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The Soapbox: Rooting for the fail

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Opinion, Humor, The Soapbox, Miscellaneous

Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

I'm going to start this with a strange admission: I love MMOs. I love them as a lumpy, imperfect collective; I love specific ones immensely, and I love being a fan of the genre. I feel that I have to clarify my stance when I sometimes -- often -- see people who apparently follow MMOs quite closely become a neverending fount of bile and venom toward these games. Apparently, not all MMO fans love MMOs, and that perplexes me.

Odd as that may be, whatever, I can accept that we live in a topsy-turvy world. What I really don't get are the folks who hate specific games so greatly that their entire bodies and minds have been honed into a dedicated game-loathing entity. Mention that title anywhere on a forum, a blog, or in a post, and these people come out to scream through clenched teeth how this MMO sucks beyond the telling of it and that we are all fools, fools for getting anywhere near it.

They aren't just content to say their piece and be done with it, oh no; their vitriol literally knows no end. They will rant, they will attack, they will laugh with derision, and above all else, they will root for the fail. Their greatest desire in life is for this specific game to die so that they can rend their clothes and let out a blood-curdling victory howl. And I don't get it. I feel like an alien in their presence, perplexed at their rage and fixation. Why do people root for MMOs to fail with such intensity? What motivates them and what do they hope to achieve?

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The Soapbox: Rooting for the fail originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hello Kitty Online donates $6,000 to Japanese earthquake relief fund

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, real-world, Events, in-game, Hello Kitty Online, Kids, Family

It's been inspiring to see how many people have stepped up following the tragic Japanese earthquake and tsunami a month ago, including gamers and studios. Sanrio Digital rallied Hello Kitty Online players to the cause with its aptly named Japan Earthquake Aid project.

During a recent in-game event, players were encouraged to gather together special items and hand them in to a GM. Depending on the amount of items accrued over the event, Sanrio Digital promised to donate a variable amount of money to Project KIBOW, which helps fund Japan's Civic Force, an organization that hands out supplies and food to those still struggling with this crisis.

Sanrio announced today that due to the players' efforts, the company is handing in a check for $6,041 on behalf of Hello Kitty Online. Helpful players who passed a certain item donation threshold received a spiffy in-game Tokyo outfit as a thank-you from the company.

Hello Kitty Online donates $6,000 to Japanese earthquake relief fund originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hello Kitty Online meets Manhattan

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, Free-to-play, Hello Kitty Online, Family

New York City is, like, totally bummed out. Intrepid explorers in Hello Kitty Online recently found the city to be deserted due to an unknown cause -- Cloverfield monster? Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man? Sex and the City 3 filming downtown? Nobody knows! With its upcoming update, "Mysteries of New York," HKO players will dig deeper into this investigation while cheering up the emerging inhabitants.

Yup, that's right: Cheering them up. After all, this is Hello Kitty Online, a game that practically exudes pastel cheer from every pore. With the free January 24th update, players will engage in the return of the "Cheer System" which uses a variety of sparklers to lift the spirit of grouchy residents. Because nothing empowers one's attitude like a face-full of sizzling fireworks!

Mysteries of New York will contain a hefty assortment of other goodies as well, including costume sets, a sizable invasion of penguins, new pets and bosses, and a capsule machine that gives you the chance to win groovy prizes. You can check out all of the details of this update at Hello Kitty Online.

Hello Kitty Online meets Manhattan originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Game Archaeologist and the dragon of the deep dungeon

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Game mechanics, Roleplaying, The Game Archaeologist, Miscellaneous

The Game Archaeologist is a lazy adventurer-slash-professor who dons his trademark cap for a weekly expedition through some of the most famous MMOs of the past few decades. Each month, he chooses a different title in order to examine its highlights, talk with its developers, and invite its fans to share their experiences.

Part of the holy mission of the Game Archaeologist is to ferret out the roots of history that ultimately led to MMORPGs as we know them today. Another part of the mission is to root out ferrets, as my claw-scarred arms can attest. Some of that history is fairly recent, but today we're going to travel back -- way back -- to a time before many of you were born. Including me, as a matter of fact.

The year is 1974. The world is hip-deep in the throes of shag carpeting, driftwood furniture and the strains of Grand Funk Railroad. It truly seemed like nothing would ever be cool or non-earth-toned again. At this, the lowest moment in all of history, game designers Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson took the concept of miniature wargaming, merged it with a fantasy motif, and sold it under the name Dungeons & Dragons. Geeks everywhere had a reason to rejoice, and through this roleplaying game the foundations for MMOs were laid.

