According to the warning, Google is shunning visitors to visit e-games.com.ph website as it was tagged as harboring potential malware code and redirecting its search to a warning page.

According to Wikipedia,

Malware, short for malicious software, is software designed to infiltrate a computer system without the owner’s informed consent. The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code. The term “computer virus” is sometimes used as a catch-all phrase to include all types of malware, including true viruses.

As to how google tagged E-Games website as a potential risk is still a mystery but we are getting in touch with E-Games as of this writing to get their comments.

Before this happen, E-Games suffered from intermittent hickups just yesterday. Their games constantly disconnected online and gamers are left without something to play.

Problem start at around 8:00PM last night. At first, it started with their website being tagged by Google as potential malware. Then their games started going down except Cabal and ZX Online.

E-Games promised to release statement later.

The Professor’s Trunk (the main game menu) used to hold two mini games in the first Layton game: the inn and painting games. In Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box there are four mini games: old diary, unique camera, hamster and tea set. Solving puzzles in the game will sometimes give the player components for the mini games; keys for the locked diary, parts for the camera, toys for the hamster and ingredients for the tea set. When the camera is completed, the player can take pictures (when prompted by the game) and play another mini game; this time a spot-the-difference challenge. Likewise, when the hamster is fit enough, he will begin to sniff out hint coins.

There are many hidden puzzles (frankly I haven’t even found all of them yet), but it is possible to finish the game without completing everything. When I checked the secret mode after I finished the game, I found the option to get weekly downloadable puzzles, a puzzle index of all the puzzles I’d come across, extra puzzles, and a bonus section featuring a sampling of game trivia/data (character profiles, game scenes, audio clips, films and soundtracks). There’s also a password-locked section that asks for codes from the first and third games. I can only assume that more rewards lie within.

Having played the first Layton game before this one, I have to say that Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box does deliver. It is a great game with an entertaining mystery to solve, and puzzles that can be surprisingly easy or frustratingly difficult. The story is involving and as creative as the first Layton game’s mystery, and is fleshed out well. The game even starts before the actual investigation and has four definitive areas to explore (an upgrade from the last game!). And with the addition of more mini games, the game play is now more varied and less repetitive than the first Layton game. There are also more puzzle groups here (puzzles that are similar in nature and tend to be numbered in order of difficulty; an example would be the chess puzzles or the sliding puzzles). I personally feel more satisfaction whenever I solve something that I know is more difficult than the last similar puzzle I got through. My only gripe is that it’s such a short game.

I’m going to give this game a 9.5/10. The Layton series is probably the best adventure/puzzle DS series out there.

Originally posted on my blog [http://miaowow.blogspot.com/2009/10/professor-layton-and-diabolical-box-ds_13.html] and
gamespot [http://www.gamespot.com/ds/rpg/laytonkyoujutoakumanohako/player_review.html?id=686422].

Being a mobile suit fanatic and self-proclaimed gundam pilot that this gamer was, I immediately grab my hands off a copy of the game and immediately installed it into my PSP unit. And then voila, play time! Test subjects? My friends of course haha!

This is one of the most anticipated Gundam games not only in SouthEast Asia(Japan and surrounding countries), but also within the North America region as well. Unfortunately, no English version of the said game has been granted by the Namco-Bandai Games for release to the non-Japanese gamers(due probably to the added license/voice-acting copyrights required and such). Masyado lang kaming adik at natutuwa sa mga mecha actions within the prequel game in the sense na nakabisado na namin ang mga options and such LOL! XD

In lieu with the celebration of the Gundam’s 3oth anniversary, it now features over 60 mobile suits from 18 Gundam series(from the very first Mobile Suit Gundam of 1979 up to the latest Mobile Suit: Gundam Unicorn of 2009 – ANDAMI LOLOLOL). What’s crazy about this is the fact that new mobile suits are included within the roster – 00 Raiser Gundam, and Reborns Cannon Gundam(Gundam 00 Second Season), Providence Gundam(Gundam SEED), Altron/Nataku Gundam and Wing Zero Custom(New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz), Gundam Unicorn and Kshatriya(Gundam Unicorn) and several others! Only PSP-Exclusive!

