Boston Red Sox ace Curt Schilling, well-known as a gamer (including an appearance in EverQuest II), announced today that he's founded a new company, Green Monster Games. Located in Boston (where else?), the newly formed company boasts considerable talent already in the form of Todd McFarlane (Spawn) as lead Art Director and famed fantasy author R.A. Salvatore as Creative Director. The company will focus on massively multiplayer online games, the first of which is now in pre-production.

You'll find the press release below:

Maynard, MA. - September 8, 2006 - Green Monster Games, LLC (GMG) announces the formation of a new company dedicated to producing innovative and genre-defining massively multiplayer online games. Founded in the Boston area by Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, Green Monster Games first title will feature the artistic vision of Todd McFarlane (creator of Spawn, www.spawn.com) as Art Director and celebrated author R.A. Salvatore (creator of Drizzt, one of modern fantasy's most memorable characters) as Creative Director. Together with a growing team of experienced industry professionals, Green Monster Games is now in pre-production on their premier title.

A longtime MMO player, Schilling is dedicated to entering the gaming industry with the same drive and commitment to success he has demonstrated in his baseball career. "I've had a passion for gaming as long as I can remember and I've always known this was something I wanted to do one day, and today is that day. My goal is to not just enter the marketplace but to reach the apex."

For Schilling, the chance to work with McFarlane and Salvatore is the culmination of years of planning. "Publishing great games has more to do with the people you have on board than it does with the cash and ideas you bring to the table. With that in mind, I conceived a plan years ago in which I envisioned a 'dream team' of talent. If I was going to create the funniest, coolest, and best game I could, who would I want from a creative standpoint? At the top of my list were Todd McFarlane and R.A. Salvatore, and it's a dream come true that they have agreed to join Green Monster Games in the production of our first title."

GMG will be a collaboration based on the combined strengths of every employee. Says Schilling: "The great thing about our approach is that we each understand what we bring to the table. We have begun to assemble a team of the smartest, brightest, and most creative design people in the world, made up of both veterans and those new to the industry. Our character and commitment will be tangible in every facet of the company, from art, design, audio, and programming to the appreciation we show to our customers."

Schilling says GMG is dedicated to raising the bar in the world of online gaming. "The challenge is not simply in publishing a game, but in publishing a game that changes the landscape of the online marketplace. Our company motto is 'If you can't do it better than it's ever been done before, work for someone else."

GMG is currently looking for talented, driven, accountable, and responsible people with a passion to create games better than anyone has ever done it before. Green Monster Games will release more details on their first project in the near future. Their upcoming company website [http://www.greenmonstergames.net] will be the first step in establishing GMG's presence in the online gaming world.

"We are excited about the future of the industry and even more excited that we will be a part of it, and help shape it for years to come," says Schilling. "We look forward to proving that to every gamer on the planet."