Massively Week in Review: Feb 26 - Mar 3, 2008

This week saw some fairly interesting developments in the clash between current and upcoming free-to play titles -- especially those aimed at the tween/teen generations. We've seen updates on Disney's plans to release a series of youth-targeted MMOs, Cartoon Network gave Massively's own Akela Talamasca the scoop on their upcoming title Fusion Fall, and we saw some other primarily Asian MMOs branching into the Western market. (More cel-shaded games than you can shake a stick at, really!) We also landed a hot Legends of Norrath scoop, dug up even more Champions Online news, and got the word on several upcoming events. Check it out!

News

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• The Sims Online closes, relaunches as EA-Land
• GDC08: Cartoon Network's FusionFall
• 38 Studios using BigWorld to make its big world
• Exclusive look at LoN: Inquisitor's loot cards
• The future of Disney Online: An interview with SVP Steve Parkis
• Warrior Epic now in closed beta; accepting applications
• Pong creator Nolan Bushnell to enter MMO space
• NCsoft Europe's Ultimate Heroic Weekend!
• Come back to DDO for the price of free
• Champions Online developer post roundup

Discussion

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• Practical Marketing: The new media, the old messages and you
• TurpsterVision: Lord of the Dings
• Microtransactions, an Asian perspective
• Ask Massively: And now for something completely different...
• The Digital Continuum: Cops & robbers
• Investment of $1 billion+ wouldn't dethrone WoW, exec says
• Games that shouldn't be MMOs
• Choosing your race in Middle-earth: Dwarf and Hobbit
• Behind the Curtain: Should raiders get special treatment?
• The Daily Grind: Does WoW really need to be 'beaten'?