The late 90s Bullfrog classic Dungeon Keeper will be getting the MMOG treatment in China and possibly beyond thanks to a licensing deal between Electronic Arts and NetDragon Websoft.
Called Dungeon Keeper Online, the new MMOG will built around the “themes, characters and other game content” taken from the strategy game in which “Evil Is Good.” NetDragon Websoft will develop the game and have the exclusive rights to operate it in China and the surrounding region, including Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau. Dungeon Keeper Online will be NetDragon’s first 3-D MMOG, but Executive Director Liu Dejian expressed confidence in his company’s ability to translate the game into a winning MMO title. “We are confident that Dungeon Keeper Online will not only become successful in the Greater China region but also achieve remarkable results overseas,” he said.
“The partnership marks a significant milestone for EA as it will enhance our intellectual property and extend our product reach throughout the Greater China region,” added EA Pacific President Jon Niermann. “It will also further enhance our intellectual property with differentiated, high-quality games, particularly in the field of MMORPGs.”
So, a Dungeon Keeper MMOG. On one hand, I like the concept; on the other, it’s almost certainly going to be butchered beyond all recognition and sense by the time it hits the market, if it ever actually does. I may be generalizing here, but despite Chairman Liu’s enthusiasm for overseas success, the fact that EA chose to license the game to a relatively unknown Chinese developer rather than a studio closer to home speaks volumes about the likelihood of North American gamers ever laying eyes on the thing.
Source: Voodoo Extreme
