hanbitsoft
Latest
Hellgate closed beta heats up tomorrow
If it's not hellishly hot enough for you outside, T3 Entertainment is here to inject a bit more fire and brimstone into your weekend courtesy of Hellgate's closed beta. The first phase of testing kicks off Friday June 3rd at 7:30 p.m. EDT, with a wrap-up scheduled for the same time on June 5th. The new and improved Hellgate boasts additional content from the previous iteration of the game, and players who have snagged beta keys can check out either the multiplayer aspects or the single-player campaign (as well as elements of the older Hellgate: Tokyo expansion that are now included in the new version). Head to the official Hellgate website for more info on the game and the beta.
Hellgate closed beta keys now available
After announcing that Hellgate would soon rise from the ashes, T3 Entertainment has now revealed that keys for the upcoming closed beta are now available. Keys can be obtained on the official Hellgate site or on "popular online game destinations." A list of participating sites can be found here. Sadly, Joystiq's Massively already ran out of keys, so we suggest you track one down through one of those other "destinations" as quickly as possible.
Dive into Hellgate with a closed beta key from Massively!
Do you feel like you've been waiting forever to check out this resurrected title? Well, your wait is nearly over, because Hellgate's closed beta testing begins June 3rd. Even better, we've got 900 closed beta keys to share! Are you ready to start chasing demons and hunting glitches? Grab your key from our giveaway page, create your Hellgate account, then click the "Do you have your key?" button on the game's main page. Download and install the game from the main page and you're all set for beta! Remember, the Hellgate team won't flip the switch to start beta testing until June 3rd, but we've got a little something to help you pass the time until then. Check out the gallery below for a series of brand-new Hellgate wallpapers -- even your desktop will be ready for beta! [Sorry, all codes have been claimed] %Gallery-124140%
Hellgate beta signup begins
We reported earlier this week on Hellgate Global's newly minted web presence. As of today it seems that the highway to hell is officially open, as T3Fun has posted a beta signup blurb on the game's forums. Closed beta testing for the resurrected title begins on June 3rd, and GM Verin says "there's going to be enough CBT keys for everyone, so don't worry about not being able to beta test." Applying is as easy as registering on the forums and clicking on the "gates of hell" graphic at the top right of the announcement post. Getting into the beta in this manner is a random event, and you'll know you've been successful if you see an image that reads "your courage has been noted." If you don't make the cut on the official forums, T3Fun has posted a list of partner sites that will be handing out beta keys in the coming days.
Hellgate Global ramps up its web presence, new trailer released [Updated]
Hellgate: London is back. HanbitSoft and T3Fun are reanimating the corpse of the post-apocalyptic horror RPG/MMO hybrid for a global release in the near future. The title is being developed in Korea, and T3Fun has recently updated its website and Facebook page with a lengthy story video and a few gameplay screens. The trailer showcases over 12 minutes of CG footage designed to familiarize would-be crusaders with Hellgate's world and their place in it. The short version is that the forces of hell have ransacked the earth. The longer version involves copious amounts of swords, machine guns, curvaceous templars and slavering demons bent on subjugating the local populace. If you know your gaming history, you'll also know that Hellgate was originally developed by ex-Blizzard staffers before collapsing under the weight of unmet expectations and financial pressures. We'll be keeping a close eye on Hanbitsoft's resurrection project and you can too, starting with the cinematic trailer after the cut. [Update]: T3Fun and HanbitSoft have officially announced North American closed beta dates for Hellgate, with the kickoff scheduled for June 3rd to June 5th. The game will launch later this year according to a press release.
Mythos Europe attracts 250,000 players in two weeks, throws double XP weekend
It's only been 15 days since Mythos Europe launched, but the resurrected action MMO is already seeing impressive results. According to Frogster, over 250,000 players have jumped into the game for some hectic hack-n-slash fun. The company also provided some revealing statistics as it monitored its quarter-million playerbase. Apparently, the most popular class is the Bloodletter (40% of players), followed by the Pyromancer (32%) and Gadgeteer (28%). A full third of the playerbase chose the human race, with 28% going over to the Gremlins, 27% to the Satyrs, and 15% to the Cyclops. Finally, 66% of the characters created are male. So if you want to be a rarity, rolling a female Cyclops Gadgeteer is the way to go! To celebrate this auspicious milestone, Frogster is rewarding its enthusiastic players with double XP for quests and monster kills this weekend. You can catch all of Mythos' double XP action from now until Monday at 12:00 p.m. EDT.
