Ball State acquires rights to develop $10 million Blue Mars

Ball State acquires rights to develop $10 million Blue Mars virtual world technology (2/24/2012)
Retracted Press Release
Original URL: http://www.bsu.edu/news/article/0,1370,7273-850-65594,00.html

The future of virtual worlds has its home at Ball State University, thanks in part to the university's recent acquisition of rights to the multimillion-dollar 3-D virtual world platform, Blue Mars.
Blue Mars' creator, Hawaii-based Avatar Reality Inc., has granted expanded rights to the technology, valued at $10 million in research and development, to Ball State for 3-D simulation and research projects beyond the world of gaming.

"We are honored to have our institution selected to build upon the tremendous innovations within Avatar Reality's Blue Mars platform," said John Fillwalk, director of the Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts (IDIA) and senior director of Ball State's Hybrid Design Technologies initiative. "This partnership between Avatar Reality and Ball State is an unprecedented gesture and a great distinction."

Since 2009, Ball State's IDIA has been a leading developer for Blue Mars, employing the virtual platform on projects such as digital laser scans of a centuries-old Buddha and the creation of the Virtual Middletown Project. The project, which ushers visitors via their computers into the world of the early 20th-century Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Co., is one example of the cultural heritage work possible with Blue Mars. Another is IDIA's simulation of the 1915 World's Fair in San Francisco.

"Avatar Reality designed in Blue Mars a next-generation 3-D platform that greatly advanced the graphic fidelity, functionality and scalability of virtual worlds — well beyond current standards," Fillwalk said. "Its strategy connected social spaces across devices, from high-performance desktops to mobile phones. Our goal is to build upon both its technology and vision for the future of virtual worlds."

Recognition speaks to reputation

Phil Repp, Ball State's vice president for information technology, said the university's acquisition of Blue Mars can be traced to Fillwalk's commitment to advancing IDIA to the national level.

"The fact that other universities — and many of them of very high caliber — are working hard to gain expertise in hybrid worlds and that Ball State was identified as the university most likely to further develop this technology speaks volumes about our reputation, experience and abilities," Repp said. "It's an honor for Ball State and John to be singled out with this kind of recognition."

Under Ball State's terms of agreement with Avatar Reality, the university will begin to fully operate Blue Mars for noncommercial purposes, expand upon the source code, increase its research and academic initiatives, and enhance the community of Blue Mars. In addition, Ball State will continue to deliver original content on Blue Mars as it has done in the past.

"I am really excited about the future," Repp said. "Through our division of Hybrid Design Technologies, Ball State will further our position as a national leader in hybrid worlds and their applications to mediated learning technologies. Our reputation in this discipline is such a perfect fit to our institutional history of innovation in teaching and learning."

By Gail Werner, Media Relations Manager

Twitter:

@BlueMarsOnline (02/26/2012): Yes, we will be making some kind of announcement. We kind of dropped the ball on this (no pun intended).
http://twitter.com/#!/bluemarsonline/status/174023566222831616

Facebook:

Mako Magellan The announcement seems to have been withdrawn. I wonder why.
Monday at 8:09pm

Blue Mars Maybe the timing was off, Mako. It is very exciting news!
Yesterday at 3:20am

Blue Mars ack.. this is Josie. Not sure why I came up as Blue Mars.
Yesterday at 3:29am

Rik Panganiban very strange?
19 hours ago

Blue Mars Josie you were still admin on this page, that's why.
12 hours ago

Blue Mars As for the announcement, the deal is still on. I believe it's been pulled due to some final paperwork that still need to be finalized.
12 hours ago
https://www.facebook.com/BlueMarsOnline/posts/182357468541608