Flying Lab Into Casual Games

My favorite MMO company Flying Lab Software, makers of Pirates of the Burning Sea, went on a media blitz yesterday, announcing the launch of its Casual Games division. According to Game Daily, FLS will soon officially announce plans for a casual MMO title.

So this was the secret project! I was in Seattle for Penny Arcade Expo last summer and a bunch of us got to tour FLS’ new offices. They had so recently moved in that they hadn’t even finished unpacking. But one area was off-limits and we were told that the staff there was working on a “secret project”, so secret I couldn’t get anyone to even drop a hint despite swearing an oath on my girl scout’s honor not to write about it until they were ready to announce it.

Now I can’t wait for the details. Based on the few hints that CEO Rusty Williams dropped in that Game Daily interview (and also the fact that they’re partnering with Upper Deck), it looks like it will be an online trading card game thing. I was hoping it would be something that would appeal more to women gamers, probably the only market that has yet been untapped by MMO developers.

But hey, you never know. So I’m keeping an eye on it.