Ice Age Online…And No, I’m Serious
By 
Hib in
RMT, features on
January 17th, 2008
Blue’s News reported this week that they had learned through an SEC Filing that Gravity Games, developers of Ragnarok Online, will be making an MMORPG based on the animated “Ice Age” movies.
No, really.
This is an interesting concept, and could potentially be a “tween” MMO, filling the gap between traditional MMOs and games like Webkinz, which are aimed at a much younger audience. If you look at it solely from the “get’em while they’re young” strategy, it’s a great idea. After all, today’s Webkinz player is tomorrow’s WAR subscriber.
However, there are a couple of things that seem interesting about this idea. First, Gravity’s area of MMO expertise is with “item shop” games, featuring RMT for in-game items and benefits. If this is to be the plan for Ice Age Online, it’s an interesting choice. Younger players aren’t likely to have a credit card to use for RMT, and Mom and Dad might be just a tad hesitant to give up their CC information with no pre-set spending limit. With a monthly subscription fee, you know you’re getting billed a fixed amount per month. With RMT, you could pay anywhere from zero up to your credit limit.
Of course, there’s no factual evidence to say that it will actually involve RMT. However, with Gravity being the developer of choice, you would assume FOX would take into account the type of game Gravity is known for when finding a development company.
Also, this has a bit of “Second Life” flavor to it…could it be that FOX sees the hubbub about “virtual worlds” and MMOs, and wants a piece of the pie? We know from the past that FOX thinks virtual worlds have potential, but I’m not sure Ice Age is the right property to leverage into an MMO, when you have properties in your stable like Alien and Predator to choose from.
I assume next we’ll have the announcement from Pixar of Ratatouille Online?
What do you think? Genius idea, or bonehead play?
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January 23rd, 2008 at 11:52 am
Boneheaded. WHY of all the potential IP’s would you base a MMO on a animated movie with no real story or world to base the game environment on? How about Toy Story Online, or Cars..
It’s bad enough they’re picking weak IP’s, but topping it off with a Korean developer, this has ‘win’ written all over it…