We can all breathe a collective sigh of relief as Perfect World Co. Ltd., developer of hit massively multiplayer online role-playing games like Ether Saga and Jade Dynasty, announces the upcoming alpha testing of the Tideborn patch for Perfect World on November 25th, 2009.
I’m calling it Tideborn because that’s how the new race is being called by Level Up! Games, Perfect World’s publisher in the Philippines. It’s actually much better than simply calling the race “Mermen” because they are more than that. But that’s how the Chinese are calling them, Ren Yu Chuan Shuo.
Along with the new playable race, Perfect …read more

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

I’m starting another section—or subsection or whatever you call these things—on MMOtaku called WTF Moment for those rare occasions in MMOdom when you feel the need to do a double take. In this first installment, I present you with a short piece on my surprise at finding out that there is such an animal as Zhu Xian 2.
WTF?!? Yes, my sentiments exactly. The reaction stems from the fact that Zhu Xian, obviously Zhu Xian 2’s predecessor, has been in circulation in some countries for less than a year. Oh, yeah, for those who are unaware of what Zhu Xian is, …read more

I don’t care much for 2D massively multiplayer online role-playing games, but Fantasy Zhu Xian, another quality product of China-based Perfect World Co. Ltd., commands attention. As you may have probably already surmised from my intro, the game is in 2D. What has me all riled up is the fact that Fantasy Zhu Xian features turn-based combat.
Yeah, yeah, it’s nothing new. Turn-based combat is, after all, staple in most role-playing games. As I write this, several successful RPGs with turn-based combat come to mind: Final Fantasy, Golden Sun, and Pokemon.
So what does this bode for the future of MMORPGs? It …read more

My apologies to my friends and colleagues who work at Level Up! Games, publisher and operator of hit massively multiplayer online role-playing games in the Philippines, including Ragnarok Online and Perfect World. I know the title seems harsh, considering I know how hard you work your butts off to bring us great content, but it’s just the way I feel.
This “feeling” is heightened every time I catch a glimpse of the videos that Perfect World Entertainment, the North American operator and publisher of China-based Perfect World Co. Ltd.’s games, churns out. Take this, for example:
Yes, Philippine players of Perfect World, …read more

Perfect World … sigh. It has been such a long time. I miss the game, the virtual world, and the friends I’ve made, but I also loathe the thought of revisiting, simply because it no longer holds much promise for me. Not that Perfect World, be it here in my little nook or in other countries, is a bad game. Far from it. It’s one of the coolest game on the planet!
But wait, we’re straying from the topic. I’m here to talk about why I’ve revisited Perfect World and how I found the experience. As the title suggests, I reentered …read more

With the North American closed beta test for Zhu Xian, er, I mean Jade Dynasty in full swing, it’s only prudent for the game’s developer and operator, Perfect World Co. Ltd., through its US-based subsidiary Perfect World Entertainment, to release marketing collateral in preparation for its commercial launch.
What better way to whet the appetite of massively multiplayer online role-playing game fanatics than to release a high-definition trailer of Jade Dynasty. Here’s a copy of the trailer:
Magnificent, eh? Too bad I didn’t enjoy playing Jade Dynasty, er, Zhu Xian when it was launched by E-Games in the Philippines. It’s a wonderful …read more

It’s time again for MMOre Power, a somewhat regular section of MMOtaku that highlights essentials in the world of massively multiplayer online games. In this installment, we’ll talk about Perfect World’s Upgrade Stones, better known as Mirage Celestones in Perfect World International, Immortal Stones in Perfect World Philippines and, as far as I can remember, Fairy Stones in Perfect World Malaysia-English.
Whew!
Okay, as the title implies, Mirage Celestones, Immortal Stones and Fairy Stones are one and the same, and are used to upgrade equipment, from armors to weapons to accessories. No Perfect World adventurer can live without them—that is, unless you …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

The entry and launch of Zhu Xian, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game from the developer of Perfect World and Ether Saga, in North America were inevitable. Perfect World Co. Ltd. has been on the prowl in the Western world, seeking a niche in its MMORPG market long dominated by powerhouse Blizzard’s World of Warcraft.
Perfect World may be far from giving Blizzard and World of Warcraft a run for their money, but with the entry of spectacular titles in North America it may soon prove to a force to be reckoned with.
Going back to the topic, here’s an excerpt from …read more