James Cameron eyeing Avatar MMO, adaptive 3D gaming

Director James Cameron has massive plans for the Avatar franchise. In addition to the upcoming novel, theatrical sequels, toy lines, Disney theme park, and traditional video game spin-offs, the famed Terminator and Aliens creator is also considering a full-out Na'vi MMO.

“I think Avatar is a perfect IP for an MMO,” said Cameron in an interview with IGN. “It's a very, very big world and based on the first film, you might not sense that, but we're talking about an entire planet, an entire alter world, and in fact a universe that has other planetary bodies, as well, and other cultures, other life forms...The film is really just a leaping off point, so we've got to create a rich and diverse world that lives well beyond the films. ”

Cameron added the challenge to introducing an Avatar MMO would be choosing the perfect time to release it, noting, “The timing of that is going to have to be carefully orchestrated with the release of the second and third film because we don't want to be giving away elements before the fact.”

Though an online Avatar game is far from official, Cameron had more concrete plans for the future of 3D gaming. Reflecting on how he'd like to see the technology evolve in the coming years, Cameron insisted 3D needs to become more adaptive, and it should not replace good design, saying, “You want the 3D to adjust itself to you and in real time in the middle of the gameplay, so that's the next level that we have to get to...I think a good game is a good game and I think the play of that game in 3D just is better”

The first Avatar video game was released by Ubisoft in December 2009. Read GR's review here.

Sep 28, 2011