Bigpoint in collaboration with Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products has announced the international open beta release of Ice Age Online. Based on the hit motion picture franchise, Ice Age Online brings together the popular film characters and environments in a free-to-play, browser-based adventure game with a host of cool social features. The title offers fans a new way to enjoy the franchise alongside the global release of Ice Age: Continental Drift, in theaters in 3D July 2012. The game is now available in 10 languages worldwide with more languages to be added in the weeks to follow. Players can access the game for free, and play directly in their web browser.

“We’re excited to have fans of Ice Age jump into the open beta,” said Julia Salomon, Producer, Bigpoint. “Our team is dedicated to delivering an authentic online gaming experience that is true to the cinematic adventures of Sid, Manny Diego, and Scrat – and we’re confident that fans will be entertained by Ice Age Online.”

In Ice Age Online, players take on the role of a sloth who discovers the perfect home for its herd, but suddenly becomes separated by a volcanic eruption. To survive, players must rescue the lost members and build camps for their prehistoric animal friends through a combination of mission and jump-n-run gameplay. Throughout multiple game modes and the World Map, a variety of locations can be explored – the Ice Floes, Grassy Plains, Jungle, and Glacier – based on familiar settings within the blockbuster movie franchise.

The platform game, built atop the Unity 3D platform, will also feature a friends list, activity graph, leaderboards, and the opportunity for friends and families to visit each other’s camps and leave gifts behind. As players learn to utilize special skills and master the collection of precious acorns and materials needed to construct camps, they will unlock new achievements and bonuses – including one level where players are able to take control of Diego, the lightning-fast saber tooth tiger, and race along a challenging obstacle course.

“Video games and film have an organic connection, and the online game space offers the opportunity for fans around the world to be immersed in the world of Ice Age in an all new way,” said Jeffrey Godsick, President of Fox Consumer Products. “Bigpoint, a global leader in online game development, was a natural partner choice for launching this franchise phenomenon on an online gaming platform.”

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 10th, 2012 at 3:02 pm and is filed under MMO News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.