Park Associates did some number crunching lately and came up with this interesting set of statistics and prognostications...

An increasing number of industry players in the value chain will help push 3D virtual worlds into a sustainable industry, reaching 33 million registered users by 2013, according to Virtual Worlds: the Internet of Avatars. This new report from Parks Associates details the evolution of the virtual world value chain, which has added a variety of different companies and providers in its relatively short period of existence.

"3D virtual world platform companies, world operators, and full-service agencies form the core of the virtual world ecosystem, providing services to consumers, media companies, advertisers, and enterprises," said Yuanzhe (Michael) Cai, Director, Digital Media and Gaming, Parks Associates.

"But content and application developers and service providers are becoming increasingly important." These entities provide content, activities, and applications that enhance the usability and user experience of virtual worlds. In addition, several new solution providers have emerged to provide enterprise-class virtual world services.

"Without appealing content and applications, virtual worlds are nothing but empty shopping malls," Cai said. "The industry needs to move beyond its obsession with user-generated content and make 3D virtual worlds more interesting to average consumers."

Virtual Worlds: the Internet of Avatars defines the 3D virtual world value chain, profiles leading companies, examines industry and consumer trends and dynamics, forecasts market growth, and offers recommendations to large media companies, technology companies, consumer brands, marketers, and Internet companies. Parks Associates will distribute a free whitepaper "Virtual Worlds and Social Media" at the Virtual Worlds London conference, October 20-21, 2008.

Move beyond user-generated content? If we can’t develop our own space, if we can’t pad our own virtual nests so to speak, what do they think will drive us to flock to the online experience? No two consumers ever want the exact same experience and that’s where user-generated content comes in. We all want to either buy, win or create our own things that make our avatar and our online space and presence unique.

Don’t you all agree? Would you all rather have a name like guest2059349 or something like SuperGuido? Well you can’t have that one, it’s mine!