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Teen star Selena Gomez to drop in on Austin-developed ‘Wizard 101’
Teen star Selena Gomez is going from the “Wizards of Waverly Place” to “Wizard 101.” The actress/singer who hails from Grand Prairie will appear in Austin-developed online video game “Wizard 101” as herself as part of her promotion of a music album, “A Year Without Rain” from her band, Selena Gomez & The Scene. That album is due out Sept. 21.
A producer and sound engineer for “Wizard 101,” developed by KingIsle Entertainment, worked with Gomez in her home, recording dialogue for her appearance in the game. Players will be able to access the quest, in which Gomez falls asleep at a recording studio and finds herself in the virtual world, by the time of the album release. The quest, titled, “Round & Round” will appear on test servers later this week for “101” players who wish to access it early.
The title track from the album, “A Year Without Rain,” and the song “Round & Round” will appear in the quest.
Fred Howard, vice president of marketing for the company, said KingsIsle isn’t paying Gomez for the appearance. “We worked with Hollywood Records and Selena and her folks to do a true cross-promotion,” he said.
“Wizard 101” recently announced it had passed 10 million registrations. The family friendly game has been a hit since it debuted two years ago. It’s free to play, but players can unlock play areas and items by purchasing virtual “Crowns.”
Howard describes the Selena Gomez mission, which was quickly produced by the KingsIsle staff in Austin, as a “Save the princess quest.” In it a character called the Crab King tries to make an unwilling Gomez his princess. Players are tasked with freeing her from the Crab King (and, presumably, many crabby minions).
In addition to recording the star’s voice, the team was tasked with making a 3-D model of Gomez for the game, writing the dialogue and content of the quest, and building the creatures and animations to go with the project.
See a video of the quest here. More screenshots of Selena Gomez in “Wizard 101” below:
(Updated at 8:41 a.m. with a link to the video.)
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Comments
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By Crispy
September 12, 2010 4:09 PM | Link to this
I wonder if you have to go to Celestia.
If you do I'll never be able to finish it.
CRISPY
(Balance Wizards ROCK)
By gino
September 12, 2010 12:06 PM | Link to this
I think this is great that she in wizard 101
By marcela
September 12, 2010 12:22 AM | Link to this
omg that was the best singing ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By donna lawrence aka donna lifewhisper
September 9, 2010 9:43 AM | Link to this
wow !!
By andrei
September 9, 2010 2:17 AM | Link to this
Hi i like very much you Selena i i like very much too wizard101.Who can give me Selena messanger id plz?
By Tommy
September 8, 2010 7:04 PM | Link to this
I can't wait for celestia to come out! i saw the video with the selena chick and you got to see celestia in it! the guy was riding a sharkmount. plus i think my level 58 spell is a genie guy! can't wait to find out! it is coming to test realm in a couple of days. Best of wishes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thomas RubyCaster
Level 50 Fire Wizard
CL ROCKS :D
By joshua
September 8, 2010 3:33 PM | Link to this
i think its a great idea that selena gomez is on wizard101,because almost all of america loves her including me i love her music.And having
selena on wizard101 is great cuz its a grat way to level up.oh and thanx kingsisle for giving us the little sneak peak of celestia and the brand new
schools spells on the vid on wizard101.com.so thank you so much and best wishes to selena and the scene and kingsisle for having her on wizard101.BYE :D