ragnarok-online
Latest
Ragnarok Online 2 shutting down in Southeast Asia
Ragnarok Online 2 isn't exactly taking the world by storm as of late. Following the title's closure in Korea last year, Ragnarok Online 2 is closing its doors in Singapore and Malaysia on October 9th. There is a pretty bright spot to this story, however, as Asiasoft's version of the game will accept account transfers from affected players. "Following the opening of Ragnarok 2's Odin Server to Philippine players last month, we are thrilled to be continuing the global expansion of Warpportal's Ragnarok Online 2 by welcoming all players from Southeast Asia regions!" Asiasoft posted. Southeast Asian players will not be able to access their characters until October 9th, and none of their Kafra Points will make the leap over to the new server.
Ragnarok Online 2 closing in Korea next month
Ragnarok Online 2's days are numbered -- if you're living in South Korea, that is. If you're in North Korea, you're probably more concerned about central heating and plumbing than the availability of an MMO. Citing few players, Gravity announced that it will be taking Ragnarok Online 2 offline in Korea on December 23rd. The developer did include a hint of hope in the shutdown notice that the game could return in the future. While this may be cause for concern to those playing Ragnarok Online 2 in other regions, the company said that the service will continue for North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia.
The Game Archaeologist: Classic servers and you
Sometimes players don't want progress into the future; they want to regress into nostalgia. I've always seen this undercurrent of desire for classic servers run through the MMO community, manifesting in lengthy discussions about how cool it'd be to play a game the way it was "way back when." I also imagine developers reading those discussions with a combination of shared nostalgia and anxiety over the work required for such a project. I can understand this desire. We form attachments to MMOs based on several factors, not the least of which are when we started playing the game and what we remember most from it. While we generally applaud the change brought about by content updates, bug fixes, expansions, and the like, there's always a part of us that won't let go of the past. That's where classic servers come into play. Here and there, studios have recognized and responded to this desire for gaming the way it used to be by creating servers that deliberately call back to the past. It might seem to fly in the face of common sense, but I don't think it's that strange when you look at the larger video game community and how strong nostalgia gaming has taken root there as well. So what do classic servers have to offer you and where can you find them?
Ragnarok Online comes to Steam as F2P game
Gravity Interactive's long-running MMORPG Ragnarok Online is now available via Steam as a free download supported by in-game microtransactions. Released in North America in 2003, Ragnarok Online pairs 3D backgrounds with 2D character sprites for a distinct fantasy-themed adventure that preceded World of Warcraft and other genre standouts. Gameplay is defined by its wide array of skill and class customization options, and players can either team up to take on the game's many quests or compete in several available PVP modes. Ragnarok Online has introduced new content weekly since its inception, and new quests and events are added each month.
Ragnarok Online debuts on Steam
There might be several (dozen? hundred? it's hard to count) variations of Ragnarok Online out there right now, but today it's the free-to-play original that is debuting on Steam. Ragnarok Online has been an MMO staple since its launch in 2003, but it seems that making it to the Steam store is a good sign that it's "made it" in terms of industry-wide recognition. In any case, if you're the type to wait for an MMO to hit Valve's digital distribution platform before playing it, then today you have one more option from which to choose. Ragnarok Online celebrated its 10th anniversary this past summer.
Ragnarok browser game renamed for English market debut
A Ragnarok here, a Ragnarok there -- there are Ragnaroks everywhere! Last July we learned that Ragnarok Online was reinventing itself for browsers as Ragnarok Online: Prequel (which, by the way, is not any relation to Ragnarok 2). At that point, the browser version of the game, developed by Dream², was only available in China. Now, however, the company is bringing Prequel to the west and giving it a shiny new moniker to set it apart from the rest of the franchise. Ragnarok Zero, as the English version will be known, currently has its own website and forums up and running for fans to keep tabs on the game. [Thanks to Dengar for the tip!]
Ragnarok Online: Prequel coming to browsers
The long-running Ragnarok Online will seek to reinvent itself on browsers in the near future. Chinese developer Dream² acquired the license to remake the title into Ragnarok Online: Prequel (or New Ragnarok Online, according to its splash screen). Ragnarok Online: Prequel will be quite familiar to fans of the franchise. It's currently in testing for an unknown release date. The browser version is not to be confused with Ragnarok Online 2, which recently released in Europe. You can check out Ragnarok Online: Prequel's debut trailer after the jump! [Thanks to Dengar for the tip!]
