The Transformers MMO Game That We Can't Play

By Marcus Yam
published

A dream come true, but sadly not for those of us here in the west.

The Transformers franchise is one that was integral to my childhood, and I'm sure that I'm not alone. What a dream it would be, then, to have a Transformers-based MMO where you got to design your own robot and what it transforms into, as well as PvP opportunities for Autobots vs. Decepticons.

Those in Asia, Russia and the Middle East get to realize such dreams as NetDragon Websoft, an online game developer in China, today announced that it has entered a brand licensing agreement with Hasbro to make Transformers Online.

“NetDragon’s proven expertise at creating hugely successful MMOG’s, coupled with the passion they share for the iconic TRANSFORMERS brand, means we are thrilled to be entering into this license with them to deliver a truly ground-breaking MMO to fans in China and selected markets in Asia and Russia/CIS,” said Mark Blecher, General Manager and Senior Vice President of Digital Media & Gaming at Hasbro.

Transformers Online is expected to officially (transform and) roll-out in 2011 in China as well as other select markets in Asia, Middle East, North Africa and Russia/CIS.

Sadly for those of us in the western world, we're just going to have to live on without any official MMO. Mind you, the license by NetDragon just covers those specific territories, so that means that another game developer can pick up the rights for the rest of the world.

This is also a good sign, showing that Hasbro is already open to the idea of a Transformers MMO.

(Source: Rock, Paper, Shotgun.)

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
31 Comments Comment from the forums
  • fonzy
    Cool I wonder if it's based on the cartoon G1 or the movie and if there is a way to be Devastator.
    Reply
  • cmcghee358
    I'd rather it's made by one of our own american companies that are veterans of the MMO genere.
    Reply
  • JonnyDough
    Personally, I'm MMOed the F out. I don't much care about this franchise, I'd much rather play a really great MMO RPG based on something much cooler, like Star Trek. Am I the only one who likes the original toys, but thinks that the whole thing has gotten a bit lame? I mean, they're cars. What next, amazing skyscrapers that come to life and defend mankind against trains? Little boys like cars. Little boys like robots. Little boys like cars that are robots. Grown men like Megan Fox. Grown gamers like MMO's but not if they don't feature a lot of Megan Fox.
    Reply
  • back_by_demand
    officially (transform and) roll-out
    I see what you did there, you wrote a funny.... hyuk hyuk!!!
    Reply
  • back_by_demand
    cmcghee358I'd rather it's made by one of our own american companies that are veterans of the MMO genere.MMO's are less popular in the West than they are in the Far East.
    They have hundreds of the damn things and all the stories of gamers dying after marathon 80+ hour gaming session are in Korea or Japan.
    Just cos in the West we have heard of WoW, Eve and Starcraft doesn't make the USA anything close to the saturation and uptake over there.
    Reply
  • insider3
    JonnyDoughPersonally, I'm MMOed the F out. I don't much care about this franchise, I'd much rather play a really great MMO RPG based on something much cooler, like Star Trek. Am I the only one who likes the original toys, but thinks that the whole thing has gotten a bit lame? I mean, they're cars. What next, amazing skyscrapers that come to life and defend mankind against trains? Little boys like cars. Little boys like robots. Little boys like cars that are robots. Grown men like Megan Fox. Grown gamers like MMO's but not if they don't feature a lot of Megan Fox.
    Grown men don't need Megan Fox featured in a video game to be entertained.
    Reply
  • demosthenes81
    where the hell is my good gundam mmo
    Reply
  • donovands
    insider3Grown men don't need Megan Fox featured in a video game to be entertained.
    But it doesn't hurt either.
    Reply
  • FloKid
    I think it's Japanese, it's definitely Japanese...
    Reply
  • r3t4rd
    Bah, don't need it. I remember MMO's back in my days were listening to PinkFloyd and Weed - I created my own world and real women..lots!
    Reply