Warner Bros. Online announced that IBM will provide the on-demand technology and services to power THE MATRIX ONLINE, Warner Bros. Interactive Ent.'s first massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), co-published with SEGA of America. Based on THE MATRIX film trilogy, THE MATRIX ONLINE will be released in North America on March 22, 2005, and in Europe on April 8, 2005.
"Warner Bros. Online is working with IBM to help build a flexible, resilient infrastructure that will be able to `continue the saga' of THE MATRIX trilogy and support the complex demands of a MMORPG," said Jim Noonan, svp/gm of Warner Bros. Online.
"Responsive and highly flexible technology is required to create an engaging and complete urban environment for players in THE MATRIX ONLINE," said Jason Hall, svp of Warner Bros. Interactive Ent. "Warner Bros. Online and IBM are working toward this goal in order to help provide a true interactive, online space that will allow gamers to continue the storyline of THE MATRIX."
To support THE MATRIX ONLINE, Warner Bros. Online will implement IBM hardware, including IBM eServer pSeries systems and IBM eServer xSeries systems for overall infrastructure support. In addition, Warner Bros. Online will deploy IBM WebSphere Application Server for registration and billing; and IBM software to map out a blueprint that helps create a seamless environment for rapid design, integration, construction and deployment. IBM technology will also allow Warner Bros. Online to remotely manage the technology from different locations and with varying degrees of access so the team can separate out permissions, as well as identify and assign specific tasks. This is of particular importance considering the number of groups responsible for actual gameplay.
"Warner Bros. Online is well positioned to capitalize on the promise of an increasingly on-demand marketplace in interactive entertainment," said Steve Canepa, vp, IBM Global Media and Entertainment Industry. "IBM technology, coupled with Warner Bros. Ent.'s storytelling expertise, can deliver a responsive quality experience for online game players."
Warner Bros. Interactive Ent. Inc., a Warner Bros. Ent. Co., is a licensor and a developer of entertainment content for the interactive space across all current and future platforms, including consoles, PC-based gaming and wireless applications.
Warner Bros. Online (WBOL) (www.warnerbros.com) provides full-service interactive solutions for Warner Bros. Ent. subsidiaries and external clients alike. The company's digital production, marketing and wireless capabilities span more than 40 international markets throughout Europe, Asia and Latin America. WBOL also oversees all aspects of warnerbros.com, which serves as the entry point into, and aggregator of all things Warner Bros. Ent.
IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. Drawing on resources from across IBM and IBM Business partners, IBM offers a wide range of services, solutions and technologies that enable customers, large and small, to take full advantage of the new era of e-business. For more information about IBM, visit www.ibm.com. For more information on IBM and the online game industry, visit www.ibm.com/vrm/games.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
