The other thread got too long............ Continuing with a new one.

Please use this thread to discuss everything and anything MJ.

Any created threads will get the and be directed to this sticky.

Thanks.

http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2010-09-21-mjworld21_ST_N.htm

'Planet Michael' will let players builds virtual Jackson worlds

Updated 9h 59m ago | Comments 6 | Recommend 2

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Planet Michael, an online virtual world devoted to Jackson's life, music and concerns, being developed to open late next year, will combine features of a massively multiplayer online game and social network.

"We put a focus on something that will truly allow fans to immerse themselves in a Michael Jackson-like universe or music-video-like world and interact with each other and then go on adventures and do gameplay stuff and socialize," says Josh Gordon of developer SEE Virtual Worlds.

Think World of Warcraft— with no violence and more dancing. "The player is more apt to succeed in a situation using song, dance and adventure as opposed to violence," Gordon says.

A free-to-download game, Planet Michael will let players (ages 13-up) customize their own avatars, perhaps with red Thriller jackets and sequined gloves. However, you will be able to spend money on items, and some virtual objects earned and created in the world can be traded or sold to others. (More information at planetmichael.com.)

But will Planet Michael's publishers be able to overcome Jackson's tarnished reputation, which included such behavior as holding a newborn off a hotel balcony and charges of molesting children (he was acquitted on criminal charges, while some civil cases were settled out of court)?

"The answer is, 'I'm not sure,' " says video game industry analyst Michael Pachter, commenting not on Planet Michael specifically but on potential projects including the recently announced Michael Jackson The Experience dance video game from Ubisoft.

"If parents are the target, I think that the legacy baggage will be a problem," Pachter says. "If the user is the target, I think that all will be forgiven, because there is no question that he was a phenomenal performer. So I suppose the answer is 'somewhere in between.' "

"There is no doubt we will be open to people joking about it and criticizing it," says Gordon. "We'll just have to roll with that as it comes, so to speak. ... He's such a big name and he's such a big legend that no matter what we do, we are going to get a lot of people who are excited, and we are going to get people who criticize us. And we have just taken that as the way it is going to be."

Before he died, Jackson was exploring games and interactive entertainment prospects. "Unfortunately, he never got to this point," says Martin Biallas, president of SEE Virtual Worlds, a division of Biallas' larger company SEE (Special Entertainment Events), for which he organized real-life happenings around Star Trek's 30th anniversary and the 1999 world tour of Titanic props, sets and costumes.

The Swedish company MindArk, which operates the Entropia Universe online service, ap- proached SEE about entertainment properties that might be worthy of virtual-world treatment, and Biallas contacted the Jackson estate. "They loved it and said this could actually be something where we could also transmit the ideas (and) the vision that Michael had, and not make it just a game but make it a social-interacting platform."

So in addition to areas based on songs such as Thriller, Beat It and Smooth Criminal, there might be an altruistic area based on a song such as Heal the World. Players will be able to donate to charities as well.

"We believe this online social gaming experience will bring the most passionate Michael Jackson fans together with those just discovering his artistry in a unique environment where they can celebrate his music, his art and his devotion to helping those in need," says an e-mailed statement from Jackson's estate and executors.

Planet Michael launches 2011, but you can sign up now here: http://www.planetmichael.com/

Press release:

http://www.planetmichael.com/_img/PlanetMJ_Announce.pdf

oh great. Now the only thing missing on that planet is Michael. ^_^

Hey maybe they should make a very longrunning quest to find virtua Michael. O,o

It will be something users should build up years and years until they find him with halo.

Atleast if thats how the game works

[Edited 9/21/10 7:49am]

I signed up lol.

xlad said:

Planet Michael launches 2011, but you can sign up now here: http://www.planetmichael.com/

Press release:

http://www.planetmichael.com/_img/PlanetMJ_Announce.pdf

I signed up!

[Edited 9/21/10 11:26am]

I want in!!!!!!!!! Jeesum...

all these tributes....why couldn't they do this when he was with us??? He'da loved that....

*sigh....I miss you Michael....the world ain't the same without you...