Mobile Suit selection screen - ZGMF-X20A Strike Freedom Gundam

You will generally fight on a 2 vs 2 basis(be it in a mission mode or ad-hoc versus mode/against AI), and reduce the enemy’s cost gauge from the full gauge (6000 by default) to 0 by eliminating the enemy units while keeping your mobile suit(as well as your teammate should you have any) to be busted out. The cost of each unit is based on the overall skills/capabilities of the suit, and is divided into 3 tiers: 1000, 2000, and 3000 – so basically the higher the cost, the more powerful the mobile suit it is(often the main protagonist/antagonist of the series). However, using units with higher cost means you have fewer chances to respawn.

Keep in mind that this is not your ordinary Gundam VS game, as this new installment features the revolutionary NEXT Dash System – wherein by simply tapping your boost twice in rapid succession(usually X button) can make you cancel whatever you are doing previously(either for attack evasion or combo-chaining purposes). Oo, mga kapatid, beyond godlike ka sa paglalaro nito kapag magaling kang mag-cancel/combo at umilag sa mga kalaban!  However, this consumes a bit of your boost gauge.

RX-78 Gundam using the NEXT Dash

Basic controls(by default) are the beam pistols/rifles/projectile weapons in Square, Boost/Thruster in X, Melee weapon attack/combo in Triangle, change target in Circle, and special mobile suit attacks in both the L and R button, respectively. Some mobile suits feature their own unique special abilities – worth mentioning are the Newtype Destroy Mode by the Unicorn Gundam, Biosensor Mode by the Zeta Gundam, Berserker System by the Noble Gundam, Shining Mode by the Shining Gundam, Hyper Mode by the God/Master Gundam and even the famous TRANS-AM System of the Exia/Double 00-Raiser Gundam and  SEED Mode of the Freedom/Strike Freedom Gundam.

Gundam battle royale(booyeah!) screenies

As if the number of mobile suits aren’t enough for you to chew on, Namco-Bandai games even featured several Boss Mobile Armors included within different gundam series. They can be engaged with different mission routes(modes), most notably Route K and L, respectively(Boss Mode versions) within both the arcade and PSP version.

Various game routes(mode) from the Arcade play. Clearing each route can unlock hidden mobile suits and new routes.

Mobile Armor Bosses - unleashed for the first time!

*Secret – a hidden mobile armor boss from Gundam SEED Destiny(ZGMF-X20A EX Strike Freedom + METEOR) can be fought if you attain a high-score in the most difficult mode. It will reveal itself as a FINAL NEXT Boss eventually, wherein you will fought it in its EX Boss version first, and then in EX METEOR Boss version after it sustained about 1/3 damage and finally, the EX Ultimate SEED Mode Boss version. It has 2,000 HP, special abilities, wide variety of weapon arsenals, unique combo attacks, different mobile assist form and infinite SEED Mode power that the playable Strike Freedom Gundam doesn’t possess.*

Another nice thing about this game is that (with the exception of New Mobile Report: Gundam Wing Endless Waltz and Gundam Unicorn) it features the various opening themes of the different anime series – of course all Japanese pop/rock bands/singers in full play while you’re engaging in the battlefield! Also, upon completion of a certain mecha in any mode, it will also unlock its corresponding series’ 3D animated opening theme, voice actor/actress’ works, victory poses and pilot cut-ins, as well as its own ending design theme by Namco-Bandai. Also, the battle stages are based on the actual anime series themselves, for instance – Heliopolis colony and Messiah Fortress/Requiem Superweapon stage for the Gundam SEED/Destiny series, Veda for the Gundam 00 series, World Tournament Stage and Devil Colony for Mobile Fighter G Gundam series etc.

Officially released on the 3rd of December last year, some people in Japan and even in surrounding countries have got the game early already(including the thousands of PSP gamers waiting also for the new GEND3 firmware for the PSP so as for the said game to be compatible). The general feedback among various polls is very positive, and apparently the game plays much smoother than the previous one(even the laggy 2-on-2 ad hoc gameplay has been improved significantly)!

Much to my dismay though – if Namco-Bandai really wants to make this the biggest Gundam game yet to date as they claimed, they should have included ALL series, even the spin-offs(Gundam SEED StarGazer, Astray etc). Sayang pa naman, andami pa magagandang gundams out there na hindi makilala mabuti ng general populace because of lack of promotion – even with games such as this one.

