Sporting virtual worlds are few and far between, so the announcement of a soccer MMO is likely to cause some interest. Interzone Futebol (futebol = soccer = football) will initially be released in Portuguese only but international versions are planned not long after.
The feature set touted is:
team-based multiplayer matches, with every character on the pitch (playing field) controlled by a different player, including goalkeepers who, until now, have always been AI-controlled. During the match, players will improve their skills and unlock new skills and moves. Players will also improve their personal rankings and their team’s rankings, earn money through salary or sponsorship, and customize their character at creation, during game play, and by buying virtual items from Interzone’s online store.
There will also be social spaces and a game invitation system. If soccer is your passion and you can speak Portuguese, then you’ll be excited by this. If this MMO delivers an immersive sporting experience, then once the international release occurs you’re likely to hear a lot more about Interzone Futebol. You’ll be able to lay your hands on a virtual black and white ball in the fourth quarter of this year.
So what’s the Australian angle on this? A team of 50 developers worked on Interzone Futebol from Perth WA where it has a design studio located. They say soccer is one of the truly international games and this virtual version is truly an example of that.
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