Gazillion to Develop Marvel–Based MMO Games

Marvel Entertainment has tapped Gazillion Entertainment to create massively multiplayer online (MMO) games based on their huge super hero roster.

In the deal, Gazillion, which is comprised of talent from Apple, Blizzard Entertainment, Microsoft Game Studios, Pixar Animation Studios and others, will develop MMO games based on Marvel's more than 5,000 super heroes from both film and animated series. The first MMO game, Super Hero Squad, will feature Iron Man, Hulk, Wolverine, Thor, Fantastic Four, Captain America and others. Gazillion will also publish another MMO, Marvel Universe, for PCs and other gaming consoles.

"Despite the tough economy, the videogame industry continues to grow, and MMO games for mass audiences represent the next big opportunity for the upcoming decade," says Rob Hutter, president and chief executive officer of Gazillion. "This is particularly the case for established global entertainment brands like Marvel, which possess hundreds of millions of touch points with fans worldwide."

"Marvel's library features a large and world-renowned stable of characters, making it tailor made for massively multiplayer entertainment that will appeal to a wide audience eager for more opportunities to interact with these iconic character franchises," says Simon Philips, president of worldwide consumer products for Marvel Entertainment.