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Granado Espada: Elephant Ent. And K2 Ink Publishing Deal
GFulls
Member Posts: 478
Elephant Entertainment and K2 Network sign retail publishing agreement for "Sword of the New World: Granado Espada."
Korea's most popular and highly acclaimed massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), Granado Espada, is coming to retail throughout North America and Europe this summer under the its newly announced name of Sword of the New World: Granado Espada, courtesy of Elephant Entertainment.
Winner of the 2006 Grand Award for Best Game in Korea, Sword of the New World is being made available at retail through an agreement between Elephant Entertainment and leading online game publisher, K2 Network.
"With a game of this pedigree and potential, publishing a retail complement to the online counterpart is an ideal way to expand availability for consumers," said Wim Stocks, CEO and president of Elephant Entertainment. "Sword of the New World has several innovative and exciting design elements that combined will set a new precedent for MMORPGs, and we are pleased to be working with K2 Network in bringing it to the North American and European retail markets."
In support of the retail boxed version, Elephant Entertainment and K2 Network are implementing several retailer-specific pre-sell and launch programs, as well as an array of consumer promotions that are designed to enhance the online experience.
Adds Joshua Hong, CEO of K2 Network: "Whether purchasing online or via retail, consumers will receive one of the most captivating MMORPGs to date as Sword of the New World brings stunning beauty and innovation to the category."
Read more here.
Comments
...Boy am I glad I didn't ignore this one.
Its so original and innovative that its unfortunate that this amazing breath of fresh air into the genre will get passed over in the US or Europe just because of the asian stereotype.
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Also Sephiroth28, keep in mind that since we're going to be seeing boxed versions of this game in stores, when someone immediately sees MCC on the box, I think they will find out that this isn't just another tired and true MMO.
Like I've also mentioned, GE's MCC will appeal to RTS players and RPG players alike, ones who don't normally play MMOs. They don't have any preconceived notions about "korean MMO grindfests", because they have no idea what they are. That's the audience I think GE can tap into, not your regular hardened MMO vets. Call me crazy, but with a huge amount of marketing (sadly, K2 doesn't have the money to do it), this game could even be one of the top selling MMOs in the western market.
I have been playing the IAH version as well and the translation is good, I am not sure what K2 want to change but I think it will be minimal.
The problem I have with the boxed approach is that GE will not have the mass following needed to make it a success and hence will affect playing numbers and the ongoing viability of the game.
K2 - please learn from your other titles and the subs/item sales and approach GE in a similar way. I know the box sales revenue is a great instant hit and that the license fee for GE is big (very big in comparison to other asian MMO games like RFO, Archlord etc) but I think going this way will affect revenues in the medium to long term.
I will wait and see what K2 come up with and they will not read this but had to get it off my chest.
SS
Oh, and K2 - speak to IAH and sort out US/Euro players from their database and more them to K2 GE in first beta. Would be good PR for you!
Well as i'm in the GE IAH closed beta, I can tell you that this game is beautiful, the graphics, the gameplay, all seem to mesh really well.
After 2 days playing and reaching lvl 21, I can't say i've noticed the grind aspect at all. There is one, as in nearly all mmo's but it isn't anything like RFO/Archlord etc.
There's stories there to be experienced.
The combat is ace, you can play it simple with auto attacks for all team members, or go for a more frenetic approach and control each of your characters indfividually.
I found this to be the most fun and as such combat doesn't get boring.
The beta feels like a finshed product, which in some ways is to be expected and there are some bugs to sort out but overall I am loving this experience. Bug reporting has never been so much fun.
I understand the boxed approach and if it's a one time deal with no monthly subs, great, if not.....then this will a niche market game.
However with most MMo's I always find the EU versions hard going, particulary in english speaking servers (and i'm english) so I may opt for the us version. I have always found the us folks to be more friendly and fun to play with than my dour european brethren.
All I can say is I wish every korean mmo ad this kind of polish, it really makes me hanker for FFVII, baldurs gate etc.
Laters, Amblin.
I also hear your comments on IAH against K2 however the license deal would be for regions (K2 has US/Euro I believe) whereas IAH cover most of English speaking Asia. These licenses cost many millions in USD so each company will want to protect their investment so I would expect some sort of IP blocking coming soon as the IAH version progress through betas to release.
SS
Voyage Country - US version f2p Euro version P2P
9 Dragons - Euro version went bust as no one wanted it to be P2P
Cabal Online - Euro version P2P
and there are many more like that.
K2 have said that they are trying to add things like character customization witch does sound good but their service and servers are crap.
I hope IAH doesn't IP band as this european doesn't trust K2 one bit and wouldn't go near them.
Anyways K2 are US - Los Angles based and not European (just for the record)!
The other games you mention I cannot comment on but I know EU 9D was going the same way as the US version with ads and item mall but they ran out of cash and had issues with 2 regions (US and Euro) running a competing service.
