Lucky Dawg! MMOtaku regular viewer Robert Sanchez, a.k.a. Alacarcalimo, has just bagged the top prize, a limited edition iPod Nano, in a Perfect World Philippines contest launched by publisher Level Up! Games.
It’s actually a blogging contest, and those who know Robert can attest to his love for both blogging and massively multiplayer online role-playing games. The contest is an event aimed at boosting awareness about Perfect World Philippines‘ latest update, Lost Empire.
Among the features introduced by the Lost Empire patch are new equipment to craft (there are four new furnaces at Ancient Heaven-Tear City on top of the ones in …read more

The questions that’s on my mind at the moment is one of puzzlement. Is True Games Interactive moving too fast?
For those confused as to what I’m babbling about, it’s True Games Interactive’s current jewel Warrior Epic, a new massively multiplayer online role-playing game with a few tricks up its virtual sleeve, and the online games publisher’s recent move to have the game operated in Asia.

Here’s the announcement story in case you’ve missed it:
Global online game publisher True Games Interactive has announced the signing of an exclusive deal with leading Asian online games publisher Gamania Digital Entertainment to publish, distribute and …read more

I know, cheesy title. Frankly I can’t think of any title for this particular post that’s less cheesy. It’s either the one above or “How MMORPGs Kept My Marriage Alive.” See what I mean?
Okay, enough of the cheese. It’s time to get down to serious business. First off, though, I’d like to apologize for not posting anything in the past couple of days. The wife and baby are down with the flu (not H1N1 or what is more popularly known as the swine flu, thank the gaming gods), and it’s taking a lot of effort to keep order in an …read more

There are just some perks of being a journalist that I can’t let go. Foremost among these “perks” is getting invited to hip product briefings and launches. As you may have already surmised from the title, I’ve just been invited to the launch of Acer’s newest baby, the Aspire Timeline, in Manila.
Too bad I can’t go since I now reside in a different part of the country. Sigh. Here’s a copy of my invitation:

Many thanks to Irish Santos of AMPR Consultancy for the invitation.
Like I said, it’s too bad I can’t go to the launch of the Acer Aspire Timeline …read more

No, “All is quiet in the realms” isn’t the title of a new massively multiplayer online role-playing game. It’s not even a teaser or the slogan for an existing MMO. What it is, however, is a subtle announcement that MMOtaku is still cooking up something to write about.
Actually, ever since we came out with news that The9 was sour-graping cooking up plans to launch a new game to replace World of Warcraft, nothing extraordinary has happened. Well, nothing except for my almost getting hospitalized because of overexposure to the afternoon sun while painting the house.
But let’s not talk about that. …read more

I’ve been egging my wife for the past week to purchase a fashion item for her Atlantica Online character Elphame. I keep telling her the advantage of donning either of the three outfits (better known as “clothes” in the game)—Jiangshi Outfit, Cute Bunny Costume, or Casino Outfit. She likes the last of the three, but can’t seem to convince herself to part with Elphame’s hard-earned gold, the in-game currency.
At this point, let me just point out that since we don’t live in North America, certain features of Atlantica Online are beyond us or not within our means. One of these …read more

A lot of changes have taken place in the virtual world of Atlantica Online, and it’s the job of every player to learn more about these changes and the duty of blogs like MMOtaku to dish out as much information as possible.
So, without further ado, I present you the patch notes for April 21, 2009, of Atlantica Online:

Reading the headline to this article may not immediately ring any bells, but couple the information with the fact that Torchlight, an action-packed massively multiplayer online role-playing game, is being developed by United States-based Runic Games, then you’ll see the bigger picture.
Apparently, Perfect World Co. Ltd., the China-based company that has brought us MMORPG hits such as Perfect World, Zhu Xian and Ether Saga (known in the Orient as Pocketpet Journey West), has captured the attention of Western video gaming powers.
Here’s an excerpt from the announcement story on the publishing agreement:
Perfect World Enters into Publishing Agreement with Runic Games
…read more

Nothing seems out of the ordinary, just an online games operator launching a new server for one of its most successful massively multiplayer online role-playing games—that is, if not for the fact that The9 has already lost control of World of Warcraft in China.
About a week ago, MMOtaku reported a rumor that The9 had lost the license to the popular Western MMORPG franchise, which developer Blizzard Entertainment awarded to NetEase, another China-based online games operator. This supposedly tall tale was later confirmed by all three companies—Blizzard, NetEase and, surprisingly, The9.
Now comes news that The9 has opened a new server for …read more

There’s really no mincing words when it comes to big announcements like closed and open beta tests, and patches and updates, so let me just get to the point with the help of an announcement story straight from the source, The9.
Open Beta Test for EA Sports FIFA Online 2 to Begin on April 22, 2009, in China
SHANGHAI—The9 Limited, a leading online game operator in China, and Electronic Arts Inc., a leading global interactive entertainment software company, has announced in a press conference held at Shanghai Pu Dong Expo Center that the highly anticipated game EA Sports FIFA Online 2 will …read more