Virtual Worlds Forum

Given Facebook's recent valuation of $15 billion, I wouldn't be surprised by any high figures thrown at me for other tech firms. Linden Lab is the latest to be the subject of financial speculation, with TechCrunch reporting that Catamount Ventures, one of the original investors in Second Life, sold a 10% stake in Linden Lab for "well above half a billion". If true, that would value the company at the $5 billion mark. At least. A range of caveats apply, not least that a.) this is a rumour on an (admittedly well-connected blog), and b.) the sale was eight months ago at the height of media coverage of Second Life, so it's anyone's guess how that valuation has changed in the meantime. Certainly there's more awareness of the competition for Linden Lab's virtual world now than eight months ago, although on the flip-side, there are more brands talking about their intentions for working within Second Life. Can I be the first to start the 'Google should buy Linden Lab' rumour? ;o)