Rise and Shiny: Ragnarok Online 2
I remember playing Ragnarok Online, the first one, quite a while ago and semi-enjoying it. I liked the isometric views and even enjoyed some of the gameplay, but it was a bit of a mess much of the time. I walked away more confused than entertained. At the same time, I met reader after reader after reader who seemed to have grown up on the game. This "grind generation" was made of steely reserve and tougher stuff than I was because the game was notoriously grindy. How did they play it? Even now as I was looking for a few different views on Ragnarok Online 2, I came across a video that was hosted by a player who acknowledged the "boring grind" that left players with literally "nothing to do but level alts," yet he played the game to the max level, several times. If only we could get these guys to put that much energy into world peace, I might be having dinner in the middle of a former warzone right now! I found number two to be a bit like its older version but surprisingly modern and more fun than I thought. But only a bit more fun.
Ragnarok Online celebrates 10 years with content update 14.2
To help celebrate 10 years as an MMO, Ragnarok Online is breaking out with a new update entitled 14.2 Eclage. This sequel to 2011's Bifrost update introduces new maps, dungeons, foes, equipment, and a continued questline from 14.1. An in-game festival helps celebrate the 10th anniversary with players completing mini-games for prizes. To join in the festivities, head over to the official site to sign up. [Source: WarpPortal press release]
Ragnarok Online 2 releases in Europe
Ragnarok Online 2: Legend of the Second has been given the keys to Europe, as Gravity Europe announced that the free-to-play title is now available to play across the continent. The game comes with a new English translation, and promises to be "easier to dive into" than the original Ragnarok Online. Gravity Managing Director Yves Bléhaut said of the launch, "For us, Ragnarok Online 2 represents a major step in the life of a brand with as high a profile as Ragnarok. First and foremost, hosting so many players on two continents simultaneously represents a technical challenge for both us and our American partner, and it's also a major editorial step as two versions of Ragnarok will coexist: RO1 for purists, and one more accessible to the general public, RO2." Ragnarok Online 2 has been rolling out worldwide over the past few months. Gravity Europe is offering two different goodie packs through "specialized media" to promote the launch. [Source: Gravity Europe press release]
WolfKnights Online debuts from Kim Hakkyu
Kim Hakkyu, former developer of such MMOs as Ragnarok Online and Granado Espada, released several brand new screenshots for a project his team is working on called WolfKnights Online. For fans of IMC Games following along at home, this looks to be what was previously known as Project G2, not to be confused with Project R1, which is an entirely different game being worked on by the same studio. Check out the gallery below and let us know what you think in the comments. Like I even have to tell you that part!%Gallery-188961%
Ragnarok Online 2 is now available at a Steam store near you
Ragnarok Online 2 hit Steam yesterday, to the undoubted delight of Midgardians everywhere. The game brings back some of the mainstays of the original: Familiar classes, pets, cards, and other systems have all been included in the sequel. A lot of what makes Midgard home to players is available; it just happens to be returning in an updated and immersive 3-D world. Ragnarok Online 2 is a free-to-play title and will be supported by item shop transactions. You can catch videos of the game on its Steam page. [Thanks to groovy webizen Eric for the tip!]
Ragnarok Online 2 schedules closed beta events
Starting today, Gravity's Ragnarok Online 2 is throwing several closed beta events as the studio tests this fantasy-themed sequel. The events take place from December 7th through the 12th, opening up the game during a good chunk of each day. To encourage players to test the title, Gravity has plenty of activities and rewards in store for loyal participants. Testers can reserve their open beta names, win costumes and titles, snag real-life prizes, and meet GMs in-game. If you're in the closed beta, definitely sound off below and let us know what you think about Ragnarok Online 2! [Thanks to Ivan for the tip!]
Ragnarok Online 2 trailer shows off upcoming Colosseum
Why settle for PvP or PvE when you can have a mixture of both, Colosseum-style? Ragnarok Online 2: Legend of the Second will be getting an update early next week that introduces a Colosseum where players will engage other players as well as monsters simultaneously. Besides the chance to earn a last-man-standing trophy from besting the entire field, participants can earn PvP points to use for purchasing PvP gear. Check out a preview of the Colosseum in the video after the break. Gravity's sequel to Ragnarok Online, Legend of the Second, is not available in NA or EU versions.
