KingsIsle Reveal Two New MMOs - Beta Soon

Flight · 04-29-2008, 06:07 AM

Hadn't heard a word about this. They've been working on a couple of MMO's for three years, one of which will soon go into beta.

GamerHotline

Austin, Texas - April 25, 2008 - Online entertainment company KingsIsle Entertainment, Inc. today uncloaked after three years of lock down secrecy. The company has had a team of more than 100 Austin and Dallas based employees, including top creative talent, working on multiple massively multiplayer online (MMO) projects under a cone of silence.

Formed in early 2005 by veterans from both gaming and technology, KingsIsle is led by chairman and chief executive officer Elie Akilian, and President David Nichols. Heading up development are Todd Coleman, a key creative mind behind the MMO Shadowbane and creative director Tom Hall, co-founder of well known game companies id Software and ION Storm. The first project is headed by Todd and is expected to enter beta this spring. Another release headed by Tom will be announced at a later date.

“We founded KingsIsle with an approach that fosters ingenuity,” said Elie Akilian. “Our focus is in the online environment and will continue to be so in the future. We’ve pulled together some of the most creative minds around and given them room to push boundaries and create superlative entertainment experiences. We’ll continue to build on that base of originality.”

Prior to KingsIsle, Akilian co-founded Inet Technologies, Inc. in 1989, and took the company public in 1999. He served as its President and Chief Executive Officer from April 1999 until the sale of the company to Tektronix, Inc., in September 2004.

Nichols brings to KingsIsle a wide variety of experience in operations, publishing, and financial management. Prior to joining KingsIsle, Nichols was with Midway Games Inc., and subsidiaries from 1995 to 2004. Most recently, he served as Midway’s Senior Vice President - Administration and Operations.

Todd Coleman was most recently the President of Wolfpack Studios, Inc., creators of the MMO title Shadowbane, until its sale to Ubisoft Entertainment in early 2004. Before becoming Wolfpack’s President, he was their Vice President responsible for managing the game design team, building and maintaining their online player community and publisher relations.

Coming from a 15-year stretch of successful game development, Tom Hall’s contribution to KingsIsle is his immensely creative imagination that allows him to envision entire gaming worlds and character designs that are unique in the game industry. His games have been played by millions and include the Commander Keen series, Wolfenstein 3D, Spear of Destiny, DOOM, Rise of the Triad and Anachronox

Draegan · 04-29-2008, 06:13 AM

Commander Keen MMO? Yes please.

Dynalisia · 04-29-2008, 06:31 AM

Yeah, great.

Anyway, why would a company come up with two, or 'various' MMO's straight out of the womb? Seems like a massive risk to me.

Tyen · 04-29-2008, 06:46 AM

Quote:

His games have been played by millions and include the Commander Keen series, Wolfenstein 3D, Spear of Destiny, DOOM, Rise of the Triad

^ wow

Froofy-D · 04-29-2008, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flight

creators of the MMO title Shadowbane

Hopefully nobody responsible for the developing the Shadowbane engine was allowed to touch a single line of code for this new company. SB was seriously the buggiest, most unstable released game I have ever witnessed. Even years after release the SB.exe crash and getting stuck in walls wasn't uncommon.

Flight · 04-29-2008, 08:18 AM

I'm just amazed they've managed to work on it for three years, without word of it getting out.

Pel · 04-29-2008, 09:21 AM

Its amazing how after years they can finally break their cone of silence, and still tell you nothing about game they are working on.

Pel

l0z · 04-29-2008, 09:27 AM

And to think, the development cycle for Keen was two months!

Always felt kind of bad for Tom Hall, getting assed-out of id like he did.

Tyen · 04-29-2008, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pel

Its amazing how after years they can finally break their cone of silence, and still tell you nothing about game they are working on.

Pel

HAHHAHA quoted for the truth

Quote:

Word Mark - WIZARD 101
Goods and Services IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Computer game software
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number 78947016
Filing Date August 8, 2006
Current Filing Basis 1B
Original Filing Basis 1B
Published for Opposition March 20, 2007
Owner (APPLICANT) KingsIsle Entertainment, Inc. CORPORATION TEXAS 14221 Dallas Parkway, Suite 1500 Dallas TEXAS 75254
Attorney of Record Charles M. Hosch
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE

Kodylan · 04-29-2008, 10:48 AM

It's kind of scary a game going into beta "this spring" doesn't even have a title yet (I hope to god Wizard 101 isn't its title), there's no information about it, and no screenshots. This game is either going to knock our socks off or be another Alganon.

Rako · 04-29-2008, 11:02 AM

Rise of the Triad~! Best game ever!

