By Alex Villafania, hackenslash Reporter
INQUIRER.net
PHILIPPINE online game publisher Digital Media Exchange (dme) has recently made available a local payment gateway for the massively multiplayer online game EVE Online, which is played on international servers.
Philippine players of EVE Online would be able to pay their monthly subscription through dme’s payment gateway MobiusGames.net.
Likewise, players from other Southeast Asian countries would also be able to pay through MobiusGames.net since prepaid cards are also available outside the Philippines.
DME new media, creatives and research manager Eric Roceles told hackenslash that the monthly subscription fee is pegged at P750. He said users can purchase game loads using mobiusonline’s universal currency called ePoints, which can be loaded with credits from prepaid cards bought at Internet cafes and other prepaid card kiosks.
He noted that dme acquired the payment rights for the Philippines due to EVE Online’s popularity in the Philippines. Roceles, however, did not give any specify how many players are located in the country.
He added that while dme would not distribute the game on CD or DVD in the Philippines, they would forward potential new players to the EVE Online so that they can download the game client.
EVE Online was created by Iceland-based developer CCP Games. It is a futuristic space adventure game but instead of controlling one character, the player controls spaceships, each with different characteristics and purposes.
Instead of the usual level-up system, EVE Online features a training system wherein it takes a player a certain period of time to achieve a certain skill. These skills will augment the type of ship chosen by the player who could choose to be a combat pilot, a captain or a commercial ship.
Players can also buy ship equipment ranging from hull parts, modular equipment and weapons to customize their ship.
EVE Online plays similar to starship-type games such as Homeworld and Star Strek: Starfleet Command series.
Incidentally, dme rival Level Up! Inc. opened up a payment gateway a few weeks back for another internationally-hosted game called Silkroad Online.
March 29th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
It’s good to see easily accessible methods of payment for MMOGs coming to the Philippines. Now, if they would do the same of World of Warcraft, or Phantasy Star Online, Everquest, etc. Basically, for all the big-name titles found in the US and Europe.