SherryJackson said:

I want in!!!!!!!!! Jeesum...

all these tributes....why couldn't they do this when he was with us??? He'da loved that....

*sigh....I miss you Michael....the world ain't the same without you...

November and December are going to be VERY interesting months

bboy87 said:

November and December are going to be VERY interesting months

You DAMN right! Any word on the official track list of the new album?

PlanetMichael???? The Michael Jackson Experience????

GTFO!

I'm sick of the bandwagon jumping companies and fans, yes fans, that are dumb enough to fall for all this shit. Get some perspective. This is a man that as of yet has received NO justice for what happened to him, the picking at his corpse for profit fucking sickens me.

[Edited 9/21/10 15:52pm]

what the hell is that short film? I highly doubt its a collection of his previous videos in one video ...right?

Marrk said:

PlanetMichael???? The Michael Jackson Experience????

GTFO!

I'm sick of the bandwagon jumping companies and fans, yes fans, that are dumb enough to fall for all this shit. Get some perspective. This is a man that as of yet has received NO justice for what happened to him, the picking at his corpse for profit fucking sickens me.

[Edited 9/21/10 15:52pm]

This PlanetMichael stuff is just fans having fun. Chill. It has nothing to do with "picking at his corpse for profit".

The Estate is a BUSINESS and MJ took plenty of provisions to make sure it was that way when he was alive, in case anything did happen. It's a business so you should expect it to be run that way.

It's no different with anyone else - Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, Tupac, Elvis..... so don't come all angry like "fans dumb enough to fall for this shit". I've been an MJ fan AND inside the music industry for my entire life so let's not play games here. With regards to the game, did you forget MJ was involved in MULTIPLE video games when he was alive, from the 2 Moonwalker games, to Sonic 3 where he did the original soundtrack, to Space Channel 5 on the Dreamcast......for all you know, they could have been discussing this new game before he even passed.

You have every right to be angry at the fact that there's yet to be justice for his murder. We ALL are. We're ALL still hurting. But I think your anger with this post was misguided.

This is business, it's how it works regardless of the circumstances of how MJ died. There's no reason to be mad at that. The children will benefit more than anyone, and that's how Michael would want it to be.

Militant said:

Marrk said:

PlanetMichael???? The Michael Jackson Experience????

GTFO!

I'm sick of the bandwagon jumping companies and fans, yes fans, that are dumb enough to fall for all this shit. Get some perspective. This is a man that as of yet has received NO justice for what happened to him, the picking at his corpse for profit fucking sickens me.

[Edited 9/21/10 15:52pm]

This PlanetMichael stuff is just fans having fun. Chill. It has nothing to do with "picking at his corpse for profit".

The Estate is a BUSINESS and MJ took plenty of provisions to make sure it was that way when he was alive, in case anything did happen. It's a business so you should expect it to be run that way.

It's no different with anyone else - Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, Tupac, Elvis..... so don't come all angry like "fans dumb enough to fall for this shit". I've been an MJ fan AND inside the music industry for my entire life so let's not play games here. With regards to the game, did you forget MJ was involved in MULTIPLE video games when he was alive, from the 2 Moonwalker games, to Sonic 3 where he did the original soundtrack, to Space Channel 5 on the Dreamcast......for all you know, they could have been discussing this new game before he even passed.

You have every right to be angry at the fact that there's yet to be justice for his murder. We ALL are. We're ALL still hurting. But I think your anger with this post was misguided.

This is business, it's how it works regardless of the circumstances of how MJ died. There's no reason to be mad at that. The children will benefit more than anyone, and that's how Michael would want it to be.

My opinion is Michael's legacy is his music, pure and simple. By all means buy the 'new' music cause at least he put some of his heart and soul into it, whether he intended it to be released or not. Whatever DVD live performances come out, the same. The guy was up there doing his thing. I want to see quality product, not tacky shit aimed at silly twats who didn't give a shit til June '09.

I honestly feel companies like Ubisoft are vultures, this 'Michael Jackson Experience' is appalling in title and product. Show me Hendrix or Curbain games. There aren't any. Does the estate really want to destroy MJ's credibility? It's ludicrous. So i'll level some blame at them too.

