It’s been a long time since I last logged on to Granado Espada, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game operated in Southeast Asia by Infocomm Asia Holdings Pte. Ltd. I want to play the game again—that is, if I find the time, or when I eventually get bored of romping in Atlantica Online, Ragnarok Online and Rohan: Blood Feud.
I’m really not in a hurry, especially after learning about new events shaping the New World in Granado Espada. One of these earth-shaking events is what IAHGames calls The Defense of the Zeia Battle, which runs from May 27 to June 11, …read more

The headline of Asia-based online games operator IAHGames’ latest newsletter says it all, “Dragonica is finally here!” At present, I’m trying to register for a closed beta test key with the online games giant that has in recent years brought us great titles such as Granado Espada (that’s Sword of the New World to Western folk).
So what’s the fuss about the launch of this new MMO? Check out the background story:
An eon ago, Elga’s betrayal of the Dragon Lord Vyvern plunged the race of Dragons into conflict, and divided them into two warring factions.
Seeking mysterious artifacts of power believed to …read more

Boy, Granado Espada Version 3.0, better known as The Zeia, is still piping hot but news of the release of Version 3.3 in South Korea (and probably Japan) is already rocking the Southeast Asian community.
This is, of course, due to a video trailer of Granado Espada Version 3.3 hitting the Internet through our favorite video broadcast site, YouTube.
I won’t expound anymore on what Granado Espada Version 3.3 will bring to the table. Instead, I’ll let you watch the video and see for yourself.

From the looks of it, Granado Espada is shaping up as a survivor. I think I’ll continue playing …read more

Just like what I did on January 21, 2009 for Atlantica Online, I’m posting here on MMOtaku the patch notes (well, at least an excerpt) for Version 3.0 of Granado Espada in Southeast Asia:

The Ancient Shelter has been introduced to the game. This is a non-PK version of the Ancient Territory. There are two Ancient Shelter dungeons—Shelter of the Ancient Skeleton in Ustiur and Ancient Underground Shelter in the Bahamas.
Occulta Fortress has been added to the game. This dungeon comprises of a free dungeon and a mission-based boss raid.
Hrin’s Treasure Mission has been added to the Treasure Hunter minigame.
Necro Shaman …read more

Yeah, I know it’s a bit late. Blame it on frequent disconnection from the Internet. The 5.1-magnitude earthquake that shook my side of the pond a couple of days ago might have something to do with this craziness. And then again, maybe not. Well, them are the breaks.
Okay, I’m not here to gripe about the tragic state of the Internet in this little tropical country I call home. This post is about The Zeia, the latest patch of Granado Espada in Southeast Asia. To veterans of the online game, the patch is called Version 3.0.
Let’s make this short as I …read more

Does that statement ring true to you? Of course, by “alone,” I mean going through the pains of adventuring in a new virtual world without in-game acquaintances and friends. Oh, sure, you’ll survive the quests, the monsters, and the world, even when you’re alone, but how can you combat boredom with sword and sorcery, gun and grenade?
I’ve tried my hand at going solo, particularly in online games like Granado Espada (Sword of the New World to other folks), Requiem: Bloodymare, Rohan: Blood Feud and Atlantica Online, and my characters suffered immensely. Name it, they’ve got it—slow leveling, bad equipment, weak …read more

I haven’t been playing Granado Espada lately simply because the servers are too laggy, giving mobs enough time to kill off members of my family one by one with nary a sword swing or fireball. Couple this nasty tidbit with the long wait for family members to revive or having to journey back to the point where they fell, then you’ve got a recipe for getting turned off.
No, I’m not giving up on Granado Espada. I’m just laying off it for a while, at least until the guys up at IAH Games resolve the problem. Yes, I know they’ve resolved …read more

By the gaming gods! Is it true? Have five days already passed since I last posted? Apparently, yes. Whew! Time flies so fast when you’re having fun. Unfortunately, my five-day hiatus had not been even remotely fun.
Yes, you guessed it. The flu—at least I think it’s the flu—hit me right after New Year’s Eve, right in the middle of writing a Top Ten Asian MMORPGs of 2008 post. Don’t worry, I’ll finish the story … soon.
Right now, I’m just starting to recover. Of course, as a fanatic of massively multiplayer online role-playing games, there’s only one way for me to …read more

I’ve found an interesting article on the blog of good friend Mon Macutay, who works for Philippine online gaming giant Level Up! Games. The story, titled “40 percent of MMO Players are Female,” focuses the spotlight on the growing number of girl gamers in massively multiplayer online games, the health of players, and the emergence of MMO playing as the social activity of choice.
Here’s an excerpt from GM Tristan’s article:
We always thought that MMORPGs were dominated by male players. That “fact” is now being challenged. Well, according to a recent study by BBC, 40 percent of MMO players are female, …read more

Earlier today (that’s December 24 to those living east of the International Date Line), I decided to give the suggestion of good friend PJ Punla to reexplore the world of Granado Espada as a pioneer in the newest Southeast Asian server, Giovanni. She’s probably right, I thought, in the sense that I might develop a better appreciation for the online game that she had played and supported for over a year before packing up her bags—and her blog, Granado Espada: Dispatches from the New World.
A few minutes ago, members of my fledgling family, the Estrangheros, turned Level 14. Although not …read more