TOPEKA – Every year during the first week of March, the governor of Kansas signs a proclamation declaring it to be “Severe Weather Awareness Week.” During this time, media partners take the opportunity to educate their viewers and listeners on the potential dangers of flash flooding, lightning strikes, tornadoes, and fire hazards.  Local municipal governments, along with the National Weather Service offices in Springfield, Pleasant Hill, Topeka, Hastings, Wichita, Dodge City, and Goodland, issue statewide tornado warnings, activate weather radios, utilize the emergency alert system for cell phones, and sound outdoor warning sirens.  Furthermore, the National Weather Service offices provide presentations in each county within their service area, highlighting various types of severe weather, cloud formations, and advancements in dual-polarization doppler radar technology.

At SimWorld GameVision, we have developed our weather suite, Storm Watch.  It consists of various tools, such as an in-studio lightning detection unit, a real-time weather station; these tools work in tandem with Live TruMax 3D, a powerful tool capable of providing real-time radar, visible and infrared satellite imagery, weather watches and warnings, lightning network information, as well as short-term and long-term forecast models that are used by the National Weather Service and our media partners.  In addition to monitoring the SimWorld GameVision Broadcast Center with Live TruMax 3D, Storm Watch also utilizes the resources of the National Hurricane Center to keep a close eye on developing tropical storms and hurricanes that may impact the United States.

On Monday, March 4th, 2024, SimWorld GameVision will be conducting a simulation of a severe weather alert day, as if our studio were under threat from strong to severe thunderstorms.  Our programming will reflect a serious tone on-air, while still continuing with our scheduled gaming content, as if it were a real event.  Nathaniel's motivation for creating and managing the Storm Watch weather suite in-studio stems from a tragic incident that occurred several years ago along the Gulf Coast.  During that time, some of our Twitch colleagues were on-air when tornadoes struck the area, resulting in the loss of a few gamers' lives.  This unfortunate event highlighted the need for improved warning systems, as many individuals were engrossed in their online communities and unaware of the dangerous weather conditions surrounding them.

SimWorld & SimWorld GameVision, a leader in the virtual simulation community since 2009 online and 2013 on-air, is thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of an upgraded marketplace set to debut in mid-February.  This innovative platform will revolutionize the SimWorld Insider Program, providing unparalleled benefits to members across all tiers, including Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond.

The enhanced marketplace is designed to elevate the user experience for SimWorld Insider members, offering a range of exclusive advantages that align with the promises made in each tier of the program.  Notably, these benefits include free shipping and discounted rates on a wide array of virtual simulation products. Currently our marketplace allows benefits for Twitch Simscribers with StreamElements after our long-term relationship of TeeSpring in 2023.

Key Features of the New SimWorld Marketplace:
1. Free Shipping: Members in all tiers, from Silver to Diamond, will now enjoy the added perk of free shipping on their orders.  This feature aims to enhance the value of the SimWorld Insider Program, ensuring that members receive their marketplace products promptly and economically.

2. Discounted Rates: The new marketplace will introduce discounted rates on an extensive selection of items for Gold, Platinum, and Diamond tier members.  This exciting development underscores our commitment to providing exceptional value to Simmers and Insiders alike.

3. Seamless Transition: Nathaniel, your games guru announced that the new marketplace will seamlessly replace the temporary platform currently provided by StreamElements in mid-February following the Las Vegas WIBW-TV event.  This transition will occur mid-February, marking the beginning of a new era for SimWorld Insider members, and a better shopping experience for all other Simmers and Simscribers.

“As I promised in the 2024 State of the SimWorld address in December, I would work to find a retailer that would work both for SimWorld in licensing, benefits, exceptional customer service and I would deliver in the first quarter of 2024.” Nathaniel exclaimed in the Friday, February 2^nd live broadcast with SimWorld GameVision.

For more information about the new marketplace coming in mid-February, stay tuned to our website and this news center article, and for the SimWorld Insider Program, please visit our Insider Program home at https://www.patreon.com/SimWorld.

Leading up to the upcoming Kansas City Chiefs vs. Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions vs. San Francisco 49ers matchups for the AFC and NFC championships, WIBW-TV has diligently prepared for comprehensive coverage.