SS
Wow, I thought I was going to be the first person in here bashing K2. Guess not.
I played their MU Online, they did some interesting stuff (in regards to payment options), but their support _suckssssssss_
Also, I've heard alot of incorrect information regarding GE:
"Revolutionary Gameplay
The Only MMORPG to offer the ability to control up to three characters simultaneously thanks to the Multi Character Control (MCC) System."
This is absolutely UNTRUE. This is the second game I've played with the ability to control 3 characters at once, the first was a game called WL Online.
"Sword of the New World won the 2006 Grand Award for Best Game in Korea, and was developed by Hakkyu Kim (CEO of imcGAMES and creator of Ragnarok Online). "
This is also wrong, Lee Myoungjin is the creator of Ragnarok (Online).
RO didn't really rely heavily on his lore anyway, aside from some interesting tidbits like Chaos, Loki, Iris, and more for server names, but nothing really major was really taken from the manga, it was mostly Hakkyu's direction that made RO what it was back in the day, not Myoungjin.
Also Sad Surfer, it's people like you that we really don't need. K2 is pulling the right strings here to promote GE, because you are failing to see one major differences between K2's games published before, they were nothing special (seriously ,you seriously want me to believe K2 should handle a well polished game like GE the same way they handle a rough game like MU or Knight Online with a shit load of grind and nothing really fascinating to do but grind and more grind without any sort of polish?). GE is entirely different than your run of the mill MMO from korea, and I'll say it once I'll say it a thousand times, GE has a huge potential for success in the western markets with the right marketing, and not so crappy customer support. I don't have incredibly high hopes for K2, but I applaud them for at least trying.
In reference to people following IAH's version instead of K2, you realize that K2 is more than likely going to be FORCED to IP Block, forget them doing it on their own. K2 isn't the only one who profits from a successful publishing, IMC and HanbitSoft profit well as well, and you bet your but they are going to maximize their profits as best as possible, and an IP block is the best solution to that. What's the point of 2 different english versions without IP Blocks? It makes no sense at all.
"Tentatively, there are no IP bans for any country."
So there you have it. I don't think IAH will be forced to block US/EU IP because K2 isn't really publishing Granado Espada, they are publishing Sword of the New World. while technicaly the same game, K2 network wants to change quite a few things. there will be more customization options, a new tutorial, and diffrent storyline and a completely revamped quest system, as well as a diffrent payment system. so it will be a diffrent game in a way.
This is also the reason I'm not that hyped about the US/EU version. I don't like it K2 network is messing with the game.
9Dragons is another perfect example.it was hosted in both US and EU, but neither of them had IP blocks during beta, in fact, Acclaim even let european players beta test the game.
To be honest, IAH would be _STUPID_ to implement an IP block. I, like many people, will be sticking to the IAH version. True, I dont know anything about them, and I dont think I've played any of their games, I'd rather play a game run by a company that I've never heard of than a company I have and know underperforms. I think that if K2 was going to do a good job on this game, they would have done a good job on their other games. You dont hand a katana to someone who thinks they can handle a sword, you give them a wood replica first so you know they're not going to be a retard and kill themselves or others. K2's is going to suck, bottom line.
And I know what you mean about 9Dragons, I played both the Acclaim and PersistantWorlds closed betas ;p
Some interesting comments here from people.
GE is a great game and deserves to do well in all markets. The IAH is very well polished and translated even at this early CBT stage and I wish them the best of luck.
I do not have any prior experience with K2 Networks but I hope they do well from GE and apply any lessons learnt from there other titles.
IP bans are a difficult one, I am sure no one wants them however I think SadSurfer's comments about protecting companies investments is valid. I appreciate K2 wish to change things within the game however just consumers will miss this fact, see 2 companies running what appears to be the same game and then compare on price - just my IMHO of course!
Vortal
www.psfei.com
For the last time, I doubt IAH will WILLINGLY do an IP block, they will be FORCED to IP Block by Hanbit and IMC.
Gameloading, I'm surprised you of all people would go that route. You can't honestly tell me that SNW is going to be tremendously different that you would get a completely different experience? Fact remains the core features will remain the same, keys might be a little different, maybe customization, even quests perhaps, but it's still the same game, they are just polishing it even more. Just because K2 is making minor changes to the game doesn't warrant the fact that it should be considered a different game.
Yes the 2 companies might end up going a different payment scheme, but that doesn't matter in the end if IP blocks are put in effect.
Already you see K2 trying hard to make GE successful, Hanbit and IMC sees that, now you know they are going to take every step possible to ensure K2's success, and an IP block is one of those steps, regardless of whether you guys like the company or not. Like I said again, what's the point of 2 english versions with no IP block?
But seriously, I like their attempt to add more customization and what not but from previous experience with K2 I don't have my hopes up. How will the IAH version be priced?