I was shocked Chris Shipley actually selected Ncursion to participate at DEMOfall. As they say... where's the beef? And in Ncursion case: where's the innovation?
The start-up presented MyGladiator, an online video game for the Facebook platform with a "faux-air" of social networking. With the MyGladiator role playing game, a somewhat remote modern version of the Roman gladiator theme, Ncursion wants to tap on Facebook's more than 40 million users, which is estimated to reach 200 millions by next year. CEO Michael Witz actually calls his company, the Facebook gaming company. I don't think so!
The graphics are terrible and brings me back 20 years ago, when I was playing with my Colecovision, and as far as the social networking goes, it is quite debatable: the Facebook audience ultimately decides if the defeated gladiator leaves or dies.
As for the business model, Ncursion relies on the "gamers" to dish out $20 to move beyond the "slave" level. But before you become the next Facebook Caesar, you'll probably spend hundreds of dollars buying swords and all kind of equipments to win your fights. For that? Thanks, but no thanks!

See it for yourself, here is Ncursion's presentation at DEMOfall: