cbbc
Latest
BBC launches iPlayer Kids app
Is it just us, or are TV providers starting to forget who pays the bills 'round here? The younger, inexplicably energetic members of the household seem to be getting all the attention of late. Barely a few weeks have passed since Sky debuted its Kids tablet app, and now the BBC is launching iPlayer Kids. Available to download today on tablets and smartphones, the name basically says it all: it's iPlayer, built specifically for sprogs.
BBC lays out 'open' vision to combat licence fee critics
The BBC is a renowned broadcaster and a part of Britain's cultural fabric, but its future capabilities are currently under threat. The UK government is preparing to amend its Royal Charter -- a document that shapes the BBC's funding and remit -- and early consultations have hinted at drastic clawbacks. In retaliation, the BBC has announced a volley of counter-proposals today that would, it claims, make its services more "open" and distinctive.
Five new BBC HD channels to go live on December 10th
Earlier this year, the BBC said it would further commit to high-quality programming with the launch of five new HD channels by early 2014. Today, it announced it will deliver on that promise, launching BBC Three HD, BBC Four HD, BBC News HD, CBeebies HD and CBBC HD to take its high-definition channel tally up to seven and ensure all but two of its domestic TV channels are delivering 1080-line broadcasts. There'll be no need for any additional subscriptions, meaning you'll be able to access Danish political drama Borgen and other content using your existing Freeview, Freesat, Youview, Sky or Virgin Media box, as well as on-demand via iPlayer. The BBC says all five channels will begin rolling out via their new dedicated channel numbers from December 10th -- you can find out what they are by hitting the source below.
Real world economic impact on MMOs and virtual worlds?
Given the drastic real world economic shifts of late, is it unreasonable to assume that there will be repercussions in virtual worlds and MMOs? That's the gist of a question posed by CBBC, a longtime commentator at the Terra Nova blog, but specifically he asks: "What now for virtual economies? What happens to EVE now that Iceland's economy is collapsing?... Will my WoW gold be worth more or less? Will games go under taking their value with them? Will we see a run on games the same as a run on banks?" While his questions aren't focused solely on EVE Online, and are more of a general inquiry, CCP's title is not surprisingly the main example cited by both the CBBC and Terra Nova's readers. As expected, the responses to the question are intelligent and shed some more light on how real world economics might affect MMO economies, namely that of EVE Online. Some speculate that real world issues will result in increased escapism, imbuing virtual worlds and their economies with greater significance. Others related financial scenarios that affect CCP Games and its virtual economics. If you're interested in the economies of MMOs and virtual worlds, you might want to get involved in the discussion of "Whither MMO economies?" over at Terra Nova.
BBC building MMO world for kids
BBC has unveiled plans to launch an online world based on its CBBC property, which is geared toward kids ages 7-12. The venture will focus on safety and responsibility; and in doing so, BBC will forgo chat rooms and the possibility of users altering the game world. CBBC World will not feature the sort of in-game economic structure that has been popularized by games like Second Life.At least initially, when CBBC World is rolled out this summer, the online world looks to primarily function as an interactive gateway to media; a glorified website. Kids will be able to create and customize their own avatars, and then hit the virtual trails in search of minigames, videos, music, and other CBBC-generated content. There will also be some form of limited content sharing between users, which will likely be moderated by CBBC administrators. Come September, CBBC World will be integrated with a revamped CBBC TV channel, birthing a unique cross-platform effort.
