Wagner James Au has written about high-tech culture for over 10 years, and is the author of The Making of Second Life: Notes from the New World (HarperBusiness). Currently he's an analyst for Media Bistro's Social Times Pro, specializing in virtual goods and Facebook gaming. He's most recently been a consultant for social gaming startup Ohai, virtual world developer Avatar Reality, and MMO publisher Outspark.
Au has also been a freelance writer, a metaverse consultant, a game developer, a screenwriter, and most pertinently for his book, a white-suited avatar named "Hamlet Au." The first embedded journalist in a virtual world, "Hamlet Au" is a role he still plays on his blog, New World Notes (nwn.blogs.com). Au and his writing on virtual worlds, gaming, and Second Life have been profiled in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, Harvard Business Review, The Boston Globe, San Francisco Chronicle, BBC, CNN International, and NPR's All Things Considered, among many other places.
From 2006-2009, Au was a contributing editor writing about the game industry, online worlds, and tech culture for GigaOM.com, one of the web's most popular blogs on Internet business and tech. He has spoken on all aspects of the above at such places as The Milken Institute, South by Southwest in Austin, Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study, O'Reilly's ETech series, and twice at State of Play.
The Making of Second Life tells the behind-the-scenes story of the Internet industry's most improbable enterprise: the creation of a virtual 3-D world with its own culture, events, businesses and social systems. Now the largest 3-D virtual world on the market, Second Life was incredibly influential on Internet trends we now take for granted: virtual goods, user-generated content, and interaction via avatars. Contracted in 2003 by Linden Lab, Second Life's creator, to work as an "embedded journalist," Au has had unprecedented access to Second Life's users and the company's founders, who went on to become major players at YouTube, Facebook, and other leading social media companies.
Originally from Kailua on Oahu, Au now lives in San Francisco, California. When he needs to escape the virtual world, he enjoys reality-oriented hobbies such as travel, foreign policy, good food, sunlight, and surfing (poorly.)
How Virtual Goods are Transforming Business and Our World (Mostly for the Better)
Facebook Gaming: Trends and Opportunities in Game's Biggest Genre
Social and Economic Trends in Virtual Worlds and 3D Interaction
What Second Life Teaches Us About the State of Online Entertainment and User-Generated Content Today
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Wagner James Au and other top speakers and celebrities.
-This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.
All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.
If you are the talent, and wish to request removal from this catalog or report an issue with your profile, please click here.
Wagner James Au has written about high-tech culture for over 10 years, and is the author of The Making of Second Life: Notes from the New World (HarperBusiness). Currently he's an analyst for Media Bistro's Social Times Pro, specializing in virtual goods and Facebook gaming. He's most recently been a consultant for social gaming startup Ohai, virtual world developer Avatar Reality, and MMO publisher Outspark.
Au has also been a freelance writer, a metaverse consultant, a game developer, a screenwriter, and most pertinently for his book, a white-suited avatar named "Hamlet Au." The first embedded journalist in a virtual world, "Hamlet Au" is a role he still plays on his blog, New World Notes (nwn.blogs.com). Au and his writing on virtual worlds, gaming, and Second Life have been profiled in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, Harvard Business Review, The Boston Globe, San Francisco Chronicle, BBC, CNN International, and NPR's All Things Considered, among many other places.
From 2006-2009, Au was a contributing editor writing about the game industry, online worlds, and tech culture for GigaOM.com, one of the web's most popular blogs on Internet business and tech. He has spoken on all aspects of the above at such places as The Milken Institute, South by Southwest in Austin, Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study, O'Reilly's ETech series, and twice at State of Play.
The Making of Second Life tells the behind-the-scenes story of the Internet industry's most improbable enterprise: the creation of a virtual 3-D world with its own culture, events, businesses and social systems. Now the largest 3-D virtual world on the market, Second Life was incredibly influential on Internet trends we now take for granted: virtual goods, user-generated content, and interaction via avatars. Contracted in 2003 by Linden Lab, Second Life's creator, to work as an "embedded journalist," Au has had unprecedented access to Second Life's users and the company's founders, who went on to become major players at YouTube, Facebook, and other leading social media companies.
Originally from Kailua on Oahu, Au now lives in San Francisco, California. When he needs to escape the virtual world, he enjoys reality-oriented hobbies such as travel, foreign policy, good food, sunlight, and surfing (poorly.)
How Virtual Goods are Transforming Business and Our World (Mostly for the Better)
Facebook Gaming: Trends and Opportunities in Game's Biggest Genre
Social and Economic Trends in Virtual Worlds and 3D Interaction
What Second Life Teaches Us About the State of Online Entertainment and User-Generated Content Today
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Wagner James Au and other top speakers and celebrities.
Wagner James Au is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Wagner James Au for your event is available upon request. Wagner James Au generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Patricia Aufderheide, Charlie Anders, Lane Becker, Gerry Adams and Jonathan Alter. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Wagner James Au for an upcoming event.
This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.
All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.
If you are the talent, and wish to request removal from this catalog or report an issue with your profile, please click here.