While Multiverse, the development platform that was supposed to be the driving force for possible Buffy and Firefly MMOs, suffered a studio shutdown, the source code lives -- and has been snatched up by the newly formed Multiverse Foundation. Fortunately for those who were holding out hope for an online version of Joss Whedon's scifi western, it looks as though this new company wants to pick up where the previous team left off.
Massively was contacted by Tristan Bacon, head of communications for Multiverse Foundation. He says that the company has acquired the source code and is "starting work full-time on the actual MMO creation platform." Bacon says that if there is still interest from fans, the team intends to use the platform to make a Firefly MMO.
Don't get overexcited at the prospect of saddling up for the 'verse in your own ship, however, as this might be as long a shot as it ever was. There are substantial obstacles to overcome, including permission to use the IP. Bacon also says that the current team is just a small group of volunteers working on it in their spare time, and would appreciate more developers to sign on to the project.
Reader Comments (24)
Posted: Jan 4th 2012 9:49PM 7BitBrian said
Yay for firefly. I think.
I love the series so much I do admit I'd love to play in it's universe. but if it isn't done fairly perfect are we even going to like it? And is that even possible?
Here's to hoping.
I love the series so much I do admit I'd love to play in it's universe. but if it isn't done fairly perfect are we even going to like it? And is that even possible?
Here's to hoping.
Posted: Jan 5th 2012 4:39AM shapeshfters said
@7BitBrian That's exactly how i felt about the battlestar galactica mmo, if thats what you could call it.
Reply
Posted: Jan 4th 2012 10:05PM geololj said
Great news. I wish those guys the best of luck.
Posted: Jan 4th 2012 10:15PM Space Cobra said
I gotta agree with Justin...
Longshot just got a whole lot longer!
Longshot just got a whole lot longer!
Posted: Jan 4th 2012 11:22PM JuliusSeizure said
Very, very newly formed. I see a whole lot of Lorem ipsum all over that site.
Posted: Jan 5th 2012 12:48AM Tristik said
I love Firefly.
However, I cringe at the thought of just about any company trying to make it into an MMO. A setting like firefly demands space and ground content in a highly sandbox environment.
My last sentence pretty much tells you that it will never exist in the form the fans wish it to.
However, I cringe at the thought of just about any company trying to make it into an MMO. A setting like firefly demands space and ground content in a highly sandbox environment.
My last sentence pretty much tells you that it will never exist in the form the fans wish it to.
Posted: Jan 5th 2012 1:14AM (Unverified) said
Firefly was awesome. :) i have to say that that man in the picture (too tired to remember names after this days work) is fantastically hawt, and he and the pilot were two of the main reasons i watched. WOOF.
Posted: Jan 5th 2012 3:01AM Fuzzz said
it must happen !!!!
Posted: Jan 5th 2012 4:47AM Unverfied B said
Are they actually open sourcing the code, or how is "appreciate more developers to sign on to the project" supposed to work?
The Lorem ipsum text on their front page doesn't tell me much lol
The Lorem ipsum text on their front page doesn't tell me much lol
Posted: Jan 5th 2012 8:16AM Viiral said
Let it die already..
Posted: Jan 5th 2012 8:29AM cored said
Unfortunately, my reaction to this of more of a muted "shiny" than "I'll be in my bunk."
Posted: Jan 5th 2012 9:40AM ScottishViking said
"Bacon says that if there is still interest from fans, the team intends to use the platform to make a Firefly MMO."
That's the kind of uncertainty that will kill this thing before it even gets off the ground. The IP we all know and love needs a more stable development process than "maybe only if it is possibly popular potentially hopefully."
That's the kind of uncertainty that will kill this thing before it even gets off the ground. The IP we all know and love needs a more stable development process than "maybe only if it is possibly popular potentially hopefully."
Posted: Jan 5th 2012 11:45PM ScottishViking said
@UnSub
True enough. Why anybody would even PRETEND to start developing a product around an IP before securing permission is beyond me. It just seems incredibly amateurish. Ten points for effort, zero for strategy.
Reply
True enough. Why anybody would even PRETEND to start developing a product around an IP before securing permission is beyond me. It just seems incredibly amateurish. Ten points for effort, zero for strategy.
Posted: Jan 5th 2012 9:58AM (Unverified) said
Transplant Firefly into the pre-CU SWG setup and I think it fits the IP perfectly. Players that can be/do just about anything. Lots of wide open worlds to explore. A system for players to actually hunt one another via the bounty boards. Fairly wide open space combat.
Lots of room for improvement, but also a good place to start.
Doubt anything like that will happen, but we can always hope.
Lots of room for improvement, but also a good place to start.
Doubt anything like that will happen, but we can always hope.
