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The Matrix Online Announced

Posted by simoniker on from the many-different-matrices dept.

Thanks to Blue's News for pointing to the new official website for The Matrix Online. This massively multiplayer PC title, where you get to live, explore and fight within the machine construct of The Matrix, is courtesy Warner Brothers and Ubi Soft, and is being developed by Monolith (of No-One Lives Forever and Tron 2.0 fame) for a 2004 release. IGN.com has more details, and a healthy, if sensible, skepticism until they see the game playable. Finally, this project is completely separate from Shiny/Atari's Enter The Matrix game that we covered a little while back, and which is shipping into stores about now.

49 comments

  1. The mere existence of the game = movie spoiler. by 2Flower · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The game takes place AFTER the trilogy. That in itself kind of trashes the series, since it confirms that the war is not over, the agents are still in control, and the Matrix itself still exists.

    Uh... yay. We win. Possibly.

    I was quite excited about the whole cross-media storytelling planned for the last two movies, the way the plot would expand to fill all relevant games and films and animes and such. However, like Japan's similar efforts with the .hack series, it's better in theory than execution since the end result is disjointed. I'd still love to see the idea of multimedia (as in, more than one medium) storytelling done right, but it's been an uphill climb to get something smooth and palatable...

    1. Re:The mere existence of the game = movie spoiler. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      but what if when the war is over the humans in the real world keep the matrix and slowly tell everyone still hooked up they can become free. and they could also use it as sort of a game when there done :p

    2. Re:The mere existence of the game = movie spoiler. by C0LDFusion · · Score: 1

      If you are a Star Wars fan, you know the Rebellion didn't end when the second Death Star blew up. You know that the fight with the Empire continued for at least a decade after that battle.

      Likewise, even if the Matrix is destroyed suddenly, all the humans inside would be killed, so logically, what could happen is having to carefully take out nodes on the breeding fields to not have to kill the people inside, or a billion other things..

      Don't assume that good guys riding into the sunset means the good guys can never ride back.

      --
      Only in slashdot are posts of solidarity modded at -1 Redundant, while posts of antagonism are modded as -1 Flamebait.
    3. Re:The mere existence of the game = movie spoiler. by Kj0n · · Score: 1

      If you are a Star Wars fan, you know the Rebellion didn't end when the second Death Star blew up. You know that the fight with the Empire continued for at least a decade after that battle.

      No, that's for episodes 7, 8 and 9.

    4. Re:The mere existence of the game = movie spoiler. by Pez69 · · Score: 1

      Of course by the end of the third movie it won't be completely resolved for a few reasons.

      First, there is one human city left. I would think that they don't have the rescourses to care for the complete human race.

      Next, the human race couldn't defeat the robots in an all out war before teh matrix, so what says they can defeat them now.

      Third, if everyone was to be released from the matrix all at once a very large number of them would be lost.

      And finally, whats to say that only a small amount would want to be released from the matrix.

      --

      Forever live the fighters!
  2. It was just a matter of time until someone said... by g(zerofunk.org) · · Score: 1

    ...woah. g

  3. And that.... by Smidge204 · · Score: 0

    ...is how the machines took control. :)

    Think we may be seeing more of this kinda crap is it comes out?
    =Smidge=

  4. irony indeed by Acts+of+Attrition · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Now we'll have humans spending hours in front of the computer trying to immerse themselves into the digital world of the Matrix, a place where humans trapped inside of a digital world are trying to get unimmersed. it's not too hard to believe that the robots probably released an early version of The Matrix as an MMORPG...

    1. Re:irony indeed by hikeran · · Score: 1

      With Star Wars galaxies comming out could the construct have been created by the SOE .. in that case there will be so many more people "plugging" in.

      You think it was bad with Everquest.. omg .. now they have Star Wars?? how many more ppl will go to this?

    2. Re:irony indeed by danila · · Score: 1

      Imagine if they will have interactive environment a la Duke Nukem 3D, where you will be able to use computers on the levels to play computer games. Now you suddenly have one more level of reality...

      --
      Future Wiki -- If you don't think about the future, you cannot have one.
  5. Don't do it! by Brandon+Sharitt · · Score: 0

    They want us to join some virtual world that takes place inside some kind of big computer. Something isn't right here. It's a trap.

  6. Movie MMORPG's by th3walrus · · Score: 2, Funny

    Since we're now in the 'Make MMORPG's out of popular movies' trend, let me make a few suggestions based on some of the most popular movies of all time.

