See virtual worldstm secures deal to publish themed virtual world

SEE Virtual WorldsTM, an entertainment company publishing a virtual reality universe of connected planets tied to licensed franchises, today announced a collaborative deal with Universal Partnerships & Licensing to publish a virtual world based on the classic Universal MonstersTM. The massively multiplayer online game will allow players to emulate the infamous monster hunter Van Helsing as they track down the monsters in celebrated scenes based on the series of horror films distributed by Universal Pictures.

Slated to launch in late 2011, the new world will combine the classic survival horror genre with the interactive elements of a true virtual world. As monster hunters, players will experience the legacy of the battle between Van Helsing and a variety of the original Universal Monsters including Frankenstein, The Mummy, Dracula, The Wolf Man and more. Gamers will also have the chance to travel to different lands based on the licensed characters including the Vatican, Dracula’s Castle and The Lagoon, to compete in various missions and battles against each nemesis.

The new Universal Monsters virtual world will be the second themed planet published by SEE Virtual Worlds in the Entropia Universe, a vast dynamic 3D environment created and provided to end users by MindArk PE AB. The Entropia Universe features several existing planets and combines a revolutionary cash economy with cutting-edge graphics. Earlier this year SEE Virtual Worlds announced a collaborative deal with the Michael Jackson Estate to publish Planet Michael, SEE Virtual Worlds’ first planet in the Entropia Universe, also set to launch in 2011.

“Partnering with Universal allows us to revive the horror genre for the 21st century by introducing timeless film franchise characters into an interactive platform,†said Martin Biallas, CEO of SEE Virtual Worlds. “Fans of Van Helsing and the classic Universal Monsters will be delighted with the extent to which they can interact in the deep, immersive social gameplay of the Universal Monsters virtual world when it launches next year.â€

“Given the vision offered by SEE Virtual Worlds for an online world featuring our iconic Universal Monsters, we can’t wait to bring fans the first opportunity to interact with their favorite characters in a real-time evolving social game,†said Bill Kispert, VP and GM, Digital Platforms, Universal Partnerships & Licensing. “At Universal we are constantly striving to be at the forefront of digital media and with support from the advanced Entropia Universe platform, we are thrilled to bring the Universal Monsters to both fans and gamers alike via a dynamic and exciting all-new virtual world.â€

About the Universal Monsters
Starting more than 80 years ago, Universal Pictures created some of the most iconic characters in cinematic history. These monsters introduced visions of terror that created indelible impressions, and their legacy continues to haunt our collective nightmares. Beginning in 1923 with The Hunchback of Notre Dame and continuing with the horror classics The Phantom of The Opera, Dracula, Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, The Mummy, The Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, The Creature from the Black Lagoon and Van Helsing, the Universal Studios Monsters have stood the test of time, appealing to countless generations and living on in popular culture today.