Michael is getting his OWN VIRTUAL PLANET :)

lovemj4everandeverlovemj4everandever Posts: 573
edited January 1970 in News
Jackson Estate Licenses Virtual 'Planet Michael'

The man who made the moonwalk famous is getting a planet of his own.

The Michael Jackson estate has entered a licensing deal with a Los Angeles company to create an online virtual world based called "Planet Michael."

The planet will live inside the Entropia Universe, a so-called "massively multiplayer online" game with about 100,000 active users. It is run by the Swedish company Mind Ark.

The estate will work with game publisher SEE Virtual Worlds to develop the game for release in 2011. In it, fans will be able to collect and trade virtual Jackson merchandise, and earn credits by performing challenges related to his music and dance moves.

As in other virtual worlds, players who want to buy more credits can replenish their game accounts using real money.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

<!-- m -->http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=11686077<!-- m -->


Gosh, I think "BACK" is right. This isn't a comeback - it's a TAKEOVER! <!-- s:lol: -->:lol:<!-- s:lol: --> <!-- s:lol: -->:lol:<!-- s:lol: -->

Comments


  • <!-- m -->http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=11686077<!-- m -->


    Gosh, I think "BACK" is right. This isn't a comeback - it's a TAKEOVER! <!-- s:lol: -->:lol:<!-- s:lol: --> <!-- s:lol: -->:lol:<!-- s:lol: -->


    I would have to agree! Wow - a virtual planet. I really have to get out more - I've never heard of this before now. Amazing...
  • becbec Posts: 6,387
    I thought *this* was planet Michael <!-- s:? -->:?<!-- s:? -->

    A single website sounds overly restrictive and linear compared to what we are playing already. Thanks Jackson Estate but I'm going to stick with Death Hoax instead <!-- s:lol: -->:lol:<!-- s:lol: -->
  • Entropia Universe
    Entropia Universe is a massive multiplayer online virtual universe designed by the Swedish software company MindArk, based in Gothenburg. Entropia uses a micropayment business model, in which players may buy in-game currency (PED - Project Entropia Dollars) with real money that can be redeemed back into real world funds at a fixed exchange rate.[1] This means that virtual items acquired within Entropia Universe have a real cash value, and a participant may, at any time, initiate a withdrawal of their accumulated PEDs back into real world currencies according to the fixed exchange rate, minus transaction fees, the minimum amount for a withdrawal is 1000 PED. As a result, revenue of the business is largely generated from activities within the virtual universe. As of 2009[update], the revenue model has proven to be sustainable and profitable.

    The Entropia Universe entered the Guinness World Records Book in both 2004 and 2008 for the most expensive virtual world objects ever sold, and in 2010, a virtual space station, a popular destination, sold for $330,000.

    Development of Entropia Universe (formerly Project Entropia) was started in Sweden in 1995 by Jan Welter Timkrans and a group of colleagues. During its initial testing phase in 2002 the offices of MindArk were raided by court officials following a complaint by Microsoft that MindArk was using unlicensed software. MindArk has stated that this may have been an attempt by Microsoft to derail the game's development because of its threat to their game Asheron's Call. The game was launched commercially at the start of 2003.[6]

    On 8 May 2007, MindArk announced the results of the world's first virtual world Banking License auction. After months of active bidding, the five licenses sold for a total of $404,000 USD to a mix of real world banks, Entropia participants, and entrepreneurs, all seeking to invest in the virtual realm. Uniquely, the banks (Owners) have integrated services within the mechanics of Entropia Universe and do not function merely as virtual advertising spots. Four of the bank buildings and their functionality were introduced into Entropia Universe on 9 October 2007, with the fifth being postponed until Version Update 9.1 on 11 December 2007.

