Featured Virtual World Job Seeker: Tony Kola Wins Wii from VJC

Virtual Job Candy registered job seeker, Tony Kola was the lucky winner of a new Wii game console. His name was chosen randomly for hundreds of eligible virtual world job applicants received over the last few months. Tony is the first job seeker to be featured on the Virtual Job Candy website. To learn a bit more about Tony and his role with virtual worlds check out his answers to our job seeker profile questions:

VJC Job Seeker Profile Questions

1) How did you hear about VJC?

In my job hunting pursuits I was at AWN looking at the latest posts in the Carrer Connections. I saw an interesting position that led me to VJC. Love the name.

2) When and how did you first get involved with the Virtual World community?

Research at Ty.com offered understanding of VW’s such as, WOW, 2nd life, Disney’s Virtual Kingdom, Webkinz, and companies like Animax, and Roiworld who provide for virtual world experiences.

3) Describe the types of virtual world jobs you have had and the skills required.

As Senior Creative Director for Ty Inc, the Beanie Baby company, I was introduced to their version of virtual world communities. I was privileged to help direct their sites and their creative teams.

4) What type of training is required for the job you currently have or the virtual job your are seeking?

Good planning experience, and attention to details that involve the data necessary to emulate world intelligence and choices.
Storytelling is key. Not poetry. Know your artists.

5) Why do you want to work in the virtual world space?

It offers all facets of visual and personal adventure and ownership/ achievement that’s a sharing experience. Love creating artwork for ai vistas and details.

6) What do you see as the biggest challenge for virtual world job seekers?

To gain published experience that opens other doors. To offer variety online that may break the pattern of standard games online mentality.

7) Which virtual worlds do currently participate in?

Virtual Magic Kingdom when it was around. Webkinz, Barbie, Cartoon Doll emporium (?) and Second Life.

8 ) Do you engage in any other forms of social media? Facebook? Twitter? etc.

I message and visit often at Daz3d, Renderosity, FaerieWylde, DeviantArt, MySpace,..

9) Where would you like to be professionally in the next 5 years?

To be responsible for breaking the barriers between what online marketing wants and art demands.

10) How would you describe the future of virtual worlds? becoming mainstream in the near future? Decades away from every household participating? New technologies that could change the landscape?

It’s possible that VW and online console gaming will blur. Technology is at a crossroads to offer much more immersive 3d online. Virtual Worlds will have it’s ‘Zelda’ level without downloading a thing. When that happens the chances are good.