Pirates of the Caribbean to go massively multiplayer

Disney Online, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Internet Group, has revealed that it is currently working on a new massively multiplayer online role-playing game based on the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

The game, which is being designed by Disney's VR Studio, will allow gamers to create their own pirate character and team up with others to form a crew, battling both other players and the evil undead pirates roaming the high seas.

"This is a great way for game enthusiasts to experience the fun and excitement of playing the role of a pirate while competing against a wide variety of opponents in a great adventure," said Dick Cook, chairman of Walt Disney Studios.

"Disney Online has created a really entertaining and challenging game that will appeal to the adventurer in all of us."

Pirates of the Caribbean is not the first MMO from Disney Online - in 2003 it launched Toontown Online, billed as the first 3D MMORPG designed for families and children.

"We've learned through our experience with Toontown that the market for massively multiplayer online role-playing games can indeed reach beyond traditional gamers," stated Ken Goldstein, EVP and managing director for Disney Online.

"Pirates of the Caribbean is the perfect franchise for our second commercial effort in this arena."

The game will go on release in summer 2006 in conjunction with the new film, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, which is currently being shot on location in Dominica. Buena Vista Games has previously announced that movie-tie in games are in development for the Sony PSP and Nintendo DS.