After the victory against the Buffalo Bills, WIBW-TV held a strategic staff meeting to coordinate plans in collaboration with Gray Media stations KWCH-TV in Wichita and KCTV-TV in Kansas City for joint operations in Las Vegas.  Following the official AFC win, the station initiated a planning session, and with the receipt of our Allegiant Stadium media passes, excitement permeated the team.

As the senior master control and technical director on the production side, I, the games guru, initially had reservations until the enthusiasm from the meeting prevailed.  I, along with a team comprising one other from production, a photojournalist, two from news, including our female anchor/news director, and two sports reporters, will be part of this significant endeavor.  Some will fly, while others will drive, including myself in our nearly 45-year-old International satellite truck, possibly for its final operation.

Considering this is a seven-day event, SimWorld GameVision programming scheduled from February 7th to February 13th, 2024, will be temporarily canceled.  Regular programming will resume on Friday, February 16th.  To accommodate our team's travel schedule, programming will be shifted earlier on Tuesday, February 6th.

SimWorld, the foremost virtual universe platform for your home for all things simulation since 2013 as SimWorld GameVision, is pleased to announce a strategic expansion across multiple Metaverse platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.  This significant move solidifies SimWorld's presence on Facebook at facebook.com/thesimworld, Instagram under the handle OfficialSimWorld, and Threads for a fully immersive social experience.

This expansion, detailed in the 2024 State of the SimWorld released in December, marks a deliberate effort to extend our influence across a diverse array of Metaverse platforms, enabling a broader audience to engage with SimWorld.  Through our trinity of platforms within the Metaverse, we will continue delivering broadcast and programming announcements, akin to our established presence on Facebook.  Simultaneously, this strategic move opens new avenues for networking opportunities, fostering a more expansive and interconnected SimWorld community. It will take a few days for our platforms to be fully synchronized and customized, meanwhile address any concerns through Messenger, Discord or by e-mail to Nathaniel [at] TheSimWorld.com.

Early this morning and running through 1:00 pm Eastern on Thursday, January 4th, 2024, Valve Corporation’s Steam started its annual Winter Sale.  If you want to take this opportunity to check out some of the games we feature on the air, here is the big list and how much you can save… To our select SimWorld Insider members and Simscribers, I have also included the games we play in the multiplayer experience room as well. We will be utilizing this sale to upgrade our library for both on the air, and for our multiplayer experience for sure!

Cities Skylines: Original (Base Game) – 70% off now at $8.99
Cities Skylines: Original (Deluxe Edition – All DLCs) – 70% off now at $11.99
Cities Skylines II – 10% off now at $44.99
Subnautica – 50% off now at $14.99
Subnautica: Below Zero – 50% off now at $14.99
Subnautica & Subnautica: Below Zero (Deep Ocean Bundle) – 55% off now at $26.98
PGA Tour 2K23 – 75% off now at $14.99
Animal Shelter Simulator (Base Game) – 45% off now at $10.99
Animal Shelter Simulator (Family Bundle) – 51% off now at $20.26
American Truck Simulator (Base Game – includes California & Nevada) – 75% off now at $4.99
Various bundles are on sale from 59 to 73% off that includes multiple states, trucks, and paint jobs ranging from $19.20 to $30.66.
Pro Cycling Manager 2022 – 75% off now at $9.99
Pro Cycling Manager 2023 – 70% off now at $11.99
Farming Simulator 22 – 10% off now at $26.99
Car Mechanic Simulator 2021 (Base Game) – 47% off now at $13.24
For the various manufacturer DLCs they are also 47% off ranging from $2.39 to $13.59 depending on their value.
Planet Zoo (Base Game) – 75% off now at $11.24
Planet Zoo (Ultimate Edition) – 68% off now at $69.77
Police Simulator: Patrol Officers – 35% off now at $19.49
Firefighting Simulator: The Squad – 40% off now at $14.99
Construction Simulator – 40% off now at $20.99
Surviving Mars (Base Game) – 75% off now at $7.49
Surviving Mars (Complete Colony Bundle) – 50% off now at $67.78
Fallout 76 – 80% off now at $7.99
Fallout Franchise Bundle – 63% off now at $91.55