Let's take a brief survey through D&D, giving special emphasis to how this great-granddaddy of RPGs passed down a legacy that we enjoy in our modern online titles. Also, there will be popcorn.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the dragon of the deep dungeon

The Game Archaeologist and the dragon of the deep dungeon originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Celebrate Hello Kitty's birthday in Hello Kitty Online

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Events, real-world, Events, in-game, News items, Free-to-play, Hello Kitty Online, Family

Hello Kitty is 36 years old, which should be the sort of thing that makes everyone blink once or twice in surprise. With that sort of pedigree, you'd be surprised not to see a celebration going on -- especially in Hello Kitty Online. Sure enough, there's a huge birthday bash going on right now for players of the game, and participation in the event will have some positive effects in the real world. Sanrio is giving money to charity, based in part upon how many people take part in the birthday festivities.

Players taking part will be sent around the world with sparklers to help cheer up monsters, so that everyone can enjoy the birthday celebration. There's also a small line for upgrading and improving sparklers for maximum effectiveness, with upgrades available in the item shop as a shortcut for participants. A full event guide has been posted, and it promises a special in-game event on November 15th -- which should be an excellent motivator for Hello Kitty Online players to log in and ring in another cat-filled year.

Gallery: Hello Kitty Online birthday event

Celebrate Hello Kitty's birthday in Hello Kitty Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Perfect Ten: Halloween MMOs

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Age of Conan, Dungeons and Dragons Online, Fallen Earth, Events, in-game, Warhammer Online, Wurm Online, Hellgate: London, The Secret World, Humor, World of Darkness, Perfect Ten

We're only a few days away from Halloween, and already the Massively office staff is dressing up in anticipation. Shawn's post-apocalyptic gear is at odds with Rubi's tastefully modest Guild Wars Elementalist outfit. Greg's Squig is in the corner battling it out with Larry's Chewbacca. Bree is dudded up as a giant red corrective marker; Jef's free-to-play outfit requires microtransactions to view in full; and Kyrstalle is photographing it all with her Poloroid One-Shot camera. I think Eliot showed up in full plate armor and riding a mechanical bull, but that just may be his normal work attire.

So as everyone else is goofing off in the spirit of the holidays, it remains to me, your lovable intern, to hack out a top 10 list in honor of All Hallow's Eve. It's the least I can do since they're paying me in candy.

While every MMO incorporates horror at some point (even, yes, Hello Kitty Online's Cat-Tastrophie zone), and it's nearly impossible to escape a clutch of giant spiders in any game you visit, I've picked out 10 MMOs that best deliver a slice of October 31st. Some are old, some new, some canceled and some yet to come, but these are 10 of the spookiest MMOs in the world.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Halloween MMOs

The Perfect Ten: Halloween MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMO Family: A parent's look at Hello Kitty Online

Lisa Poisso — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Free-to-play, Hello Kitty Online, Kids, MMO Family, Family

MMO Family is your resource for leveling a gaming-specced family, from tips on balancing gaming with family life to finding age-appropriate online games for everyone in the family.

Hello Kitty Online is the first of our Parents Guide selections that's aimed squarely at teens and young adults rather than the kiddie set. Say what? We were surprised, too -- but given the mind-bogglingly persistent popularity of Hello Kitty among grownups with more discerning taste (and expansive wallets), it stands to reason that developer Sanrio would want HKO to reach as broad an audience as possible.

What HKO brings to the keyboard, then, is less a kiddie game than a crafting-oriented, sunshiny, Hello-Kitty-themed version of an MMO. Sure, it's 2-D. Sure, it's free-to-play. But despite the precious proliferation of pink, you'll find gameplay that's more in line with traditional, fully developed MMOs -- a purrfectly friendly MMO choice for your teen daughter.

Continue reading MMO Family: A parent's look at Hello Kitty Online

MMO Family: A parent's look at Hello Kitty Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HK-Day arrives: Hello Kitty Online launches in NA and Europe

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Launches, New titles, Free-to-play, Hello Kitty Online, Family

You've felt it -- the tingle of anticipation, the twitch of desire, the color of pink. And now, after years of waiting, it's finally here: Hello Kitty Online has officially launched across North American and Europe. While the game's been widely available for some time now, Sanrio Digital considers today to be the first of many glorious days of cats and their peppy greetings. It's a double celebration of sorts, considering that this is Sanrio's 50th anniversary.

