Funtactix, a developer based in Menlo Park, California, has announced the release of Moondo, an online world that “enables players to move rapidly between 3D multiplayer games, keeping the same avatar, friends, and virtual items.”

The benefit of this concept, Funtactix explains, is that rather than require the player to “invest significant time and money in a single repetitive gameplay experience,” Moondo allows players to “move assets across a variety of game genres.”

Moondo has been available in limited beta since February, and the company plans to unveil a selection of sports games for Moondo players in August, while a full browser based version of the cross-gaming universe is due in October.

Set in a futuristic theme park on the moon, Moondo is to feature multiplayer, short-session party games in a variety of genres, such as shooting, racing, and sports, integrated with a social network. Moondo currently offers free-to-play games in two genres: shooting and racing.

“Massive growth in PC gaming will not be driven by today’s shrink-wrapped games on high-end PCs. Rather, it’s mainstream consumers discovering fun, new, affordable social gaming experiences that will fuel the industry,” said . Sam Glassenberg, CEO of Funtactix. “These consumers don’t want to invest the time and money to learn a new game, only to have those efforts prove worthless as they move to the next one. Cross gaming eliminates those barriers, satisfies their thirst for new game genres, and keeps players coming back– ultimately creating a longer playing cycle with more valuable, lasting items.”