Free-to-play, browser-based MMOs are nothing new. After all, RuneScape's been around for years and has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's most popular free MMORPG. Despite such competition, Sparkplay Media plans to take this sub-genre of online games to the next level with Earth Eternal, an MMO that puts players in the shoes of anthropomorphic animals and creatures instead of elves and orcs. I got a chance to participate in the game's closed beta and speak with members of the Sparkplay team, and it's clear the company is dedicated to putting out a fun product for its first release.

Sparkplay was co-founded in 2006 by CEO and Creative Director Matt Mihaly, to focus on the development of Earth Eternal and other projects. The company actually spun off from Iron Realms Entertainment, which Mihaly launched in 1996, to develop text-based MUDs (multi-user dungeon). "When we started the business, it was just me," Mihaly said, looking back on the creation of Iron Realms. "I was kind of casting around for how we could make money. I ended up pioneering the virtual goods model." This model can be seen in Achaea, Dreams of Divine Lands, an MUD that was released in 1997. The game is still running strong and is touted on its Web site as "the most successful new MUD of the last nine years."

Sparkplay Media has announced that closed beta testing for Earth Eternal, a "top-tier" free-to-play 3D fantasy MMO that can be played in a browser or through a downloadable client, is currently under way. The game is scheduled to launch this summer, but you can apply to be a beta tester by registering for an account on the game's official Web site.

Earth Eternal boasts 22 unique races "with a broad range of character customization options and diverse environments." The full announcement regarding the beta test can be found below.

We are pleased to release the second Earth Eternal video for your viewing pleasure!

We hope this video gives you an idea of what the unique world we're working on is all about.

There's also a high quality version, so go take a look!

Mill Valley, CA, November 5, 2007 - Iron Realms Entertainment has spun off the division working on its 3d MMO Earth Eternal into a separate company and brand - Sparkplay Media.

Matt Mihaly, CEO of both Sparkplay and Iron Realms, said, "We're creating a separate company because the aims of Sparkplay are a bit different from Iron Realms. With IRE we've tried to create the most expansive, deep text-based MMORPG experiences around, and IRE will continue to do that with new text MMOs and with the near-daily game updates that our fans have become accustomed to."

"Sparkplay, on the other hand, is creating games (3d and otherwise) for an audience that is looking for experiences that don't necessarily require the same level of commitment to get into."

Sparkplay plans a 2008 release of its first game - Earth Eternal - and a 2009 release of two following games.

Hopefully we'll see some good stuff from them soon!