In November of 2006 CCP, the makers of EVE Online merged with the second largest table top RPG publisher White Wolf. Speculation ran rampant about what this could mean to the chances of an MMO launching based on one of White Wolf's "World of Darkness" RPG games.
World of Darkness is a contemporary horror setting in which vampires, werewolves, and other mythical beings roam the world and secretly lord over hapless humans. Multiple pen-and-paper games by White Wolf use the setting, such as
- Vampire: The Requiem
- Werewolf: The Forsaken
- Mage: The Awakening
- Promethean: The Created
- Changeling: The Lost
- Hunter: The Vigil
- Geist: The Sin-Eaters
The rumors heated up again last year when allegedly leaked financial documents indicated that an MMO was in the works for release in 2010. Now just 4 short months from 2010 most have dismissed the idea of an MMO next year based on White Wolf's properties. As they point out, "If the game were really that close to release, CCP would be releasing actual details about the game."
However, rumors are heating up again. CCP is now listing openings for positions working on the new World of Darkness MMO. Meanwhile when questioned directly about the title last week my inside sources only had this to say, "There are no such things as Vampire. ;)".
Taken from exerpts on the CCPOline website concerning their Atlanta campus, "White Wolf Publishing, which merged with CCP in November 2006, has been headquartered in the Atlanta area since 1991 and has been a leader in the gaming industry ever since. Its flagship property, the World of Darkness, has a rich history of over 18 years of creative development and is now the basis of one of CCP's major virtual world projects. Currently in preproduction, The World of Darkness is the undying heart of the development efforts in CCP's North American office."
It is definitely clear that something is finally moving, and the marketing and PR campaigns for whatever CCP has been keeping behind the curtain are about to start. Let us just hope that the game can live up to any hype that is created. Given the World of Darkness legacy, its large fan base, and proven appeal to both genders, the estimated subscriber potential of this product could finally rock World of Warcraft’s world.