Win in-game currency from Aika Global and Massively!
If you're a player -- or a potential player -- of Aika Global, our latest giveaway is going to make your day. T3fun has shared a hefty pile of TCoins for Aika with us, and as always, we're passing them on to you. We've got six prizes: one grand prize of $30 in TCoins, two second-place prizes of $20 in TCoins, and three third-place prizes of $10 of TCoins. If you're a veteran Aika player, any one of these prizes should clear an impressive chunk of your item shop wish list, and if you're brand-new to the game, you can start your character off in style! All you have to do to enter is have a T3fun account and leave a comment here by Wednesday, May 4th at noon EDT. Tell us what you love most about Aika, and we'll choose six winners at random on Wednesday. Check our contest rules for eligibility -- best of luck!
Mythos Europe launches!
Like a digital phoenix rising from the ashes of a failed company, Mythos has come back from the dead to finally launch. Under the care of HanbitSoft and Frogster, Flagship's former Diablo-style MMO has been retooled and finally pushed out of the doors in Europe. Mythos Europe's Arne Freund is understandably excited: "We are very pleased with our rapidly growing community, whose support shows us that they, like us, have become really invested in the world of Mythos. We will continue to put all of our effort into supporting the game after release and to provide players with enough monsters to hack and slash their way through in the years to come. Talking of which, I've got a grudge to settle..." Mythos is free-to-play with optional item shop purchases and is available in five languages: English, German, French, Polish and Turkish. In addition to the digital download, there's a retail box version that includes an item voucher for a variety of exclusive goodies. Get into the action by downloading it from the official site, but before you do that, make sure to hit the jump and watch the launch trailer -- it'll get you pumped up for sure!
Mythos raises open beta level cap, adds Umbral Peaks region
April 28th marks release day for Mythos, the long-in-development mythology-inspired hack-and-slash MMO. As a prelude, HanbitSoft and Frogster have released a massive patch to the game's current open beta client that, among other things, raises the level cap to 50 and introduces a new explorable region called the Umbral Peaks. Dungeon play has also been optimized for groups according to a Frogster press release, and the client has received a "comprehensive localization update." Finally, lots of new guild-centric features have made it into the current build, chief among them a guild message board, storage safe, and a guild ranking system. You can download the open beta client for free -- and learn more about the game -- at the official Mythos website.
Mythos European open beta starts today
It's been a long road home for Mythos, the free-to-play hack-and-slash MMO from HanbitSoft and Frogster. The game, which enters its European open beta phase today, originally began its life at ill-fated Flagship Studios and was resurrected after the company's dissolution. After a lengthy development cycle, Mythos has officially thrown open its doors to all registered players (over 100,000 of them to date) in preparation for the game's April 28th launch day. A Frogster press release indicates that additional optimization and localization will continue throughout the open beta, and considerable new content will be introduced as well. The level cap will be raised from 27 to 50, and adventurers will be able to explore the snow-capped Umbral Peaks. Players can download Mythos for free at the official website or pick up a retail box version at stores or online retailers. The box copy includes several bonus items as well as a two-day head start on the game's official release.
First Impressions: Mythos
I've played plenty of Diablo-style games, games filled with endless hours of dungeon grinding and loot collecting. I'll be honest: They're not usually my thing. I like a little more variety in my adventure and not such a linear experience. When I was asked to take a look at Mythos, a "new" (read: older title that is receiving a re-do) game that is currently in closed beta, I was pretty skeptical. After all, I've played this style of game before and enjoyed it in Torchlight and others, and the developers are adding on an MMO element to it now. This could mean a few things. First, the game could be a horrible, buggy mess that would turn me off instantly. Or second, it could be something completely charming and different that could work really well as an MMO. Which did I find? Click past the cut and I promise to tell you.