I know MJ dug video games and appeared in them, i'm not a naive fan, I've been one since '76. I know for a fact the last things Michael signed up for were the Opus book and he apparently authorised Hot Toys to make the current range of dolls. If this Planet Michael shit is by fans for fans, fine, i'll accept that. I suspect it's more about people promoting themselves and their 'skills' off his back though. The end of the 'Leave Me Alone' video has never rang more true to me.

Michael isn't a damn fairground ride.

Just give me some music.

[Edited 9/21/10 16:31pm]

ViintageJunkiie said:

bboy87 said:

November and December are going to be VERY interesting months

You DAMN right! Any word on the official track list of the new album?

Not yet, some fans are complaining because we don't have a title, or a cover, or a tracklist that it's not going to happen and are demanding a official press release....

even though the estate announched it in March, the Rolling Stone article in July, all the reports that the album's coming in November, and Lenny Kravitz, Teddy Riley, and Rodney Jerkins are confirming that it's coming

Since summer is officially over, I thought this would pick all of our spirits up...

Marrk said:

Militant said:

This PlanetMichael stuff is just fans having fun. Chill. It has nothing to do with "picking at his corpse for profit".

The Estate is a BUSINESS and MJ took plenty of provisions to make sure it was that way when he was alive, in case anything did happen. It's a business so you should expect it to be run that way.

It's no different with anyone else - Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, Tupac, Elvis..... so don't come all angry like "fans dumb enough to fall for this shit". I've been an MJ fan AND inside the music industry for my entire life so let's not play games here. With regards to the game, did you forget MJ was involved in MULTIPLE video games when he was alive, from the 2 Moonwalker games, to Sonic 3 where he did the original soundtrack, to Space Channel 5 on the Dreamcast......for all you know, they could have been discussing this new game before he even passed.

You have every right to be angry at the fact that there's yet to be justice for his murder. We ALL are. We're ALL still hurting. But I think your anger with this post was misguided.

This is business, it's how it works regardless of the circumstances of how MJ died. There's no reason to be mad at that. The children will benefit more than anyone, and that's how Michael would want it to be.

My opinion is Michael's legacy is his music, pure and simple. By all means buy the 'new' music cause at least he put some of his heart and soul into it, whether he intended it to be released or not. Whatever DVD live performances come out, the same. The guy was up there doing his thing. I want to see quality product, not tacky shit aimed at silly twats who didn't give a shit til June '09.

I honestly feel companies like Ubisoft are vultures, this 'Michael Jackson Experience' is appalling in title and product. Show me Hendrix or Curbain games. There aren't any. Does the estate really want to destroy MJ's credibility? It's ludicrous. So i'll level some blame at them too.

I know MJ dug video games and appeared in them, i'm not a naive fan, I've been one since '76. I know for a fact the last things Michael signed up for were the Opus book and he apparently authorised Hot Toys to make the current range of dolls. If this Planet Michael shit is by fans for fans, fine, i'll accept that. I suspect it's more about people promoting themselves and their 'skills' off his back though. The end of the 'Leave Me Alone' video has never rang more true to me.

Michael isn't a damn fairground ride.

Just give me some music.

[Edited 9/21/10 16:31pm]

Well if there's "misconception" of Michael's legacy, maybe Michael played a big part in that then because he was all about business so he did the things people are doing NOW. I'm guessing in Michael's case, just the music wouldn't be enough to make sure his kids are looked after.

1983

[img:$uid]http://mjphotoscollectors.com/web/uploads/1284904493/gallery_75_1022_4602.jpg[/img:$uid]

1989 or 1990

[img:$uid]http://mjphotoscollectors.com/web/uploads/1284164330/gallery_2_2174_420738.jpg[/img:$uid]

Marrk said:

I honestly feel companies like Ubisoft are vultures, this 'Michael Jackson Experience' is appalling in title and product. Show me Hendrix or Curbain games. There aren't any. Does the estate really want to destroy MJ's credibility? It's ludicrous. So i'll level some blame at them too.

I know MJ dug video games and appeared in them, i'm not a naive fan, I've been one since '76. I know for a fact the last things Michael signed up for were the Opus book and he apparently authorised Hot Toys to make the current range of dolls.

