Learn to speak English in 8D World

Currently in China, English training schools is a vast growing market. Aside from English classes required in the public education, parents are also sending their children to training schools around the country, which costs about $700. English is the hottest subject, and everyone wants to play part in it. 


In order to meet demands, a startup called 8D World, based in Massachusetts came up with the idea of a virtual world, Wiz World Online for Chinese-speaking kids who want to learn English. This platform will be used by CCTV's English competition for training and the competition and be promoted to millions of Chinese viewers.




so where's the catch? 8D World integrates education with the gaming industry. This is basically an MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game), except that 8D's model allows you to learn English in this virtual world. Each player or student has an avatar and may interact w/ each other in English. In order to level up and earn more points, players will need to be able to pronounce words properly through a microphone. The software is subscription based at about $20/month and $160/year, which is alot less compared to the tuition at training schools. 8D has also created partnerships with about 1,500 of the training schools who will help resell Wiz World subscriptions and get a rev-share. What a great revenue model! 


Since the game players in this virtual world is exclusive to the Chinese only -- now the Chinese government has one less thing to worry about their people getting corrupted by foreign ideas/thoughts. I wonder if conversations and content within this game will be censored as well, either by the government or the creators.. haha.. 


SIMS - couldn't you have thought of this idea earlier??!?!??!