Firefly to Return in MMO Form

Firefly, the sci-fi television series created by Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon, has already seen itself adapted to the film medium with Serenity, but now it seems the property will make a much more dramatic transformation into the world of video games. According to Wired News, freeware MMO platform provider Multiverse has signed an agreement with Fox to create a massively multiplayer online roleplaying game based on the universe of the show. Wired describes the game as being "in the fashion of Star Wars Galaxies or Eve Online," which likely refers more to the game's sci-fi setting than anything else, given the huge differences between the two titles' gameplay. No developer has yet been revealed for the game; Multiverse only creates the MMO content platform on which the game will be based, and will contract out development to a separate studio. "We want to find someone who wants to do something unique and fun and interesting, not just a re-skin of World of Warcraft or Star Wars Galaxies," said Multiverse co-founder and executive producer Corey Bridges. As is frequently the case with online games based on established properties, the Firefly MMO will not focus on the core characters of the show. "If you're doing science fiction, you have to really think it out and create an incredibly rich environment that is compelling in its own right, and worth exploring and going back to week after week. That's what Joss Whedon did with Firefly," said Bridges in regard to the challenges of creating an MMO. "This all springs from the genius that is Joss Whedon. It's rewarding beyond words to be able to hopefully be a footnote in the history of Firefly." Multiverse is expected to make a formal announcement tomorrow. The company hopes to deliver a playable game to fans some time in 2008.