Microsoft Corp. announced that it has partnered with Marvel Enterprises to develop and publish multiplayer online games. Marvel super heroes include Spiderman, the X-men and the Hulk.

The deal will cover online game titles developed for Microsoft's upcoming Xbox 360 gaming console. Multiplayer online games enable players in various locations to interact with each other and compete within the game. Analysts estimate that there are nearly two million interactive game players.

"It'll be interesting to see what arises from the Microsoft-Marvel partnership in terms of in-game advertising. Following Microsoft's recent Xbox advancements, there is increased potential to use this popular gaming platform for additional marketing opportunities for outside advertisers," says Crystal King, senior product marketing manager at AvantGo, a service of Sybase's iAnywhere Solutions and an iMedia Contributor.

"It's also likely that we'll see an overall increase in marketing and advertising as the online gaming industry continues to grow," adds King

The Microsoft game partnership is Marvel's first multiplayer online game deal.

"Online gaming is reaching a point of acceptance. We will use as many of the Marvel characters as we can in the MMO game," says Peter Moore, corporate vice president of worldwide marketing and publishing for Microsoft's Xbox.

The first Microsoft Marvel game title is expected in 2008.