Also, the graphics and effects are re-tweaked from the original prequel, whereas most of the modifications are based on balancing and even improving some of the bugs found at the arcade version. Personally, there are still some laggy scenes when using certain abilities/playing ad hoc versus against your opponents in a wide stage, but nevertheless, it can be seen that the game engine was significantly improved from before.

For those who doesn’t know, the game features a Plus Mode wherein you can form your own team and battle it out against several mission sorties – winning can give you experience points to level up your mobile suits of choice. Also, non-playable units(in versus mode) from various gundam series are featured here, like the Blitz and Buster Gundams from the SEED series, Union Flags from the 00 series and such.

Anyway, if you’re relatively new with this game, and walang basic know-how about Gundams at all, you may find it boring, or eventually annoying in the sense that even your AI opponents are very much stronger for you to defeat(despite the easy mode). This game is recommended for gamers who have experienced playing the previous Gundam VS series(Alliance VS ZAFT, Gundam Battle Assault series and other similar games) or simply mecha enthusiasts.

Graphics – 8

Sound – 10

Gameplay – 9

Replay Value – 9

Runes of Magic is a fantasy MMORPG set in the land of Taborea. Taborea is a fairly peaceful land filled with small villages, big cities (ang hirap nga maglakad sa cities eh… napakalaki), caves, dungeons, and many more locales you might expect in a standard MMORPG. Nothing fancy there, pretty much what you’d expect in a fantasy setting.

You pick a job that tickles your play style. There’s a backstabbing, hide in the shadows rogue. There’s a meat-shield knight. There’s a berserking I-will-kick-your-balls-or-die-trying warrior. Also there’s an abracadabra-your-ass-is-on-fayah mage. A hit-and-run drive (or ride) by expert scout. And to top things off, a “Mr. Pa Buffpls” priest. Standard stuff.

You level up doing quests or killing monsters. You gain more stats and skills as you level and weapons and armor you pick up  along your adventures strengthen your character. Potions heal, weapons and armor need repair, you need gold to do commerce. This doesn’t paint a pretty picture much does it? It’s all pretty standard! That is until you delve deeper into the ame.

Runes of Magic is an enchantress dressed as a beggar. Looking at it once, you may think its a World of Warcraft clone (which isn’t exactly a bad thing since WoW is one of the highest rated MMORPGs out there). Later the new features it offers piles up, and you find yourself in a game that is not only deep and very engaging, but unique and oh so special.

First, Runes of Magic offers a dual class system. Not unique to an MMO, but developer Runewaker has topped it off with icing (sarap ng icing may diabetes kami dito). Runes of Magic (ROM) allows you to combine any 2 jobs choosing from the ones listed above. One will be primary, the other secondary. To our surprise, you can switch between your primary and secondary and play a
significantly different way! Let’s say, you play a mage/Knight. It’s totally different when you go knight/mage. And if that’s not enough, you get “premium” skills too! These skills are unique to each class combination. So possibilities are enormous!

Second, Runes of Magic offers a unique loot distribution system. Sa ibang MMO, maghahatian sa item, or ibibigay sa guildmaster then guildmaster mag decide. Sa iba, may need over greed. Yung may kailangan, dun mapupunta item. In ROM, you can all benefit from one item by way of a feature called a Transmutor. A transmutor can take an item and break it down into its simplest magic components. Let’s say for example you get a +3 stamina +3 dex chainmail. Your scout needs the dex but your rogue needs the stamina. There’s only one item though and there are 2 people who need it! You just take your item, isaksak mo sa transmutor, and separate the +3 stamina from +3 dex and fuse them with 2 different items. Boss raids will now be beneficial for everybody in terms of loot, not just experience.

Third and speaking of boss hunts/raids. Bosses in ROM are smart. The standard “tank and spank” doesn’t work anymore (tank and spank -yung knight haharang, everybody fires on it, only the knight is healed). If the boss finds that he is getting hurt more by the scouts, rogues and mages, it switches targets and goes for them instead of the tank. If the boss finds out that the priest is a greater threat for healing everybody, it will go after the father. Plus, the environment plays a role in boss hunts/raids too. Falling rocks, electricity on the floor, fire, lava surrounding you are things you must avoid with your party, while fighting the boss.

