From ‘The Matrix’ to the ‘Caribbean’

First Warner Bros. brings the world of the Matrix online and now Disney Online is set to do the same with their Pirates of the Caribbean franchise as it was announced today that Disney is developing a new massively multiplayer online role-playing game based on the popular theme park attraction and franchise Pirates of the Caribbean. The game is slated to debut in summer 2006, coinciding with the theatrical premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.

“We’ve learned through our experience with Toontown that the market for massively multiplayer online role-playing games can indeed reach beyond traditional gamers,” stated Ken Goldstein, EVP and managing director, Disney Online. “Pirates of the Caribbean is the perfect franchise for our second commercial effort in this arena. Fans of the movies and theme park attraction will be able to live their own unfolding pirate adventure through the game, including searching for lost treasures and battling numerous enemies on land and at sea.”

Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, added, “This is a great way for game enthusiasts to experience the fun and excitement of playing the role of a pirate while competing against a wide variety of opponents in a great adventure. This game captures the same swashbuckling sense of humor, spirit and action that moviegoers loved in the first Pirates of the Caribbean film, and which will continue with the next installment of the highly anticipated sequel in summer 2006. Disney Online has created a really entertaining and challenging game that will appeal to the adventurer in all of us.”

The game is being designed by the Walt Disney Internet Group’s acclaimed VR Studio as a world of high seas action and adventure where players will personalize their own pirate character and organize with other players to form a pirate crew. Players will then embark on swashbuckling missions to battle both each other and the evil, undead pirates of the high seas in an effort to become the Caribbean’s most legendary pirate. Access to the game will be available directly online and players will pay a subscription fee for the service. An information site for the game has been launched at www.pirateslegend.com offering a registration service to sign up to receive future game updates and launch information.

Buena Vista Games (BVG), the videogame arm of The Walt Disney Company, will release additional titles based on Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest for the PSP portable entertainment system and Nintendo DS in conjunction with the movie launch.

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