Michael Jackson MMOG due in late 2011

Earlier this month, Ubisoft announced that the Xbox 360 and PlayStation versions of its game based on the career of Michael Jackson would be delayed until early next year. As it turns out, 2011 will finish with another game based on the so-called "King of Pop"--a massively multiplayer game with entire realms dedicated to each of his albums.

This morning, Los Angeles-based SEE Virtual Worlds announced it will publish a Michael Jackson-themed MMOG, Planet Michael, based on the works of the late singer. The company is behind the Entropia engine, which powers the free-to-play MMORPG Planet Calypso. The game is being developed by Swedish studio MindArk, which also works on Entropia-based titles.

According to SEE Virtual Worlds, Planet Michael will be a free-to-play, 3D game based on the works of the late singer. Its gameplay will focus on "collaborative in-game activities" and feature in-game "continents" based on the artists' various musical works. In these continents, players will be able to assume a variety of professions to earn in-game currency--or purchase said currency with actual coin of the realm.

According to the executors of Jackson, who died last year of an overdose of an anesthetic administered by his personal doctor, Planet Michael will also focus on global issues championed by the singer. Though those issues weren't identified, they will apparently be central to the game.

"Throughout his extensive career, the King of Pop was well-known for his visionary contributions to music, dance, fashion, entertainment and philanthropy, and it was critical that we somehow incorporate all of those elements into the game," said SEE Virtual Worlds CEO Martin Biallas, implying there will be a clothes element to the game as well.

For more on Planet Michael, visit the game's official Web site. For more on Ubisoft's rhythm game based on the singer's works, check out the video below.