Fourth, A housing system. World of Warcraft promised a housing system early in their development stage. Nakasulat pa nga sa box ng WoW na may housing eh. Until now we have yet to see this. In ROM, the housing system is in full swing and has a few added extras. A house is not only a place for your character to rest, it is also a place where you can store your loots and items. What’s more is that you can decorate your house to your liking by purchasing furniture. Yung mga may inner interior decorator diyan matutuwa dito. The furniture are not only for aesthetics, they offer XP boosts for you.

Fifth, the PVP system and Guild system. Siguro nakapanood na kayo ng masayang pelikula na may castle sieging. Panoorin niyo yung Kingdom of  Heaven kung hindi pa. Guild vs. Guild combat in Runes will feature a real castle that you and your guild will make. A real guild castle you decorate and design yourself. You decide where to put defenses and where to put your sofa if you want a couch in your castle. Not only that, guildmaster can control everything within that guild too! They have a guild vault  where they put in all their loot and cash and they can find out who has gotten how much in that vault, making guild management easier. Also there’s server to server battles. Yeap, you read it right, SERVER VS. SERVER. This is unprecedented in any MMO. One map in ROM can accomodate 5,000 players at one time making war, TRULY WAR.

Sixth, there is no grind. Again, incase di mo nabasa ng maayos… THERE IS NO GRIND. You do not go out and kill 1,000,000 monsters and reach the level cap. In runes, you quest. Questing provides better xp than performing genocide. I can remember in Ragnarok online we used to kill millions of alarms (RO monster) just to get from lvl 98 to 99. NO MORE in Runes. In ROM, the more you go out adventuring, (raid, boss hunt, daily quests, story quests) the more xp you get. So it encourages you to explore instead of kill and kill. That is why it is essential in ROM that you read the quests and follow the story (maganda rin mga kuento eh) This has got to be the best feature for me in ROM.

Last, after conversations with IP E-games head honchos, we’ve come to know that the GM (game master) tools in ROM are very powerful that they can track pretty much everything that’s going on in game with your character and can address  almost any problem within it, may it be bugs, scams and even hacking. In fact, there have been discussions about them offering hack insurance. Once you buy it and you get hacked, everything on your character can be restored.

Runes of Magic is not a unique MMORPG. It has the same elements as any MMO out there. In fact it has many of the same elements as one particular MMO *ahem WOW ahem*. The setting and jobs aren’t unique. Graphics aren’t that awesome (we hope it gets better in future patches). However, it brings so many new stuff on the table that here in the Philippines, it has the potential to reshape the Game Publishing/Operating industry.

We here at Pinoy Gaming Network rarely feature an MMO much less recommend one. Well there’s a first time for everything. We highly recommend Runes of Magic for hardcore and casual gamers. So far, it is the best MMORPG readily available here in the Philippines. And its all FREE. That’s right, FREE TO PLAY PO!! Missing it is missing a lot.

For every click on every article, for every bookmark for our page, we humbly thank you from the bottom of our hearts and wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Here’s one good news for you! You may now buy EPins at all 7-Elevent convenient store nationwide.

Just head to the nearest 7-Eleven at your place and ask the cashier that you wanted to buy HighStreet5 EPins through MOLe Points.

Detailed instruction below.

Quick Links:
HighStreet5 Home: http://www.highstree5.com.ph
Download Client: http://www.highstreet5.com.ph/download/down-center.aspx
Register an account: http://www.highstreet5.com.ph/Member/member_reg.aspx

Driver Package R2.37

Realtek HD Audio Driver support all of Realtek HD Audio Codec .

