Disney and NetZero Announce Disney Fantasy Online

No longer able to ignore the rising success of games such as World of Warcraft, it looks as if Disney has finally decided to jump on the exponentially growing bandwagon that is MMORPGs. Joining up with the innovative talents of NetZero, Disney announced on December 2nd that they plan the release of Disney Fantasy Online in China this upcoming spring.

Disney Fantasy Online will be set in a Disney-themed world where players lead their customized avatars through turn-based battles and are aided by Disney non-player characters including (but certainly not limited to) Mickey Mouse. Players will also have the opportunity to raise pets, or “Disney Themed Companions,” and watch them grow throughout gameplay. These creatures can be won, purchased, or discovered throughout various adventures. Each player will also have his or own personal play space in which virtual castles can be built, upgraded, traded, or shared.

Specifics of the virtual worlds have not yet been released, but they will be based on Disney’s most famous stories. According to an interview with Steve Parkis, Disney Fantasy Online will be a way to connect the company’s many different game and story topics into one MMO. Disney already has online games such as Toon Town Online and Pirates of the Caribbean Online.

Disney Fantasy Online will also, according to Parkis, serve as a way for World of Warcraft enthusiasts to share their love for gaming with their children, only on a more appropriate level of gameplay.