NVISION 08 | DAY ONE

by John Gaudiosi

From the professional gaming events to the HD Theater to the playable gaming kiosks on the show floor, gaming was a big part of Nvidia's inaugural NVISION 08 technology showcase. Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang talked about gaming throughout his opening day keynote address.

"This (technology) ecosystem starts at its core with companies like nVidia, graphics software companies like Pixar, operating systems like Windows, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, and Xbox 360," said Huang. "These platforms enable us to deliver to the end user. These core technologies enable the applications for the end market that we serve."

He referenced the $60 billion videogame industry, as well as the exploding iPhone marketplace that is ripe for gaming. On top of interactive entertainment, Nvidia is powering the $40 billion film industry. Huang said the Top 10 grossing movies of 2008, minus Sex & the City, wouldn’t have been possible at all without computer graphics. "We transform industry after industry," he said.

One of the fastest growing segments in gaming are massively multiplayer online games. There are over 100 million active MMO players globally.

"People get together to fight as clans or get married through MMOs," said Huang. "We believe the notion of an MMO and a social network will converge and create a new type of virtual world where people can meet and hang out and just chat with their friends."

Huang showed off the Nurien Social Network, the invention of a new hybrid game and social networking site created in Korea. The project began development three years ago and focused on Web 2.0. With Korea the most wired country in the world, Taehoon Kim, founder of Nurien, decided to offer this unique gameplay experience for free. The business model will focus on micro transactions as players clothe their avatar and furnish their home.

"We believe we have one of the most powerful avatar technologies in the world," said Kim, during the NVISION 08 keynote. "There are an infinite amount of parameters for the avatar editors. We have over 3,500 types of material in the game, which is the same amount used by the fashion industry. Fashion is something people are used to in terms of expressing themselves. Gucci could create a virtual line of products and sell it online because we have an extensive tools for creating fashion. Brands can actually experiment with new clothing in this game first. You can create your own furniture or buy it"

In addition to clothing, some of which will be sponsored by real-world brands, Kim said emotes that allow avatars to express emotions will also be sold. Players will also be able to buy new grooves for the dancing game that's part of the virtual world experience.

"By playing games people can meet other people and earn points to buy things and upgrade avatars," said Kim. "This is going to be the next FaceBook."

Huang said there are going to be 2.5 billion PC users in the world over the next 10 years and one out of every three people will be enjoying a virtual world.