Hero: 108 from Gamania is an excellent example of cross-media entertainment. Hero: 108 is a Flash-based animation series on Cartoon Network, and Hero: 108 Online is a free-to-play massively multiplayer online action game based on the cartoon. At the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, I got to see just how well the game resembles and complements the show.

The story in Hero: 108 is inspired by and loosely based on a 14th century Chinese novel, The Water Margin Stories. There is strife between animals and humans brought on by High Roller, who was banished from his lands and became bitter toward other humans. When High Roller was struck by lightning, he gained the ability to talk to animals, which he then used to brainwash critters to think that humans were evil, and then he began his war, instigating animals to attack humans. That’s the basic story. Of course, there are some humans who have thrown their lot in with the animals and some animals who have taken on the humans’ side.

There are two main squads of four humans each in both the show and the game, so there are eight playable characters. You will be able to play your favorite character from the show and add your own touch by customizing your equipment and items. Kevin Crawford, product director at Gamania, stressed that what the team is going for is user-friendliness. And from what I’ve seen, they’re on the right track.

Hero: 108 Online has the usual MMO elements, including six Animal Kingdoms with 13 separate map quests, storylines, a player guild system, PvP and in-game mail. But to me, it seems all made with convenience and ease in mind. The map in the corner of the screen was simple in design, easy to read and shows what’s going on without clutter, and you can hide it or make it bigger. You don’t have to wait for new quests and sidequests to appear; an in-game function will show you every quest in the game from the get-go, and you can filter these quests. You can send mail from anywhere, and there’s an in-depth help system. And if you need to report someone, a dropdown menu lists usernames, rather than you having to try to recall their pseudonym or spell that funky name right. It all screams user- and kid-friendly.

Another great aspect of Hero: 108 Online is the ability to fully customize keyboard controls. I know I love being able to do things my way. I also love that the developers include dynamic arrows that show you where to go to complete your mission. You don’t have to wander all over the world aimlessly trying to find that particular NPC who’s outside so and so’s farm.

Along with user-friendliness, Gamania focuses on community by providing friends lists, easy-to-use guild tools, forums, etc. Raid bosses aren’t going to be something you can defeat on your own. You will need friends to help — much like the show has squads of heroes. And Hero: 108 Online will let you know that you need friends with a skull icon to warn you of the danger of attempting that particular MOB yourself.

In the United States, the cartoon is on Cartoon Network weekdays at 7 a.m. Hero: 108 Online will be online and ready to go sometime this year. If you or your kids are a fan of the show or just want a crisp, hip free-to-play action MMO to play, I highly recommend keeping an eye on this game.