Gone virtual

Nickelodeon is building a slew of virtual worlds around existing properties and new ventures, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Nick is expected to announce a virtual world extension of the Spongebob Squarepants series and franchise. It will include games and allow residents — ideally the show's young audience — to connect with each other and create avatars.

Another world on the slate is an original concept, Monkey World. It also contains social networking features but will be more of a massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) than a traditional virtual world.

Nick's Neopets site will also get a virtual extension later this year, called Neopia.

All three, including the existing Nicktropolis, will have paid membership options, the primary means for generating revenue from the ventures. Paid tiers will likely include more personalization options. No mention was made of incorporating advertising, a tactic that's put other kid virtual worlds in hot water with parents.

Nickelodeon has recently made a number of brand-extension announcements, adding more casual games to its war chest and developing mobile sites.