By Alexander Villafania
INQUIRER.NET

MAKATI, Philippines –Refreshed after months of hiatus Philippine online game publisher E-Games is going on a launch spree with the introduction of two games in a single week.

The first game is a major massively multiplayer online game (MMORPG) entitled Runes of Magic, which combines elements from several genres, including World of Warcraft, Warcraft III: Defense of the Ancients, and The SIMS.

It was launched last September 9, coinciding the date (090909) with a thematic apocalyptic approach.

Runes of Magic is developed by Taiwan-based Runewaker. E-Games Vice Products Vice President Heidi Anne Mendita-Garayblas said they are currently opening for alpha testing alpha testing and will have the open beta test in October, with the game to go commercial before the end of the year.

The second game would be launched on September 11 and would be entitled Operation 7, the company’s first shooter game.

OP7 is currently on open beta testing.

During the press conference of Runes of Magic E-Games President Gil Edeza said the new MMORPG would be targeted at new and existing players from their current MMORP line up as well as from competing titles.

He notes the game would have the gameplay elements for serious gamers while also being easy for first-time MMORPG players.

During a previous press conference Enrique Gonzalez, president of IPVG (parent firm of e-Games), they are looking to strengthen their content divisions, particularly on online games.

E-Games contributed P121 million in revenues to IPVG during the first half of 2009, second only to IPVG’s communications division, which contributed P557 million.

Overall, IPVG pegged P762 million in consolidated net revenues for this period.

Gonzalez also noted that while their communications business remains to be their biggest revenue contributor, online games would be the fastest growing segment of their business.