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Introducing Planet Cazmo Posted By Mike on November 26, 2008
See the press release below regarding Planet Cazmo as C. Andrew Nelson (former ILM / Lucasfilm Darth Vader in Special Edition, commercials and promotional events) personally wants to speard the word to TFN readers. Also, make sure to check out Jimmy Mac's interview with Mr. Nelson right here!
"Beyond Naboo, Tatooine and Hoth, there is another planet that Stars Wars and LucasArts fans might want to visit: Planet Cazmo.
Planet Cazmo is the brainchild of former LucasArts senior artist Michael Levine. Levine is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pileated Pictures, LLC, an entertainment studio creating video games, character animation, concepts and stories. Planet Cazmo is his latest venture.
Levine enjoyed a long career with the Lucas companies dating back to Lucasfilm's early online role-playing game Habitat. He also helped pioneer many effects and animation techniques that pushed the envelope in such LucasArts favorites as Dark Forces, The Dig, Full Throttle, Jedi Knight, the Rebel Assault games, and scores of others.
Planet Cazmo is a browser-based multiplayer virtual world that integrates real-world music, YouTube videos, games, and entertainment into a fun and quirky rendered 3D environment. Planet Cazmo connects 'tweens and teens from more than 150 countries around the world. Its high level of customization gives players the opportunity to create, personalize, and accessorize their virtual characters and homes, play mini games, and go on quests.
If you feel a great disturbance in the force while visiting Planet Cazmo it may be because Michael Levine is joined in this project by other veteran jedis.
Cazmo's original look and feel was designed by none other than longtime LucasArts concept artist Peter Chan.
The original lead programmer is Tony Hsieh, former LucasArts programming wizard and the game designer behind Star Wars: Masters of Teräs Käsi.
Jesse Clark, who served as an animator at LucasArts on games such as Sam & Max Hit the Road and Outlaws as well as a level designer for Yoda Stories, is now involved with writing and game design for Planet Cazmo.
And former Industrial Light & Magic visual effects artist and LucasArts VFX supervisor C. Andrew Nelson is also on board. Nelson, who is best known to Star Wars fans for having spent many years portraying Darth Vader for Lucasfilm, is lending his artistic skills to Planet Cazmo, helping to create the artwork used in Planet Cazmo and many of the videos seen in the virtual world and on YouTube.
Rounding out the team is a group of top artists, programmers, testers, and moderators with years of incredible experience in the entertainment field. The group behind Planet Cazmo was culled from many industry leaders and includes people who have worked for Disney, Electronic Arts, Hasbro, Nickelodeon, Sony, and MTV.
The site is currently running a special promotion. Sign up now and refer your friends to be eligible to win a Nintendo Wii from Planet Cazmo!
You can start your Planet Cazmo adventure by going to www.planetcazmo.com. "