While you and your family can download Hello Kitty Online for free, Sanrio hopes that you'll go the extra distance and head out to a retailer to pick up the premium edition of this kid-friendly MMO. Hello Kitty Online Premium Edition includes a grab-bag of treats, such as $15 in Sanrio points for item shop purchases, an exclusive pet, the game manual, and postcards.

The MMO is tied in with SanrioTown, the company's official Hello Kitty social network, which provides fans with tools to share their love of this world. Obviously, Sanrio is hoping that the worldwide Hello Kitty phenomenon will propel this F2P title to success. You can check out HKO for yourself at the official site.

HK-Day arrives: Hello Kitty Online launches in NA and Europe originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Game Archaeologist and the Legend of the Sims: The history

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Virtual worlds, The Game Archaeologist, Family

The Sims Online was one of the odder entrants into the MMO genre this past decade, an online iteration of an immensely popular game franchise that promised deeper social interaction. With EA at its back and the Will Wright name affixed to the front, TSO (not to be confused with Cryptic's STO) had a solid shot at cracking the big time.

It did not. It went over as well as a fish flopping out of water to make a go for it on dry land, eventually realizing that it was both going nowhere and dying slowly. The end result? It stunk.

And yet it was an interesting failed experiment in MMO gaming, especially considering that the concept wasn't as off-base as we once thought. With social "dress up" games booming -- Second Life, Habbo Hotel, Club Penguin, Hello Kitty Online, even elements of LEGO Universe -- The Sims Online could be seen as a prophet of the future, mistreated in its own time. Return with us to the days of pixelated 2-D isometric glory, as the Game Archaeologist interprets the Simlish of ancient tomes for your benefit.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the Legend of the Sims: The history

The Game Archaeologist and the Legend of the Sims: The history originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMO Family: Podcasts for gaming kids

Lisa Poisso — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Kids, MMO Family, Family

MMO Family is your resource for leveling a gaming-specced family. From tips on balancing gaming with family life to finding age-appropriate niches for every family member, MMO Family offers you advice on MMO gaming of the family, by the family and for the family.

Here's an offbeat idea for the kids on one of those endless hot summer days: Track down -- or better yet, try your hand at creating -- a podcast for their favorite MMO. Kids love to hear what other kids are playing, yet there aren't many kid-friendly gaming podcasts out there. "The thing about podcasts for kid's MMOs is that most kids don't really know much about what a podcast is," says Leesha Darkheart of Ravenwood Radio, a podcast about Wizard101.

Do we smell a hero's title for the mom or dad who comes up with an idea for creating some of the coolest summer fun on the block? We just might -- plus a seal of approval for discovering yet another way to enjoy gaming as a family.

Continue reading MMO Family: Podcasts for gaming kids

MMO Family: Podcasts for gaming kids originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rise and Shiny recap: Hello Kitty Online

Beau Hindman — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Events, in-game, Reviews, Opinion, Free-to-play, Casual, Hello Kitty Online, Kids, Family, Rise and Shiny

Each week Rise and Shiny asks you to download and try a different free-to-play game, chosen by me, Beau Hindman. Some of the games will be far out of your gaming comfort zone, and some will pleasantly surprise you. We will meet each Tuesday and Friday night at 8 PM Central time, followed by this column the Saturday after. I welcome any suggestions for games, either in the comments or at beau at massively dot com.

This week I asked my readers to man (or woman) up and download Hello Kitty Online by Sanrio Digital. I'm a firm believer in the old saying "Looks can be deceiving" and have tried to keep that in mind as I look for games. After all, what is the difference between fluffy pink and white bunnies and giant robots that throw hissy fits? In fact, if I were to ask my readers what makes up the difference between a game like Hello Kitty Online and a game like Lord of the Rings Online, they might only shrug and say "C'mon, Beau, you can see the difference."

Remember, though, that we can still pull emotions out of cartoon characters just like we can out of more realistic ones, and it has been shown that many moviegoers actually feel more connected to stylized characters over super-realistic representations. I wonder if Hello Kitty Online can inspire the same strong emotions that a hardcore raider feels?