    On 14 December 2004, the game creators MindArk announced the conclusion of the first "Treasure Island Sale". This was a virtual island put up for auction. The winning bidder, an avatar named Zachurm "Deathifier" Emegen, paid 265,000 PED (US$26,500) for the island. At the time this was the highest price ever paid for a virtual item. According to the press release, it is "a large island off a newly discovered continent surrounded by deep creature infested waters. The island boasts beautiful beaches ripe for developing beachfront property, an old volcano with rumors of fierce creatures within, the outback is overrun with mutants, and an area with a high concentration of robotic miners guarded by heavily armed assault robots indicates interesting mining opportunities."

    On 24 October 2005, a virtual 'Asteroid Space Resort' was bought by Jon "Neverdie" Jacobs for a sum of 1,000,000 PED (US$100,000), greatly surpassing the sale of Treasure Island. Jon Jacobs is also the writer and producer of a song played within the Entropia Universe called "Gamer Chick". The Asteroid was named Club NEVERDIE after Jacobs's own in game Avatar and has made headlines around the world for the high price of the purchase and his own ambitious plans to turn the resort into a venue for "Live Entertainment in Virtual Reality".

    On 9 November 2005, the BBC reported that "Deathifier" had recouped his investment in under a year. He made money by selling virtual homes as well as taxing other gamers to hunt or mine on the island. "The money made to date is only a taste of what can be achieved with my virtual island purchase," said Deathifier.

    On 2 May 2006, MindArk announced the introduction of an ATM card enabling players to withdraw the real-world currency equivalent of their PED funds directly from any real-world Versatel ATM machines. As reported on the BBC newsfeed users could sell virtual items online and then go purchase a dinner for themselves down the street in real life with this cash card technology. It was stated that $165 million had "passed through the game" in 2005 and that this figure was expected to double in 2006.

    On 7 August 2006, Entropia Universe announced the final sale prices from its July 2006 virtual real estate public auction totalling over US$200,000. The auction began on 5 July 2006 with an opening release of six new land areas full of hunting and mineral rights and closed late July with a total of thirteen properties sold. The various virtual land masses including remote snow covered mountains, riverfront estates, vast rainforests and jungles, lake homes and more sold for a combined US$213,784.00.

    Jon Jacobs, the gamer who runs Club NEVERDIE, announced profits of $100,000 USD in August, 2006. Club NEVERDIE is a virtual resort that was established in December 2005. The revenue was generated from hunting and mining taxes, and sales of virtual apartments and shops. In July, Jacobs had purchased a virtual item (a "Unique Green Atrox Queen Egg") for $10,000 through auction.

    Mike Everest, a home-schooled high school senior from Durango, Colorado, and his mother earned $35,000 in 2006 by constructing and selling weapons in Entropia. Of this, $12,000 will be used as college funds for his siblings. Everest spent an average of three hours per day playing the game and intended to continue playing to fund his own college education.

    On 17 October 2006, MindArk announced that Entropia Universe had achieved the milestone of over 500,000 registered users. "The growth of Entropia Universe is an enormous achievement for us and the members," said Jan Welter, CEO of MindArk, developer of Entropia Universe. "As the world of video games evolves to become more than just a means of two-dimensional entertainment, we are seeing a demand for the integration of real-world features in virtual environments. Individuals are joining the Entropia Universe community to interact, meet new people, learn new ideas, reach entrepreneurial aspirations, create societies and even foster new relationships in everyday reality."

    On 8 May 2007, MindArk announced the results of the world's first virtual Banking license auction. These two-year exclusive licenses aim to integrate real world banking systems into Entropia Universe. The virtual Entropia Universe banks will work similarly to real world banks, or pawn shops. Initially, they will be provided with secure systems enabling them to lend money to participants and collect interest, design and name their own virtual bank building(s), and make their own personnel available through avatars. Each winner must add a further US$100,000 as working capital. MindArk CIO Marco Behrmann said, "The five banks will have integrated services within the mechanics of Entropia Universe and will not just be virtual advertising spots. After months of bidding the five licenses sold for a total of US$404,000, to:

