BigWorld features 'first' in list of middleware engines on Gamasutra

from the Luckily there isn't an 'Aardvark' engine dept.

Thanks to the miracle of alphabeticization, BigWorld is listed first in the round-up on Gamasutra, just nudging out Crysis and literally at the other end of the pile from Unreal 3, were it not for the fact Epic starts with an 'E'. Simutronics HeroEngine is the only other listed MMO specific engine.

A few omissions to the article include previously shipped BigWorld games and Virtual Worlds - Netease currently burning brightly in China with TianXia 2, and Metaversum's Twinity. The first BigWorld title shipped in the first half of 2006, making four shipped MMO client/server middleware-powered games by 2008. In the coming quarters we should see launch activity from other BigWorld titles in beta, Firesky's Stargate Worlds and Interzone's Futebol.

Interzone talks the Social Side of Football

from the When you're not playing with your balls dept.

Virtual Worlds News has an interview with Nick Lowe - Interzone VP of BigWorld powered MMO, Interzone Futebol.

"If you don't have a social space, it's harder for players to connect," said Hewitt. "It doesn't seem legitimate. If you see people going and doing stuff, it makes your world. There are people running around with things to do."

Or, as Lowe explains, you can look at traditional games as examples.

"Say you have a horror game or first-person shooter. Music isn't the focus of the game, but it's there to add atmosphere. It adds flavor," he explained. "And from a functional level, when you're doing matchmaking, it usually runs 2 minutes, up to 5 minutes, you want a place to meet people and hang out so you're not just sitting there. And then people just want to explore the space. In our focus tests, we've had people just walking around. "

More over at the link.

Higher-resolution version of the Interzone Futebol Trailer :

from the You asked for it now watch it dept.

Interzone Futebol Trailer

from the Emote my face off dept.

The trailer is here. 'nuff said.

EDGE-Online highlights Interzone Futebol, the MMO Soccer game

from the You read it here... second... dept:

Jeff Lyndon is a busy little bee these days, as you can see by the number of recent posts and this interview/summary he gave out regarding the upcoming BigWorld powered release, Interzone Futebol. The story of this MMO game and the development practice behind it :

"Interzone Futebol is a virtual world centered on the game of futebol which is the most popular sport in the world. The first city in our virtual world is Rio de Janeiro, and other international cities will be added over time.

We licensed the Big World Technology suite because we had previous experience working with this engine. We also licensed several middleware components – it let us focus on game play rather than re-developing technology that we can license or services we can contract. Our partners include SpeedTree, fmod, LiveGamer, Umbra, and ScaleForm."

More over at Edge.

INTERVIEW : Interzone Futebol

from the Can we Play it yet? dept.

Jeff Lyndon, Interzone's VP of China Operations, steps up to the plate at an interview over at IncGamers. Or maybe not a plate - maybe a goal line. Or takes position at a corner.

"Any other activities in-game that don't have a connection to soccer?

Yes, although the world is centered on futebol we want players to be able to enjoy the game world even if they don’t play futebol. Most features will link back to futebol in some way, but you can just be a fan and enjoy yourself in the social world without ever entering a stadium.

What are the MMO aspects of your game? A persistent universe, character?

Interzone Futebol is a full multiplayer online game with persistent characters, progression and a full 3D world for you to explore. Outside the stadium you’ll find dance clubs, cafes, and shops to explore and have fun in. We are even putting lots of little secrets things for you to discover as you explore and party in the beach side neighborhood of Ipanema."

More of the interview here.

TenTon Hammer Exclusive Interview with Futebol creators, Interzone

from the Kick them where they live dept.

Those steely eyed web vultures at TenTon Hammer have swooped on yet another exclusive in the BigWorld licensee space. Interzone's Jeff Lyndon lets loose some inside gossip on the currently beta soccer title.

Ten Ton Hammer: Opting to introduce Interzone Futebol in Brazil first is a tremendously different approach compared to the tact most MMOG companies take. Why did you decide to enter the Brazilian market first rather than Europe or North America? What sort of opportunities do you see there that aren’t available in those other markets?

An exclusive screenshot from Interzone Futebol.

Lyndon: When we decided to create the game we thought a lot about the people who would play it. We talked about futebol fans and places in the world where futebol was most popular. This all lead naturally to Brazil where “Futebol is Life.” We even went down to Rio and Sao Paulo to experience that culture first hand. It’s an amazing place and their appreciation and enthusiasm for the sport is not only unmatched, it’s infectious. Going to a World Cup game in Brazil is something everybody should do at least once in their life. It’s just… wow!

All this and more over at TenTon Hammer.