Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Mummy Online's beta is under wraps]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/22/the-mummy-onlines-beta-is-under-wraps/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/22/the-mummy-onlines-beta-is-under-wraps/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/22/the-mummy-onlines-beta-is-under-wraps/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Mummy Online
Seeing as how Halloween is right around the corner, it seems like a perfect time to tap into your inner monster and unleash the spooky spirit of the holiday. And what better way to do so than to wrap yourself in gauze, drain your bodily fluids, be buried alive, and brew a vengeful spirit over the next two thousand years?

Or, you know, you could just play The Mummy Online, which has recently gone into closed beta. Bigpoint's online version of Universal Studios' classic horror franchise looks to retain the best of the recent films as it mashes scares and high adventure thrills together. The game is free-to-play in your browser, and is presented in a top-down, isometric format.

Applications for the closed beta are currently being accepted. You can get a closer look at The Mummy Online in the gallery below, but beware! Opening this gallery will unleash an ancient curse upon your spleen!

Gallery: The Mummy Online

MassivelyThe Mummy Online's beta is under wraps originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 22 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabigpointclosed-betaembalmingf2pfree-to-playgallerymummyscreenshotsthe-mummythe-mummy-onlineuniversal-studioswhos-your-mummy-nowSat, 22 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bigpoint unleashes new Mummy Online site and trailer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/bigpoint-unleashes-new-mummy-online-site-and-trailer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/bigpoint-unleashes-new-mummy-online-site-and-trailer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/bigpoint-unleashes-new-mummy-online-site-and-trailer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's been almost a year since Bigpoint announced The Mummy Online, and we were starting to suspect that the project had been sealed back up in a tomb... forever. We even listed it as one of our top MMOs that went MIA in 2010. But it turns out that Bigpoint was just running quiet as it whipped up a whole new site and trailer for us to enjoy.

The Mummy Online is a continuation of the hit film series, which seeks to meld high adventure with historical horror. Bigpoint's Arash Amini feels that there's a lot of material for the team to mine: "Working with such a rich franchise not only enables us to leverage an incredible story; it also lends itself to further exploration and development perfectly suited for an online game that can evolve over time."

This free-to-play browser title is set at the southern tip of the Nile, where tombs, burial grounds, oases, and ruins wait for the intrepid grave robber. It looks to have fast-paced action (with guns!) in a 3-D isometric viewpoint. Bigpoint's hoping to get The Mummy Online to release by this fall, but in the meantime you can check out the lore and screenshots on the official site as well as the teaser trailer below.

Continue reading Bigpoint unleashes new Mummy Online site and trailer

MassivelyBigpoint unleashes new Mummy Online site and trailer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arash-amanibigpointf2pfree-to-playmiamummymummy-onlinenew-sitenileofficial-siteteaserteaser-trailerthe-mummythe-mummy-onlinetraileruniversaluniversal-studiosvideoWed, 01 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SEE buys Planet Calypso for $6 million, talks with Massively for an encore]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/27/see-buys-planet-calypso-for-6-million-talks-with-massively-for/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/27/see-buys-planet-calypso-for-6-million-talks-with-massively-for/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/27/see-buys-planet-calypso-for-6-million-talks-with-massively-for/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


For $6 million you could buy a heck of a lot of tacos -- or one virtual planet. Wisely, SEE Virtual Worlds went the latter route, snapping up Planet Calypso from MindArk and saving itself massive heartburn. The sci-fi-themed Planet Calypso operates under the umbrella of Entropia Universe and boasts 950,000 registered accounts since coming online in 2003.

As part of the deal, SEE Virtual Worlds also acquired all of the assets of First Planet Company, a former subsidiary of MindArk, which has been transformed into SEE Digital Studios. Under this reorganization, SEE Digital Studios is now responsible for developing and operating Planet Calypso, Planet Michael and Universal Monsters. The company is expected to hire on additional team members for these projects.

Fresh from the champagne celebration, SEE Virtual Worlds President Corey Redmond sat down with us to discuss this deal and the future of these three titles. Hit the jump to boogie with Michael Jackson, scream in terror at the Wolfman, and navigate the economy of virtual worlds.