    * Avatar “Janus JD D'Arcwire”, representing Wirecard Bank AG, who paid US$59,060.[26][27][28]
    * Russian Internet Payment Provider MONETA.ru, with avatar “Yuri iNTellect” who paid US$99,900.[28]
    * Entropia celebrity “Jon NEVERDIE Jacobs”, who paid US$90,000.[25][23]
    * Second Life virtual celebrity and entrepreneur Anshe Chung, who paid US$60,000.[28]
    * Avatar "Jolana Kitty Brice", an Entropia Universe participant and entrepreneur who paid US$95,000.[24]

    On 8 December 2009, the sale of the Crystal Palace Space Station was announced. A public auction held from December 14, 2009 through December 28, 2009 determined the new owner. It was won by Buzz Erik Lightyear who paid 3.3 million PED, or US$330,000 for it.

    On 17 May 2010 Neverdie announced that after almost 5 years his asteroid (CND) is for sale again. It's starting bid of 5 million PED ($500,000) would break its own record as the most expensive virtual item. The sale is to fund Neverdie's other Entropia businesses; he says CND is profitable, with approximate 2010 gross tax receipts of 160,000 PED per month.

    On 15 Jun 2010 parent company MindArk AB released its 2009 annual report. They reported a cash flow of -18.6 Million SEK (-$2.4M). In the report it states that the real life bank they were planning to start is on hold due to a lack of funds. MindArk also says they have a signed letter of intent to sell their original virtual planet, Planet Calypso, for a price of $6,000,000 USD to an unnamed company
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entropia_Universe

    This sort of reminds me of the movie surrogates.

    Surrogates
    Surrogates is a 2009 science fiction film, based on the 2005–2006 comic book series of the same name. Directed by Jonathan Mostow, it stars Bruce Willis and Radha Mitchell. The film revolves around the mysterious murder of a college student linked to the man who helped create a high-tech surrogate phenomenon that allows people to purchase unflawed robotic versions of themselves. These fit, good-looking, remotely controlled machines ultimately assume their life roles, enabling people to experience life vicariously from the comfort and safety of their own homes.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrogates_%28film%29

    [youtube:1y5rc44g]
  • Entropia (album)
    Entropia is Pain of Salvation's first studio album. It is a concept album concerning the story of a family in a fictional society that is torn apart by a war. The title is a portmanteau of Entropy (from thermodynamics, the measure of disorder present in a system), and Utopia (the ideal society).

    "This album is a very complex concept that is pretty hard to grasp. It is about a family in a war situation, about a father that fails to protect his family, about a child who needs a father and not a soldier, about a society that kills and excludes and then takes its hand away from the remains in shock of what it has become.

    It is about a world I have chosen to call Entropia, which is a combination of the two words "Entropy" and "Utopia". Entropia is suspiciously similar to our world."
    —Daniel Gildenlöw

    Track listing
    Prologue:
    1. "! (Foreword)" - (6:11)

    Chapter 1:
    2. "Welcome to Entropia" - (1:22)
    3. "Winning a War" - (6:33)
    4. "People Passing By" - (9:07)
    --- 1. "Awakening"
    1. "Daybreak"
    2. "Midday"
    --- 2. "Memorials" (Instrumental)
    --- 3. "Nightfall"
    5. "Oblivion Ocean" - (4:43)

    Chapter 2:
    6. "Stress" - (5:01)
    7. "Revival" - (7:39)
    8. "Void of Her" - (1:46)
    9. "To the End" - (4:57)

    Chapter 3:
    10. "Circles" - (0:55)
    11. "Nightmist" - (6:49)
    12. "Plains of Dawn" - (7:23)

    Epilogue:
    13. "Leaving Entropia (Epilogue)" - (2:31)
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entropia_%28album%29

    Entropy
    Entropy is a macroscopic property of a system that is a measure of the microscopic disorder within the system. It is an important part of the second law of thermodynamics. Thermodynamic systems are made up of microscopic objects, e.g. atoms or molecules, which "carry" energy. According to the second law of thermodynamics, the thermodynamic entropy is a measure of the amount of energy which does no work during energy conversions.