Actually, Courtney Love got some criticism for allowing Kurt to be a playable character in the last Guitar Hero game. So, that counts. Nirvana's songs are all over those "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band" games and all that has to be signed off by his estate. It might not be a standalone Nirvana game, but when Kurt is a playable character it's close enough.

Hendrix's estate are notoriously difficult to deal with. Any potential deals there were probably squandered by the fact that the people running his affairs have no idea what they are doing.

Do you REALLY think this game will "destroy his credibility?". Actually - I think it will open up his music to a new generation even more.

As for what you said about "silly twats who didn't give a shit until June 09", listen, we all find it hard to deal with. Any and every one of us who has been a hardcore fan for years and years and defended Michael through the two allegation cases, the plastic surgery jokes, people attacking him and ignoring how incredible he was, and now everyone wants to act like they aren't jumping on a bandwagon when it's so fucking obvious that they are.

But, that's life. Or more specifically, that's death. Death elevates artists to a new plateau. Hendrix, Cobain, Tupac, Bob Marley, Biggie, Aaliyah, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin...... every single one of these artists shot up to legendary status after they died, some of them more deserving of it than others, and their estates kept their legacies alive and made a shitload of money doing so. It's one of the most tragic aspects of entertainment, that there is no PR better than dying. MJ's death has boosted his popularity with the general public more than the "Thriller" album with all it's singles, videos, Motown 25 performance, and 100million+ record sales combined. The estate has made over a billion dollars already since his death.

For as much as we find it hard to deal with as longterm fans who are still mourning and still angry, this is a fact and we have no choice but to accept that reality.

I mean, what's the alternative? That he died and only those of us who were already fans gave a shit and nobody else was enticed to realize how incredible he was? Because that's not exactly a great alternative, either.

For as much as you think people are cashing in, I truly believe that Michael would want it this way - especially when his children are the primary beneficiaries. Michael would want all of these websites, video games, etc. He would want this game to be the biggest game of the year with every kid asking for it for Christmas, which is probably what's going to happen.

And regardless of the last deals he signed off on, Michael had a million ideas in his head of things he wanted to do. Sadly so many of those will never be known.

But there's no point trying to guess what he would and would not want, because for all we know, he might have wanted a million video games about him to come out, a million more fan-made websites, a damn special edition MJ-branded Monopoly game with a Fedora, Glittery Socks, a Glove, and a Chimp as the pieces, a new cartoon series with him as a Superhero, a bunch of "This Is It " graphic novels, and who knows what else. We just don't know.

Militant said:

Marrk said:

I honestly feel companies like Ubisoft are vultures, this 'Michael Jackson Experience' is appalling in title and product. Show me Hendrix or Curbain games. There aren't any. Does the estate really want to destroy MJ's credibility? It's ludicrous. So i'll level some blame at them too.

I know MJ dug video games and appeared in them, i'm not a naive fan, I've been one since '76. I know for a fact the last things Michael signed up for were the Opus book and he apparently authorised Hot Toys to make the current range of dolls.

Actually, Courtney Love got some criticism for allowing Kurt to be a playable character in the last Guitar Hero game. So, that counts. Nirvana's songs are all over those "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band" games and all that has to be signed off by his estate. It might not be a standalone Nirvana game, but when Kurt is a playable character it's close enough.

Hendrix's estate are notoriously difficult to deal with. Any potential deals there were probably squandered by the fact that the people running his affairs have no idea what they are doing.

Do you REALLY think this game will "destroy his credibility?". Actually - I think it will open up his music to a new generation even more.

As for what you said about "silly twats who didn't give a shit until June 09", listen, we all find it hard to deal with. Any and every one of us who has been a hardcore fan for years and years and defended Michael through the two allegation cases, the plastic surgery jokes, people attacking him and ignoring how incredible he was, and now everyone wants to act like they aren't jumping on a bandwagon when it's so fucking obvious that they are.

