Granado Espada

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Sword of the New World: Granado Espada

Developer(s) IMC Games Co.,Ltd.
Engine PathEngine [1]
Tree Rendering - SpeedTree
Animation - EmotionFX
Version 2.4
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows
Release date July 10th, 2007
Genre(s) Fantasy MMORPG
Mode(s) Multiplayer
Media Download
System requirements Windows
Input methods Keyboard and mouse

Granado Espada, known as Sword of the New World: Granado Espada in the North American version, is a Korean fantasy MMORPG developed by IMC Games Co.,Ltd., and published in North America by K2 network. It launched in the summer of 2007. Granado Espada won the 2006 Korean awards for Best Graphics and Game of the Year, and has features previously unseen in an MMORPG such as the ability for players to control multiple characters at the same time. Granado Espada also has a very different art style based on the Baroque period of Europe, a unique distinction from the standard “swords and sorcery” fantasy themes of the genre.


Image:Granado Es.jpg


The first English version of the game began Open Beta Testing on May 17, 2007. Publisher K2_network announced in January 2007 that they would be bringing Granado Espada to the North American and European markets in Summer 2007 under the title of Sword of the New World.[1]. The game was originally released under a pay-to-play model. On August 21, 2007, Sword of the New World became free-to-play.



On the 10 August 2007, IAHGames, which the game is licensed to in Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam, announced its business model for Granado Espada.[2] Subsequently they informed players that on August 30, 2007, the game would become commercial. IAHGames gave players a 90-day free trial if they achieved Level 20 by that time. New players have a free five-day trial period and after which, they are required to pay. On December 05, 2007, IAHGames also changed the bussiness model to free-to-play.

Contents

[edit] Game features

[edit] Dueling and team PvP

Granado Espada has a Dueling System by which a player may issue a challenge to another player's team. Both teams then enter a combat arena separate from the rest of the actual game world to do battle.

[edit] Characters

[edit] Barracks system

Characters are generated and maintained within a Barracks System. The Barracks allows players to organize their teams and provides players with a"Dress Room" to create new characters. Each set of characters is created under one Family Name which is used as the surname for all the player's characters.

Each Barrack can hold up to nine characters initially. Using in-game money/cash shop, users can expand their Barracks if they so choose. One user can have up to five Quarters in their Barracks (each Quarter holds 9 members). In the Singapore version of GE, barracks expansion is a cash shop item.

[edit] Trading characters

Granado Espada allows the trading of RNPC cards between different players, allowing combinations of teams with more than one of the same RNPC, as a player may only obtain a particular RNPC card once. The card is used up once the RNPC is created in the Barracks. [3]

[edit] Factions

A family can join a faction or a guild. Factions can participate in faction wars where an entire faction can either join the Royalists or the Republicans in the war. Factions can also war with one another. One special feature is that factions can occupy maps via the Colony manager.

[edit] Stances and skills

Each class has several Stances which have varying level and equipment dependencies. It should be noted that each stance's level is independent from a character's level. As the character levels a stance they gain skill points that can be used within that stance in addition to increasing the stance's stat bonuses. A stance may have up to 5 skills which are unlocked as the stance is leveled. Additional stances may be purchased at the class Master and some are rewarded in quests.

One feature of stances is that stances which have the same equipment requirements can be swapped on the fly with F5-F8 (alternatively, using the number keys 4-7). The musketeer's Standing Shot and Kneeling Shot stances are examples of this, as well as the fighter's Back Guard and High Guard stances.

However, stances are limited in that only particular stances may be used with a certain equipment type, e.g., a fighter wanting to use the Roof Guard stance would have to use a Great Sword, rather than a sword and shield. A stance is usable only when it is learned; unlearned stances are greyed-out and unavailable for use.

[edit] Critical reaction

 Reviews
Publication Score
Games for Windows 4/10[4]

Critical reaction to the North American release has been mixed. IGN's GameStats lists an average rating for the game at 6.8 [5], which is also the listed industry average for all games at the site. Game Rankings has the game listed at a similar figure of 70%. [6] Gamespot gave a rating of 4.0 (out of 10.0) citing "tedious quests and little payoff". IGN expressed similar concerns, noting the familiar grind between many other Korean MMOs. "You know, it's frustrating because as much as you want to like this game, unless Korean is your preferred flavor of MMO, you probably just won't."

X play on G4 gave it a 4 out of 5; Reviewer Adam Sessler was pleased, noting that out of all the free MMORPGs this one was worth playing, saying it was refreshing to have a setting other than a fantasy world, and citing the unique gameplay mechanic of the MCC system. PC Gamer magazine, also offered kind words, giving the game a 90% out of 100% rating, saying it "offered a fresh feel through small improvements and one substantial innovation" compared to other Korean MMOs.

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The Singapore flavor of GE, published by IAH Games, has generated much critical reaction from its players. IAH been accused of holding back information or misleading players for their own financial advantage, mismanaged Events and a lack of in-game GM activity. One such act would be IAH's conversion from their proposed P2P model to a F2P model. Subscriptions were converted to game points, despite many players demanding full refunds. Shortly after, IAH's community manager told players that an additional Loyalty Program was being considered, but this additional Loyalty Program never materialized.

Furthermore, when it was announced that the only exclusive RNPC, Emilia the Sage, would be nerfed with a lesser Int stat, owners of the Limited Signature edition expressed disappointment and demanded that IAH compensate them. IAH responded they did not advertise Emilia's stats and it was IMC's decision to nerf the RNPC.

Another controversial aspect of IAH's business model is the sale of items that randomly generate various items from a list of items. There has also been complaint that IAH exaggerated the frequency of good items that can be obtained through a side-game called Adelina's Booty Search. When purchasing game point cards, and using them, the account is awarded a certain amount of "searches" that allow the player to obtain an in-game item ranging from worthless junk to highly-valued equipment.

[edit] Products

The following products are for the SEA version of Granado Espada, commonly referred to as sgGE:

  • Prepaid Cards - These cards come in various designs for in-game cash points("G-points"). It ranges from 230 G-points to 70000 G-points. The availability of these cards depend on the countries.
  • Limited Signature Edition Box Set - Limited to only 9,999 in the world, it retails at SGD79.90 and contains various items, most outstandingly, the official soundtrack and creator Kim Hakkyu's signature. It also contains an exclusive RNPC called Emilia the Sage.
  • My Bellem's Box - Retail price of SGD19.90 This product contains most importantly an Item-of-the-Month game code. Players choose a new item through a forum poll every month to be in "My Bellem's Box". [7]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Another Korean MMO Coming Stateside", Totalgaming.net, 2007-01-23. Retrieved on 2007-01-23. 
  2. ^ IAHGames announces the business model for Granado Espada. Retrieved on 2007-10-09.
  3. ^ Part of features on the Sword of New World Official Site. IMC Games Co.,Ltd.. Retrieved on 2007-03-11.
  4. ^ Yans, Cindy (October 2007). "Sword of the New World: Granado Espada: Grinding, Grinding, Over the Spanish Main". Games for Windows: The Official Magazine (11): 74. Ziff Davis Media. 
  5. ^ GameStats: Sword of the New Wold Reviews. Retrieved on 2007-11-08.
  6. ^ GameRankings, Sword of the New World: Granado Espada Reviews. Retrieved on 2007-11-08.
  7. ^ Granado Espada Product Range. Retrieved on 2007-10-09.

[edit] External links

Official Websites