Move over Dark Age of Camelot. Step aside Warhammer Online. There's a new realm vs. realm MMORPG on the block, and it's free-to-play! Gala-Net, Inc., a leading free-to-play online game publisher, recently announced their partnership with HanbitSoft to publish Aika Online in the North American market.
Having watched some videos and read some reviews, the game appears to share several similarities with both of Mythic's aforementioned RvR innovators. Aika will feature quests, item crafting, gender-locked classes, and yes, large scale RvR including keep sieges. The publishers claim they can handle battles up to 1000 vs. 1000. That will be quite a feat considering the detailed graphics and animations.
That's about where the similarities seem to end though. Aika is an MMO of South Korean descent and definitely has the look and sound effects. The MMO will also be free to play (just how free, we don't know yet), boast sophisticated voice-overs, and come packaged in a tiny 300MB download. And then there's the interesting (some might say creepy) "Pran system." Prans are kind of like pets from traditional MMOs, except that they are young girls. According to one review, you can interact with your Pran, dress it up, give it dolls, help it grow, and boost its intimacy/relationship rank.
Reader Comments (31)
Posted: May 5th 2009 9:05AM (Unverified) said
what the hell are you saying? there are a thousand f2p mmos with rvr, how can you call aika the first?
Posted: May 5th 2009 10:01AM (Unverified) said
there are simple rvr systems like metin2 to more complex rvr systems with territorial control like for example godswar. there is 4 story, air rivals, three kingdoms and several others that noone remembers.
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Posted: May 5th 2009 11:13AM (Unverified) said
It really surprises me that an MMO portal like Massively hosts an article with this title. There are plenty of free to play fantasy MMORPGs out there since a lot of time. One of the examples is Regnum Online, made by the company I work for (as a CM.) A free to play RvR experience in a fantasy world with a western look and feel that has been in development since year 2003 and officially launched in 1Q 2007. Check IGN's RPG Vault interview: http://rpgvault.ign.com/articles/882/882184p1.html
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Posted: May 5th 2009 9:24AM Snow Leopard said
"Prans are kind of like pets from traditional MMOs, except that they are young girls. According to one review, you can interact with your Pran, dress it up, give it dolls, help it grow, and boost its intimacy/relationship rank."
Are you serious?
No, wait, seriously. Are you serious?
I don't really know where to begin on this one.
/facepalm
Are you serious?
No, wait, seriously. Are you serious?
I don't really know where to begin on this one.
/facepalm
Posted: May 5th 2009 10:16AM (Unverified) said
The game's full title is clearly, "Aika: Echoes of Paedogroomquest"
"Make girl happy of man! All action! Dress as brings joy to all! Grow and train with disciplines of loved!"
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"Make girl happy of man! All action! Dress as brings joy to all! Grow and train with disciplines of loved!"
Posted: May 5th 2009 9:34AM nomoredroids said
Wow. Korean MMOs are the worst.
Posted: May 5th 2009 9:45AM Thac0 said
TBH I think this looks very interesting and look forward to giving it a try. Then again i am a creepy old man that wants to raise a faerie into a woman? lol sounds fun! If its too grindy outside RvR thought it wont last long on my hard drive.
Posted: May 5th 2009 9:49AM Holgranth said
1000 vs 1000 eh?
Was there a little Greek man involved in this press release?
Was there a little Greek man involved in this press release?
Posted: May 5th 2009 10:08AM (Unverified) said
LOL. Sure, F2P mmo that comes out of Korea boasts all kinds of features western players like. This is totally a first. I bet it totally lives up to the claims... totally... especially 1000 v 1000 lol.
Posted: May 5th 2009 10:15AM dudes said
EEEEEeeeeeeeeee! Intimacy scale? Haha, the handbag brigades going to love this one. Pedowitchhunting manhaters probably have their scathing first emails already prepared...
Posted: May 5th 2009 10:38AM (Unverified) said
oh, yea. I forgot to mention how really cool the pedo feature is. That's going to be huge. NAMBLA must be jumping up & down w/ excitment.
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Posted: May 5th 2009 11:00AM Norvak said
this game looks like every other pos asian crap.
Posted: May 5th 2009 11:01AM Lateris said
Korean MMORPG's have a good knack for great code.
Posted: May 5th 2009 11:02AM Jesspiper said
Aside from the creepy and just plain wrong implications of the Prans, this seems interesting. Hopefully I'll be bale to make a character that doesn't have to look like a 17 y/o boy.
Posted: May 5th 2009 11:22AM (Unverified) said
I read that guys review that you linked too and had an overwhelming urge to help him edit it. Im not saying i am much better, without my girlfriend editing everything I write i'd sound like that too. I just felt bad for him
Posted: May 5th 2009 11:45AM (Unverified) said
Theres an easy way to catch a guy for virtual child pornography, just take him to court over his screenshots.
Posted: May 5th 2009 11:48AM Thac0 said
When is this game coming out?