• Vista/Windows 7 WHQL Supporting: ALC882, ALC883, ALC885, ALC888, ALC889, ALC892, ALC861VD, ALC660, ALC662, ALC663, ALC665, ALC260, ALC262,ALC267, ALC268, ALC269, ALC270, ALC272, ALC273, ALC887,ALC670, ALC275
• Windows 2000/XP WHQL Supporting: ALC880, ALC882, ALC883, ALC885, ALC888, ALC889, ALC892, ALC861VC, ALC861VD, ALC660, ALC662, ALC663, ALC665, ALC260, ALC262, ALC267,ALC268, ALC269, ALC270, ALC272, ALC273, ALC887,ALC670, ALC275
• HDMI Device WHQL Support: ATI HDMI Devices
• OS Supporting: Microsoft WindowsXP, Widnows2000, Windows Server 2003, Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows7 – x86/x64
• Pack with Microsoft High Definition Audio UAAV1.0a(5013)
• Add/Fix — Driver Customizations.

Download here.

Motorbike

Silent Whisper patch adds a bicycle for you to ride. Classic bicycle and kiddie mini-tricycles can be mounted by you or with a partner. But with the upcoming patch, a motorbike will be added to the game. I wonder if there will be a motor racing feature to be added soon haha, but for now, you can use your motorbike to stroll along with your partner for a cooler and romantic gaming.

Couple Stunt

Dance with your partner and do the new Mutual Love couple stunt and Happy Birthday Dance interactive movement. This new movements can only be done if you have a partner with opposite sex.

To perform Happy Birthday Dance, simply click on Interaction, then select Happy and finally choose Happy Birthday Dance to act the cutest cute couple.

Fashion Clothes

Having a new motorbike and a new dance step is not enough if not coupled with new dress to complement. Therefore the upcoming patch includes as well new fashion dresses for men and women. New line of clothes are T-shirt dresses, halter-necked tops in happy, sunny colors, shirt-and-T combos as well as all the statement accessories.

Megaphone and Pets

Other features included in the patch is Pet adoption and a Megaphone to be able to shout globally. There is a special ranking system for Megaphone users. The more you use your Megaphone or Super Megaphone, the better your ranking will be.

Two new pets will also be present to accompany you. Meet Clever Snail and Darling

Sinofsky showed IE9 to attendees, an early build, and explaining that this version of the browser will focus on support for new standards like HTML5 and CSS3, as well as developing a faster JavaScript rendering engine.

According to Sinofsky, IE9 will adhere more to newer standards alongside their own standard. IE9 will make use of DirectX-based hardware accelerated graphics and text. To prove the point, Sinofsky showed that IE8 can render Bing maps at 14 frames per second. With hardware acceleration in IE9 turned on, he got 60 frames per second.

Read the Internet Explorer Blog for more.

Quick Facts:
As of November 2009, visitors of Pinoy Gaming Network are using the following browser:

Firefox: 62%
MS Internet Explorer: 22.9%
Google Chrome: 9%
Opera: 3.2%
Safari: 1.1%

Modern Warfare 2 continues the story from the first Modern Warfare only 5 years later. Imrahn Zakhaev is dead and a new bad guy has taken his place, Vladimir Makarov, who is even worse than Zakhaev ever was. You play a multitude of characters on this one jumping from one to another depending on the mission. There’s a private Allen and a Sergeant Roach. The story is a bit convoluted and a bit confusing if you haven’t played the first game. The twists in the story give you a couple of surprises here and there and totally makes up for the confusion. It also takes you to several different locales around the world which we truly believe is the strength of the single player campaign.

Graphically speaking, MW2 isn’t exactly the leap in technology you’d expect from such a high profile release but it is still a marvel to witness. Small details added to the maps make the game so immersive. Chickens for sale in a public market, vandals on walls, paper and plastics flying around, fire hydrants (that explode in a gush of water when destroyed), all these minutiae totally add to the experience that create a graphical marvel MW2 is.

The sounds in this game are another factor why MW2 is so much a success. The guns sound real. I’ve fired some of these rifles in real life and let me tell you they sound EXACTLY the same. And bullets hitting glass, stone, cans, cars exploding, are all mastered incredibly. To add to all this is the musical score by Hans Zimmer (yes the Hollywood Sound Genius responsible for the pulse pounding beats we hear in many action films). This all adds up to a frantic gunfight that sounds authentic and feels like an action film.

The gameplay of Modern Warfare 2 is threefold, each of which can function as a separate game. The single play campaign is one, the second one is the Multiplayer which we will discuss a little later and the new Spec Ops – you and a buddy get to do missions together (new in the Call of Duty world).

