BBC, Three Rings Creating Free-To-Play Dr. Who Online Game

BBC Worldwide and independent developer Three Rings announced plans to launch a free-to-play online multiplayer game (a first for the sci-fi television show) for Dr. Who some time later this year. Titled Doctor Who: Worlds in Time, the game will have players travelling through time and space, exploring new worlds, and encountering a variety of both friendly and unfriendly alien races. The story centers on a "mysterious Time Lord" that helps Dr. Who defend civilized culture against familiar enemies. BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, says the online game is meant to allow players to "socialize and foster genuine cooperation", as it hopes to build a global community for the series' fans around the world. It also says that development for the title is well underway. The developer working on the game, San Francisco-headquartered Three Rings, was founded in 2001 and has also released online titles like Puzzle Pirates and Bang! Howdy. The company promises its game will "capture the imaginative spirit and depth of the [Dr. Who] series, while being fun and easy to play for all ages." "Three Rings is the ideal team for this groundbreaking creative partnership," says BBC Worldwide's Digital Entertainment EVP Robert Nashak. "Not only are they visionaries in the online gaming space, they are lifelong Doctor Who fans with a passion for delivering the level of quality that our players will expect and deserve."