MARVEL'S MMO

Today Marvel announced their first MMO, or for you comics-exclusive nerds out there, a Massively Multiplayer Online game. Both Marvel and DC have attempted to create an online world for their characters that could compete with games like World of Warcraft and Everquest, but both companies have fallen flat.

This time around, Marvel has an all star team behind them, Gazillion Entertainment, collecting minds from Apple and Windows as well as gaming giants Blizzard Entertainment (Diablo, Starcraft, World of Warcraft) and animation masters Pixar (you should know who these guys are). With Marvel's 3D Streets of Rage style Ultimate Alliance game getting a sequel later this year and Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe being the best Mortal Kombat game since MK2, it's a natural and welcome progression into the world of Online Gaming.

Hopefully the yet to be titled game won't fall to the wayside like the rest of the Top Two's attempts at online gaming, both companies have claimed to have MMOs ready for release before. There are alternatives though, like City of Heroes, a nonlinear world where you create your own super hero (or villain with the City of Villains expansion), taking control of your city by going on patrol daily, or going after the experience point heavy event missions.

In 2004, Marvel actually sued City of Heroes creators, claiming users were creating Marvel heroes to use in their world. Marvel lost the suit, the judge ruling that you can't blame the game makers for the game players for not using their imagination. There's also the fact that Marvel actually created some of their own characters just to prove their point, no users were ever "caught" playing as Hulk or Wolverine.

BONUS TRAILERS:

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 (loosely based on the Civil War storyline):

Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe:


Batman: Arkham Asylum