    The arrow of time
    Entropy is the only quantity in the physical sciences that seems to imply a particular direction for time, sometimes called an arrow of time. As we go "forward" in time, the second law of thermodynamics states that the entropy of an isolated system tends to increase or remain the same; it will not decrease. Hence, from one perspective, entropy measurement is thought of as a kind of clock.

    Entropy in quantum mechanics
    Von Neumann established a rigorous mathematical framework for quantum mechanics with his work Mathematische Grundlagen der Quantenmechanik. He provided in this work a theory of measurement, where the usual notion of wave function collapse is described as an irreversible process (the so called von Neumann or projective measurement). Using this concept, in conjunction with the density matrix he extended the classical concept of entropy into the quantum domain.

    It is well known that a Shannon based definition of information entropy leads in the classical case to the Boltzmann entropy. It is tempting to regard the Von Neumann entropy as the corresponding quantum mechanical definition. But the latter is problematic from quantum information point of view. Consequently Stotland, Pomeransky, Bachmat and Cohen have introduced a new definition of entropy that reflects the inherent uncertainty of quantum mechanical states. This definition allows to distinguish between the minimum uncertainty entropy of pure states, and the excess statistical entropy of mixtures.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entropy
  • Michael has been a very busy man for many years. This website domain was created back in 2002.....are you putting the timelines together with some speeches Michael gave anyone? <!-- s;) -->;)<!-- s;) -->

    From the whois database



    =-=-=-=
    Visit AboutUs.org for more information about PLANETMICHAEL.COM
    <a href="http://www.aboutus.org/PLANETMICHAEL.COM">AboutUs:
    PLANETMICHAEL.COM</a>

    Registration Service Provided By: Fluxar Studios Inc.
    Contact: <!-- e -->http://www.fluxar.com<!-- m -->

    Domain name: PLANETMICHAEL.COM

    Registrant Contact:
    SEE Virtual Worlds LLC
    Martin Biallas ()

    Fax:
    816 North Highland
    Los Angeles, CA 90038
    US

    Administrative Contact:
    SEE Virtual Worlds LLC
    Kynan Chambers (<!-- e -->support@seevirtualworlds.com<!-- e -->)
    +1.6613222840
    Fax:
    816 North Highland
    Los Angeles, CA 90038
    US

    Status: Locked

    Name Servers:
    ns1.fluxar.net
    ns2.fluxar.net

    Creation date: 04 Jun 2002 00:24:00
    Expiration date: 04 Jun 2011 00:24:00
  • Piece by piece... <!-- s;) -->;)<!-- s;) -->

    With L.O.V.E. always.
  • Oh goodness, I also just noticed that the "A" in Planet and the "A" in Michael are not A's. They are upside down "V's" - V for Vendetta...??

    <!-- m -->http://planetmichael.com/<!-- m -->
  • CameronCameron Posts: 956
    Ha ha, I also noticed the butterfly... <!-- s:D -->:D<!-- s:D -->
  • Very interesting indeed...."his own virtual planet" hmmm this statement made me associate it with the videogame Michael Jackson Experience and that trailer...when the entire earth is illuminated at the end with his songs and his dance...piece by piece
  • Check this out: <!-- m -->http://www.planetmichael.com/<!-- m -->
    <!-- s:D -->:D<!-- s:D --> <!-- s:D -->:D<!-- s:D --> <!-- s:D -->:D<!-- s:D -->
    And the earth with the face of Michael give a sort of pulsation which is transmitted over his full name.... like an ECG (EKG)
    Michael has a pulse...he is alive... like we didn't know that!!! But is good when we see this kind of things <!-- s:D -->:D<!-- s:D -->
  • Serenity's Dream,

    Thanks, once again, for your thorough research into MindArk etc. You are simply amazing!

