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Virtual fantasy worlds

Ray Kurzweil, Books and essays, 1999, published 1999-01

Users also experience fantasy environments with no counterpart in the physical world.

Verdict

hitTwo blind graders agree (D7, rule D16). The auditor agent confirmed it (D11).

Grader A: hit

Fantasy environments with no physical counterpart were mass entertainment by 2009. World of Warcraft had over 10 million subscribers in 2008 and 12 million in 2010, and many other online and offline fantasy games existed.

Test: WoW subscribers: 10-12 million (2008-2010), a single title; fantasy game play routine among gamers.

World of Warcraft (Wikipedia) (2026-09-28): More than 10 million subscribers January 2008; 12 million peak October 2010.

Grader B: hit

Fantasy virtual worlds were a mass entertainment category by 2009. World of Warcraft alone had more than 10 million subscribers in January 2008 and 12 million in October 2010. Many other fantasy MMOs and single-player fantasy games existed.

Test: Mainstream test: 20% of gamers use fantasy virtual environments. WoW: 10M+ subscribers (2008) and 12M (2010). 53% of US adults play video games, and fantasy settings are a major genre.

World of Warcraft (Wikipedia) (accessed 2026-09): More than 10 million subscribers on January 22, 2008; peak of 12 million in October 2010.

All captured fields

rank: 124
kind: decade_prediction
section: The Arts
subject: Virtual fantasy worlds
target year: 2009
timing: in
position: Chapter 9, "2009"; item The Arts 19 in Kurzweil 2010, p. 100
confidence: high
note: Wording as reproduced by the author in "How My Predictions Are Faring" (2010); book page not given there. Subject label is the essay's own item heading.