    Citizen Kane
    Casablanca
    12 Angry Men
    Singin' In The Rain

    Let it die people... Let it die...

    1. Re:Movie MMORPG's by torpor · · Score: 2, Funny

      Dude, don't forget "Deep Throat".

      --
      ; -- the corruption of government starts with its secrets. a truly free people keep no secrets. --
    2. Re:Movie MMORPG's by Acts+of+Attrition · · Score: 1
      Dude, Where's my Car? : The Online Experience

      Join a teeming world of intrigue and hilarity as you play on a server full of people looking for their cars. Features Include:

      • PVP action: Keeping rival teams from finding their cars. Combat system includes yelling "Sweet!" and "Dude!"
      • Crafting: Make a new car! Sell cars to players so they can lose it and have look for it.
      • High level play includes groping Kristy Swanson
  7. Bad choice... by sevensharpnine · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Why Monolith? Did Warner Brothers simply draw up a contract for the game design and award it to the lowest bidder? I hate to sound like a troll, but honestly, Monolith isn't exactly the paradigm of innovation in the industry. Almost everything they've done since the original Blood (nolf, avp 2, shogo) has been largely derivative of popular trends, and there isn't a whole lot of precedent for a game like this. Maybe I'm just being paranoid and the game will kick ass, but when I think of an ambitious project like this, one of the last development teams I would want is Monolith. The Blood series was first-rate, though the rest of their catalogue is a little weak. They're a pretty good team as far as the industry goes, but I wouldn't be surprised if this game ends up as "Everquest with Uzi's."

    --
    "God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh." -Voltaire
    1. Re:Bad choice... by Mechanik · · Score: 1

      The Blood series was first-rate

      Evidently you didn't play Blood 2: The Chosen. It's almost universally reviled as one of the most horrid FPS games of all time. Certainly not the worst, but definitely bad.

      Some will probably cry foul when I say this, but I thought it was worse than Daikatana by far, especially if you were playing the original demo that was so horribly non-optimized that you were lucky to get 20-25 frames a second, even with a good 3D card at the time that would run, say, Half-Life (a much more visually attractive game) at 40 or so FPS.


      Mechanik

    2. Re:Bad choice... by aztektum · · Score: 1

      Pardon? I believe both NOLF games have gotten really good reviews and they both kicked ass. They were what a game should be, they were fun to play and didn't take themselves too God damn seriously.

      --
      :: aztek ::
      No sig for you!!
    3. Re:Bad choice... by bitrott · · Score: 1

      You're wrong. You've clearly not played nolf2. It makes several kick ass advancements in an otherwise stagnated gaming genre.

  8. Hacking the Matrix... by ghostlibrary · · Score: 3, Funny

    So, is this going to be the first MMORPG where you're _supposed_ to cheat?

    "Wow, how'd you hit me?"

    "I found a way to step outside the game... and install an aim-bot."

    "Woah. Teach me."

    --
    A.
  9. Awful Premise... by quandrum · · Score: 1
    Okay, this is where the Matrix merchandising goes too far. So, everyone in the world knows about the Matrix? And are fighting against it? I mean, one of the draw of MMO is that 95% of the people you encounter have a player sitting behind it.

    And what do you level treadmill against? Agents inhabiting the average Joe? Doesn't everybody BUT Neo pretty much lose to an Agent?

    Fine, lets talk about special skills. In the movie, they can load up ANY skill you want into your brain at any time. On the page it talks about these things being like "trading cards". But still, do you improve these skills, or do you just get them and have the skills. I'm terrible at hand to hand combat.. oh wait, there's a "I know Kung FU" Neo card, now I'm a master. Wow, that's great...

    I mean, I'm sure they can think up better gameplay than this, but will it be true to the Matrix universe? Or will it just be another corporate entity trying to mindlessly cash in on trends...

    Our culture has become completely disposable

  10. The retail box will contain: by Paddyish · · Score: 5, Funny

    A single blue pill.

  11. Site Not Working (/.ed?) by sepluv · · Score: 1

    Bad request Your browser sent a query this server could not understand

    --
    Joe Llywelyn Griffith Blakesley
    [This post is in the public domain (copyright-free) unless otherwise stated]
    1. Re:Site Not Working (/.ed?) by sepluv · · Score: 1

      Only happens in Mozilla Firebird.

      --
      Joe Llywelyn Griffith Blakesley
      [This post is in the public domain (copyright-free) unless otherwise stated]
  12. redundant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Isn't the name "The Matrix Online" redundant? I mean, isn't the "online" part pretty much implicit in the whole "matrix" thing?

  13. well by Joe+the+Lesser · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Do you really think such a powerful entity as the Matrix could be dissembled in three movies? Right now humans are fighting off extinction. I think this just means there won't be a cheesy 'yay, good guys always win.' ending.

    Personally I am actually interested in this, and I generally can't stand MMOGs.

    --
    "I only speak the truth"
    Karma: null(Mostly affected by an unassigned variable)
  14. The mind boggles by Chilles · · Score: 1

    Entering a computer generated world to play a character whose goal is leaving a computer generated world.
    And they expect people to pay money for that?

  15. I'm running my own Matrix MMORPG by Rayonic · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yes, now you too can experience life first-hand in my Matrix online game. Fight, love, work, party -- all in an amazing virtual world so real you'll believe you're there! Startling graphics, real-world physics, and a seamless leveling system combine to make an experience you'll never forget.

    To sign up, simply send me $49.95 and I'll ship you a rare and coveted red placeb^H^H^H^H^H^H pill. Ingest it and you're on your way to adventure!

    --
    [PowerPoint] is a tool for capitalist presentation
  16. As good as the Matrix series is... by dauvis · · Score: 1

    I can't help but to think that this will become a one dimensional game. Something like Unreal Tournament but on a massive scale.

  17. Ah, irony by jearbear · · Score: 2, Informative

    So, wait, a computer simulation of what its like being locked inside of a computer simulation?

    As Kenu would say, "Whoah."

    At least it proves that irony is not dead, even if it is lost on some.

  18. Already playing it by DavidLeblond · · Score: 1

    If we are indeed in The Matrix, then isn't life just one big MMORPG already?

    So we'd be playing an MMORPG in a MMORPG... this sounds too much like The Thirteeth Floor.

    1. Re:Already playing it by Chris+Mattern · · Score: 1

      Or .hack. Well, that's actually a MMORPG in a single-player RPG. But it's close.

      Chris Mattern

  19. Well it would be pointless... by Palshife · · Score: 1

    ...to make a single player Matrix game...

    --
    Attention deficit disorder is a complicated issue, spanning several major... HEY LET'S GO RIDE BIKES!
    1. Re:Well it would be pointless... by entrager · · Score: 1

      Perhaps you are trying to make a joke... but if you aren't: There IS a single player game. It comes out tomorrow (same day as Matrix Reloaded). www.enterthematrixgame.com

  20. Hey that might not be all that bad! by Tibor+the+Hun · · Score: 2, Funny

    maybe in that matrix i'll be able to get a job!

    --
    If you don't know what AltaVista is (was), get off my lawn.
  21. The jokes are obvious... by AvantLegion · · Score: 1
    ... and have already been nailed down by others.

    Imagine an online game where everyone can slow down time to bullet-time. Talk about the slowest game EVER.

    People need to chill with the persistant online RPGs. There's gonna be a whole lot of half-sustained games out there at this rate.

    I'm still waiting for a persistant war sim that doesn't suck (WWII Online did not live up).

  22. Is the hardline camped? by Trikenstein · · Score: 1

    of course
    can I get on the list?
    theres 86423754 ahead of you
    d0h!

  23. The Gatestrix by skinfitz · · Score: 3, Funny

    Don't believe that Animatrix stuff - this is how it really happens...

    Everyone knows how addictive MMORPG's are, and the next major thing in gaming will likely be to increase the immersive aspects of it. Next we see some special "totally immersive sens-dep tanks" designed originally for (naturally) pr0n consumption, however they naturally find their way into the gaming community where they become very popular.

    Soon.. everyone has one, and, due to an easily missed checkbox on a Microsoft designed acceptance of terms and conditions when installing the new Matrix MMORPG, users find that they actually no longer have the right to quit the game, and without their knowledge, their tank containing their body is shipped to an efficient storage area (which ingeniously uses the body heat of the player to power the gaming servers while decreasing lag due to the closer proximity to the server). Naturally given the pr0n functions of the tanks, many people decide they are better off in the system and due to the technical and biological developments in the real world, are able to breed. Naturally the children grow up knowing only the system and so do not even realise they are trapped in the Gatestrix.

    End of the world, human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together mass hysteria.

    Fortunately for humanity a small group of Mac geeks refused to play the game citing reasons such as "I ain't buying no PC dude". Led by a black polonecked individual known only as "Jobseus" they fight for freedom.

