Buffy MMO Announced, Firefly MMO Delayed

Zonk brings word that Multiverse, the developer who in 2006 acquired the rights to make a Firefly-based MMO, has announced that a Buffy: The Vampire Slayer MMO is now under development. An interview with Corey Bridges from Multiverse seems to indicate that the Firefly MMO, though delayed, is not dead. He also provides a few details on what the Buffy game will be like. Quoting: "What we're doing with the Buffy game then is releasing it in stages. It will first be a flash-based virtual world, with the full Multiverse server behind it. ... So it will start as a 2D flash-based MMO where you can go on missions and interact with other players. This will extend even once we have the 3D client working, where you can both interact with players using the other point of view. We're going to have these shared spaces where 2D and 3D people can interact. All of this will come out in phases, with staged gameplay coming out. We're sort of blazing a path with this concept, and we're really interested in what this might mean for players of the two versions. ... I'd love to get [a public beta] out to players by the end of the year."

Comments

Buffy?

[SomeJoel]

This seems like kind of a flimsy IP to base an MMO on. Aren't there dozens of better choices?

Re:Buffy?

[moderatorrater]

Agreed. I would think that an IP based on a single person in each generation would make for a lousy MMO. Everything in the Buffyverse is about exceptions to rules, and that's believable when you follow a few characters around. But when you get into an MMO environment, the exception quickly becomes the rule as everyone takes the "chosen one" class or the "vampire with a soul" class.

If only there were an IP they could acquire where it's a whole ass-load of people in far flung areas, maybe like the old west, or space or something, where small groups of people move around performing missions. That's the sort of IP that'd make for a great MMO, IMHO.

Re:Buffy?

[Babbster]

Agreed. I would think that an IP based on a single person in each generation would make for a lousy MMO. Everything in the Buffyverse is about exceptions to rules, and that's believable when you follow a few characters around. But when you get into an MMO environment, the exception quickly becomes the rule as everyone takes the "chosen one" class or the "vampire with a soul" class.

To be fair, BTVS ended with the creation of thousands of mini Slayers. And, as a bonus, it would finally give dudes a good excuse to play a hot chick in an MMO.

Re:Buffy?

[monopole]

Forget slayer, I wanna be Willow's girlfriend!!!

Re:Buffy?

[Impy the Impiuos Imp]

Preferring to run around behind a female ass instead of a male one, for hours after hours, days after days, months after months, and now, years after years, destined to be decades after decades, isn't enough reason to always play a hot chick?

City of Heroes, build slider max, waist slider min, boob slider max, low riders or bikini or skin, tight or short top, Ms. Liberty or Kalinda, notutorialthxbie, go!

Flatland: An MMO of Many Dimensions

[Qzukk]

shared spaces where 2D and 3D people can interact

So what do the 2D players see when the 3D players jump?

Can Hardly Wait(tm)

[goose-incarnated]

... it will ... so it will start ...this will ... once we have ... we're going to have ... all of this will come out in phases ...we're sort of blazing a path ... I'd love to ...

To be honest, DNF has a lower vapourware coefficient.

Hey, now.

[Rob T Firefly]

I'm flattered and everything, but I'm not sure I really lead the sort of life that's all that worth making an MMO about.

The status is *not* quo...

[Jupiter Jones]

Both of those MMOs sound nice. But if you really want my gaming dollars, how about one taking place in the Dr. Horrible universe?

(Every five minutes your in-game chat would have to rhyme, of course.)

JJ

Most MMOs

[PhasmatisApparatus]

Most MMOs focus on two concepts: a unique combat system and different skills to level. A Buffy MMO sounds interesting enough, until you realize that the developers would have to stray too far from the TV series in order to make it a good game.

First, the combat in the Buffyverse has always been minimal. Buffy explains in painful detail to the vampires why they can't win, and she'll kick their heads in if they try anything. Once an episode, one of them tries somethings. Buffy kicks heads in. End of episode, at least as far as fighting goes.

As for skills, well, there's not much of that in the series, either. Buffy has always been killing vampires. It's what she does. Giles is always the librarian who has read every book on the occult, but still never notices anything wrong until someone points it out first. +3 intellect/+1 cluelessness. But I am getting silly here.

The point is, the game will either conform to the Buffyverse, or the game will distort the Buffyverse to make it work. Either way, it cannot end well.

Re:repeat after me

[Setherghd]

As in, thirty year old men who behave like thirteen year olds.

Go to 4chan. There's tons of them. You'll see.

Re:Already is a FireFly MMO

[Drooling Iguana]

You mean like Vendetta?

Re:WHAT?

[Nathrael]

Hey, come on. On the Internet, we are all 18 year old girls.

Re:What about 4 dimensions.

[cthulu_mt]

Dungeons & Dragons is a 5 dimensional game:

Strength
Dexterity
Constitution
Charisma
Wisdom

So..

[Tsoat]

you know when people are high and they come up with really great ideas like breeding and selling hamsters? This sounds kinda like one of those ideas...

Two levels

[cybereal]

The Firefly MMO was in private beta but they couldn't seem to figure out why just as you were about to ding level 3 the game would exit abruptly and show you a confusing array of cutscenes from the rest of the content...