    As I understand---and have read for sometime now---is that MJ was a big time investor in this type of company. I have intense feelings that these dealings were in the works for far longer than the past 15 months (since June, 2009).
  • paula-cpaula-c Posts: 7,221
    Serenitys_Dream, Thank you for the investigation
  • I have intense feelings that these dealings were in the works for far longer than the past 15 months (since June, 2009).

    For sure! <!-- s:D -->:D<!-- s:D --> The website domain was purchased on 06/04/02 and was registered to SEE virtual worlds LLC. <!-- s;) -->;)<!-- s;) -->
  • I have intense feelings that these dealings were in the works for far longer than the past 15 months (since June, 2009).

    For sure! <!-- s:D -->:D<!-- s:D --> The website domain was purchased on 06/04/02 and was registered to SEE virtual worlds LLC. <!-- s;) -->;)<!-- s;) -->

    no


    Oh yes!



    =-=-=-=
    Visit AboutUs.org for more information about PLANETMICHAEL.COM
    <a href="http://www.aboutus.org/PLANETMICHAEL.COM">AboutUs:
    PLANETMICHAEL.COM</a>

    Registration Service Provided By: Fluxar Studios Inc.
    Contact: <!-- e -->http://www.fluxar.com<!-- m -->

    Domain name: PLANETMICHAEL.COM

    Registrant Contact:
    SEE Virtual Worlds LLC
    Martin Biallas ()

    Fax:
    816 North Highland
    Los Angeles, CA 90038
    US

    Administrative Contact:
    SEE Virtual Worlds LLC
    Kynan Chambers (<!-- e -->support@seevirtualworlds.com<!-- e -->)
    +1.6613222840
    Fax:
    816 North Highland
    Los Angeles, CA 90038
    US

    Status: Locked

    Name Servers:
    ns1.fluxar.net
    ns2.fluxar.net

    Creation date: 04 Jun 2002 00:24:00
    Expiration date: 04 Jun 2011 00:24:00

    <!-- m -->http://www.networksolutions.com/whois-s ... ichael.com<!-- m -->
  • MJonmindMJonmind Posts: 7,290
    Love it! Thanks SD. The MindArk is interesting too, similar to Ark of the Covenant.
  • Just to keep in mind for this game it says you can replenish your account by using your own money. The only thing I would want to question is where is money exactly going? You also have to ask would Michael Jackson really be into this kind of thing and promote it to his fans? Because the way the economy is I wouldn't want to use my own money to replenish an account just to play in that game.

    I would rather get the game that is coming out November 23rd.
  • Oh goodness, I also just noticed that the "A" in Planet and the "A" in Michael are not A's. They are upside down "V's" - V for Vendetta...??

    <!-- m -->http://planetmichael.com/<!-- m -->
    Ha ha, I also noticed the butterfly... <!-- s:D -->:D<!-- s:D -->

    I was too excited (and still am, btw) to notice the upside down V's, but I DID notice the butterfly right away! Good catch, lovemj4everandever <!-- s:D -->:D<!-- s:D -->

    Omgosh, I wonder how this is gonna go. "Planet Michael"--It's like he's literally taking over the world now. D:

    And LOVEsoldier28, you don't HAVE to buy items. It's always an option! Some people get reaaallly into it and do it, but I never buy stuff for my online games/forums.
  • From what I have read and posted about this "game". I personally don't think this is a good thing. People are living their lives in a virtual world that is crossing the boundary into the real world. That is why I posted the trailer for the movie "Surrogates" as I saw similarities. People becoming further disconnected further from one another, living their lives in a fantasy world and not in reality.

    In these types of games you have a home, a trade (job), you select what you look like especially this one. I created an account yesterday, to see what it was all about and you actually select ALL of the physical features, body shape etc for your character.