Continue reading SEE buys Planet Calypso for $6 million, talks with Massively for an encore

MassivelySEE buys Planet Calypso for $6 million, talks with Massively for an encore originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>annie-are-you-okaycalypsoCorey-Redmondentropa-universefirst-planet-companyheal-the-worldMarco-Behrmannmichael-jacksonmicrotransactionsmindarkmoonwalkerplanet-calypsoplanet-michaelreal-cash-economyreal-money-transactionsrmtseesee-digital-studiossee-virtual-worldstacouniversal-monstersuniversal-studiosThu, 27 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Stake or be staked: Van Helsing MMO to take the fight to classic movie monsters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/stake-or-be-staked-van-helsing-mmo-to-take-the-fight-to-classic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/stake-or-be-staked-van-helsing-mmo-to-take-the-fight-to-classic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/stake-or-be-staked-van-helsing-mmo-to-take-the-fight-to-classic/#comments It's the perfect time of year to announce a horror-themed MMO, so we're not surprised that at least one studio has stepped up to do so. SEE Virtual Worlds, the same company that's working on Planet Michael (which may or may not still have you giggling sporadically), is turning the world of Van Helsing into a MMO with the blessing of Universal Studios.

With eight decades of movie monsters under its belt, Universal Studios is not lacking for iconic ghoulies and gremlins: The Wolf Man, Frankenstein, the Invisible Man, the Mummy, Dracula and the Creature from the Black Lagoon have frightened generations of children and lingered in the imaginations of millions more. In the game, players will step into the role of a Van Helsing-type figure who's tasked with taking down the hairiest, slimiest and most bitey of them all.

Both Planet Michael and the Universal Monsters MMO will exist within Entropia Universe's domain, which houses virtual worlds and utilizes a real-world cash exchange economy. You can read the full Hollywood Reporter article here.

MassivelyStake or be staked: Van Helsing MMO to take the fight to classic movie monsters originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingcreature-from-the-black-lagoondraculaentropia-universefrankensteinhollywood-reporterinvisible-manmummyplanet-michaeluniversaluniversal-monstersuniversal-monsters-mmouniversal-studiosvan-helsingwolf-manwolf-mans-got-nardsWed, 27 Oct 2010 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rock like an Egyptian: The Mummy Online announced!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/03/rock-like-an-egyptian-the-mummy-online-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/03/rock-like-an-egyptian-the-mummy-online-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/03/rock-like-an-egyptian-the-mummy-online-announced/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If the unique yet satisfying blend of horror, comedy and Brendan Fraser are your thing, then you're probably a big fan of The Mummy movie franchise. Nothing uplifts ancient Egyptian culture like making a mockery of their dead while looting their final burial place. In any case, Bigpoint and Universal Studios are teaming up to bring The Mummy Online, an action-RPG MMO, to gamers this fall.

The title will be set in the same 1930's time period as the feature films, and will feature PvE and PvP play. Interested gamers should be pleased to note that it will be both browser-based (powered by Unity technology) and free-to-play, so there's no legitimate objection to giving it a try. Unless you're a scaredy-cat, of course.

Universal's Bill Kispert chimed in with the announcement: "The Mummy franchise is chock full of exotic settings, supernatural enemies, exciting quests, and over the top action. It is ripe with gameplay possibilities, and we look forward to extending our relationship with Bigpoint to bring the world of The Mummy to life for gamers."

Right now the official website is a little sparse, but you can still sign up for The Mummy Online's newsletter. We're guessing it'll be sent out in hieroglyphics.

[Thanks Kai!]

MassivelyRock like an Egyptian: The Mummy Online announced! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bigpointbill-kispertbrendan-fraserbrowser-basedf2pfree-to-playthe-mummythe-mummy-onlineunity-engineuniversal-studiosThu, 03 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Verbinski to turn WSJ article into a film]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/18/verbinski-to-turn-wsj-article-into-a-film/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/18/verbinski-to-turn-wsj-article-into-a-film/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/18/verbinski-to-turn-wsj-article-into-a-film/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Just before we get started, it's probably worth mentioning that we're quite fond of Gore Verbinski's work to-date. This does not offset the creeping trepidation that we might feel about Verbinski and Universal having snagged the movie rights to a Wall Street Journal article about Second Life user Ric Hoogestraat.

No, not rights to Hoogestraat's story, or that of his wife, or of his virtual spouse. Movie rights to a newspaper article. It isn't even really a terribly interesting story, as the stories of Second Life users generally go.

Continue reading Verbinski to turn WSJ article into a film

MassivelyVerbinski to turn WSJ article into a film originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gore-verbinskijanet-spielmanmoviesnora-ephronopinionric-hoogestraatsecond-lifesteven-knightuniversal-studiosvirtual-worldsThu, 18 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST