Scion Allows Consumers to Redefine its Brand in Virtual World There.com

admin — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 17:12:49 -0500

SAN MATEO, Calif. – Makena Technologies, creator of the popular social virtual world There.com, today announced that Scion plans to continue and expand on its successful campaign in There.com, with a unique focus on user-generated content. Scion already runs a popular venue in There.com called Club Scion, a large-scale nightclub setting built inside each of the Scion xD, xB and tC models where members socialize, party and can interact with Scion content and explore the car interiors.

Trilogy and Makena Combine Gameplay and Virtual Worlds

admin — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 12:44:27 -0400

We reported yesterday that Trilogy Studios had secured $3.2 million in Series B funding with Chichen Itza Ventures, the group behind Makena and There, leading the way. The announcement mentioned that the funding would help Trilogy expand its development of casual MMOs and virtual worlds. We spoke with Trilogy CEO Michael Pole about the distinction. He considers the platforms they build, for Virtual MTV for example, a hybrid of the two. "They're basically one and the same in some respects," said Pole. "The terminology used by brand companies and media companies are a little different. We're bringing a lot of the functionality that you'd see in an MMO into a casual MMO. Questing systems, skill trees, the ability to buy and sell, a whole host of things."

Trilogy gets $3.2MM of Series B Funding

admin — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 19:41:19 -0400

Santa Monica, Calif. – Videogame and virtual world development company, Trilogy Studios, announced today the completion of its second round of independent equity funding, totaling $3.2 million. The funds will be allocated to expand the company's virtual world and casual massively multiplayer online (MMO) businesses. Founders Michael Pole and Rick Giolito also named Michael Wilson, CEO of Makena Technologies and producer of There.com, to Trilogy Studios' board of directors.

MTV Invests over $500M in Games

admin — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 18:36:25 -0400

MTV Networks announced that it would invest "well over $500 million" in games over the next two years and will consider game development in conjunction with any new programming. Some of that money is certainly going to traditional video games, like its upcoming Rock Band, but MTV has also been heavily involved in the virtual worlds space. In July, MTV discussed its dedication to virtual worlds and, along with Nickelodeon, announced an investment of $100 million into casual games and virtual worlds. It also worked with Doppelganger to create the Virtual Lower East Side, and with Makena and Trilogy to create a white label Pimp My Ride world, which it is currently expanding. [via Reuters]

Makena and Trilogy Creating New IP

admin — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 18:31:48 -0400

Yesterday we reported that Chichen Itza, the lead investor in Makena Technologies and There.com, had made significant investment in Trilogy Studios. We spoke with Michael Pole, CEO of Trilogy Studios, about how the investment would affect the two companies' future. "There are three activities we're working with on the team at Makena," he said. "We're working to further the There platform. We are working together on white label projects with several large media clients that both of us have brought to the table. And we're also investing a lot of our time in creating original IPs for the Makena platform with a couple of clients. One is a music-based product and one is related to sports."

Chichen Itza Ventures Invests in Trilogy

admin — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 17:52:52 -0400

Chichen Itza Ventures, the lead investor in Makena Technologies, who created There.com, announced a significant investment in Trilogy Studios today. Trilogy's background is in next-generation console games, but it has become a major player in developing white label worlds like MTV's Virtual Pimp My Ride in partnership with Makena. It recently announced that it would continue to work with Makena to expand Pimp My Ride. When we spoke with Michael Wilson, There CEO, in July, he confirmed that they would continue to develop white label worlds as well. "We see a wealth of opportunity in new financial and distribution models for interactive entertainment, and There.com and Trilogy are building the infrastructure to support these new efforts," said Michael Wilson. Trilogy's Michael Pole outlined some of those new transaction models for us in July.

Yes, You May Virtually Pimp My Ride

admin — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 13:48:05 -0400

Santa Monica-based developer Trilogy Studios (formed in late 2005 by ex EA and VU Games execs) has found a new niche to explore while developing next generation video games like Daybreakers. First out of the gate for the new virtual world software development studio is a fully realized virtual world for MTV Network's Music Group's popular IP, Pimp My Ride. While the popular TV show has already been turned into a console video game by Activision Value, Trilogy Studios has designed Virtual Pimp My Ride as a free downloadable game that allows fans to enter Van Nuys, California and build custom cars, engage in competitions like drag races and interact with other fans.