Ragnarok Online's War of Emperium event launches August 7th
Although Ragnarok Online recently introduced a classic server for fans who wanted to play the free-to-play fantasy game just like it was in the old days, that hasn't stopped Gravity Interactive from expanding and updating the game on the other servers. And one of those updates is the War of Emperium event that is set to launch on August 7th. In this new update, cracks in reality have appeared deep within the Halls of Abyss and an entrance to the Unknown Dimension has been discovered. Players will compete for these rare and coveted dimensional cracks. Producer Jason Koerperich states, "This WoE update is just the thing to spark that community competition! The new War of Emperium is a combined PvP and PvE mechanic that will pit players against each other in new ways." Players can keep an eye on the official facebook page for full details on the events as the week unfolds. [Source: Gravity Interactive press release]
Free for All: The old becomes new on Ragnarok's classic server
Ragnarok Online might seem very familiar to many of my readers. In fact, if you are from a certain age group, the group that grew up with the internet instead of watching it come into being while you were already living on your own, you might have played Ragnarok Online. I can often tell a Ragnarok fan as well. They're OK with the grind as long is it pays off in the end, and they usually have a pretty exact way of looking at MMOs. I have yet to find a Ragnarok player who is over 30 and who roleplays more than anything. In other words, Ragnarok has affected almost an entire generation of MMO gamers. Personally, I always enjoyed the graphics of the game when I got a few chances to play it, but the overwhelming world and gameplay was a bit too much, and I didn't really enjoy the entire experience. Well, good news for me! I can now roll on a brand-new, old-school server that promises to be more like something from the early days of the game. The best news? All players will start off on the same page. Want to know more? Keep reading because I sat in on a conference call with Ragnarok producer Jason Koerperich to talk about all of the changes.
Ragnarok Online classic server coming on June 29th
If you're a Ragnarok Online fan who is prone to nostalgia, you'll be happy to know that Gravity Interactive has just announced a new initiative bound to put a smile on your face. The firm is gearing up to deploy a new classic server that uses all of "the original game settings and physics." Gravity says that the Ragnarok community has been asking for a throw-back shard for years. Now that it's here, fans of the 10-year-old title can choose between the current version and "its more simple and classic form." Ragnarok originally launched in Korea in August of 2002 before coming to North America in June 2003. The new server is scheduled to go live on Friday, June 29th. [Source: Gravity Interactive press release]
Ragnarok Online celebrates its ninth anniversary in style
Celebrating the anniversary of Ragnarok Online isn't a new thing -- the team at Gravity Interactive has been doing it every year -- but to help ring in the MMO's ninth anniversary, the publisher is throwing what it calls "one of the biggest in-game celebrations to date for RO veterans!" The theme this year is "Where the Old Meets the New," thrown in celebration of the defeat of the Demon Satan Morroc and the discovery of the New World. Sound like fun to you? Then head over to the game's main site to sign up or visit the game's Facebook page to join the community. [Source: Gravity Interactive press release]
Ragnarok Online update introduces the town of Port Malaya
It's been over a year since we heard anything from Gravity Interactive's long-running title Ragnarok Online, but today, the silence has been broken. The studio has announced the game's newest content update, which will allow players to visit the paradisiacal Port Malaya, where "the water's always warm and the monsters are always dangerous." Players level 100 and up will find plenty to do in the new port town, such as "dozens of new quests, including an entire suite of daily tasks to perform." New dungeons also await in Port Malaya, and with new dungeons comes new gear and a new tattoo system that will grant players permanent buffs. Players will need all the power they can get to square off against the myriad new MVP Monsters that inhabit the wilds of Port Malaya. More details on the update can be found on Ragnarok Online's official site, so head on over there and set sail for Port Malaya. [Source: Gravity Interactive press release]
Legend of Galasia closed beta begins May 16th
Developer FUN YOURS' new 2-D MMORPG Legend of Galasia is gearing up for closed beta. Billed as the "longest running RPG series in Taiwan," the game is a 2-D, sickeningly cute anime-style MMORPG in the vein of Ragnarok Online. Present information is fairly sparse, but features of the game appear to include a multi-classing system, huge guild-vs.-guild PvP battles, guild housing, and more. If any of this piques your interest, head on over to the Legend of Galasia official site by May 16th, when the beta testing is anticipated to begin.