    With the ability to bring aspects of the game into the "real" world, the line between fantasy and reality starts to become blurred. You can borrow money from virtual banks within this game, which have a "real" counterpart outside the game, and because this "money" can be transfered to and from the virtual and the real world, you could find yourself in debt in your real life from loans you have taken in the virtual world. I find all of this very concerning and a real manipulation of those who are participating in this "Game".

    Question really is...When is a Game no longer just a "Game"?


    Video Game Addiction No Fun
    Compulsive video gaming is a modern-day psychological disorder that experts tell WebMD is becoming more and more popular.
    At an addiction treatment center in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, teenagers and young adults begin detox by admitting they are powerless over their addiction. But these addicts aren't hooked on drugs or alcohol. They are going cold turkey to break their dependence on video games.

    Keith Bakker, director of Smith & Jones Addiction Consultants, tells WebMD he created the new program in response to a growing problem among young men and boys. "The more we looked at it, the more we saw [gaming] was taking over the lives of kids."

    Detox for video game addiction may sound like a stretch, but addiction experts say the concept makes sense. "I was surprised we didn't think of it here in America," says Kimberly Young, PsyD, clinical director of the Center for On-Line Addiction and author of Caught in the Net: How to Recognize the Signs of Internet Addiction -- and a Winning Strategy for Recovery. "I've had so many parents call me over the last year or two, particularly about the role-playing games online. I see it getting worse as the opportunity to game grows - for example, cell phone gaming."

    But can a game truly become an addiction? Absolutely, Young tells WebMD. "It's a clinical impulse control disorder," an addiction in the same sense as compulsive gambling.

    Defining Addiction
    While most people associate addiction with substances, such as drugs or alcohol, doctors recognize addictive behaviors as well. In a WebMD feature on the definition of addiction, psychiatrist Michael Brody, MD, set forth the following criteria:

    1. The person needs more and more of a substance or behavior to keep him going.
    2. If the person does not get more of the substance or behavior, he becomes irritable and miserable.

    Young says compulsive gaming meets these criteria, and she has seen severe withdrawal symptoms in game addicts. "They become angry, violent, or depressed. If [parents] take away the computer, their child sits in the corner and cries, refuses to eat, sleep, or do anything."

    The Psychological Factor
    Unlike with substance abuse, the biological aspect of video game addiction is uncertain. "Research suggests gambling elevates dopamine," Young says, and gaming is in the same category. But there's more to addiction than brain chemistry. "Even with alcohol, it's not just physical. There's a psychological component to the addiction, knowing 'I can escape or feel good about my life.'"

    Bakker agrees. "The person is trying to change the way they feel by taking something outside of themselves. The [cocaine] addict learns, 'I don't like the way I feel, I take a line of cocaine.' For gamers, it's the fantasy world that makes them feel better."

    The lure of a fantasy world is especially pertinent to online role-playing games. These are games in which a player assumes the role of a fictional character and interacts with other players in a virtual world. As Young puts it, an intelligent child who is unpopular at school can "become dominant in the game." The virtual life becomes more appealing than real life. (I say the same goes for adults too)

    Where's the Harm?
    Too much gaming may seem relatively harmless compared with the dangers of a drug overdose, but Bakker says video game addiction can ruin lives. Children who play four to five hours per day have no time for socializing, doing homework, or playing sports, he says. "That takes away from normal social development. You can get a 21-year-old with the emotional intelligence of a 12-year-old. He's never learned to talk to girls. He's never learned to play a sport."

    In older addicts, compulsive gaming can jeopardize jobs or relationships. Howard, a 33-year-old project manager who asked to be identified only by his first name, started playing an online role-playing game about six months ago. He plays for three to four hours almost every day -- more on weekends -- occasionally putting off meals or sleep. His fiancée says he's addicted.
    According to the Center for On-Line Addiction, warning signs for video game addiction include:

    * Playing for increasing amounts of time
    * Thinking about gaming during other activities
    * Gaming to escape from real-life problems, anxiety, or depression
    * Lying to friends and family to conceal gaming
    * Feeling irritable when trying to cut down on gaming

    In addition, video game addicts tend to become isolated, dropping out of their social networks and giving up other hobbies. "It's about somebody who has completely withdrawn from other activities," Young says. "One mother called me when her son dropped out of baseball. He used to love baseball, so that's when she knew there was a problem."

