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EA To Co-Publish Funcom’s The Secret World MMO

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by Jeff Cork on January 10, 2011 at 09:30 AM
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Funcom is no stranger to the MMO space, having launched Anarchy Online and Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures, and the company’s third MMO is currently in the works. Even with that experience, it doesn’t hurt to have a little help when it’s time to release The Secret World. Funcom has announced that it’s entered a partnership with EA to help co-publish the game.

“We are tremendously excited to be working with what is undoubtedly the world-leading games publisher for the past decade, and it is also a great testament to the fantastic work of our development team,” says Funcom CEO Trond Arne Aas. “The experience and the knowledge that Electronic Arts brings to the table will be instrumental in allowing us to realize the full potential of The Secret World.”

EA is no stranger to the space either, having worked on games like the Sims Online and the upcoming Star Wars: the Old Republic.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Funcom, one of the world-leaders in the development of massively multiplayer online games,” says David DeMartini, senior vice president and general manager of EA Partners. “We are very excited to be able to take part in the growing online gaming category with such a highly anticipated title as The Secret World.”

The Secret World is set in modern times, with players battling enemies such as vampires, werewolves, zombies, and Lovecraftian monstrosities across the globe. Conspiracies and paranoia seem to be the order of the day, with players joining guild-like cabals to increase their influence in the underworld. Funcom showed off some early footage of the game last year, which you can check out here. No release date has been announced for the game.

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  • by Monday, January 10, 2011 at 09:38 AM

    OK that screenshot looks AWESOME.

  •
    by Monday, January 10, 2011 at 10:21 AM
    Sounds like fun, just watched the video.. not much there. Too bad it's not coming to consoles.
  • by Monday, January 10, 2011 at 10:21 AM
    Modern people with guns vs Cthulhu?...an interesting MMO premise no doubt,though it remains to be seen if it'll just fade into the background of a game with an interesting concept,but can't pull it off.
  •
    by Monday, January 10, 2011 at 10:42 AM

    Wow, I actually forgot about this MMO even though for months I was hanging on its every word. So glad to hear it has such a solid publisher now!

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    by Monday, January 10, 2011 at 12:01 PM

    I'll give it a shot. Wasnt a big fan of AoC or AO but I was of TLJ. It sounds like they want to focus on story and intrigue and if anyone can pull it off it'll be them.

  • by Monday, January 10, 2011 at 12:38 PM
    Isn't The Secret World on Xbox too???
  •
    by Monday, January 10, 2011 at 01:07 PM

    I was wondering about this game it was announce quite a while back and nothing had come out about it. But it could be good

  •
    by Monday, January 10, 2011 at 01:47 PM
    This game looks alright, and having EA to fall back on is awesome.
  •
    by Monday, January 10, 2011 at 01:54 PM

    Hmmm...I've always been a fan of pen and paper games like Call of Cthulu and Unknown Armies, was always kind of disappointed there wasn't a good video game based off one or both of those series.

    But this one looks like it could fill just that niche and if it's an MMO with backing like EA, it just might be good. Could be something for me to check out whenever I get sick of WoW.

  •
    by Monday, January 10, 2011 at 04:10 PM

    I'll revisit it when there are more details, but so far it just looks like an amalgamut of pieces of other MMOs. Bleh.

  •
    by Monday, January 10, 2011 at 05:45 PM

    Is that Cthulhu?

  •
    by Monday, January 10, 2011 at 06:10 PM

    Cool

  •
    by Monday, January 10, 2011 at 07:48 PM

    The concept is amazing, I just hope they can pull it off.

    You know... this seems like an mmo that would do great on consoles, maybe it will be ported to the ps3?

  •
    by Monday, January 10, 2011 at 08:48 PM

    Delighted this title is not only still in development but seemingly thriving.

  •
    by Monday, January 10, 2011 at 10:15 PM

    Where is EA getting all this money? APB failed, The Old Republic is going to be astoundingly expensive even if it IS really successful, and now they're going to shepherd The Secret World along? Jeez laweez.

    Though I really dig this adventurous spirit. It's the reason why companies who only play it safe (i.e. *** out the same 2-3 games consistently every year, like Activision) suck.

    Secret World looks cool. I'd like to check it out.

  • by Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at 04:28 AM

    This game has been on my radar for some time now as has Tad William's MMO Otherland.  Had not heard anything about either in a long while.  Good to hear that this one is getting some big name backing, even if it is EA.  Kinda hoping that Otherland gets the same deal with another big publisher because I think both have potential.  

    On a separate but related note, if there ever was a werewolf/vampire MMO that had potential, I have no idea why nobody has jumped on the Ravenloft series as it is a universe that practically begs to be made into a video game, especially an MMO.  Come on Wizards of the Coast, do SOMETHING with your licensed works, D&D Online was a total fail for me.

  •
    by Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at 11:11 AM

    I think there may be a release date Jeff.  I checked out the website and it looks like they have a countdown counter at the bottom of the screen.  Can't tell what the numbers are cuz they are not normal numbers.  If you can decripher it then I think you can figure out when it's coming out.

  •
    by Thursday, January 13, 2011 at 01:12 PM

    Now this sounds like something I would give a shot. Different atmosphere, different style, and a little of the X-Files mixed in. Can't wait to give it a shot.