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A look into the world of Hello Kitty Online
The citizens of Sanriotown are missing, and it's up to you to save the day! Ok, that's the most cheeriness you're getting out of this article from us. We're not sugar-coating the rest of this, because the game has enough sugar in and of itself. We don't need to sprinkle any more atop the candy coated world of Hello Kitty Online.Our good friend Tipa over at West Karana has taken the brave plunge into HKO, and she's resurfaced with a long post of first impressions from the game. While she goes in-depth with the combat, crafting, harvesting, and minigame aspects of HKO, she doesn't have much praise to heap on the game. Most of her complaints with the white cat stem from a severe lack of documentation that gives the player direction. For the most part, players of HKO are dropped into the world with no clear objective of what to do when they get there -- not that good for a game that's directed at children.While Tipa's first impressions are lengthy, be sure to check out our first impressions of Hello Kitty Online, coming soon to the blog near you!
Sanrio and MIMOBOT team up to unleash some cute for Hello Kitty's 35th
Get ready -- Hello Kitty's about to blow out the candles for her 35th anniversary -- so Sanrio's gone on an especially wild licensing tear. We see all kinds of insane HK gear around these parts, but we are, admittedly, fans of MIMOBOTS adorable storage. Now, there are not a lot of details to go on here, nothing specific, with regards to pricing or capacities -- but the Hello Kitty MIMOBOT flash drives are expected on or about the 1st of November. Similar 'bots (we checked out Darth Vader) run $19.95 for a 1GB model, and up to $49.95 for a 30GB. Meow!! Now, we're not sure -- but we're laying our bets that we can expect other fruit-inspired costumes for our feline friend above... or maybe we're just hoping to see her dressed up as a peach!
Hello Kitty limited edition Casio Exilim EX-Z2 with 12.1 meowgapixels up for pre-order
You didn't expect Hello Kitty's 35th anniversary to pass without a flurry of new products did you? Now, this is not the first Casio digital camera we've seen carrying the HK moniker, but the Exilim EX- Z2 is the first 12.1-megapixel affair we've ever seen with the meow meow on it. Bedazzled with Swarovskis and all pinked up, this Casio boasts a 2.7-inch LCD, and a 3 x optical zoom, plus the package seems to come with some other items of interest -- a camera case, lanyard, and giant poofy pink thing! All this can be yours (available for pre-order now) for $500. [Via Chip Chick]
Sanrio announces two Hello Kitty digital photo frames, one child goes bananas
There are a lot of Hello Kitty products. A lot. So many, in fact, that it's kind of hard to get excited about each and every one of them. Then again, this one's pretty sweet. Sanrio's just-announced seven-inch digital photo frames are the classic Kitty motif we know and love, with 6MB of onboard memory, SD/SDHC, MMC support via USB, and a 1W speaker. They're available in Japan now for ¥22,700.00 (about $234) in both red and white. No word on any availability elsewhere, sadly. There's one more photo after the break.[Via Coolest Gadgets]
Casio digicam gets overrun by Hello Kitty
Hopefully your retinas aren't burning, but we can definitely understand if you need to take a few minutes and resume reading later after viewing the image above. An almost unlawful amount of cuteness has mauled this otherwise average Casio EXILIM digital camera, which just so happens to boast a 9 megapixel sensor, 2.6-inch rear LCD monitor, 41.2MB of internal storage space, an SDHC card slot, 3x optical zoom lens, a video recording mode and a borderline sickening amount of crystals, pink and Hello Kitty. Those who don't mind blinding their guests each time they attempt to snap a shot can grab one now for ¥47,250 ($513), but you can probably guess what our recommendation would be.[Via Topix]
Valentine's Day event in Hello Kitty Online open to everyone
The day will eventually come when the world burns itself out and society as we know it collapses. In the final days, tin foil hat theorists will suggest many reasons for humanity's demise, ranging from Skynet to MMO addiction and everything in between. Regardless of how or why it happens, once we're gone, the cockroaches will evolve into a global hivemind and inherit the earth as nature always intended. All they will know of their simian Mountain Dew-guzzling predecessors of the ancient world is one thing: they apparently worshipped a cute little animal with an off-kilter pink bow, the cat-goddess Hello Kitty. The day they encounter her is the day they will know their new master, and labor to rebuild the world in her image.It's true -- well, not the apocalypse bit -- Hello Kitty will remain an enduring aspect of our times, if the past 35 years of her reign as a cultural symbol is any indicator. The world's ultimate iconic character from Sanrio has adorned 'all our stuff' since 1974. Perhaps more than ever, kids (and quite a few adults) are absolutely in love with Hello Kitty. The estimated USD 1 billion per year she's worth confirms she's hardwired into our pop culture consciousness, a fact which isn't lost on the game industry. We've already seen a legacy of Hello Kitty games spanning multiple iterations of consoles and handhelds, as well as PC releases. Hello Kitty's involvement with gaming is about to enter a whole new era though, with her introduction to the world of massively multiplayer online games through Hello Kitty Online.