    This is their story.

  24. crap? by rhuntley12 · · Score: 1

    Anyone think this is going to be another "Lets make a MMORPG because they are popular, but lets not actually make a good one" ? Or just end up Vapor? I think they will probably realize this is a bad idea and cancel it, or they will release crap and make money off fans and give them the finger. Matrix for consoles after playing the one for Xbox, I must say I'm disappointed. Without the bullet time this game would suck for sure, it needed 6 more months. And where I'm getting is, it didn't have multiplayer. Perhaps for a very good reason: How would you do bullettime in a game where there are multiple human players? I mean moving fast like that is a huge thing in the matrix. Two things are all I could think of, either make them move really fast, which I think sucks, and make it harder to use then it would be worth it. Or you would have to slow down everyone else on their screens, how annoying would that be? Along with a pain in the ass to do. Anyone have any better ideas? What could they do with this game that would make it attractive? Sure, semi cool story line, but being able to do those badass moves like in the movie....Anyway, I think I'm just rambling, cause I'm sick of everything being made into a crappy mmorpg.

  25. Bullet Time by Wheaty18 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I'm curious as to how they'll implement bullet time in a MMORPG setting. If I recall correctly, the bullet time feature was left out of Max Payne multiplayer.

    If someone hits the "bullet time" button, will everyone slow down? Will all NPC's within a certain radius slow down?

    Good luck devs. Lets just hope this title doesn't turn into a grief fest.

    1. Re:Bullet Time by Dreetje · · Score: 1

      If I recall correctly, the bullet time feature was left out of Max Payne multiplayer.

      There was no multiplayer in Max Payne. And there won't be; perhaps in Max Payne2?

      I guess a solution as used in Jedi Knight 2 could be used, the others don't notice a change just you, so in fact you are going faster.
      However I don't have to worry about that ;)

      --
      Dre
    2. Re:Bullet Time by Jarlsberg · · Score: 1

      Hard to imagine this working in multiplayer. However, the single player game Enter the Matrix doesn't have bullet time either. It has something called focus time, and it's very underwhelming.

    3. Re:Bullet Time by Wheaty18 · · Score: 1

      Ah, must have got it mixed up with the Matrix Quake2 mod. Still, no bullet time in MP for that either... ;)

    4. Re:Bullet Time by danila · · Score: 1

      Well, it doesn't make much sense to put bullet-time slow-mo in the game. It is done in the movies to impress the viewers with the abilities of our super-heroes. If you are a super-hero yourself, you don't need to be impressed, you need to get a job done. Therefore something like a focus-time is used.

      --
      Future Wiki -- If you don't think about the future, you cannot have one.
  26. Jesus God No!!! by dupper · · Score: 1
    Star Wars and Tolkien and Matrix, oh my (alternate: online)!

    Remember when a single MMORPG (eg, Everquest) could destroy a person's spare time and even their whole life? Now there are 3 of them motherfuckers. My life is officially over. The cyanide pills go down when they announce STO (guess what that stands for), any day now.

  27. At least.... by Dreetje · · Score: 1

    we can just press ctrl-alt-delete when we want out.

    Makes the movie really stupid actually...just hit the power button Neo!

    --
    Dre
  28. Wait a minute, You might be on to something by nounderscores · · Score: 1

    Before you take the big blue pill, think for a moment...
    What would happen if you got a Starwars vs. LoTR vs. The Matrix online game written by fans?!

    Can you imagine Ben Kenobe at his peak fighting all the ringwraiths and both the twins at once so Neo can try to carry the Oracle's candy and the Deatstar plans in two different hands past the hoardes of stormtroopers who are distracted by the masses of agent smith who are being set on fire by gandalf who is about to be attacked from behind by Anikin who is about to be shot by trinity while frodo grabs her leg and asks her to give him back his precious...

    oh the possibilities.... If fox franchises got involved you could even throw in Aliens vs. preditor vs robocop vs terminator.....

    game balancing fun....

    1. Re:Wait a minute, You might be on to something by stefanlasiewski · · Score: 1

      The Star Destroyer would definately destroy the Enterprise...

      --
      "Can of worms? The can is open... the worms are everywhere."
  29. I wonder.. by pukerz · · Score: 1

    ..will you be able to play The Matrix Online MMORPG within The Matrix Online MMORPG?

    --
    the dead shall rise, from their graves, to destroy, geometry.