors.

Venture capital and media firms invested more than $184 million dollars in 23 virtual worlds related companies during the first quarter of 2008, according to Virtual Worlds Management's research. Additional research found that there are now more than 100 virtual worlds operating or in development that have a focus on the 18-and-under youth market. Corporate virtual worlds technologies will be covered in a soon to be released research report available at http://www.VirtualWorldsManagement.com.

"Use of virtual worlds and related technologies continues to grow. The range of industries adopting the technology continues to expand, from toy and entertainment companies to enterprises across the Fortune 1000," said Christopher Sherman, Executive Director of Virtual Worlds Management. "We are seeing interest from a wide variety of markets, including financial services, banking, insurance, pharmaceuticals and more.  Of course media and entertainment usage continues at a fierce pace, but corporate use of virtual worlds is now kicking in."

"Virtual worlds hit their stride with entertainment applications, proving that they can provide an immersive, communal environment while generating significant revenue streams. Now corporations are realizing they can take the same principles and apply them to cost-cutting and time-saving solutions," said Joey Seiler, Editor of VirtualWorldsNews.com. "From training and collaboration to simply making work more enjoyable, virtual worlds have already been acknowledged by analysts around the world as key to recruiting and optimizing the next-generation workforce."

Virtual Worlds Expo features world-class speakers knowledgeable in all aspects of virtual world platforms and implementation. Previous keynote speakers have included Christian Renaud, Chief Architect, Networked Virtual Environments, Cisco Technology Center ;Charles Scothon, General Manager & SVP Girls Mattel Brands, Mattel, Inc.; and Jeffrey B. Yapp, Executive Vice President, MTV Networks Music & Logo Enterprise Group, just to name a few.

Industry leaders Linden Lab, Makena Technologies and The Multiverse Network, Inc., have signed as early show sponsors. Linden Lab is the creator of Second Life and the Second Life Grid platform. Second Life Grid enables organizations to create a public or secure private space using the leading 3D online virtual world technology. Makenas mission is to provide the leading virtual world platform for consumers and corporate clients. Multiverses development platform is designed to enable a network of unique worlds. Additional sponsors will be announced shortly. 

Registration Information

Online registration at www.VirtualWorldsExpo.com is open. Attendees can save $400 by taking advantage of the early-bird registration - only $595 - until July 25, 2008.  After that time online registration is $795.  Onsite registration at the event is $995. 

About Virtual Worlds Management

Virtual Worlds Expo is owned and operated by Virtual Worlds Management, the virtual worlds trade media company and a division of Show Initiative, LLC. Virtual Worlds Management provides comprehensive media and events including Virtual Worlds Expo (September 3-4, 2008 in Los Angeles), Virtual Worlds London (October 20-21, 2008), the recently held Virtual Worlds Conference (April 3-4, 2008 in New York), Virtual Worlds Weekly email newsletter and the VirtualWorldsNews.com blog. More information about Virtual Worlds Management can be found at http://www.VirtualWorldsManagement.com.  Virtual Worlds Conference and Expo is a trademark of Show Initiative, LLC.

Contact:

Tim Williams
Sales and Marketing Director
tim @ showinitiative.com
512-289-8687