John Smedley to keynote GDC Austin

 John Smedley, President of Sony Online Entertainment, will deliver a keynote address Game Developers Conference Austin (GDC Austin. Smedley’s keynote, “From Dragons and Daggers to Kart Racing, Cooking and Concerts…It’s a Whole New MMO World,” describes in detail how SOE’s freely available tween and teen title Free Realms has worked to expand the base of players coming together in online worlds. Smedley’s keynote will inform attendees about the challenges and lessons learned when creating a full-blown MMO for younger audiences including the challenges and opportunity of creating connected games.

GDC Austin features three days of main conference content focused on connected games, online games, virtual worlds, and social networking game play - along with four two-day summits including the Game Writers, Game Audio, iPhone Games and Independent Games Summits. The event takes place at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas September 15-18, 2009. Early registration discounts for the event will end on August 13. Find out more at www.GDCAustin.com

Doomsday Invades DC Universe Online

 Everybody’s favorite Kryptonian creature will be a villain in DC Universe Online, Sony Online Entertainment announced today. According to DC Comics lore, Doomsday was bred to embody hate and rage - with the sole purpose of extinguishing all other life, including the citizens of Metropolis and protector Superman. Here’s more from SOE:

Born on the planet Krypton during a time when only the strongest creatures could survive, Doomsday was the result of a rapid natural selection process bred to hate all life. Doomsday’s body is covered with vicious bony spurs that can rend even Superman’s skin. His endurance makes him almost impossible to kill. He is the epitome of villainous power and strength. With the ability to regenerate after every battle, Doomsday becomes bigger and stronger; therefore no opponent of his has ever defeated him twice.

Don’t think that Doomsday is a mindless creature destroying everything in his path just because he hates all living things. He can think and reason, which makes him a valuable weapon to anyone seeking to manipulate and control his rampages of mayhem and destruction. But who could possibly want to do such a thing? That’s right: Lex Luthor is obsessed with capturing Doomsday to turn him into the ultimate minion for Luthor’s destructive plans.

The story of when Doomsday attacked Metropolis is a tragic one. During Doomsday’s rampage, an epic battle erupted on the streets of Metropolis where neither Superman nor Doomsday would back down. Superman knew Doomsday’s rage would fuel the fight driving the battle on as Superman continued to weaken, incurring severe wounds which began to drain his stamina. In the end, the two combatants attacked each other simultaneously with a fatal blow, leaving both lifeless in front of The Daily Planet Building - perfectly situated for a cover story that would shatter the world.

The first screenshot and renders can be found below:

Solomon Grundy Joins DC Universe Online

Part zombie, part plant and all man, the dead man known as Solomon Grundy is the latest super villain to be included in Sony Online Entertainment’s upcoming DC Comics based action RPG DC Universe Online. Whether he’s acting like a rampaging monster, or a calculating and coldblooded villain, Solomon Grundy will keep would be heroes on their toes when the game is released on PC and PS3.

Grundy has been known to skulk in swamps, sewers, and abandoned buildings in both Metropolis and Gotham City. citizens - and especially - super heroes should wary of an encounter with this half dead lunatic.

Some new character renders have been released as well. you can check them out by clicking the thumbnails below:

Gazillion Gets Ten Year Marvel MMO Deal

If there’s one golden rule in comic books, it’s got to be that if you don’t see the body (and a lot of times even if you do), they’re not really dead. So, it should come as no surprise to comic fans that the previously canned Marvel Comics MMO game has come back from that dead. And in true comic book fashion, it looks like it’ll be a brand new face under the familiar looking costume.

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Sony Makes Marv Wolfman/DCU Online Deal Official

Although the big surprise was spoiled last week by a story in Wizard Magazine, Sony Online Entertainment officially confirmed today that legendary comic book writer Marv Wolfman has joined the likes of Jim Lee and Geoff Johns to help with the development of SOE’s ambitious DC Universe Online MMO game. Wolfman will work with the developers on write story arcs, quests, and in-game events for DCUO. Wolfman’s prior comic works include a classic run on DC’s New Teen Titans, as well as the universe altering Crisis on Infinite Earths.

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The Rundown: Jan. 26, 2009

Thanks GL - me too. Today on The Rundown we have news on DC Universe Online, the release of the Resident Evil 5 demo, the rumored return of Hellgate London, TIGA’s gift to UK developers looking to go to GDC in March and a ton of other news. Jump in after the break.

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Geoff Johns Joins DC Universe Online Team

Sony Online Entertainment has signed Geoff Johns, the writer behind such popular DC Comics such as Green Lantern, Action Comics and Justice Society of America, to pen much of the fiction in DC Universe Online. Johns began writing comics starting with 1999’s Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E., which he created for DC Comics. Comic writing eventually became his full-time career with notable works including The Flash, Teen Titans, 52, Action Comics, and Infinite Crisis.
Johns studied media arts, screenwriting, film production and theory at Michigan State University. Prior to his career in the comics industry, he worked as an intern and later an assistant to film director Richard Donner, whose credits include Superman: The Movie, Lethal Weapon 4 and Conspiracy Theory.

If anything Johns brings further comic book authenticity to the game, which already is on that path thanks to Jim Lee. The game is in development for the PC and PS3 at SOE Austin.