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Hello Kitty Online

Rise and Shiny recap: Hello Kitty Online originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free for All: A game for every mood

Beau Hindman — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Humor, Kids, Free for All

At any given time, I have between 30 and 40 different MMORPGs sitting on my desktop, waiting for me to click their shortcut. There have been moments when I would stare at them while suffering from "gamer overload" and then end up getting up from the desk to go watch Adventure Time instead. Usually, though, I am making progress in a certain game or area and will log into that world to complete a few more steps or will log in to do some maintenance such as farming fields, pruning auction house items or loading AFK shops.

This lifestyle is not suited for the weak of wrist, or for those who want to do the same thing in the same game, over and over. It's also not for those who think that a monthly fee will somehow inspire you to play more out of obligation. Contrary to what you might think, this nomadic gaming lifestyle is not the result of too many boring games and one bored gamer, but instead is the result of too many fantastic games and one overexcited nerd. That's what I love about the world of free-to-play: the sheer variety and accessibility of so much great content.

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Free for All: A game for every mood originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rise and Shiny recap: Craft of Gods

Beau Hindman — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Reviews, Opinion, Hands-on, Rise and Shiny

Each week Rise and Shiny asks you to download and try a different free-to-play game, chosen by me, Beau Hindman. Some of the games will be far out of your gaming comfort zone, and some will pleasantly surprise you. We will meet each Tuesday and Friday night at 8 PM Central time, followed by this column the Saturday after. I welcome any suggestions for games, either in the comments or at beau at massively dot com.

This week I asked you to take a look at Craft of Gods, an independent game from Kalicanthus Entertaintment. At first glance I was excited to try it, given that it promised a lot of what I normally value in an MMORPG. I usually ask my readers to try a free-to-play game, but the 10-day free trial would provide us with enough time to get a good grip on what the game has to offer.

I warn you, though, this review will not be pretty. I really wish it could be, being that my independent run has been so haphazard as of late, but this game was pushed out much too early and it shows. Read on!

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Craft of Gods

Rise and Shiny recap: Craft of Gods originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hello Kitty Online Food for Friends 2 event a success

Krystalle Voecks — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Events, in-game, News items, Free-to-play, Hello Kitty Online

With the recent devastation in Haiti, we've seen a host of different gaming initiatives to help out. The folks at Sanrio Digital in connection with Aeria Games ran their own event, called Food for Friends 2. The idea was that players could donate any type of in-game items to Aeria, and Aeria would donate to the Haiti relief efforts on behalf of the Hello Kitty Online community.

Well, the results are in, and the Hello Kitty Online players on Aeria servers donated 534,358 items to the cause. While Aeria has not currently released their total donations as yet, the numbers are in from the Sanrio Digital side of things. Apparently the Sanrio Digital crowd managed to get 1,248,257 donated crafted items, and in turn Sanrio donated US $18,038.30 to Doctors Without Borders for the Haiti relief efforts. Now that's a friendship gift we can get behind.

Hello Kitty Online Food for Friends 2 event a success originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hello Kitty Online's Food for Friends 2 event provides Haiti disaster relief

James Egan — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Events, real-world, Events, in-game, MMO industry, New titles, Hello Kitty Online, Kids

One of the things that's different about Hello Kitty Online, beyond the pink hearts and stars motif, is that the game ties in with some great charitable causes. Now Sanrio Digital has announced the "Food for Friends 2" guild competition, an event that lets guilds compete for Loyalty Point prizes for use in the Hello Kitty Online item mall while helping people in the real world. Players from select regions (North America, Europe, Singapore, Malaysia) who participate in Food for Friends 2 will generate real money donations (from event sponsors) through their gameplay that will help disaster relief efforts in Haiti.

Food for Friends 2 runs from January 21-30 and getting involved is very simple. Players can log in and head on over to Hello Kitty Online's version of London to speak with an NPC named Cinnamaroll. He's collecting crafted consumable items for the needy. The more people from your guild who donate these items, the higher your guild's point standings increase.

Continue reading Hello Kitty Online's Food for Friends 2 event provides Haiti disaster relief

Hello Kitty Online's Food for Friends 2 event provides Haiti disaster relief originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hello Kitty Online releases new trailer and theme song

Rubi Bayer — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Trailers, Video, Free-to-play, Hello Kitty Online, Kids

Hello Kitty Online, the excruciatingly cute free-to-play MMO from Aeria Games, has a catchy new theme song and trailer video sure to get stuck in the heads of little girls worldwide (and probably their mothers, who were around when Hello Kitty was cool the first time.)