    Video Game Detox
    Treatment for video game addiction is similar to detox for other addictions, with one important difference. Computers have become an important part of everyday life, as well as many jobs, so compulsive gamers can't just look the other way when they see a PC.

    "It's like a food addiction," Young explains. "You have to learn to live with food."

    Because video game addicts can't avoid computers, they have to learn to use them responsibly. Bakker says that means no gaming. As for limiting game time to an hour a day, he compares that to "an alcoholic saying he's only going to drink beer."

    Bakker says the toughest part of treating video game addicts is that "it's a little bit more difficult to show somebody they're in trouble. Nobody's ever been put in jail for being under the influence of [a game]."
    (But I remember stories of when Dungeons & Dragons was popular and there where individuals who had a hard time separating the game world scenarios from the real world and people died)


    The key, he says, is to show gamers they are powerless over their addiction, and then teach them "real-life excitement as opposed to online excitement."
    http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/features/video-game-addiction-no-fun
  • Planet Michael' will let players builds virtual Jackson worlds

    By Mike Snider, USA TODAY
    It has been 15 months since Michael Jackson died, leaving his Neverland in limbo. But a virtual Neverland is in the works as a tribute to the late King of Pop.

    Planet Michael, an online virtual world devoted to Jackson's life, music and concerns, being developed to open late next year, will combine features of a massively multiplayer online game and social network.

    "We put a focus on something that will truly allow fans to immerse themselves in a Michael Jackson-like universe or music-video-like world and interact with each other and then go on adventures and do gameplay stuff and socialize," says Josh Gordon of developer SEE Virtual Worlds.

    Think World of Warcraft— with no violence and more dancing. "The player is more apt to succeed in a situation using song, dance and adventure as opposed to violence," Gordon says.

    A free-to-download game, Planet Michael will let players (ages 13-up) customize their own avatars, perhaps with red Thriller jackets and sequined gloves. However, you will be able to spend money on items, and some virtual objects earned and created in the world can be traded or sold to others. (More information at planetmichael.com.)

    But will Planet Michael's publishers be able to overcome Jackson's tarnished reputation, which included such behavior as holding a newborn off a hotel balcony and charges of molesting children (he was acquitted on criminal charges, while some civil cases were settled out of court)?

    "The answer is, 'I'm not sure,' " says video game industry analyst Michael Pachter, commenting not on Planet Michael specifically but on potential projects including the recently announced Michael Jackson The Experience dance video game from Ubisoft.

    "If parents are the target, I think that the legacy baggage will be a problem," Pachter says. "If the user is the target, I think that all will be forgiven, because there is no question that he was a phenomenal performer. So I suppose the answer is 'somewhere in between.' "

    "There is no doubt we will be open to people joking about it and criticizing it," says Gordon. "We'll just have to roll with that as it comes, so to speak. ... He's such a big name and he's such a big legend that no matter what we do, we are going to get a lot of people who are excited, and we are going to get people who criticize us. And we have just taken that as the way it is going to be."

    Before he died, Jackson was exploring games and interactive entertainment prospects. "Unfortunately, he never got to this point," says Martin Biallas, president of SEE Virtual Worlds, a division of Biallas' larger company SEE (Special Entertainment Events), for which he organized real-life happenings around Star Trek's 30th anniversary and the 1999 world tour of Titanic props, sets and costumes.

