announced that made me stare at my laptop and honestly not even know
what to say. According to a press release from Bastion and SEE Virtual Worlds, they have signed a deal with Micheal Jackson's Estate and will be releasing an MMO called Planet Michael in 2011 for the Entropia Universe.
This is the same company that is behind the Entropia Engine and another sci-fi MMORPG Planet Calypso (see a theme here?). Planet Michael will be "the first of a virtual reality universe of connected planets tied to licensed franchises produced by SEE Virtual Worlds."
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“When we first approached the Estate and talked about creating Planet Michael, one of our primary goals was to build an interactive environment where fans from all over the world come together to affirm Michael’s life-long dedication to fostering global friendships,” said Martin Biallas, CEO of SEE Virtual Worlds. “In building a space worthy of those global connections, we envisioned a magical, enjoyable place that will capture that zest for fun and life that was at Michael’s very core. Throughout his extensive career, the King of Pop was well-known for his visionary contributions to music, dance, fashion, entertainment and philanthropy, and it was critical that we somehow incorporate all of those elements into the game.” |
Planet Michael will be a free-to-download but will feature a real world in-game economy, allowing players to contribute to specific charities, a new dynamic in the Entropia Universe. The game play is going to focus on Michaels iconic dance moves and avoid violence. The press release also gave us a look at world design for this MMO.
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"Entire continents will be created that will celebrate Michael’s unique genius in a way that underscores his place as the greatest artist of all time. Michael’s long-time fans will feel at home, as they find themselves in places that seem familiar and yet unknown at the same time, and new generations will discover and experience Michael’s life in a way never before imagined." |
Recently at the Tokyo Game Show, Ubisoft showed us the commercial for their latest Dance Simulator called Michael Jackson The Experience on Wii this November.
I'm curious to know what readers think, using iconic figures through gaming to continue a legacy? Why not a Planet Elvis? I will be very interested if this creates a new breed of video game player, the fan, who plays only to enjoy something long since gone?
