Philippines-based online game publisher Mobius Games recently announced the Southeast Asian launch of Franktown Rocks! 

The browser-based game, which is available in the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore, plays like a toned down massively multiplayer online game with several mini-games.

There are also mission-based activities within the virtual world. 

The main goal, however, is to play in a virtual band complete with a set of instruments such as lead guitars, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, and drums.

Users can also purchase ePoints to buy certain items such as skateboards, special clothing, and entering locked parts of the map.

The game is developed by Brainwave Studio LLC based in the US.

Mobius Games President Scott Countryman said in a statement that Franktown Rocks! will be the first among new games that will be using Mobius Games’ ePoints system.

MANILA, Philippines–“DOTA, or any role-playing game for that matter, may be fun, but it won’t be able to teach you the skills you need for your first job, or for higher education.”

This was the message of AKYBAYAN Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel during the commencement exercises of the University of the Philippines Cebu College, a copy of which was sent to media.

Hontiveros-Baraquel said that online games should be treated as an addictive game and should be played in moderation.

“You may protest and extol the virtues of being Mogul the Axe for five hours, but unless you are in the brink of developing gaming software and needs the game to test your theories, then play DOTA or any RPG in moderation,” she said.

Hontiveros-Baraquel spoke against online games during a part where she told graduates about the skills necessary to find jobs, as well as the means to survive the current economic situation.

Instead, she stressed the need for the graduates to take up a sport to remain physically fit.

Nevertheless, Hontiveros-Baraquel praised the availability of online search engine Google.com for being an “oracle” that allows people to search for specific topics.

She added that Google is also more efficient than the Philippine government’s own Department of Labor when looking for jobs.

“What’s true with Google is somehow true with life. There are certain keywords that we must learn to live by. The more we hone our keywords, the better the search result is,” she said.

LOCAL game publisher Z-Zone believes that casual gaming business is not profitable even as local online game publishers are introducing more casual games these days.

Z-Zone, which publishes the online games SkyBlade: Sword of the Heavens and the recently launched Oversoul, is not looking to launch any casual gaming titles anytime soon. It intends to focus on massively-multiplayer online games (MMORPGs).

Z-Zone Vice President for Marketing and Operations DJ Reclamado said casual games are less appealing to some gamers because of the current economic situation.

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IP e-Games has finally launched the massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) Zhu Xian Online in the Philippines.

Beijing-based Perfect World Co. Ltd developed this game. It is also the same group behind Perfect World Online, also published by Level Up! Games.

This is the first time that e-Games introduced an online game developed by a Chinese company.

Its previous games are all developed by Korean game companies.

ZX Online is currently in “closed-beta” and will go on open beta during the first quarter of 2009. Closed-beta means the game is only open for selected or limited number of players who are often invited.

ZX Online is based on a popular Internet novel of the same name. It features elements of a Chinese mythological love story, which involves Zhan Xiaofan, a man from the Righteous group was betrothed to Lu Xueqi. However, Zhan loved Biyao, the daughter of their enemy, the Heretics. Their rivalry is put aside as the Righteous and the Heretics are attacked by monsters and demons from the Middle Plain.

ZX Online has received several awards in China, including recognition in the Baidu Top 10 Outstanding Online Games.

ZX Online Community Manager Bea Navarette said the game the local publisher is deploying is the international English version, which will not require a lot of translation.

Like many MMORPGs, ZX Online features a battle system, pets and mounts, flying and a “3D pathing” option, where players can just click on a location in the game’s huge map and will automatically take characters to the designated point.

By Alexander Villafania
INQUIRER.NET

MAKATI CITY, Philippines — Game distribution firm IP E-Games announced that it will become the local distributor of online game NosTale.

The company will also become the payment gateway for Philippine players, utilizing its top-up cards.

Korean company Entwell Co., Ltd. developed NosTale, which stands for The Tale of the Nomads of Silver Spirit.

Despite its cartoonish, kid-friendly design, NosTale is considered a massively-multiplayer online game instead of a casual game.

In an interview, Sonny Carlos, IP E-Games Product Manager for NosTale, said the game’s server will be hosted in Korea while E-Games will provide a payment service for players in the country.

Carlos said the game will target a younger generation of players.

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