The Virtual Worlds Expo just got underway and GDN already has two news bytes on MMOG’s based on Joss Whedon’s series.
We’ve known for awhile that a Firefly MMOG was under development and based on the Multiverse platform. Now they’ve announced a Buffy MMOG is also in the works! Yay? Maybe. Here’s the description:
The ground-breaking MMOG will offer a new experience for gamers, allowing them to play it either as a fully immersive 3D environment or as a Flash-based 2D game, where both types of players can interact. The game will be launched within “Multiverse Places,” a new social virtual world from Multiverse.
Maybe it’s just me, after all I just woke up and haven’t finished my coffee yet, but that sentence makes me think more of a Google Lively-esque social avatar chat “game” than a real game. This goes on the “wait and see” list.
Now for the bad news. It seems both Whedon and Fox think Buffy is a stronger IP with more potential, so resources have been allocated to Buffy, causing the Firefly MMOG to be delayed.
So, a rootin’ tootin’ Space Western action MMOG has less appeal than a Buffy-themed social MMOG? Like many bloggers have stated this year: we, the current crop of players, are absolutely not the target audience for the future of this genre…
/sigh
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We are, unfortunately, the niche. We always were the niche, actually, but we also used to be the only market.
The Buffy series was more popular, but Firefly is better suited for an MMO. If the Buffy MMO even makes it out the door, it could never be as corny and soap-operish as the TV series. It will bear little resemblance to the series. Firefly, on the other hand, has a setting that’s relatively easy to build a game around.
I have to agree with Aaron. I loved Buffy when it was on, but I can’t even force myself to watch a rerun these days. I think my addiction for that show is over. That being said, MMO’s tend to be more action oriented, and I just can’t see one about vampires being that successful. They’ve already tried several Buffy console games although they were hit and miss, I still think they’ve been done so a Firefly game, MMO or not, would get all the brown coats on board.
I just don’t see the Buffy IP getting people to come back after its been off the air now and there are not plans for a movie and I’m not even sure if the comic is doing all that well.
That’s pretty much my take on things too. I never watched either series. I saw bits and pieces of a handful of Buffy episodes and nothing ever made me want to stick around and get into it. Firefly I only knew existed; I never actually saw it on the air as I was channel surfing. I do own the Serenity DVD though, so at least I have a vague idea of the series’ characters.
I just can’t imagine a Buffy game (if this is actually a true game) being considered a more viable property than what could be done in Firefly’s space western universe. My mind boggles at this decision.