Multiplayer pretty much functions the same way as COD4 Modern Warfare 1. However it comes with LOADS of new content. Your weapons for instance have a plethora of attachments that you need to unlock. Before you’d be limited to 4 or 5 attachments, now there are 9. There are more perks as well ranging from the ever standard Stopping Power (that increases your bullet damage) to the new and interesting Hardline (which reduces the kills needed for a killstreak reward by 1). Speaking of killstreaks, you are no longer limited to UAV, Airstrike then chopper. Now you there are almost 20 to unlock. You get a UAV, counter UAV, airstrike, stealth airstrike, sentry guns, care packages, a tactical nuke (I love this one) and my new favorites, you get to be the gunner of an attack chopper and the AC130.

Multiplayer rewards aren’t limited to these however, there’s also camouflage for yourself and for your weapons. Also, and this is something new to Modern Warfare, titles and emblems. Titles are given when you achieve something in game. For me, having called several AC130s to win the game, I got the “Angel of Death” title, which I run with complete with an emblem (an image you can use to represent yourself) of a skull with wings. All these can be unlocked once you achieve something and the achievements are practically endless!

This time, multiplayer requires your team to work together well. Gone are the days when everybody is using stealth kits because if the enemy gets choppers and planes as killstreak rewards you’ll get totally owned since nobody could shoot them down. That’s why there’s a party system. You can bring your friends along with you as you hop from game to game.

Here’s the bad news about multiplayer, there are no dedicated servers. You have to connect to IWNET, Infinity Ward’s (game developer) new baby to play multiplayer games. The problem with this is you don’t always get the best connections. It’s a hit and miss thing. AND, to add to the frustration, when you quit a game because of bad connection, it is counted as a loss. We’re crossing our fingers that Infinity Ward fixes this problem with patches soon.

Finally we have Spec Ops or Special Operations. You and a buddy get to join in and take on missions with many objectives. For example there’s one where you and a buddy are a sniper team that needs to stop several enemies, waves of them. There’s also getting from point A to point B without being detected. There’s also breaching and clearing missions and loads more. There’s a potential here for downloadable content which expands on the game’s replay value.

Speaking of replay value, this game has ALL THAT. You’ll get hooked playing it OVER and OVER and OVER again to get unlocks in multiplayer, achievements in singleplayer and stars in spec ops. So for a Php2500 peso game on PC, this one will last you years! We highly recommend purchasing originals, SULIT KASI ITO MGA KAPATID.

All in all, Pinoy Gaming Network brands this game as a MUST BUY. See you in the battlefield mga kapatid, magpapa level pa ako to get new guns yokyokyok.

Graphics – 10

Sound – 10

Gameplay – 9 (minus 1 due to no dedicated servers)

Replay Value – 10

Discuss it! Click Here

Chrome OS is an operating system designed by Google, Inc. that will run on systems with x86 and ARM processors. The new OS is primarily designed to be installed on small laptops such as netbooks.

Square Enix, maker of Final Fantasy, announced that Final Fantasy XIII will be released on March 9, 2009 for North American and European market.

Final Fantasy XIII will be hitting both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles.

Watch the video below to learn more about the game.

Interview with Ria the Kafra:

Arcite Valeheart: Hello, I’m James Paolo from Pinoy Gaming.net, and you are?

Ria the Kafra: Hi! I’m Ria..

Arcite Valeheart: I presume you are cosplaying as a Kafra from Ragnarok Online, right? *grins*

Ria the Kafra: Yah

Arcite Valeheart: What made you decide to cosplay as kafra?

Ria the Kafra: I was playing with my character and I was going around and I saw the kafra and thought she was really pretty and I thought to myself, why not dress up like this kafra instead of other kafras around?

Arcite Valeheart: What are the characteristics of a kafra would you like to portray?

Ria the Kafra: I would like to portray the kafra’s personality as a slightly conservative, she has an even personality.

Arcite Valeheart: If I may ask, how old are you?

Ria the Kafra: I’m 19 years old.

Arcite Valeheart: Oh, 19 years old. So how about if I dress up right now as a morroc guardian, would you prefer to sit beside me?

