Trion World To Use Emergent For 'Major Online Franchise'

Emergent Game Technologies today announced that it has entered into a technology partnership with the recently formed Trion World Network, an online publisher and developer of games and original entertainment for the broadband era. Trion, which was officially formed in late September will use Emergent's Gamebryo Element game engine and toolset for "a major game franchise currently in development." The new publisher is headed by Dr. Lars Buttler, former vice president of Global Online at Electronic Arts, and Jon van Caneghem, founder and former publisher of New World Computing, and creator of the bestselling Might and Magic game series. Trion's actual product is somewhat shielded in mystery right now, but appears to include some kind of virtual world element. Trion is not restricting itself to games, either . With a multitude of partnerships — from game development studios to corporate media giants — the company plans to do business in not one type of content, but three: games, online, and traditional media (television and film). "We started Trion to leverage all the inherent capabilities of broadband, provide original entertainment and define the future of media in the broadband era," said Buttler. "We look for technology partners with fresh ideas and innovative technologies. Emergent is focused on the new challenges of broadband with tools that give us the flexibility we need as we take entertainment into the broadband era."