Next week at the Game Developers Conference (GDC 2012), a brand new game publisher will be in town. Meteor Entertainment recently raised $10 million to finish up the amazing new Unreal Engine 3-based, free-to-play game, HAWKEN. In development at Adhesive Games, HAWKEN is set to change the concept (and quality) of free-to-play gaming when it launches 12/12/12. You can see why in this new gameplay video below.

HAWKEN has already wowed the gaming community. And the title will be showcased next week in San Francisco and is sure to continue its upward spiral. The sci-fi multiplayer game is now part of Meteor’s new approach to free-to-play gaming, which includes a brand new server technology that has been designed to not only support HAWKEN, but will be licensed out for other game companies to take advantage of.

Having beaten out established game publishers for this hot title, Meteor is assembling an impressive team of talent to support this game, and other titles in the pipeline. Mark Long, former Co-CEO and Founder of Zombie Studios, is CEO of Meteor. He’s working on putting together a team to launch HAWKEN and establish its new back-end technology.

Long was brought in by Mitch Lasky, general partner at the Silicon Valley venture firm Benchmark Capital, who’s backing the new company. He was an early investor and board member at Riot Games through the company’s launch of League of Legends and eventual $400 million sale to Chinese internet giant TenCent. Prior to Benchmark, he held senior management positions at Electronic Arts and Activision, and was chairman and CEO of startup JAMDAT Mobile.

Rick Heitzmann, Founder and Managing Director of FirstMark Capital, is also on board. His company focuses on investments in the digital media, advertising and commerce spaces, with an emphasis on the video games industry. Rick has long invested in the transition to online free-to-play video games including being the first investor and Board member of platform companies including Riot Games, Live Gamer and Playnomics. In addition, Rick is focused how media and commerce intersect with investments including Pinterest.

And, of course, there’s Khang Le, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Adhesive Games. He has led his tight development team over the past 18 months of production, resulting in a game with stunning visuals and groundbreaking gameplay. It’s sure to not only impress with quality gameplay, but also raise the bar in the very concept (and quality) of free online games.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/johngaudiosi/2012/03/01/heres-why-hawken-is-going-to-change-free-to-play-gaming/