Warner Brothers announced today that they will be adding AOL Instant Messenger integration into The Matrix Online.  Here is the official press release:

Dulles, VA, April 12, 2004 - America Online, Inc., the world's leading interactive services company, and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today announced that the popular AOL® Instant Messenger (AIM®) service will be seamlessly integrated into The Matrix Online. This marks the first time that players in a massively multi-player online game can link an existing AIM identity to a new in-game character, creating seamless real-time communication with other Matrix players as well as other AIM buddies - whether inside or outside of The Matrix Online. The integration of AOL Instant Messenger into The Matrix Online will enable players to see the online presence of fellow gamers and communicate with them at any time. Players who are jacked into The Matrix Online will be able to send instant messages to their friends in real time, regardless of whether or not they are playing. This will enable players in the game to chat real-time with their online friends who are not currently playing the game to ask them for gameplay tips and tricks or alert them to jack in and join a mission. With 195 million registered users, AOL Instant Messenger adds a whole new dimension to online game play. As long as a consumer has an AOL®, AIM, ICQ or Apple® iChat account, he or she can receive a message from The Matrix Online players in real time from any location. Whether receiving a message via the Internet or their PDA or cell phones, players will be able to remain "in character" without revealing their AOL or AIM screen name. "Bringing AOL's expansive instant messaging technology to The Matrix Online will tremendously enhance the massively multi-player gaming experience," said Jason Hall, senior vice president, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. "Players will now be able to alert other players, via the Internet or their phones, to join them on missions in The Matrix Online and will be able to talk freely while in combat or searching for answers." "By integrating AOL's renowned instant messaging technologies into the gaming world with The Matrix Online, we?re enabling consumers to extend their entertainment experience beyond the game and into their everyday lives," said Matthew Bromberg, vice president and general manager, AOL® Games. "It is AOL's goal to bring online entertainment to the mass market. This is one example of how we?re leveraging AOL's tools, services and technologies to bring that goal to life." The Matrix Online is a massively multiplayer online game where tens of thousands of players will be able to log into The Matrix world to take an active role in continuing the saga of The Matrix movie trilogy. It is currently being developed by Monolith Productions in conjunction with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and the Wachowski Brothers, creators of The Matrix trilogy. The game will be a re-creation of the virtual world of "The Matrix," employing cutting-edge 3-D graphics, networking and server technology. Gameplay in The Matrix Online will be based on intricate and exciting "wire-fu" combat, an extensive mission structure, social interaction and a completely customizable skill and ability system. More information about the game can be found at www.thematrixonline.com.