Posted: Jan 5th 2012 10:52AM Bhima said
Good luck to the volunteer indie dev team. Though I really REALLY think you guys shouldn't try and take on a project(ie: MMO) with such a huge scope as your first game together. You should consider talking to Joss and see if you can make a more proof-of-concept single player RPG in the Firefly universe FIRST.
Just look at Phoenix Online Studios... they are a group of King's Quest fans that poured their heart and soul into making another King's Quest game for free. After almost 10 years, all 5 chapters of the game are almost done (you can DL the first 4 right now I believe). Copyright issues not withstanding, making a game takes a ton of man hours and resources... both of which are on short supply when you are making something for free.
Lower your scope please.
Just look at Phoenix Online Studios... they are a group of King's Quest fans that poured their heart and soul into making another King's Quest game for free. After almost 10 years, all 5 chapters of the game are almost done (you can DL the first 4 right now I believe). Copyright issues not withstanding, making a game takes a ton of man hours and resources... both of which are on short supply when you are making something for free.
Lower your scope please.
Posted: Jan 5th 2012 11:31AM shadowghost21 said
I went to their page to try and contact the people involved so that I can get in on the action. I am currently deep in production of my own game but I could set aside a few hours a week to help out with a worthy cause. So if any massively staff reads this comment, could you email me contact information for Multiverse so I can get in touch with their staff? Their entire page is Lorem ipsum.
Posted: Jan 5th 2012 9:12PM multiverseshane said
@shadowghost21
How are you. I am with the Multiverse Software Foundation and am excited that you would be willing to contribute. We are, bleeding edge newly formed, and are working on setting everything up. So yes the future multiversemmo.com web page is quite bare at the moment.
In regards to a Firefly MMO the key to that project depends on the IP rights. This is something we have just begun discussing over the last couple days, so again that is quite new. It will be interesting to see how it plays out. I know the fan base is quite dedicated and wants an online Firefly world to be just like everything they imagine, so any project that embarks on such a journey would need to have that as its true goal.
In the long run we intend to form the Multiverse Software Foundation as a non profit entity following the likes of Apache.org or Python.org. Hopefully attaining status as a 501(c)(3) tax deductible charity. Because the Multiverse software has been released under the MIT License no one company can "own" the code. It is more like, "everyone owns", the code. But as a non profit we intend to "shepherd" the software and the community and ensure the platform grows both technically and socially among participants. The MIT License is the most free of all open source license, so this will allow anyone with the will and ideas to pick it up and build something great out of it.. even forming their own business using the Multiverse software.
There is much more to discuss and the opportunities abound. The release of this system is groundbreaking into a new era. Look for official press releases from our outstanding PR, marketing, and all around guru of awesomeness Tristan Bacon.
You can contact the team at feedback@multiversemmo.com
Tristan Bacon at tristan@multiversemmo.com
Jono, our Head Coding Ninja, at jono@multiversemmo.com
Totally and completely exciting if you ask me.
I look forward to the future and I hope to see you in "The Multiverse"
Shane C Fischer
Director of Foundation Development
shane@multiversemmo.com
Reply
How are you. I am with the Multiverse Software Foundation and am excited that you would be willing to contribute. We are, bleeding edge newly formed, and are working on setting everything up. So yes the future multiversemmo.com web page is quite bare at the moment.
In regards to a Firefly MMO the key to that project depends on the IP rights. This is something we have just begun discussing over the last couple days, so again that is quite new. It will be interesting to see how it plays out. I know the fan base is quite dedicated and wants an online Firefly world to be just like everything they imagine, so any project that embarks on such a journey would need to have that as its true goal.
In the long run we intend to form the Multiverse Software Foundation as a non profit entity following the likes of Apache.org or Python.org. Hopefully attaining status as a 501(c)(3) tax deductible charity. Because the Multiverse software has been released under the MIT License no one company can "own" the code. It is more like, "everyone owns", the code. But as a non profit we intend to "shepherd" the software and the community and ensure the platform grows both technically and socially among participants. The MIT License is the most free of all open source license, so this will allow anyone with the will and ideas to pick it up and build something great out of it.. even forming their own business using the Multiverse software.
There is much more to discuss and the opportunities abound. The release of this system is groundbreaking into a new era. Look for official press releases from our outstanding PR, marketing, and all around guru of awesomeness Tristan Bacon.
You can contact the team at feedback@multiversemmo.com
Tristan Bacon at tristan@multiversemmo.com
Jono, our Head Coding Ninja, at jono@multiversemmo.com
Totally and completely exciting if you ask me.
I look forward to the future and I hope to see you in "The Multiverse"
Shane C Fischer
Director of Foundation Development
shane@multiversemmo.com
Posted: Jan 5th 2012 12:35PM dndhatcher said
Everything is better with Bacon.








