WSJ: Marvel inks 10-year MMO deal with upstart Gazillion Entertainment [update]

The Wall Street Journal reports this evening that Marvel Entertainment has struck a 10-year exclusivity agreement with upstart Gazillion Entertainment to produce online multiplayer titles based on its comic book properties. The paper's website indicates that the deal will be officially announced tomorrow.

Marvel's previous foray into the MMO space, Marvel Universe Online, was eventually canceled by its publisher, Microsoft Game Studios. The title was announced for Xbox 360 and Games for Windows at the 2006 X06 showcase, and was in development at Cryptic Studios, makers of the upcoming Champions Online. Marvel and Gazillion will be going head-to-head with DC Universe Online, a joint venture between Sony Online Entertainment and DC Comics. More details as they hit.

[Update: VentureBeat reports that Gazillion Entertainment, which was until today operating under the name "NR2B Research," employs more than 300 staff across four development studios. Its first title utilizing Marvel characters will be Super Hero Squad, an online game slated for 2010 that ties into a kid-friendly Cartoon Network series launching this fall. In big news for the MMO crowd, Gazillion's San Mateo, CA based Gargantuan studio is confirmed as developing a Marvel universe MMO for PC and consoles.]

[Thanks, J Blackthorn]

Reader Comments (29)

Gazillion is a Skrull front.

Yawn as of now. With how Cryptic is shaping up Champion's, it could have been been better in their hands but who knows, I can be wrong.

Eh, Jack Emmert's idea of 'fun' seems to include masochism. I'm still wary of Champions

Oh yes, Jack's vision is frightening at times, but sometimes just have to tolerate it unfortunately. Being a (basically former off and on) avid City of Heroes/Villains player, I've been through all of his visions up til he left.

It's not all that hot. Pretty much your usual "beat up guys milling about in a field" fare, but you wear tights.

I don't really understand why people want superhero MMOs based in existing properties. There would be no way to meaningfully involve the comic book characters that I can think of and there are way too many superheros to begin with. I would rather have a new IP where I could feel like a hero rather than always be overshadowed by characters like Spiderman and Iron Man.

Well they must be doing something right, because this is the 1st time I've ever been remotely interested in an MMO, ever.

Probably can't play it on Dell laptop, though, but still, first time ever.

Yeah...having new generic heroes inhabiting the DC or Marvel universe isn't my cup of tea either.

I'm excited about Sony's "Agency", hopefully it will be good.

What, most of the Marvel and DC characters aren't generic?

A Marvel RPG in which you create your own character would be awesome but I find MMO's quite unheroic like World of Warcraft,I saved the day by killing 30 giant spiders and getting the cornerstone of 10 Rock Elementals,woohoo.

Well, as a general rule fans of existing comics tend not to like new characters. But I think once you get to kick Magneto in the junk having your own hero pays off.

I have that poster

Is just me or Spiderman repeats 2 times,I mean one could be scarlet spider and spider-girl? but I don't see Deadpool.Dead Pool mask doesn't looks like that.

I knew Batman was a Marvel fanboy

deadpool is right in front of juggernaut, yeah his mask doesnt really look like that but neither do a lot of them. However spider girl is there, a few people behind cyclops

It could be Ben Reilly.

@ Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC

I see Deadpool right in front of Juggernaut?

nah you cant see it here but i just went and checked it, the guy in front of juggernaut is holding a gun so it's deadpool and the one I said is spider-girl has webs on the mask, while Ben Reiley's second costume did have webs it's also a much slender face which makes me think it's spider-girl

Is the image available online anywhere?

wow that's a lot of characters...

and where the hell did Strategy_Panda go?

i ate him

oh noes! think of the panda loving kids!

If Pistols for Pandas was doing it's job, this never would have happened.

Wow, that's a LOT of characters your not allowed to be anything like. I wonder if that image will be next to the TOS Checkbox.

sweet

I predict every two in five player made characters will be an attempt at some lame variation of Wolverine just so they can repeatedly type "Snikt" in the chat channel.

That or *thwip*.

That pic is full of win.

WSJ: Marvel inks 10-year MMO deal with upstart Gazillion Entertainment [update]

Reader Comments (29)

Posted: Mar 16th 2009 9:27PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Mar 16th 2009 9:30PM Jonbo298 said

Posted: Mar 16th 2009 9:42PM Rentaro said

Posted: Mar 16th 2009 9:45PM Jonbo298 said

Posted: Mar 16th 2009 9:57PM LaughingTarget said

Posted: Mar 16th 2009 9:33PM TheyDidItFirst said

Posted: Mar 16th 2009 9:48PM MarkezJM said

Posted: Mar 16th 2009 9:49PM kentuckyfried said

Posted: Mar 16th 2009 9:57PM LaughingTarget said

Posted: Mar 16th 2009 10:09PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Mar 17th 2009 12:14AM Batzarro The worlds WOrst Detect said

Posted: Mar 16th 2009 9:41PM TheDarkWayne said

Posted: Mar 16th 2009 10:06PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Mar 16th 2009 10:21PM jonostarsmore said

Posted: Mar 16th 2009 10:31PM TheDarkWayne said

Posted: Mar 16th 2009 11:44PM zuburi said

Posted: Mar 16th 2009 11:50PM Rocket Raccoon said

Posted: Mar 17th 2009 10:12AM TheDarkWayne said

Posted: Mar 17th 2009 7:13PM 01 said

Posted: Mar 16th 2009 9:42PM Sly C said

Posted: Mar 16th 2009 10:14PM Sly C said

Posted: Mar 16th 2009 10:24PM The Kong said

Posted: Mar 17th 2009 12:39AM Sly C said

Posted: Mar 17th 2009 1:51PM Blaquebeird said

Posted: Mar 16th 2009 10:12PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Mar 16th 2009 11:53PM Freddie Mercury said

Posted: Mar 17th 2009 12:01PM RedrumnCoke said

Posted: Mar 17th 2009 1:52PM Blaquebeird said

Posted: Mar 17th 2009 1:56PM (Unverified) said

Info

Description

MSRP

Release Date

Genre

Developer

Publisher

Rating

Breaking News

Double Fine Kickstarter passes $1 million in under 24 hours, breaking yet another record

Featured Stories

Ghost Recon: Future Soldier brings information warfare to the front

Rhythm Heaven Fever review: Crazy into you

Remedy not done with Alan Wake

The most popular postsin the last 7 days

Engadget

TUAW

Massively

WoW

The most popular posts
in the last 7 days