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Fan-crafted Sonic 2 HD project pokes its nose out once more
Okay, so Sonic the Hedgehog's move to 3D worlds and high-definition graphics hasn't proven to be a particularly great move. What's a hedgehog fan to do? Why, remake one of the Sonic games that was universally loved, of course. And so it was that Sonic 2 HD, a fan project that was teased in the yonder year of 2011, has come back from the dead and is once more looking toward eventual release. A Facebook post clarified the long silence from team members: "The leading reason behind the project's cancellation was due to the programming element being removed with no possibility of return in its existing form," it reads. The post explains that although the original team has disbanded, a fan of the project submitted his own engine, allowing a new team to effectively resume development. The group behind the project state that they'll be offering more details on how those interested can contribute in the following days. Now that the game is on track again, we wonder if they feel that they've gotta go fast. [Image: Sonic 2 HD Team]
Pirates of the Caribbean Online 'Rewritten' version claims Disney's blessing
Pirates of the Caribbean Online may have sunsetted last year, but if our inbox is any judge, some of you folks were really rabid about the game. So you'll no doubt be pleased to learn that some fans are trying to resurrect the MMO, and unlike similar ventures with high-profile IPs, this one -- dubbed Pirates Online Rewritten -- claims that Disney has given its blessing for the use of the game's assets provided the game is a free-to-play, not-for-profit endeavor. Developers have opened alpha signups and suggest that launch "could be as soon [as] June 2014 to November 2014." [A project leader for this game contacted Massively in November of 2014 to inform us that the claim that Disney had given its blessing for use of the assets was an elaborate lie told by a former staff member. "We never received any sort of acknowledgement from Disney Interactive Studios concerning the remake," he clarifies. I know you're all deeply shocked.]
StarCraft Universe reaches its funding goal on Kickstarter
There are a lot of people who would very much like to see an MMO in the StarCraft universe. StarCraft Universe isn't quite the same thing, but it manages to turn StarCraft II into something very close to an MMO. And with just one day left to go on its Kickstarter project, it has hit its funding goal, ensuring that StarCraft II players can turn the real-time strategy game into a third-person MMO-style game at will. So how much does the mod actually contain? Eight classes, vehicle gameplay, customized models, a variety of boss encounters tuned for various difficulties, in-game strategy databases, a fully voiced plotline, and crafting mechanics. There are also single-player and multiplayer components for anyone who wants to experience the game solo, and the entire project can be experienced for free without a need to buy StarCraft II. If you're interested, there's still some time left to toss money into the Kickstarter and pick up a few extra rewards.
Fan project turns Just Cause 2 into a massively multiplayer title
Forget your piddly multiplayer matches that can be counted on two hands -- fans are taking the open-world adventure game Just Cause 2 and adding a little "massively" into it. The fan mod, Just Cause 2 Multiplayer, promises over a thousand people duking it out on the same large map. The mod was in development two years ago when it shut down due to "many obstacles," according to the devs. The team recently revived the project and has put it through several public beta tests. "Over the coming months, our aim is to polish the current build to a state that can be released to the public," developer Woet writes. Just Cause 2 Multiplayer features both ground and vehicular combat, grappling hooks, and cartoonish action.
Fan-made My Little Pony MMO gathers a following
Yesterday bronies across the world rejoiced as Kotaku reported on the production of not just one but two upcoming My Little Pony MMOs. Both My Little Pony Online and Equestria Online are set in the fictional world of the popular series My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, and use graphics and characters from that setting. On further investigation, both of the startup MMOs appear to be fan projects being developed without the official backing of copyright holder Hasbro Studios. As such, the projects may run into legal difficulties as they continue development using characters, artwork and names from the My Little Pony series. The cartoon series that inspired these fan projects was originally aimed at a young female audience, but its popularity among an adult male crowd grew when it became a huge internet meme. There may even be enough fans of the series to make an official MMO commercially viable, as developers on My Little Pony Online have noted a clear interest in the development of their game.
StarCraft II turned into World of StarCraft by enterprising fan
World of StarCraft is, by all indications, high on the list of desirable games that have never been announced or even hinted at. It's certainly a universe ripe for development, and it's not as if Blizzard doesn't know anything about running an MMO. But why wait for an official release when you can put the game together yourself? That's what's behind the rather intuitively named project making the rounds today -- an effort to use the powerful map editor in StarCraft II to create a full MMO within the existing game's framework. While development is still in the very early stages, and of course the project is wholly unofficial, it's a fascinating use of player-edited gameplay as well as a display of just how much people want to play in the world as an MMO. Take a look at the trailer past the cut to see the surprising amount of work that's been done on converting the RTS into a more familiar genre -- although bear in mind that the official forums have been getting rather hammered before you go nuts.
The Daily Grind: Open source MMOs
In an amazing bit of news yesterday, Cyan Worlds decided to fully open-source Myst Online: URU Live. When we say fully, we mean it - art, client code, server code, development engine, everything. It was a bold move for Cyan to take; essentially trusting in the fans and other MMO addicts to take their code and continue growing Myst Online: URU Live.This morning we thought we'd ask - now that this first step has been taken, what other games would you like to see go open source? Which ones would you like to work on, purely as a fan contribution? What would you build into those worlds if you were given the chance?
