The fact that Blue Mars, the from Avatar Reality on display at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, uses the impressive CryENGINE 2 featured in the astoundingly pretty Crysis, could lead you to assume the new game will be of the traditional MMORPG variety, spruced with perhaps a focus on conflict and a smattering of sci-fi pomp. In fact, from what we've gathered on the game at GDC, the title is closer to Second Life than it is to say... Tabula Rasa.

Early hints come in the language being used to describe this visually arresting new title, which the developers are billing as an MMVW, a massively virtual world. No mention of a 'game' there, you might note, although the premise would happily grace the rear of the latest futuristic package.

Yes, as the name suggests, we're of to a terra-formed Mars in the year 2177 AD. In this brave new world, we're promised "stunning graphics, realistic characters and endless gaming attractions," with a focus on building and simulating real-life scenarios "by creating personalized characters". Second Life meets Star Trek, then, with an emphasis seemingly on the social side of the game, a real-life alternative, rather than on the adventuring, battling, striving and constant challenge of more traditional 'games'. Blue Mars certain looks like a title straddling the border between game and social network, in could be argued...

That said, the game certainly looks like that's what it is, the CryENGINE 2 bringing Avatar Reality's vision of future Mars to life in vivid detail. The flexibility of the game engine will also allow for an extreme element of customisation a la Second Life, or, whisper it... Facebook. The developer speak of a scripting game environment in which third-parties will be able to build games using Avatar Reality's technology.

Like plug-ins and add-ons for other social offerings, this new opportunity is being opened up to game developers, CG artists and "interested business partners [who will have] an opportunity to create a variety of in-world attractions, 3D art assets and promotions for Blue Mars users".

"Our goal is to create an virtual world that will feature the highest-level of fun, imagination, romanticism and creative freedom," beams Avatar Reality big-wig Henk Rogers. "A highly talented team of celebrated game and developers has come together to share their knowledge in creating an online world that will quickly become ‘the’ place to meet your friends."

Comparison's with the PS3's service would probably not be a disservice to either title, Blue Mars featuring modernistic buildings set in a lavish recreation of terra-formed Mars, according to early images. The casual gaming element should still ensure the project doesn't become too much like a 3D Facebook, although much will depend on the quality of the third-party toolset to be unveiled at the GDC this week.

Of course, it is still unclear whether there is a market for a high-end MMO like this, which will probably need monstrous PCs to run on given the demanding nature of EA's Crysis, which was of course based on the same technology. That said, with the "game" not set to enter beta until the end of this year, technology does have awhile to catch up.

Perhaps most interesting about Blue Mars however is the fact that it isn't really a game in the traditional sense - unless you class socialising and making friends online as a highly evolved form of "game-play".

What's your take on this new phenomenon, dear reader?

By Luke Guttridge