Aika Online opens its doors to Europe
European players rejoice! Aika Online is officially throwing open its doors to the old world with today's "Europe, We're Up" celebratory kickoff. The week-long festivities include double experience and a contest that gives players the opportunity to snag $10,000 in prizes. Logging into Aika also makes you eligible to receive powerful premium items like 3x and 4x experience scrolls. Today's update also sees a new dungeon introduced to the game. The Prison Despero will test the mettle of Aika's elite players and offers a chance to earn a new level 70 armor set. Aika is a fantasy MMORPG from the creators of Neo Steam. The game features five warring nations vying for control over the world of Arcan and its massive castles, priceless relics, and various battlegrounds.
CardMon Hero offers up colorful new trailer
While CardMon Hero went into open beta last week, the teams at Hanbitsoft, T3fun, and Redbana have just put out a new video offering up some gameplay from the game for you to check out. Why did they wait so long? Well, perhaps they hoped to lure you in to all the card-building dueling action, or maybe they just wanted to film some fun fights featuring players running around the world. Whatever the companies' reason, if you are curious for a look at this fast-paced free-to-play MMO, and haven't had a chance to check it out, we've tucked the newest video behind the break. With complex card strategies, crafting, and some pretty wicked-looking henchmen to collect, it's a brightly-colored MMO-offering for those who remember playing insane amounts of TCGs in their youth. Also, we've added our gallery full of concept art, screenshots, and more from CardMon Hero for you to enjoy. If you're ready to get into the action, head over to the CardMon Hero site and get signed up! %Gallery-107151%
Mythos closed beta date announced
Add another title to the standing-room only MMO beta crowd crammed into the first few months of 2011. HanbitSoft has just announced that its free-to-play hack and slash Mythos title will slice and dice its way into closed beta on February 8th. Beta signups are currently ongoing at the game's official website, and the devs have also let slip that a special sneak peek event will take place for registered beta participants between January 27th and 31st. During testing, Mythos players will be able to explore the Greenreach and Bloodbristle Desert regions as well as level their characters to 27. Mythos was originally developed by the now-defunct Flagship Studios before being picked up by and completed by HanbitSoft. Frogster is handling publisher duties for the game's European launch.
Cardmon enters open beta
The time has come for CardMon Hero's card-summoning free-to-play MMO action to be released on the masses -- although there's still a bit of testing to go. That's why they've finally started open beta for the game as of today. Now players who have been curious are able to get in and check it all out, and T3 Entertainment, Redbana, and Hanbitsoft can get valuable feedback about the direction they're headed from a wider variety of gamers. (As well as the inevitable stress testing that generally goes on during this phase.) With CardMon Hero's card-based systems, players can build up a store of Mercenaries, skills, and more to set their character up however they'd like to play the game. Whether you are the overlord of a series of powerfully-built minions, or prefer to get into the thick of combat yourself, it offers quite a variety of styles. Aside from that, players will find a deep card crafting system, lots of quests to do, and much to explore. So, if you're interested in checking out the open beta -- or just remember it from back when it was Camon Hero and want to sign up to see the changes -- then head over to the CardMon Hero site. If you'd like a preview before signing up, we have a series of new screenshots and exclusive wallpapers in our gallery below! If you'd like a full-sized image of any of the exclusive wallpapers, you can snag them by clicking the images after the break to get the large image. %Gallery-107151%
Mythos quest system detailed
The developers behind Mythos are billing it as "the first worldwide hack 'n' slash MMO" and to that end, the upcoming free-to-play fantasy title is crammed full of randomly generated dungeons, items, and upgrade potential. Mythos is also crammed full of quests according to a new press release dated earlier this morning, and HanbitSoft's game will lead players on a journey across the world of Uld that is heavy on the traditional types of MMORPG tasks with which we're all familiar. Mythos also boasts several unique factions, and raising your character's reputation will grant access to special merchants and a selection of powerful equipment. Mythos was originally developed by Flagship Studios prior to HanbitSoft taking the reins in 2009. The Korean F2P company, in concert with publishing giant Frogster, expects to bring Mythos online in early 2011. Learn more at the official website, and check out our screenshot gallery below. %Gallery-10781%