Ria the Kafra: *nervous laugh*

Arcite Valeheart: That’s only a joke anyway *smiles* Of course, do you believe that every cosplayer should be compensated by Level Up since you spend time, effort and resources for your costume?

Ria the Kafra: For me, it’s only a part of cosplaying and it doesn’t matter. Its fun cosplaying by itself, I won’t ask for anything else.

Arcite Valeheart: So what would you say to other aspiring cosplayers here?

Ria the Kafra: Do your best, have fun and you don’t have to worry about much. Go do your thing.

*editor’s note: Arcite now has that kafra as his savepoint*

Sir David: Being one of the pioneers of online gaming in the Philippines, do you like the direction where Philippine gaming is heading?

Jane: Well, honestly, of course when PLDT acquired Level Up, the expectations were really higher but I think because as you know, it’s really dependent on the infrastructure. But now that Smart and MyDSL are really increasing their subscriber base, they’re reaching more homes and more users. I think you can expect gaming to become even more popular in the coming years, especially with very simple games that are easily accessible which is why, although Level Up started as an MMORPG company, if you would notice the past year, we have been introducing games that are easy to pick up. So we’re very happy with the development so far because I think that’s the key eh. Not to stick to MMORPGS but really have a portfolio that targets even people who don’t know yet that they can be gamers. It has to be simple enough for them to be able to [play].

Sir David: With that kind of logic or strategy to penetrating the market, do you think you’ll forget the hardcore gamers any time soon?

Jane: No, no, no, no. I mean as I have said, it’s really a portfolio play. I mean now kasi the market is more fragmented unlike before talagang you know it was such a small industry. I mean we are still considered emergent actually, but before it was such a small industry na lahat kayo MMORPG and of course FPS. But now, there are players who play 2-3 different kinds of games, one hardcore and one very easy to play. There are players who are like me, who just prefer the very simple, easy to get into games. But definitely Level Up is going to be in various segments. It’s going to be from the hardcore, complex MMORPGS to the very simple. In fact, if you notice if you go to our websites, we have mini-games that even a 5 yr old could play or even a mom could play. Definitely we’re not going to forget MMORPGS, it’s in the vein of Level Up.

Sir David: Follow up question, since the penetration of games is getting really good in the Philippines, my question would be, do you think there should be a mitigating body in screening the games for kids?

Jane: I think if you look at the more progressive countries, there is really a lot of support, especially from the government. If there is more participation you also expect support and you also expect regulation. I’m a mom myself, and it’s a you thing, like you decide where to expose your son and where not to expose your son and the balance of course in games and distribution of outdoor activities. It’s good to have participation from government centers because its really, there’s nothing like it but it depends when the market becomes more mainstream. We are still seen as a niche market. Level up, we’ve always been espousing responsible gaming.

Sir David: So far, what is your stand on customer support, after sales? The one complaint players give has always been the customer support.

Jane: We always strive for excellence. There are really aspects of the game that we cannot control. We don’t control the entire, for one thing we’re not developers. Kami, Level Up, customer satisfaction is always our priority. Right now, we are much stricter, for example, in the turnaround time when we respond to the gamer, as far as their complaints are concerned. Second, we work so hard with the developer partner because sila yung may codes nung game. We are allowed certain access but at the end of the day we depend on them. So there should be more cooperation between our developers and us so we can really serve our players better kasi that’s important to us. Before talaga Level Up was first in the market so talagang trial and error yan, now also being part of the PLDT group we are more structured so there’s a lot of training going on, in making sure that our customers talk to our call agents for example, they are very disciplined and polite. We really try our best, that’s all I can say, we really try our best. Hangga’t kaya namin. We really invest a lot of resources. In retail ibenta mo lang that’s it. You have no idea how much resources are in purchase, that’s why may game operations, game masters and all that support. It’s a huge team.

Sir David: What games do you play?

Jane: The Wii, Crazy cart, hmmm non-level up *smiles*. I’m a console player, so I play the Wii, I’m not an xboxer. I bond with my son, I only have one kid. He’s 5 years old. I play Wii with him, I play crazy cart with him, it’s a good way to bond, because I’m not into rough play. Gaming for me is so much more enjoyable when you enjoy it with family. FPS is not my thing kasi nga, nakakahilo. Grand chase puede! you*laughs*

Sir David: Do you have any plans of bringing foreign games into the Philippines that are not online like publishing high title games like Modern Warfare 2 or Assasins Creed.