Sony Ericsson's F305 gets mauled by Hello Kitty
It's actually tough to tell whether or not this Hello Kitty "inspired" handset is real or fake, but at least Mobile-Review is claiming that the HK-adorned F305 will go on sale in Russia this March. From what we can gather, this is a rather standard F305 outside of the flamboyant exterior, boasting a two megapixel camera, M2 card slot, Motion Gaming and a ringer that only knows how to meow. We've no clue how costly this little beauty will be, but you can go ahead and bank on the fact that you'll be buying one for the Cosmo Girl in your life.[Via eldarmurtazin, thanks c88lman]
Hello Kitty Online Founder's Beta opening Oct 8th
"Hahaha I pwnedz0rz j00!""You cheated. Your class is overpowered. If I had my [insert popular class here], you wouldn't have a chance""STFU newb, go play Hello Kitty Online"It may have become the butt of as many jokes as Chuck Norris, but Hello Kitty Online might actually prove to be a major contender in the MMO space. Sure it probably won't compete on the same level with something like Warhammer Online, but in the ever-increasing niche MMO market, it has the possibility to become a hit online game.On October 8th at 22:00 EST, the HKO Founder's Beta will begin, opening the game to many more players than the previous beta that's been going on for months. To find out more information on becoming a Founder (which operates much like a special pre-order program for when the game launches), you can check out the Founders FAQ or the game's FAQ itself. They even get bonus points for offering a Torrent version of their beta download!
Hello Kitty Online Founder's Beta announced
Collector's Editions, in-game exclusives, and headstarts aren't limited to hotly-anticipated MMOs in the fantasy genre. More casual MMOs are now offering additional incentives and benefits to gamers who are devoted to their given IP. A case-in-point is Hello Kitty Online and their newly-announced Founder's offer. The Hello Kitty Online Founder's Beta will allow those selected to play the game ahead of launch while participating in special in-game events. Here's how to become a Founder in two easy steps:1. Sign up for a SanrioTown.com account.2. Using your SanrioTown account, send a BLANK email to hkofounder@hellokitty.com.That's it. Founders should have some new things to look forward to from Hello Kitty Online, according to the official site: "an improved interface, new monsters, new maps, new items, and the opening of London and Paris. The Founders' Beta will also introduce gameplay changes such as an improved skill system, pet systems and team-play oriented enhancements." If you're curious about this title, either for yourself or for one of the little people in your life, don't wait too long to become a Founder -- this stage of beta testing begins on October 8th. If you're thinking about giving it a shot, be sure to check out the full details in the Hello Kitty Online News and Update page. [Via MMORPG]
Hello Kitty Online: gazing into horror
We write about Chaos Chosen freaks wreaking havoc on the RvR battlefield. We've been known to write about interstellar mercenaries and anarchists publicly executing enemies of freedom. Things like these make the job fun. But this... is seriously over the top. Three videos, all lined up below the cut. You may be able to handle one. Some of you may be able to take two. But three -- we don't think you can do it. In fact we know you can't. These clips are NSFW. Be advised.
Hello Kitty 1seg portable TV lacks effort, cuteness
Word on the street is that Sanrio was looking for new Hello Kitty designers on the West Coast earlier last week, and if this sad little 1seg portable TV is any indication, we can see why the company's in search of fresh talent. Seriously, this is the least cute Hello Kitty gadget we've seen in a while, and we're basically suckers for the lil' imp. Japan-only, and your ¥21,000 ($197) doesn't get you anything special on the inside, either, just a 2.4-inch QVGA screen and built-in stereo speakers with a 4.5-hour battery life. Come on, Kitty -- make us love you again.
Hello Kitty Crossing
Empire Interactive's Hello Kitty: Big City Dreams follows Hello Kitty as she moves out of Sanrio Town to seek a new life in The Big City. What will she find when she gets there? Minigames!As Kitty pursues her goal of moving into a penthouse apartment, she can do chores for her neighbors and meet new people. If it sounds a lot like Animal Crossing, that's probably no coincidence. As it turns out, it looks a lot like Animal Crossing too. But we'd love to play a Sanrio-themed Animal Crossing. As far as we're concerned, the closer the ripoff, the better.%Gallery-27377%[Via GamesPress]
Uniden introduces 19-inch Hello Kitty LCD TV, parents weep
We'd generally assume this was just some kind of sick joke, but given Uniden's history of cranking out kid-lovin', themed LCD TVs, we're being forced to accept the fact that this here unit is indeed real. The TL19TX1 is all set to launch next month in black or white and feature a 19-inch 1,440 x 810 resolution display, 1,000:1 contrast ratio, integrated digital TV tuner, twin 3-watt speakers, HDMI / component / composite inputs and enough Hello Kitty branding to make the average guy gag. Over in Japan, the unit will be selling for ¥69,800 ($647), but who knows how much it'll cost for you to import it. And yes, you'll be importing one for your little angel.[Via CrunchGear]
Take me out to the panda-suit-wearing cat ballgame
We were already a bit weirded out by the announcement of Hello Kitty being named Japan's "Tourism Ambassador" to China and Hong Kong, despite not existing. But now, seemingly in celebration of the mouthless cartoon cat's new increased visibility in China (or just as a result of weirdly fortuitous timing), she'll "honor" one of China's most beloved national symbols in a series of athletic competitions. Either that or Sanrio and publisher Dorasu just thought that putting Hello Kitty in a panda suit for a whole game would be cute. Which it is. Hello Kitty Panda Sports Stadium features 12 sporting minigames starring cats clad in panda suits, but only judo and baseball have been revealed in screens. But, really, any sport would be made better with the addition of Hello Kitty's blank stare peeking out of the cushy maw of a plush panda head.