But, that's life. Or more specifically, that's death. Death elevates artists to a new plateau. Hendrix, Cobain, Tupac, Bob Marley, Biggie, Aaliyah, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin...... every single one of these artists shot up to legendary status after they died, some of them more deserving of it than others, and their estates kept their legacies alive and made a shitload of money doing so. It's one of the most tragic aspects of entertainment, that there is no PR better than dying. MJ's death has boosted his popularity with the general public more than the "Thriller" album with all it's singles, videos, Motown 25 performance, and 100million+ record sales combined. The estate has made over a billion dollars already since his death.

For as much as we find it hard to deal with as longterm fans who are still mourning and still angry, this is a fact and we have no choice but to accept that reality.

I mean, what's the alternative? That he died and only those of us who were already fans gave a shit and nobody else was enticed to realize how incredible he was? Because that's not exactly a great alternative, either.

For as much as you think people are cashing in, I truly believe that Michael would want it this way - especially when his children are the primary beneficiaries. Michael would want all of these websites, video games, etc. He would want this game to be the biggest game of the year with every kid asking for it for Christmas, which is probably what's going to happen.

And regardless of the last deals he signed off on, Michael had a million ideas in his head of things he wanted to do. Sadly so many of those will never be known.

But there's no point trying to guess what he would and would not want, because for all we know, he might have wanted a million video games about him to come out, a million more fan-made websites, a damn special edition MJ-branded Monopoly game with a Fedora, Glittery Socks, a Glove, and a Chimp as the pieces, a new cartoon series with him as a Superhero, a bunch of "This Is It " graphic novels, and who knows what else. We just don't know.

Michael Jackson cereal!

"Shamone-Os"!

Marrk said:

PlanetMichael???? The Michael Jackson Experience????

GTFO!

I'm sick of the bandwagon jumping companies and fans, yes fans, that are dumb enough to fall for all this shit. Get some perspective. This is a man that as of yet has received NO justice for what happened to him, the picking at his corpse for profit fucking sickens me.

[Edited 9/21/10 15:52pm]

I feel the same about it. I'll most likely join the RPG because it has MJ's name in it, but what's gonna make this game different from all the others?

http://www.tudou.com/prog...O14puBf5A/

http://www.tudou.com/prog...44zq5N-2E/


http://www.tudou.com/prog...mF_ZIfVWU/


http://www.tudou.com/prog...nqq10yIA4/


http://www.tudou.com/prog...tj3ZRxH6A/

@ Michael saying "Look at her titties!"

I want a new album and I want it now. I thought 20Ten would make the wait easier since it would be so good because it was Prince. Mind you I had just become a new fan and didn't know that Prince had been in decline since 1988.

Not sure if it got lost in the last thread but a source at Sony "whilst not confirming anything" did tell me to keep November 23 free.

This *could* be the release date for the album, or some other release from MJ (DVDs etc) though I assume it seems likely that a month out from Christmas would be a perfect time to release it.

Daily True Facts

Michael Jackson wears sunglasses to not be blinded by his own aura.

bboy87 said:

http://www.tudou.com/prog...O14puBf5A/

http://www.tudou.com/prog...44zq5N-2E/


http://www.tudou.com/prog...mF_ZIfVWU/


http://www.tudou.com/prog...nqq10yIA4/


http://www.tudou.com/prog...tj3ZRxH6A/

@ Michael saying "Look at her titties!"

When does he say that? Which video?

dag said:

bboy87 said:

http://www.tudou.com/prog...O14puBf5A/

http://www.tudou.com/prog...44zq5N-2E/


http://www.tudou.com/prog...mF_ZIfVWU/


http://www.tudou.com/prog...nqq10yIA4/


http://www.tudou.com/prog...tj3ZRxH6A/

@ Michael saying "Look at her titties!"

When does he say that? Which video?

In the first link

bboy87 said:

dag said:

When does he say that? Which video?

In the first link

What time? You can´t post stuff like that with 6 videos each several minutes long. I need to see it NOW!

dag said:

bboy87 said:

In the first link

What time? You can´t post stuff like that with 6 videos each several minutes long. I need to see it NOW!

Claire said the 19th minute!

So try somewhere at 19:00

[Edited 9/22/10 8:51am]