Wizard101 expands today with the addition of a new world called Grizzleheim. The new world is currently only available on test servers, but will hit live servers this July.

For more info on Grizzleheim, check out the press release below:

Grizzleheim Opens in Wizard101®

Expansion introduces major new world plus exciting new features

Plano, Texas-June 23, 2009 - Online entertainment company KingsIsle Entertainment, Inc., today announced the launch of a major new world expansion on the test servers of online virtual world Wizard101® (www.wizard101.com). Grizzleheim is a lush new environment based on Norse mythology that will further challenge players and introduce them to three new tribal races: Viking Bears, Wolves, and Ravens. The expansion also introduces item crafting, a bazaar, and several community features significantly increasing opportunities for adventuring, socializing and creativity for players of the massively popular online game.

"Wizards will have a great time exploring the woods and mountains in Grizzleheim," said Wizard101 Lead Designer James Nance. "It'll be accessible to lower level players as well, not just those who have completed Dragonspyre, and the new races will introduce some compelling elements to the storyline."

The world of Grizzleheim features an airy, outdoors landscape of snowy mountains, glacial ridges, and towering trees. Wizards will be able to explore several new adventure areas with rich environments. Wizards will first meet and learn about the Viking Bears of Grizzleheim - great traders with the ability to travel the worlds of the Spiral in their longboats. As Wizards become powerful and spend more time in Grizzleheim, they will uncover a great mystery about the world.

Grizzleheim also features new opponents for players to battle, such as wood spirits, barbarian boar mercenaries, and other mysterious creatures. Currently live on the test servers, KingsIsle expects to open the new expansion to all players in early July.

Popular with families who like to play together or connect over distance, Wizard101 was designed with the safety of young players in mind. It is rated E10+ by the ESRB. Anybody with a Windows based PC can play the Free-to-Play areas of the game for as long as they like. Advanced content is available by subscription or microtransaction. Wizard101 gift cards can now be found at more than 13,000 retail outlets nationwide.

For details, visit https://www.wizard101.com/site/home2/wizard101/page_8ad6a404207fb2fd0120a1589af60841.

One of my friend's 9 year old loves this game. He gets an hour a day to play it and started doing chores around the house to earn money (like $1/week or something) to buy things.

Viking BEARS! *swoon* :)