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Transformers Online rolling out in China next year

NetDragon making toy-based MMORPG for Asia, Russia, Middle East, and North Africa; no word on North American or European release.

In recent years, Activision has been the primary purveyor of Transformers games, but NetDragon has carved out its own deal with toy maker Hasbro to bring the shape-changing robots to gamers. The Chinese online game developer and publisher recently announced a deal to create a massively multiplayer online role-playing game based on the brand and to bring it to gamers in Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Russia, and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

NetDragon hasn't said whether it will use the original Transformers or reenvisioned versions, as Activision did in War for Cyberton.

NetDragon hasn't said whether it will use the original Transformers or reenvisioned versions, as Activision did in War for Cyberton.

NetDragon plans to launch Transformers Online in 2011 in China and "other select markets" for which it has the brand's MMORPG development and publishing rights. It gave no specifics as to gameplay, but the company did indicate a desire to bring the brand's "excitement and fanaticism" to online gaming. As of press time, the company had not responded to GameSpot's inquiry about the potential for eventual launches in Europe and North America.

Transformers isn't the only brand popular in the West to be the subject of a NetDragon game. The company's current game lineup also includes Heroes of Might and Magic Online and Disney Fantasy Online. NetDragon is also working on Dungeon Keeper Online and a new version of Ultima Online.

15 Comments

  • mr_squibble

    Posted Aug 4, 2010 8:18 am GMT

    I don't really play online games, but Transformers may get me to give it a try - if it lands in North America. I really like the classic Transformers toys from the 1980's. If NetDragon lets me play a game somehow based on the toys, and not just the characters, then I'm down.

  • monson21502

    Posted Aug 4, 2010 6:45 am GMT

    well china is the best place to start up a mmo. they love to farm over there

  • hannify

    Posted Aug 4, 2010 5:38 am GMT

    One shall rise, two shall fall

  • selbie

    Posted Aug 4, 2010 5:33 am GMT

    I wondered why North Africa in particular...then I remembered China has a HUGE mining industry presence there.

  • Rayzakk

    Posted Aug 3, 2010 5:05 pm GMT

    I know how everyone raves about Transformers WFC but the transformers didn't feel unique at all. It was toted as a prequel to G1 in an alternate timeline which didn't feel quite right. The autobots had weapons on their vehicle forms which felt weird. The tranformations didn't really do anything really that useful other than get you from point a to point b. The levels were cramped which is weird when you consider you were controlling jets at times. Cybertron apparently has very little surface and is almost all purple corridors. It wasn't a horrible game but I can't understand it getting all the kudos that it is. All of that being said I don't see this game being as good as WFC when looking at the above titles by this developer.

  • corte005

    Posted Aug 3, 2010 4:51 pm GMT

    "We build for China"

  • Talldude80

    Posted Aug 3, 2010 4:04 pm GMT

    now thats an MMO I would try out! Love Transformers!

  • TheArcade

    Posted Aug 3, 2010 3:43 pm GMT

    @9mmSpliff:

    It was the 2nd most successful Transformers game next to Armada on the PS2. Check out some youtube videos and reviews if you haven't seen this game. Beast Wars on PSX was pretty formidable too.

  • mariostar0001

    Posted Aug 3, 2010 3:21 pm GMT

    No good, I don't speak Russian, Chinese or any African dialect.

  • 9mmSpliff

    Posted Aug 3, 2010 3:17 pm GMT

    @davidsworld3 - It averaged 8/10 from around 50 reviews, thats not bad. It is the first successful Transformers game. Another note, I think this wouldn't be a bad idea for a MMO of this series.

  • davidkamayor

    Posted Aug 3, 2010 3:13 pm GMT

    Do we need another Asian Grindfest

  • davidsworld3

    Posted Aug 3, 2010 2:39 pm GMT

    It got good revies ranma? No it didn't Also who cares there hasn't ever been a truly epic transformers game ever.

  • Ranma_X_basic

    Posted Aug 3, 2010 1:51 pm GMT

    it'll be a shame if the transformers MMO never sees a world wide release since war for cybertron got good reviews and is a pretty good game.

    personally i'd play it since there's so many transformer races throughout the mythos.

  • 01-cannon-mpc

    Posted Aug 3, 2010 1:38 pm GMT

    @jamage I hear you on that. =D

  • jamage

    Posted Aug 3, 2010 1:13 pm GMT

    yes, make it sucessfull china, then bring its ass to the rest of the world, omg i wil die a happy man if this actually happens!!!

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