IGN reports: Avatar Reality Inc., a development entity dedicated to the advancement of online community building, today announced San Anselmo, Calif. - based virtual world developer, Virtual Space Entertainment, Inc. (VSE), as the newest addition to their Third Party Developer Program. VSE's team of talented designers, led by renowned futurist Syd Mead, will create an entirely new, unique attraction that will serve as the first fully functional city for the upcoming massively multiplayer virtual world (MMVW) Blue Mars, which will launch in beta format at the end of 2008. At SIGGRAPH 2008, VSE will preview the development of their Blue Mars city at Avatar Reality's booth, number 727.
As Blue Mars goes into a scaled, open beta, interest has been rising in Avatar Reality's virtual environment. Inevitably, it's compared to Linden Lab's Second Life and – rightly or wrongly – will probably be wearing that comparison for some years to come. Certainly, Second Life users have found the environment intriguing so far.
It seemed only proper that Massively sit down with Jim Sink, Avatar Reality's CEO and find out a little bit more about Blue Mars.
According to an anonymous source, the new virtual world game on the block, Blue Mars, might be entering into open beta on September 2nd. What does this mean for you? Well, it means that another CryEngine 2 MMO might be making an appearance soon to do battle with Planet Calypso.
Nope, I remember hearing about it and thought it was related, but looked into it and found out it's not related.
Eurogamer writes: "Avatar Reality has let Eurogamer know that its massively multiplayer virtual world Blue Mars will enter beta testing at the turn of the year, in January 2009.
The first-time developer expects this to last for around three months, before the full game launches in April. And perhaps there will be time for some tea and biscuits if all goes well.
Blue Mars has attracted attention for its impressive CryENGINE2-powered visuals - the same software at the heart of Crysis."