CardMon Hero wants to deal you in on the second round of closed beta
If you're looking for adventure in a new MMO, then Hanbitsoft, Redbana, and T3fun have an option for you -- CardMon Hero! They've taken the feedback from the first round of testing and done a bunch of fixing and polishing. Now it's time for the second round of closed beta testing to start on January 5th, and they're looking for all sorts of testers to get in and give this free-to-play game a good solid thrashing. It's all about finding the bugs and fine-tuning the fun for all. (If you were in the first test, you're automagically in the second test, too.) In CardMon Hero (also known as Camon Hero in other territories), players collect and level up different card summons to create a powerful army to fight for them. However, it's not just about the monster cards. CardMon Hero also features skill cards that allow players to create deadly decks capable of vanquishing foes and dungeons alike. If that sounds like fun, you can pop over to the CardMon Hero site and get signed up for the next round of beta testing. In the meantime, we've snagged a bunch of new screenshots for our gallery below and embedded a new gameplay trailer behind the break if you'd rather check out how the game looks first. %Gallery-107151%
Mythos begins 'Hack and Crash' beta stress test Dec. 28
We would be hard-pressed to think of two things on this planet we love more than Mythos (the Flagship Studios-developed MMO which was acquired by Frogster and HanbitSoft last year) and pure, unrestrained candor. That's why we're psyched by the announcement for Mythos' upcoming "Hack and Crash" beta stress test event, which will fling open its doors to new waves of testers, in order to (according to a Frogster press release), "test the capacity of the servers, which may well crash as a result." So up-front! So honest! So forthright! You can still sign up for the beta if you want to be part of the server apocalypse -- or, you know, if you want to see how the game has changed under its new ownership. So long as there's still hacking and/or slashing, we think we'll be okay with the other adjustments.
Mythos inches closer to closed beta
It's been a few months since we've heard a peep about Mythos, and even longer since we've heard any type of news about a potential beta or release date. Many of us who played it during Flagship's original beta have been patiently waiting for some kind of sign as to when we could get back to all the dungeon-running goodness we'd enjoyed. Well, word is out that beta signups are now live for the EU version of the game, and players can expect things to get rolling soon. For those who have never seen the game before, or perhaps would like a refresher, we've tucked a short teaser trailer behind the break for you to check out. With the ability to switch between ground-level and isometric views, Mythos was a game with great potential that was gone too soon. So if you ever liked Diablo or other isometric fantasy hack-and-slashers, be sure to head over to the Mythos site and get signed up for closed beta!
An early look into CardMon Hero
For those who have ever enjoyed collectible card games, the idea of an MMO that features collectible and playable cards might be intriguing. Well, if you're in the market for a new game, Redbana, T3fun and Hanbitsoft have a treat for you. Their newest free-to-play game, CardMon Hero, offers a system that is heavily based on building up certain cards and playing them in the world against mobs and other players. Not only will players get cards for skills, but adventuring through the world will net special monster cards known as mercenary cards, which are picked up via questing, crafting, and drops. As of this evening, the game is entering closed beta as well. We had a chance to take a look at CardMon Hero with Redbana's Project Manager, Damien Moreno, who gave us an early peek at some of the things players can expect within the game. Many of the systems present will be fairly familiar to veteran MMO players. Movement is handled through either click-to-move or WASD. Also present are familiar UI options like action bars, maps, a quest journal, character sheet (with a cosmetic pane) and the like. Eventually, a cash shop will also be implemented, although Moreno informed us that it is being worked on to provide a plethora of cosmetic and helpful options, as opposed to gear or weapons that will create game-breaking imbalances between paid players and free-to-play gamers -- a very important thing to many Western gamers. For more on this free-to-play game, join me after the break, or check out the gallery of concept art and in-game screenshots below! %Gallery-107151%