"The World Is Saying Hello" trailer gives a tour of the game, visiting some of the different areas such as the Sunbright Express train station.

So what about that earworm of a song? Well, it's Hello Kitty Online's new theme song, and what you hear in the trailer is only part of it. To get the full version, you have to go play the game. The full song can be heard at one of the places featured in the trailer, so head over to Sanriotown and good luck tracking the full song down! For now, enjoy the video trailer after the jump.

Continue reading Hello Kitty Online releases new trailer and theme song

Hello Kitty Online releases new trailer and theme song originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hello Kitty Online joins the Toys for Tots charity drive

Seraphina Brennan — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Events, real-world, Events, in-game, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Hello Kitty Online

Hello Kitty and Toys for Tots, two names that are pretty recognizable at first glance. Well, the two are teaming up for the holiday season, as Aeria Games is using Hello Kitty Online as a platform to drive charitable contributions in a pretty unique way.

Instead of offering a buyable pet and giving the proceeds to Toys for Tots, HKO players will get to search the grand virtual lands of Sanrio for Short Sticks, Webley Webs, Shells, and Bramble's Comfort. Each set of items collected will go to creating a special in-game Crab Plush Toy for you and will add one more donation to Aeria's real life toy drive. That's right: An in-game quest with a real life reward of helping get toys to children for the holidays. That's one quest that you can't drop from your log.

GMs will be picking up item sets on December 14th, 15th, and 16th. For the full information on what needs to be collected to make a set, check out the event page on HKO's main website. Don't miss out on this great chance to help children in need!

Hello Kitty Online joins the Toys for Tots charity drive originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hello Kitty officially middle-aged, celebrates in Hello Kitty Online

James Egan — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Events, real-world, Events, in-game, Free-to-play, Hello Kitty Online, Kids

She may have thrown out her back last week raking up hearts and stars in her back yard, but that's not going to stop Hello Kitty from celebrating her 35th birthday in Hello Kitty Online. Masters of all things cute and cuddly Sanrio Digital announced details of the virtual birthday party commemorating Hello Kitty's middle age milestone. Although Hello Kitty was born on the first of November, the festivities are already underway in Hello Kitty Online and will continue through the cultural icon's actual birthday.

HKO players can earn tokens by completing birthday quests and playing mini-games. Those tokens can be exchanged for limited edition birthday items in-game. Any players who unlock at least four of the limited edition items gain access to a November 1st birthday bash held in (HKO virtual) London. Those festivities aren't just for the players who rack up the most virtual swag, as birthday celebrations will also be held in game locales like Florapolis and Paris.

Continue reading Hello Kitty officially middle-aged, celebrates in Hello Kitty Online

Hello Kitty officially middle-aged, celebrates in Hello Kitty Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A look into the world of Hello Kitty Online

Seraphina Brennan — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: At a glance, Game mechanics, New titles, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Casual, 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!

A look into the world of Hello Kitty Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hello Kitty Online heading into closed beta

Krystalle Voecks — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Hello Kitty Online, Kids

Are you ready to grab your pink scepter and do battle with marshmallowy beasts in the Flower Kingdom? If you're one of the people who have been waiting for Hello Kitty Online to hit the western market, then you'll be glad of this news. We heard a few days ago that Aeria Games is finally taking Hello Kitty Online into closed beta, ending the months of wondering after their initial announcement and then nothing.

For those of you who haven't had the chance to try out HKO in other localizations, this incredibly pink MMO offers mini-games, an open-ended world with guilds, player housing, player gardens and even typical MMO quests. Essentially, imagine if Sanrio were given free reign to decorate the world; there's kawaii vivid colors everywhere and very cheery adventures to be had. So, if you're a casual Sanrio fan who wants to have some cave-the-back-of-your-head-in sweet F2P MMO fun, head over to the (admittedly very basic) Hello Kitty Online Aeria site and get signed up for the closed beta!

Hello Kitty Online heading into closed beta originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hello Kitty Online's world domination plan has begun

James Egan — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, New titles, Casual, Hello Kitty Online, Kids

While Massively focuses on a lot of the bigger games on the market, the World of Warcrafts and Warhammer Onlines out there that define fantasy MMOs for many gamers, we still like to keep our eyes on the lesser-discussed MMO titles. Which leads me to my point -- we're on to you Hello Kitty. We've said this before and we'll probably say it again, Hello Kitty has her cute little eyes set on nothing less than absolute global domination through Hello Kitty Online.

