Virtual worlds are luring a myriad of people hungry for living virtual lives that run parallel to their real lives. Virtual worlds are an industry by themselves with spectacular growth prospects, and many investors have already taken note. A prominent media firm, Virtual Worlds Management, which keeps track of the virtual worlds industry, has revealed that investors poured in $425 million into virtual worlds in the fourth quarter of 2007.

PlayFirst, the publisher of Diner Dash (one of the most popular casual games across various platforms) has its coffers filled with fresh investments. It has raised $16.5 million in a funding round headed by DCM. This is a shot in the arm for PlayFirst, as the fresh round of investment has taken the company’s total more »