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First the bad news: Twentieth Century Fox has announced that the previously announced Firefly MMO -- based on Joss Whedon's popular, yet short-lived series -- has been delayed.
On to the good news: Fox and The Multiverse Network are working on a Buffy the Vampire Slayer massively multiplayer online game. Let me repeat that -- there's going to be a Buffy the Vampire Slayer MMO. Can you heard my nerd-squeals from here? Currently in development, the "groundbreaking" MMOG will allow gamers to play in a 3D environment or a Flash-based 2D game, with both types of players able to interact with one another.
No, I have no clue how that's going to work, but I'm not a game designer ... I just want to play. Now. Thanks. The Buffy MMOG will go into beta testing later this year.
"Not to give away too much," says Multiverse's Corey Bridges, "but when the Buffy team finished the television series, they created the perfect launching point for an MMOG where everyone will feel like they're an important character in the ongoing story."
OK, spoiler alert: this is a likely hint that the universe will be populated by multiple Slayers, so start sharpening your stakes now.
A really long press release with very little information about the Buffy MMO after the jump.
[Update: Here's a link to some super-important, totally related Buffy cubecraft. Thanks, Adam!]
Twentieth Century Fox Licensing & Merchandising and Multiverse Announce 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Virtual World
Revolutionary Massively Multiplayer Online Game First Ever to be Available as Both Fully Immersive 3D Environment and Flash-Based 2D Game
CENTURY CITY, Calif., Sept 03, 2008 -- Twentieth Century Fox Licensing & Merchandising and The Multiverse Network, Inc., a leading provider of virtual world development technology for Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs), educational and social worlds, and business collaboration environments, today announced the development of an original "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" MMOG. The virtual world will be based on the mythology and iconography made popular by the Emmy(R) Award-winning series. The announcement was made by Academy Award(R) winning producer and member of the Multiverse Advisory Board, Jon Landau, during his keynote speech today at the Virtual Worlds Conference and Expo.
The ground-breaking MMOG will offer a new experience for gamers, allowing them to play it either as a fully immersive 3D environment or as a Flash-based 2D game, where both types of players can interact. The game will be launched within "Multiverse Places," a new social virtual world from Multiverse. Currently under development, "Buffy" will go into "beta" testing later this year.
Landau, a Multiverse Advisory Board member, who is in production on Avatar -- the widely anticipated Fox film from fellow Multiverse Advisor James Cameron -- commented, "Multiverse has the vision and expertise to create the type of rich environment needed for the best possible game based on the 'Buffy' series. The resources are in place to develop a great MMOG."
Created by sci-fi and comic book legend, Joss Whedon, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" racked up critical and popular acclaim during its seven seasons on television. The series also inspired a line of top-selling comic books and successful merchandising lines with an avid fan base at retail. Fox Licensing & Merchandising (Fox L&M) continues to develop the brand for a number of targeted programs that reach its core market.
"Every once in a while a show comes along that lives long after its run on television, and 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' is that kind of show," commented Elie Dekel, Executive Vice President Licensing and Merchandising for Fox L&M. "We think that creating this virtual 'Buffy' world is the perfect extension of the brand and will attract both fans of the show and newcomers interested in a great experience online."
"As a brilliant storyteller and world-maker, Joss Whedon crafts stories that expand perfectly into the new medium of virtual worlds," said Corey Bridges, co-founder and Executive Producer, Multiverse. "Not to give away too much, but when the 'Buffy' team finished the television series, they created the perfect launching point for an MMOG where everyone will feel like they're an important character in the ongoing story."
In related news, Fox's plans for the development of the previously announced Firefly MMOG have been delayed, but Fox looks forward to continuing its collaboration with Multiverse on this endeavor.
Since Multiverse's launch over four years ago, more than 25,000 development teams -- ranging from garage developers to Fortune 100 companies to Hollywood legends -- have registered to use the company's platform technology. In addition, several hundred pre-qualified customers have already begun building MMOGs and non-game virtual worlds with the Multiverse Platform.
Okay I hate to gloat but someone out there reads my blog. I ask for a Princess Bride game and someone makes one - crappy one but that's beside the point.
Now in that same post, I asked for a Buffy MMO and now someone decides to make one.
Joss Whedon should write everything. I want the Buffy MMO, but I want the Firefly one even more, so it's a shame the game's been delayed. It's also a shame no one made a game based off of his Astonishing X-Men run.
What's the deal? There's a flippin' MMO for everything coming out. It's crazy-talk, man! A buffy MMO? How the hell could THAT possibly pan out to be a playable and fun massive game? I'm interested to see, but I probably won't even glance at it... Too bad.
My friends want me to get into warhammer with them, but I just don't see the draw of MMOs anymore, not after my experience with WoW. Sorry, but this idea just rings stupid to me. Buffy? MMO? Get the fuck out.
Buffy MMO? Count me in! This may be an interesting MMO to watch, just because if you can only be a Slayer, the game is going to force you to be a girl.
While I'd love to play a Firefly MMO, I just don't think there's a large enough player base for it. Or for Buffy, for that matter. I can't see either game surviving for very long.
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I never cared for Firefly, but uh lol @ the Buffy MMO.
I didn't even know a Firefly MMO was in the making. AWESOME
Oh Christ, first WoW, then Warhammer, now Firefly? How much of my life do you people want!
"sharpening my stake" alright.
Okay I hate to gloat but someone out there reads my blog. I ask for a Princess Bride game and someone makes one - crappy one but that's beside the point.
Now in that same post, I asked for a Buffy MMO and now someone decides to make one.
PROOF BIATCHES - http://4thegirlgamers.blogspot.com/2007/02/games-i-want-to-see-made.html
Wrote that one back in February 2007.
But it's an MMO and a license and I... I'm going to play it, aren't I?
@Faith:
You're a trendsetter. Write about how you want Dead Rising 2, please.
You get to be lesbian witches in the game?
Actually I was just wishing for Secret of Mana to come out and the lucky Japanese are getting it on virtual console. maybe us next.
Joss Whedon should write everything. I want the Buffy MMO, but I want the Firefly one even more, so it's a shame the game's been delayed. It's also a shame no one made a game based off of his Astonishing X-Men run.
What's the deal? There's a flippin' MMO for everything coming out. It's crazy-talk, man! A buffy MMO? How the hell could THAT possibly pan out to be a playable and fun massive game? I'm interested to see, but I probably won't even glance at it... Too bad.
My friends want me to get into warhammer with them, but I just don't see the draw of MMOs anymore, not after my experience with WoW. Sorry, but this idea just rings stupid to me. Buffy? MMO? Get the fuck out.
Firefly is the sex
Buffy MMO? No thanks
Buffy MMO? Count me in! This may be an interesting MMO to watch, just because if you can only be a Slayer, the game is going to force you to be a girl.
I'm waiting for the E.R. MMO. Nothing beats emergency room drama!!
okay, i'm a sucker for anything buffy. har har see wat i did ther. but no really, WANT.
wow......just no....
Ergh. I can't imagine myself playing an MMO. But I loves me some Buffy. Life is so full of conflict.
That came out of nowhere. I love my Buffy but I don't think it's gonna work as an MMO.
God damn I miss Buffy! I don't think I would like it in an MMO form though. Now Firefly, that would be too much awesome.
well, at least there's some news on the firefly MMO, but delayed?? how long must i go on watching the miniseries and Serenity?
as long as it takes, would be the answer.
While I'd love to play a Firefly MMO, I just don't think there's a large enough player base for it. Or for Buffy, for that matter. I can't see either game surviving for very long.
How about cancelling the Firefly MMO and making another series like everyone really wants.
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