It began with her decking out Beijing with even more stars than the real Beijing, a feat most thought impossible, much less swathing the city in pink and purple hues. We've since learned that she wants Brazil, as well as Singapore and Malaysia, in her little paws. Apparently the next phase of her plan involves new avatar customization options with cute little... outfit... thingies... in the item mall. It's diabolical! Just check out the screengrabs below, if you dare.

Continue reading Hello Kitty Online's world domination plan has begun

Hello Kitty Online's world domination plan has begun originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tom and Jerry and Ben 10 coming to the MMO realm

James Egan — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, New titles, Casual, Kids

We've written a bit about the Cartoon Network MMO FusionFall of late, which enjoys a great deal of popularity with younger MMO gamers. Now it looks like two other cartoons will be coming to the MMO space: Tom and Jerry and Ben 10. Tom and Jerry is going massively multiplayer (for Asia in 2010) through TurnOut Ventures Limited, a joint venture between Turner Entertainment Holdings Asia Pacific Limited and Outblaze Investments Limited.

Hong Kong-based Typhoon Games (who are developing Hello Kitty Online) is developing the Tom and Jerry MMO. A look at the TurnOut Ventures product page also shows they're working on Ben 10 Omniverse. Both massively multiplayer titles are being built on the Unity game engine, for PC and Mac compatibility. There's no announcement at this time for North American or European releases of either title.

[Via Kotaku]

Tom and Jerry and Ben 10 coming to the MMO realm originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hello Kitty Online paints Beijing in pink and white as game's newest city

James Egan — Sat, 30 May 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: News items, Hello Kitty Online, Kids

The team at SanrioDigital and Typhoon Games has lovingly re-created the city of Beijing as you've never seen it before -- through the pink-lensed glasses of Hello Kitty, heavy on the star motif. Well, more stars than the real Beijing, in any case. They've even put some of Beijing's landmarks into Hello Kitty Online and have posted screenshots of the HKO version of the city, with a brief introduction.

They write on the Sanriotown blog: "To start things off, we'd like to showcase the new, never-before-seen city that's been added to the game: Beijing! In it you'll see some narrow streets, red lanterns, unique buildings, and walls surrounding the heart of the city." Some of the places they've included are the Bubble Dome and the Forbidden Museum. Sanriotown also adds that Hello Kitty Online will have '14 new adventure maps, 8 of which make up Beijing's surroundings.' You can check out the screenshots in the Sanriotown blog announcement.

Hello Kitty Online paints Beijing in pink and white as game's newest city originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 30 May 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ex-Turbine exec to joins forces with Hello Kitty Online

Shawn Schuster — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, New titles, News items, Hello Kitty Online

Sanrio Digital has recently announced a new vice president of Publishing and Business Development for their Hello Kitty Online MMO project. Robert Ferrari is joining the HKO team from Turbine, where he previously worked towards the success of such games as Lord of the Rings Online, Dungeons and Dragons Online and Asheron's Call.

"I am pleased to welcome Robert to Sanrio Digital," said Yat Siu, chief executive officer of Sanrio Digital. "We are excited to secure such a well-respected and experienced industry professional on our team. Robert's established background and reputation in MMOs and social gaming make him the ideal driver for our publishing and business development efforts across the Americas, Europe and other markets. I am certain he will contribute greatly to our global strategy and success."

Ex-Turbine exec to joins forces with Hello Kitty Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Valentine's Day event in Hello Kitty Online open to everyone

James Egan — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Events, in-game, MMO industry, Quests, News items, Casual, Hello Kitty Online, Kids

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.

Continue reading Valentine's Day event in Hello Kitty Online open to everyone

Valentine's Day event in Hello Kitty Online open to everyone originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Digital Continuum: Five criminally unused MMO settings part 2

Kyle Horner — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, Opinion, The Digital Continuum

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Five criminally unused MMO settings part 2

The Digital Continuum: Five criminally unused MMO settings part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Feb 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hello Kitty Online Founder's Beta opening Oct 8th

Shawn Schuster — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Events, in-game, New titles, Casual, Hello Kitty Online, Kids

"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 opening Oct 8th originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hello Kitty Online Founder's Beta announced

James Egan — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Events, in-game, New titles, News items, Casual, Hello Kitty Online, Kids

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 Founder's Beta announced originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hello Kitty Online: gazing into horror

James Egan — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, New titles, Previews, Casual, Hello Kitty Online, Kids

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.

