The Jungle: Panasonic’s New Portable MMO Machine

The ever-present, persistent massively multiplayer online worlds are coming together in the form of Panasonic‘s new Jungle, a portable MMO player with a rather rugged-looking exterior that promises a “kick ass display, touch pad, keyboard, and other gaming controls.” It looks like there’s no reason to dodge work anymore.

The device is being developed exclusively for online gaming and MMORPGs like World Of Warcraft (but not for World Of Warcraft…yet). What exactly are we going to be playing with it? Well, for starters, it seems as if there’s a partnership with the new browser-based MMO Battlestar Galactica Online from the SyFy Channel. I’m sure that’s more than enough reason for certain geeks early adopters to start saving their Cubits.

Check out the Jungle’s official debut trailer and more after the break.

While many people point to Panasonic’s track record in the games industry (Hey! I loved the 3DO! I also loved working in a game rental store and not having to pay $700 to play one) as a poignant reminder of things that have come and gone, I think the time is right for a machine like this one. The lessons of EverCrack and World Of WhereHasTheTimeGone are clear indicators that people will do anything to be constantly plugged in to these kinds of games.

The official website for the device is up now and rather vague in its entirety: no specs, no price point, no release date. But of course who needs that when you can peruse the ’hie-larious’ gallery of mascots that Jungle has lined up to steal your heart with their upcoming web-serial, Online Underground, its partnership with Machinima.com. Check it out here.

More specs as they drop, but one thing’s for sure: if this device is going to revolutionize online gaming, there’s got to be more than just WiFi support… a dedicated 3G or 4G network has got to be in place if it’s truly going to be portable online gaming in the palm of your hand.

[Gizmodo & Kotaku]