Trion and Sci-Fi to develop cross media property

MMO developer Trion has teamed up with The Sci-Fi Channel to create a hybrid TV/games franchise.

According to The LA Times, the ‘groundbreaking’ concept will see fans who play the game actually help shape the show’s story arc with their virtual exploits.

"This is the Holy Grail for us, without a doubt," said Dave Howe, president of the Sci Fi Channel. "This is groundbreaking, and I don’t say that lightly."

Sci Fi Channel executives are remaining quiet about the title of the show and game and their premise, but they do hint that it will be set 80 to 100 years in the future on an Earth that looks very different from today. The team has summer 2010 targeted for launch, and more details are expected to be announced in July at Comic-Con International in San Diego.

In addition, Trion also announced that it has signed a deal with SCEA to develop and publish games for the PS3, and that its first title will be a fantasy MMO helmed by Might and Magic franchise creator and Trion co-founder, president and COO Jon Van Caneghem. The currently un-named game will be published in Europe and North America by Trion itself and will run on its revolutionary server-based architecture.