Grave · 04-29-2008, 11:02 AM

Maybe Wizard 101 is a Harry Potter inspired MMO where you go to school to become a Wizard.

masteen · 04-29-2008, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grave

Maybe Wizard 101 is a Harry Potter inspired MMO where you go to school to become a Wizard.

The quest to fingerbang Germione Hranger is gonna be epic.

Troll · 04-29-2008, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rakorake

Rise of the Triad~! Best game ever!

Drunk rockets! WOO!

Voldeth · 04-29-2008, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rakorake

Rise of the Triad~! Best game ever!

Asbestos Armor! Oh so itchy!

04-29-2008, 06:07 AM	#1 (permalink)
Flight I'm your huckleberry Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Liverpool, UK Posts: 1,320 +39 Internets	KingsIsle Reveal Two New MMOs - Beta Soon Hadn't heard a word about this. They've been working on a couple of MMO's for three years, one of which will soon go into beta. GamerHotline Austin, Texas - April 25, 2008 - Online entertainment company KingsIsle Entertainment, Inc. today uncloaked after three years of lock down secrecy. The company has had a team of more than 100 Austin and Dallas based employees, including top creative talent, working on multiple massively multiplayer online (MMO) projects under a cone of silence. Formed in early 2005 by veterans from both gaming and technology, KingsIsle is led by chairman and chief executive officer Elie Akilian, and President David Nichols. Heading up development are Todd Coleman, a key creative mind behind the MMO Shadowbane and creative director Tom Hall, co-founder of well known game companies id Software and ION Storm. The first project is headed by Todd and is expected to enter beta this spring. Another release headed by Tom will be announced at a later date. “We founded KingsIsle with an approach that fosters ingenuity,” said Elie Akilian. “Our focus is in the online environment and will continue to be so in the future. We’ve pulled together some of the most creative minds around and given them room to push boundaries and create superlative entertainment experiences. We’ll continue to build on that base of originality.” Prior to KingsIsle, Akilian co-founded Inet Technologies, Inc. in 1989, and took the company public in 1999. He served as its President and Chief Executive Officer from April 1999 until the sale of the company to Tektronix, Inc., in September 2004. Nichols brings to KingsIsle a wide variety of experience in operations, publishing, and financial management. Prior to joining KingsIsle, Nichols was with Midway Games Inc., and subsidiaries from 1995 to 2004. Most recently, he served as Midway’s Senior Vice President - Administration and Operations. Todd Coleman was most recently the President of Wolfpack Studios, Inc., creators of the MMO title Shadowbane, until its sale to Ubisoft Entertainment in early 2004. Before becoming Wolfpack’s President, he was their Vice President responsible for managing the game design team, building and maintaining their online player community and publisher relations. Coming from a 15-year stretch of successful game development, Tom Hall’s contribution to KingsIsle is his immensely creative imagination that allows him to envision entire gaming worlds and character designs that are unique in the game industry. His games have been played by millions and include the Commander Keen series, Wolfenstein 3D, Spear of Destiny, DOOM, Rise of the Triad and Anachronox

04-29-2008, 11:02 AM	#11 (permalink)
Rako Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 174 -11 Internets	Rise of the Triad~! Best game ever! __________________ Bullox - Gladiator - Vaizel (Asmodian)

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04-29-2008, 06:13 AM	#2 (permalink)
Draegan ҉̵̞̟̠̖̗̘̙̜̝̞̟̠͇̊̋̌̍̎ ̏ Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 6,631 -20 Internets	Commander Keen MMO? Yes please.

04-29-2008, 06:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
Dynalisia Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: The land of sunshine Posts: 1,673	Yeah, great. Anyway, why would a company come up with two, or 'various' MMO's straight out of the womb? Seems like a massive risk to me.

04-29-2008, 08:18 AM	#6 (permalink)
Flight I'm your huckleberry Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Liverpool, UK Posts: 1,320 +39 Internets	I'm just amazed they've managed to work on it for three years, without word of it getting out.

04-29-2008, 09:21 AM	#7 (permalink)
Pel Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 3 +0 Internets	Its amazing how after years they can finally break their cone of silence, and still tell you nothing about game they are working on. Pel

04-29-2008, 09:27 AM	#8 (permalink)
l0z Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Solusek Ro Posts: 374 +2 Internets	And to think, the development cycle for Keen was two months! Always felt kind of bad for Tom Hall, getting assed-out of id like he did.

04-29-2008, 10:48 AM	#10 (permalink)
Kodylan Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 2,261 -1 Internets	It's kind of scary a game going into beta "this spring" doesn't even have a title yet (I hope to god Wizard 101 isn't its title), there's no information about it, and no screenshots. This game is either going to knock our socks off or be another Alganon.

04-29-2008, 11:02 AM	#12 (permalink)
Grave Slightly OP Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 2,136 +38 Internets	Maybe Wizard 101 is a Harry Potter inspired MMO where you go to school to become a Wizard.