Continue reading Hello Kitty Online: gazing into horror

Hello Kitty Online: gazing into horror originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Pancakes?

Kyle Horner — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind

Pancakes, just about everyone loves 'em. They're deliciously light and fluffy and can be sweetened with everything from blueberries to chocolate chips. Just like their flat 'n tasty counterparts, Pancake MMOs are light, fluffy and sweet all over. Hello Kitty Online, Go Pets, Neopets, Free Realms, Club Penguin and the near bouquet-size of franchise-based MMOs coming from Disney seem to be piling up on our proverbial plates. These MMOs can taste great and do tend to venture into fun, experimental game design territory. However, are they also like actual pancakes in that too many will cause everyone to grasp their collective stomachs and painfully moan, "Too many pancakes!" or can we stomach endless amounts of soft, tasty sweetness?

The Daily Grind: Pancakes? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Realism in MMOs ... good or bad?

Akela Talamasca — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Game mechanics, Opinion, The Daily Grind

When you hear the word "realistic" as it's applied to graphics and/or gameplay, do you cheer or wince? World of Warcraft, Mabinogi, Hello Kitty Online -- these are all titles that make a fantastical graphics aesthetic work well for them. At the same time, Age of Conan, Guild Wars, Tabula Rasa -- these games make a good showing of a more "realistic" style, and people seem to like it.

Then again, there's "realistic" taken to an extreme; we're thinking of the way The Sims makes you exercise, eat, sleep, excrete, etc. Now, while The Sims is of course not an MMO, do we want that sort of thing in our fantasy worlds? Does realism attract more people than surrealism? Could you take currently realistic/cartoony games and switch the aesthetic around and make it all better?

The Daily Grind: Realism in MMOs ... good or bad? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HKO's social features are more than meets the eye

Chris Chester — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Interviews, New titles, Casual, Hello Kitty Online, Kids

There's a certain temptation to believe that so-called casual games are inherently less complex than their more hardcore cousins. Whether it's born of experience, arrogance, or just plain ignorance, most people probably assume that a game like Hello Kitty Online is going to leave them wanting for features. Having just read an interview with Ali Aslanbaigi, Game Master Manager for HKO, this blogger can say that this certainly doesn't seem like the case.

Aslanbaigi explains how they plan to integrate email, blogging, and user video from the Sanriotown portal into the game experience itself, making Hello Kitty Online a social media hub as much as it is casual MMO. Say what you will about the relative complexity of an Age of Conan -- Hello Kitty Online isn't just trying to compete with the big MMOs on the block, it's looking to take its place alongside Facebook, MySpace, and other social media giants. It's ambitious, to say the least.

HKO's social features are more than meets the eye originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 May 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WRUP: Open beta edition

Mike Schramm — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Culture, New titles, Massively Meta

Happy Friday! We don't know about you, but it's been a long week here at Massively, so we are thrilled to be at the point where we get to ask you, as we do every Friday: What aRe yoU Playing?

Our own Akela Talamasca has been busy -- he's been playing lots of Mythos lately, as well as Warrior Epic and City of Heroes. Tateru Nino continues playing her cavalcade of games -- Second Life is in there, of course, as well as LotRO, and even a little Hello Kitty Online beta action. And me, I'm just a few levels away from getting another 70 in WoW, I'm getting my Guild Wars on, and I'm hoping to head into the Age of Conan this weekend as well, time permitting (outside of the MMO world, it's also a travel weekend for me, so I'm going to try out The World Ends With You -- it does have some MMO-like features, though, since you can not only come into contact with other players with your DS' wifi, but even buy and sell items from them).

But enough about us -- what are you up to? Are you checking out AoC's beta, or maybe looking at issue 12 in CoH? Are you playing something we've never heard of? Tell us about it!

Previously on WRUP...

WRUP: Open beta edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 May 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WRUP: May Day edition

Mike Schramm — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Age of Conan, Culture, Massively Meta

All right, so May Day was yesterday, but MMO holidays never take just one day -- they usually last a whole weekend. So we're extending Massively May Day to all this weekend, and as usual on Friday afternoons, we want to know: What aRe yoU Playing in the world of MMOs?

