SEE Virtual Worlds pays $6m for Planet Calypso dev

MMO firm SEE Virtual Worlds has acquired developer First Planet Company from MindArk, owner of Project Entropia.

First Planet Company created Planet Calypso, the most successful of Entropia's real world currency-funded virtual worlds. Ownership of Calypso also passes to SEE Virtual Worlds as part of the $6 million deal.

First Planet Company will be rebranded as SEE Digital Studios, and put to work on SEE's upcoming Michael Jackson virtual world, Planet Michael. A Universal Studios monsters world is also in the pipeline.

"As we move into 2011 and beyond, SEE Virtual Worlds will continue to bring its innovative product offerings to the virtual world marketplace," said Martin Biallas, CEO of SEE Virtual Worlds.

"We know that virtual worlds are extremely lucrative and much of our success will be strengthened by working with MindArk and the added experience that First Planet Company brings to the process, having developed the most successful planet in the Entropia Universe to date."