Buffy The Vampire Slayer MMOG in development

Buffy Fans Will Get the Chance To Live Virtually in the Buffyverse

Sep 3, 2008 Jeffrey Ford

Fans of the television show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" will now get a chance to live in the "Buffyverse" with a new massively multiplayer online game.

Fans of the television show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” were disappointed when it left the air after seven seasons. Now those fans can live out the Buffy experience in a virtual world as Twentieth Century Fox and The Multiverse Network have announced development of a “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” massively multiplayer online game (MMOG).

"Buffyverse" Ripe for MMOG

The fanbase of “Buffy” has proven hungry for more as the show spawned a cult following and a rabid appreciation for creator Joss Whedon that followed him to the short-lived series “Firefly”, Astonishing X-Men comics, and even launching what is considered the eighth season of "Buffy" for Dark Horse comics. Bringing the hit series to online gaming seems a perfect fit.

"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."

Buffy "Staking" New Ground

Particularly surprising about this announcement is that the “Buffy” MMOG will be significantly ground-breaking due to the fact that it will offer two distinct ways of playing the game:

A fully immersive 3D virtual world
A 2D Flash-based version

Both versions of the game will be seamlessly connected so that players of either version will be able to interact with each other.

Multiverse Network

The game is being developed using technology created by The Multiverse Network, a company started by former Netscape team members, which has put together a virtual world platform that will enable companies to create online social and gaming environments faster and in less expensive ways. Using what they call the Multiverse World Browser, users will be able to enter many different worlds created on the platform and hosted by Multiverse’s network. Multiverse has made the world of 3D MMOG available not just to high-profile developers but independent programmers as well.

As of yet there is no indication what the cost of the “Buffy” MMOG will be, or whether there will be a monthly access charge, as is typical with many other online games, particularly those with major licensing. However, gamers can get a glimpse of what to expect by visiting “Multiverse Places”, a cross between an MMOG and a social networking site, where they can download the client for free, and interact in a 3D environment with other users.

There is also no word on when the “Buffy” game will officially be released, though it is assumed to be sometime next year as beta testing for the game was announced to begin later this year.

More information about The Multiverse Network and to see other virtual worlds in development, visit their official site.

Source: PR Newswire

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