Tons of you are probably headed into the Age of Conan open beta -- even if you haven't finished downloading the patch yet (13 gb?!?), Massively's got the hookup with pics, video, and good time guides to what's going on in there. Personally, I've got an invite to the exclusive beta of Hello Kitty Online to break open (don't be jealous), and I'll be continuing leveling up in Guild Wars and World of Warcraft as usual. And if all that wasn't enough, I'll be continuing to pour my time into a decidedly non-MMO game that nevertheless has one of the most, if not the most, detailed open world environments I've ever seen. The multiplayer on GTA IV may not actually be massive, but it is just incredible running around that open city with 15 other players.

So what are you up to in terms of gaming this weekend?

Previously on WRUP...

WRUP: May Day edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 May 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMO Mash-up: Age of Hello Kitty

Kyle Horner — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: New titles, Humor, MMO Mash-up

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.

Continue reading MMO Mash-up: Age of Hello Kitty

MMO Mash-up: Age of Hello Kitty originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hello Kitty Online enters closed beta on the 23rd of April

Akela Talamasca — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Launches, New titles, News items, Virtual worlds, Hello Kitty Online, Kids

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!

Hello Kitty Online enters closed beta on the 23rd of April originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kiddie virtual worlds top the century mark

Chris Chester — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, MMO industry, Free-to-play, Academic, Virtual worlds, Kids

According to a report recently released by Virtual Worlds Management, there are now over 100 youth-oriented virtual worlds somewhere along the phase of development, from concept to several years post-release. And even that is understating the situation a little bit, as they've lumped both MTV and Disney's burgeoning cadre of virtual worlds into single entries on the list.

Virtual Worlds News has a pretty thorough breakdown of the data (with charts!), separating the virtual worlds into categories and target demographics. According to their breakdown of the current landscape, it would appear that the tween category (that is, ages 8-12) is currently the most populated area on the current landscape, targeted as they are by the likes of LEGO Universe, Hello Kitty Online, and practically every other game under the sun. We like to think that Elves and Orcs are the running cliche of the MMO space, but more likely it's purses and shopping.

Kiddie virtual worlds top the century mark originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hello Kitty Online to feature character creation and ... farms

Chris Chester — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Game mechanics, New titles, Hello Kitty Online

I have to apologize in advance to any stalwart fans of the Hello Kitty franchise who are anxiously anticipating Hello Kitty Online with baited breath. Perhaps it is a sad commentary on the inherent cynicism and snarkiness of your modern blogger, but I have serious doubts about whether or not you will ever see a post about HKO here on Massively without some at least a touch of sarcasm or irony. Fault us for our taste if you will, but never doubt or honesty!

Having said that, this official trailer for Hello Kitty Online demonstrates such innovative new features as character creation, personalized avatars (which is different than character creation, in some way that eludes me), virtual community, farms, in-game items, houses, and mini-games including fan favorites like Rock-Paper-Scissor! In this respect, the game appears less interested in re-inventing the wheel, than in ensuring it is super cute and perhaps slightly creepy. As the game moves into beta in the near future, look for more impressions and news to surface.

[Via ZergWatch]

Hello Kitty Online to feature character creation and ... farms originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hello Kitty Online: I have no mouth, and I must scream [Updated]

Akela Talamasca — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Culture, New titles, News items, Hello Kitty Online

Some of you have anticipated it. Some of you have dreaded it. Some of us have been threatened with it, when we've been naughty bloggers ('Follow the style guidelines or we'll make you play it!'). Whatever your reaction to the news, it's finally happening: Hello Kitty Online is currently in closed beta, and will launch sometime in the latter half of 2008.

So, what can we expect from HKO? Appearances from other Sanrio characters: check. Cute explorable zones like the Flower Kingdom: check. Combat system: che -- wait, what? Combat system, guilds, extensive crafting system ... this is an actual MMORPG, not just another cutesy virtual world like Club Penguin or Webkinz!

Color me curious; I've already signed up for the beta. More news as it comes. Keep an eye on Massively for all your superdeformed, facial orifice-less, kawaii character needs.

[Updated: Closed beta actually begins on April 23rd.]

Hello Kitty Online: I have no mouth, and I must scream [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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