Funcom's been keeping The Secret World so secret since it was revealed last year that we were beginning to wonder whether the whole game was just one massive leg pull.
However, now some eight months after the MMO was originally confirmed, the studio's started to blow away veil of fog surrounding it.
In an interview with PC Zone magazine, it reveals that classic Japanese horror movie The Ring is a major inspiration for the project.
"The setting for The Secret World is actually our own world... But there is something out there, another world beyond our own", product manager Erling Ellingson has explained.
"In this world there are monsters and there are some very, very dark conspiracies. There are also many myths and legends from our own world, that may play a part in all of this".
Reading between the lines, we get the impression that Funcom is aiming to stick H.P. Lovecraft-style horror in the game, however it's being very cagey at the moment.
One thing it will say though at this stage in development is that the setting is what's, er, setting The Secret World apart from other MMOs.
"We're putting a lot of effort into making huge, believable environments", revealed Ellingson, "you will actually be exploring vast cities such as London and New York. This creates some really exciting opportunities for us as a developer, to actually set a massive online game in real-world cities."
He added, "As I said, the game takes place in what is close to our own present time, but [players] will be battling creatures of darkness across the world and throughout time!"
The Secret World is in development for PC and Xbox 360. There's no release date as yet.
For PC Zone's full interview with Funcom on The Secret World, grab a copy of its new issue, #191, which hits shelves this Thursday. The interview is accompanied by new artwork.
How many PC gamers do you think, play multiple MMO's on say, a weekly basis, like gamers may play multiple single player games?
I don't think it can be many, especially once you sign up to a monthly fee MMO?
So isn't more and more 'live' MMO's going to get diminishing returns - unless gamers actually cancel one MMO to sign up to another?
MMO's - a very different world!
Personally I only subscribe to one MMO at a time (currently Pirates of the Burning Sea!), but I know a few that are subscribed to more!
You are right though - there's only so many subscribers to go round.
There's just far too many MMOs at the moment - either out or in development it's getting stupid. I guess the only good thing is that devs are finally having to try to be different to get a foothold. The reason I'm playing Pirates is because it's so different and refreshing compared to WoW and it's clones, but as a result it's very niche and as a result won't get anywhere near the numbers of more mainstream MMOs. But maybe that's a good thing?!
Personally I only subscribe to one MMO at a time (currently Pirates of the Burning Sea!), but I know a few that are subscribed to more
So, what's it like, any cop?
I've been watching stuff on The Secret World with great interest - I yearn to play a Call of Cthulhu-esque MMO, despite my reservations that it may not work very well. Here's hoping it does, and that this is all I hope it is.
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