    The Swedish company MindArk, which operates the Entropia Universe online service, ap- proached SEE about entertainment properties that might be worthy of virtual-world treatment, and Biallas contacted the Jackson estate. "They loved it and said this could actually be something where we could also transmit the ideas (and) the vision that Michael had, and not make it just a game but make it a social-interacting platform."

    So in addition to areas based on songs such as Thriller, Beat It and Smooth Criminal, there might be an altruistic area based on a song such as Heal the World. Players will be able to donate to charities as well.

    "We believe this online social gaming experience will bring the most passionate Michael Jackson fans together with those just discovering his artistry in a unique environment where they can celebrate his music, his art and his devotion to helping those in need," says an e-mailed statement from Jackson's estate and executors. <!-- m -->http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/ ... 1_ST_N.htm<!-- m -->

    mjgamex-large.jpg
    Thriller-land: This area of Planet Michael is based on the music video for Michael Jackson's Thriller.


    <!-- m -->http://www.seeglobalentertainment.com/experiences.html<!-- m -->
  • Q&A with Pamela Pearlman On Planet Michael
    Posted on 21 Sep 2010 by The News Department

    Yesterday on Twitter we asked you for your opinions on Planet Michael and got a lot of feedback. The majority of replies wanted to know if this was all just some money spinner targeting MJ fans and a lot of people also wanted to know what exactly Planet Michael is all about.

    61259_149224261783057_144426348929515_232672_2789141_n.jpg

    We took all feedback and came up with some questions for Pamela Pearlman, Marketing & Advertising at See Global Entertainment (the company behind Planet Michael.)

    MJNEWSALERTS: Will the basic game be free to play?

    Pamela Pearlman: Planet Michael will be FREE to download and players will NEVER be charged a subscription fee! The basic game play is free. The player only needs to deposit money if he/she wishes to purchase virtual goods, upgrade their skills quickly etc.

    MJNEWSALERTS: Will ALL fans be accepted? Regardless of age?

    Pamela Pearlman: You must be 13+ to play Planet Michael.

    MJNEWSALERTS: Will the game experience be a developing one? Meaning will the content be updated regularly or will we all be left to our own devices?

    Pamela Pearlman: Planet Michael will be a true virtual world/MMOG, meaning we will be updating Planet Michael regularly.

    Sounds great right?

    63820_149224275116389_144426348929515_232673_2657936_n.jpg

    We must add that even after that we were still cautious, then, Pamela replied to an additional comment we made,

    MJNEWSALERTS: One more note, Michael Jackson fans can be very sensitive. Just something to keep in mind.

    Pamela Pearlman: Absolutely, we're all MJ fans too... So we're committed to developing a product that Michael Jackson himself would be proud of.

    This is really positive news, especially to the fans who suspected Planet Michael would be a subscription based game.

    There is ONE negative, we have to wait until 2011 to play laughing

    To keep up to date on Planet Michael visit the Official Website http://www.planetmichael.com/

    Official Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Planet-Michael/144426348929515?ref=ts

    Official Twitter http://twitter.com/Planet_Michael

    UPDATE: See Global Entertainment have been "monitoring" our Twitter and have just sent us this,

    "Please let your followers know that game play on Planet Michael will drive
    charitable donations in-game to real world causes that were important to MJ. I know you expressed some concern about how this would work."

    EXCELLENT!
    http://www.mjnewsalerts.com/news/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1285110212&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&
  • Anyone else think of the picture he signed, "See you in 2011" when you saw the game will be released in 2011? Or is this just my paranoia? <!-- s:lol: -->:lol:<!-- s:lol: -->
  • Anyone else think of the picture he signed, "See you in 2011" when you saw the game will be released in 2011? Or is this just my paranoia? <!-- s:lol: -->:lol:<!-- s:lol: -->
    This one?
  • i subscribed to it yesterday, and found it when i was looking at google news on MJ
  • Sound funny, even if i don't really like the fact of spending real money in virtual world...
    I guess that now we will have to search Michael's magic world among all the "anything for money" stuffs...
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