Epson, Sanrio team up for two more Hello Kitty laptop designs
Don't bother asking if the madness will ever end; you know good and well it won't. Now that we're clear, let's focus on the latest Hello Kitty-blasted laptop: the May-bound Endeavor NJ2100. Available in either a floral-inspired or airplane-dominated theme, the predominantly Pearl White machine touts rather exceptionally modest specs (shocked?) including a 15.4-inch WXGA display, 1.86GHz Intel Celeron processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, an 80GB hard drive, 3-in-1 multicard reader, gigabit Ethernet / WiFi and Windows Vista Home. You'll also find a FireWire socket, four USB 2.0 ports, a PC Card slot and around one measly hour of battery life from the standard cell. Totally not worth the ¥147,000 ($1,409) asking price, but then again, cuteness demands a serious, serious premium these days.[Via Slippery Brick, thanks David]
MMO Mash-up: Age of Hello Kitty
Welcome to a new column here at Massively, where I'll take two massively multiplayer online games and chop them up into little pieces, so I can put them back together with electrical tape and staples. This is the MMO Mashup, where you can expect to see everything from the startlingly strange to the ubiquitously unusual.Lets get straight into it then, with the pink-yet-dark world of Age of Hello Kitty.In the dangerous and dark Kingdom of Floweria, your wits are your best weapon. Though pastel-colored blade and lovely embroidered shield may help fend off the slavering demon-kittens, they are only as powerful as the warrior wielding them.
Hello Kitty washing machine won't make your garb any cuter
Scary how long it's been since we've seen any new gadgetry with Her Cuteness splashed all over it, huh? Or maybe the sight of an actual Hello Kitty washing machine is what's really terrifying. Regardless, Sanrio is now marketing a washer sure to be purchased by only the hardest of hardcore fanatics, and while we've nary a clue what kind of features the unit actually possesses, we won't kid ourselves and suggest that it even matters.
Hello Kitty Online enters closed beta on the 23rd of April
Thy doom draws nearer, O Learned Readers, for with each passing day, Hello Kitty Online becomes more and more a reality! The latest information is that those of you fortunate enough to have gotten access to the closed beta will finally find out what it will be like to inhabit the world of Sanrio. The test runs from the 23rd of April to the 7th of May, and interestingly enough, testers will have a DVD of content sent to them, which will include at least a folder of video tutorials, though nothing else has been confirmed at this time.This MMO has excited a ton of interest in age ranges well beyond the pre-pubescent that one might expect -- expect a First Impressions before too long!
Insider Trader: Crafting speculation in the Flower Kingdom
Insider Trader is your inside line on making, selling, buying and using player-made products.To celebrate the kick-off of HKO-Insider, Insider Trader will be doing a bonus column this week! As the closed beta has only just been put in the works, there are understandably few details floating around.Currently, we have confirmed at least the following professions: Mining. Gathering fruit from the wild. Tailoring. Furniture-crafting. Farming. Cooking. House-building. This week we will speculate on what we might see, and compose a wishlist for what we would like to see. Join us on Friday as we resume our normal schedule and delve deeper into the concept of mining as a profession, building on today's overview as well as player feedback.
HKO Moviewatch: You can with Hello Kitty Online
When I was told about the new change to the site, I wasn't sure what to think. However, after some research, I discovered that HKO machinimators are so much more talented than their WoW counterparts, save for Shepiwot, of course.In the video that Sanrio Digital made to show off their upcoming MMO, it's obvious that you can literally do almost anything. I can't say enough about this machinima. From the cinematic quality to the music, it's perfect in every way. I can hardly wait to try my hand at some in-world footage!(WoW Moviewatch fans, if you're out there, send machinima to machinima AT wowinsider DOT com and help me convince them that they've made the wrong choice. Oh no! They're coming for me!)Previously on the feature previously known as WoW Moviewatch ...
