Welcome to Games-galore Kung Fu Panda World

Young fans of the movie Kung Fu Panda will soon have an online dojo in which to fine-tune their style: Kung Fu Panda World, a virtual world designed for ages 8 to 12, is being developed by DreamWorks Animation and is due to go live early next year.

The Web browser-based world, inspired by the 2008 film, will launch with dozens of arcade-style games and other activities. (A range of subscription levels is planned, along with free day passes; sign up for more details at kungfupandaworld.com.)

Chats, game, treasure hunts and explorations in Asian-flavored settings will let kids earn their way to higher levels of kung fu mastery, signified by the color of their belt or sash.

"Just like Po the Panda was a fan of kung fu but didn't fit those typical, traditional kung fu styles, he found his path and unlocked his hero within. And that is what we want kids to feel like," says Rick Rekedal, head of production of DreamWorks Animation Online.

DreamWorks game designers and animators have been working on the project for two years. Their goal: to go beyond typical "play the movie" games and improve the quality of browser-based games within a social virtual environment that the player can always return to. "We want to have this engaging sense that the world is always on," Rekedal says.

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