According to comScore, free online gaming sites "racked up 27% more unique visits and 42% more total playing time in December 2008 than in December 2007.  Overall Internet traffic grew only 4% over the same period, the research company said."

Wasting your time since 1996, Gamesville has also experienced similar growth over the past quarter, seeing a 23% jump in unique visitors from Nov. through Dec. 2008, and a 67% rise in site traffic from Dec. 2007 through Dec. 2008.  Part of the Lycos Network of sites, Gamesville is the web's premier destination for free, massively multi-player online game shows.  But unlike TV game shows, where only a handful of gamers play while the rest of the world watches, Gamesville game shows let everyone play together in real-time.      

Paul Verna, eMarketer senior analyst  describes the shift from high-cost, console-based gaming toward free alternatives is not new.  "This trend has been underway for some time, but the economic crisis has accelerated it...Given current economic and consumer behavior patterns, we expect to see ad-supported, casual games continue on an upward trajectory in 2009.” 

Chris Cummings, senior product manager for Gamesville, was way ahead of the curve when he discussed the growth of casual games in an October blog post titled, Is Casual Gaming Recession Proof?  The obvious answer is YES.

Since 1996, Whowhere has been the premier people search engine, helping users find information to locate the people they are searching for, based on street addresses. Now, Lycos has teamed with Multiplied Media Corporation to integrate Poynt’s local search functionality and mapping technology, delivering people and business social search results, giving users the ability to locate nearby people, businesses, movies and events.

Other features of the new Whowhere.com now include driving directions, business contact information, movie showtimes, movie and event ticket purchase, and a weather feed.  And coming soon, online web, mobile web and applications for mobile platforms including iPhone, Windows Mobile and BlackBerry.

In an article appearing this morning, TechCrunch erroneously reported that Lycos will be closing its Tripod and Lycos Mail services on Feb. 15.  The information contained in the blog posting pertains to Lycos Europe products and services and affects Lycos Europe users only.

The closing of these two products by Lycos Europe does not impact Lycos users in the U.S.  Lycos, Inc. and Lycos Europe are two completely separate entities and business units.  Lycos, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daum Communications, Corp., while Lycos Europe is owned by Telefonica.  Late last year, Lycos Europe's parent company announced  it would be shutting down its operations and seeking a sale of its remaining assetts. 

Lycos Inc. (www.lycos.com) continues to operate social media, publishing and search services including both Tripod and Lycos Mail. Currently, Tripod is the #17 social networking site worldwide (comScore MM Dec. 2008), with millions of member pages hosted, published and visited each month.

A message has been posted to the Tripod Community assuring all Tripod members that Tripod is not shutting down and all free and paid member sites are just fine. 

Lycos reached out to Mr. Arrington directly, requesting an immediate correction to the erroneous posting.  An updated post is now live; but still contains the wrong logo.

Lycos Cinema is the only platform to offer social interaction around video content, giving Bad Eliot fans the unique opportunity to directly engage with Roto.  Fans of The Bad Eliots can watch a synchronized screening of the band’s video and chat live with Roto in real-time while watching. 

A recent comScore report says 146 million users watched 12.7 billion videos in Nov. 2008.  And AllThingsDigital tells us something we already know - Video will be the Killer App of 2009. 

So will PCs replace TVs?  The National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) could be thinking "yes"...members of NATPE are speaking at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas this week; marking the first time ever NATPE has had a CES presence.  So why all of the sudden hoopla around TV content on the web?  This isn't anything new. 

Ever hear of Hulu, Joost, or Lycos Cinema?  People have been watching first-run and classic TV episodes online for the past few years.  In fact, hosting online viewing parties where fans can watch their favorite TV shows with others and chat in real-time while viewing has been around for a while; even though CBS just picked up on the idea a few months ago.

Are you planning to ditch your TV remote for your PC mouse?  No need to decide now.  Just sit back, relax, click and watch some classic TV and cool video content.

Come on down, you could be the next winner playing CatchUp CoverAll on Gamesville!  Gamesville specializes in FREE online game shows, starring you. 

New this week is CatchUp CoverAll, the first online massively multi-player game to feature Community Cash Winnings: When one lucky player wins the progressive jackpot, up to four other players with the same "Lucky Ball" as the jackpot winner can each take home a bonus $25 cash prize. Cool. 

Gamesville is the web’s premier destination for free, massively multi-player online game shows. But unlike TV game shows, where only a handful of gamers play while the rest of the world watches, Gamesville game shows let everyone play together in real-time.

It's that time of year again - when all the top lists of 2008 get released at the same time - including the most popular internet search terms.  The Google Zeitgeist 2008 and the Lycos Top 50 Search Terms of 2008 were each announced on the same day, while both Yahoo and AOL dropped their lists a few weeks ago. 

Poker, Paris and Palin were the top searches on Lycos in 2008, with Poker taking the top spot and Sarah Palin generating more search activity than Britney Spears.  The Jonas Brothers were the web's most wanted band, based on Lycos search activity in 2008, while "The Dark Knight" ranked high as the most- searched film. 

Check out the Top Search Terms of 2008, and get a look at the most-searched Bands, TV shows, Films, Sports Stars, Men, Women, Fads and Top News Stories.  

Have you bought the Bakugan Battle Brawlers yet?  If not, good luck.  Toys stores can't keep this hottest toy of 2008 on the shelves.  Based on a Japanese TV show, Bakugan Battle Brawlers involve a strategic card game, played with magnetic spring-loaded marbles, and if web search activity is any indication, every kid in the world wants it this holiday season.

Lycos presents its 9th Annual List of Most Popular Toys and Video Games of 2008, based on web search activity.  New in 2008, KOTA the 3-foot tall Triceratops Dinasaur, with a hefty price tag of $300, and the more moderately priced, and more live than ever, Fisher Price's New Elmo Live. 

Nintendo's Wii tops Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 as the most popular gaming console in 2008, with Guitar Hero and Wii Fit scoring big hits on the video game front.  What else made the Top Toys and Video Games list in 2008?  Be a big hit with everyone on your holiday gift list and check out the complete list and commentary on the Lycos 50. 

Hey news anchors, watch out!  The current issue of NOW Magazine looks at a new website replacing TV news readers with virtual avatars.  Forbes recently examined the business of avatars and how gaming companies and social networks hope to use avatars to drive revenues.  And hot off the heals of their recent 7-Eleven Election promo, the convenience store chain is now stalking gamers and playing up avatars in their new Slurpee Code campaign. 

When avatars take over the world, don't be left out.  Create your avatar today, for free on Gamesville.  Best of all, you can take your Gamesville avatar with you everywhere you go...Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, MySpace, YouTube, digg, StumbleUpon, Flickr...create one cool ID for all the places you hangout online. 

Webinars are a very cost effective, easy way to help build brand image and customer loyalty.  Ever wonder what a product manager REALLY does?  Join Gamesville's Chris Cummings for Product Manager 101, Wed. Nov. 12 at 12 noon ET, and get a closer look at the critical role a product manager plays in an organization. 

Check out the Webinar Blog for additional info on what webinars can do for your brand.  And for more cost effective marketing tips to build brand loyalty and traffic, visit Marketing Profs, and HubSpot Marketing.

Keep the conversation going and follow Chris Cummings on Twitter.