Wizard101 Announced

[GameBanshee News]

KingsIsle Entertainment, Tom Hall and Todd Coleman's recently revealed company, issued a press release this morning announcing a new light-hearted MMORPG titled Wizard101.

KingsIsle Entertainment Announces Wizard101

Ravenwood School of Magical Arts Opens for Enrollment this Summer

Virtual World Designed Especially for Teens and Tweens

Plano, Texas -- May 22, 2008 -- Online entertainment company KingsIsle Entertainment, Inc. today announced plans for Wizard101, an elaborate 3D virtual world in which magic and sorcery come to life as players embark on a quest that involves a massive cast of good, evil and frequently silly characters. Designed to fill the void between online play sites for the very young and Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) games with mature adult interaction, Wizard101 (www.wizard101.com) puts players in the fantasy role of a Wizard apprentice at the Ravenwood School of Magical Arts.

"While the fantasy adventure storyline and collectible card elements of Wizard101 have broad appeal, as a parent I take the responsibility of creating a positive online environment for younger players very seriously," said KingsIsle CEO Elie Akilian. "Wizard101 is a destination for tweens and teens that's creative and witty, but still safe. We've set the bar high for this game."

J. Todd Coleman, an MMO veteran and the creative mind behind Wizard101, is heading up development of the game, which has been in the works for three years. In the game, players will adventure through magical 3D environments as they learn, collect and cast spells summoning fantastic cinematic creatures. Players can also collect bizarre pets and magical artifacts, solve puzzles, make friends, play mini games, and more.

Features include:
• Extensive magical 3D world where players team up with friends and carry out quests to save Wizard City from the forces of Evil.
• Collectible card-style duels that come to cinematic life as players cast spells alongside fellow and rival students.
• More than 101 collectible spells summon zany creatures such as Humongofrog, Evil Snowman and Stormzilla.
• Seven different schools of magic, each with its own unique style and storyline.
• Many witty scenarios and characters based on history, mythology and pop culture.
• The ability to adopt magical pets, like a tiny dragon or flying pig.
• Puzzles and mini-games that challenge the player to earn crystals and enchanted items.
• New outfits and accessories to earn for your customizable Wizard character.

Wizard101 will launch in the third quarter of 2008 and is not yet rated. For additional details go to www.wizard101.com.

About KingsIsle Entertainment
Founded in 2005, with operations in the Dallas area and Austin, KingsIsle is creating massively multiplayer online entertainment offerings that are innovative, compelling, uncommon and of high quality. They have brought together a team of highly creative, energetic, accomplished and skilled professionals to develop these projects. The team consists of individuals with unique and in-depth experience in the development of video games, online environments, communications and commercial software. For more information, please visit www.kingsisle.com.

[DesR85]

If you ask me, it reminds me of Harry Potter.

[Siberys]

Heh, if you ask me, it IS harry potter.

[dragon wench]

lmao!
Glad I'm not the only one, I read that and my first thought was, "Hey! It's Harry Potter Online!"

[DesR85]

Make that a Harry Potter wannabe.

[Brother None]

Originally Posted by DesR85

Make that a Harry Potter wannabe.

Hardly the first one, either.

I've seen many games pop up suprisingly close in concept to Harry Potter, in one way or another.

Cash in, I guess.

Creative poverty.