Jim Lee Tapped for PS3 MMOG
Wait, what?! A DC Comics massively multiplayer online game helmed by the head of Wildstorm?
Published: February 27, 2006
It's hard to think that as little as five years ago, people were still saying massively multiplayer online games wouldn't work out. Stuff like EverQuest showed it clearly can, and all it took was Blizzard roping in an absolutely staggering 5 million subscribers for World of Warcraft to show that even the kings of the hill can be dethroned with a big budget MMO.
Sony Online Entertainment might be a little stung by the debacles surrounding Star Wars Galaxy, The Matrix Online and Planetside, but things are on the mend for the developer/publisher that once had a stranglehold on MMO market. Case in point: this little announcement of a DC/SOE/Warner Bros. collaboration.
Comics and games are a pretty natural fit; the audience blend fairly regularly, and the backstory and mythos for most characters is so rich that no movie or TV show could ever match it. Our hat's off to whoever managed to broker a deal between SOE and DC Comics, because even the most basic realization of DC's biggest landmarks and superheroes (even played by actual "actors" a la The Matrix Online) is enough to get our collective noggins a-spinnin'.
And then of course there's the news that Jim Lee, Image co-founder and now head of his DC-owned Wildstorm studio, will be Executive Creative Director, that the project will hit the PS3 (as well as PC and Xbox 360, and we're hoping for a Final Fantasy XI cross-platform approach), and that Lee will contribute art and designs to the project. Quotes!
"My position at DC has afforded me the amazing opportunity to dive into projects I am most passionate about. The DC MMO is no exception and joins my current commitments to All-Star Batman and Robin with writer Frank Miller and the upcoming Wildcats series with visionary Grant Morrison as dream projects," gushed Jim Lee. "The truth is that I love gaming as much as I love drawing and telling stories and look forward to bringing the DC Universe to life for players and comic book fans all around the world.
What intrigues me most about the DC MMO is how we can continue to tell the great stories DC is known for in this new medium and look forward in particular to the challenge of perhaps one day, simultaneously bringing stories to life in both print and pixel form. True to their moniker, MMOs are massive undertakings and I look forward to working on the game and continuing to draw comics for many, many years to come at DC."
"As a passionate online gamer and one of the most creative talents ever to work with the DC heroes, Jim is the perfect person to help build an online DC universe that our fans can become part of on a daily basis," stroked DC Comics' President and Publisher, Paul Levitz. "The SOE team, working with Jim's creative guidance, are building a new way for gamers and comic fans to unite and enjoy our legendary characters and their complex universe."
"We couldn't be happier to have an icon like Jim Lee involved with this project," gushed SOE President John Smedley. "SOE, WBIE and DC will be working together closely on this project and Jim's contributions will be key to bringing the amazing world of DC Comics to life online."
"Utilizing his outstanding and widely revered talent, Jim Lee's ground-breaking work on the DC MMO will help lend authenticity and strength to the game's design," added Jason Hall, Senior VP of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. "His iconic art style and creative direction will enhance the look and feel of the game overall."
No name, details or, uh, anything have been announced yet, but if we had to take a stab at it, we'd guess we'll learn some details at E3. May can't get here soon enough.
Sony Online Entertainment might be a little stung by the debacles surrounding Star Wars Galaxy, The Matrix Online and Planetside, but things are on the mend for the developer/publisher that once had a stranglehold on MMO market. Case in point: this little announcement of a DC/SOE/Warner Bros. collaboration.
Comics and games are a pretty natural fit; the audience blend fairly regularly, and the backstory and mythos for most characters is so rich that no movie or TV show could ever match it. Our hat's off to whoever managed to broker a deal between SOE and DC Comics, because even the most basic realization of DC's biggest landmarks and superheroes (even played by actual "actors" a la The Matrix Online) is enough to get our collective noggins a-spinnin'.
And then of course there's the news that Jim Lee, Image co-founder and now head of his DC-owned Wildstorm studio, will be Executive Creative Director, that the project will hit the PS3 (as well as PC and Xbox 360, and we're hoping for a Final Fantasy XI cross-platform approach), and that Lee will contribute art and designs to the project. Quotes!
"My position at DC has afforded me the amazing opportunity to dive into projects I am most passionate about. The DC MMO is no exception and joins my current commitments to All-Star Batman and Robin with writer Frank Miller and the upcoming Wildcats series with visionary Grant Morrison as dream projects," gushed Jim Lee. "The truth is that I love gaming as much as I love drawing and telling stories and look forward to bringing the DC Universe to life for players and comic book fans all around the world.
What intrigues me most about the DC MMO is how we can continue to tell the great stories DC is known for in this new medium and look forward in particular to the challenge of perhaps one day, simultaneously bringing stories to life in both print and pixel form. True to their moniker, MMOs are massive undertakings and I look forward to working on the game and continuing to draw comics for many, many years to come at DC."
"As a passionate online gamer and one of the most creative talents ever to work with the DC heroes, Jim is the perfect person to help build an online DC universe that our fans can become part of on a daily basis," stroked DC Comics' President and Publisher, Paul Levitz. "The SOE team, working with Jim's creative guidance, are building a new way for gamers and comic fans to unite and enjoy our legendary characters and their complex universe."
"We couldn't be happier to have an icon like Jim Lee involved with this project," gushed SOE President John Smedley. "SOE, WBIE and DC will be working together closely on this project and Jim's contributions will be key to bringing the amazing world of DC Comics to life online."
"Utilizing his outstanding and widely revered talent, Jim Lee's ground-breaking work on the DC MMO will help lend authenticity and strength to the game's design," added Jason Hall, Senior VP of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. "His iconic art style and creative direction will enhance the look and feel of the game overall."
No name, details or, uh, anything have been announced yet, but if we had to take a stab at it, we'd guess we'll learn some details at E3. May can't get here soon enough.