Jane: Here in the Philippine market, you know naman that there are high title games. Its so difficult in the company when the company relies on sale of a retail box for example. Second, in the Philippines market you know kasi we’re a pirate market. The game itself is 2,500 na diba? What more if may 15thousand pang console? At this point di pa siya viable.

Sir David: What message would you give Filipino gamers?

Jane: Message? Ako simple lang eh, just have fun. Sometimes its over – not good for you. At the end of the day, its just an alternative entertainment. Just having fun but at the same time, there’s a lot of social interaction. My kid for example, learn a lot of things in the computer because of games. Basta lang, don’t spend too much time, there are other things like playing tennis or ride a bike, you know. Just have fun and share it with your friends.

Level Up! Live 2009 shall be the host of the Cosplay event today. Browse the pictures we collected below. More pictures will be uploaded on this page as the day progresses.

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Team Influenza made a stunning performance by achieving 2nd place at the just concluded RWC 2009.

Sir David: David Lleno from Pinoy Gaming.net, state your name, occupation, and favorite color.

Team Influenza: Ah, Ryan, and I’m the ano daw… seryoso ba ‘yan? *Sir David chuckles* the brand manager of Ragnarok Online. Favorite color is ahm.. ano ba maganda? Pink, ah fuchsia, pero hindi ko alam spelling kaya red na lang hahaha.

SirDavid: Maraming mga Ragnarokers ang nagsabi na baka masira ang Ragnarok pagkatapos ng renewal.. ano ang masasabi mo doon?

Team Influenza: Masisira in the sense na mababago siya, ‘yung parang old Ragnarok, so basically para siyang magkakaroon ng “overhaul”, may 12 new jobs na madadagdag. Basically masisira in a sense na yung mga dating builds, yung dating mga ano natin sa Ragnarok is mababago siya. Yung mga stats yung upgrade level, diba ngayon hanggang +10, pero abangan n iyo nalang, abangan niyo nalang sa renewal *laughs* hindi ko muna sasabihin kung hanggang ilang ‘yun overups.

Sir David: Marami ang nagsasabi na marami sa mga bagong class na malalakas ngayon eh mas lalakas pa pero problema, iga-grind na naman..
problema ba ‘yon?

Team Influenza: Actually, ‘yung mga Filipino gamers, hindi nila problema ‘yon. Alam mo naman ang dahilan, kasi ‘yung grinding satin madali lang. Kaso ‘pag nahuli kayo, pasensya po, pero maba-ban ‘yan, ‘yung mga ano, ‘yung mga naga-grind na ano ba mga ‘yon? Mga B-O-T! Anyways, andito na ‘yung Team Philippines…

Sir David: Andito na ‘yung Team Philippines? I’m from Pinoy Gaming.net, a Pinoy gaming network.. Interviewin lang namin kayo. ‘Yung interview namin is random questions – puro kalokohan, kasi Pinoy gamers naman tayong lahat eh.

Ryan: Kung ilan naba ‘yung anak nila?

Sir David: Oo, pwede ‘yon. Oh, heto unang tanong. ‘Pag naglalaro ba kayo, pinapalaro nyo ba ang inyong 12 year old na pinsan na hindi marunong mag-type? Alam nyo kung ano ‘yon?

Team Influenza: ano? *all laugh* ah, gets ko na ‘yung tanong.. gets ko na. Hinde, hindi naglalaro hahaha…

Sir David: Na-gets mo na? Ngayon mo lang na-gets ha hahaha.. Okay, pangalawang question.. okay nab a ‘yung Japan? Ano masasabi nyo sa Japan?

Team Influenza: Panot pa rin ang Hapon sa Japan *laugh*. As in team Japan, or ‘yung Japan mismo?

Sir David: ‘Yung Japan mismo, ‘yung bansa.

Team Influenza: ‘Yung bansa? Malinis masyado. Disiplinado sila. Tsaka magagalang ‘yung mga tao doon. Naiwanan nga nya ‘yung bag nya sa bench ng ilang minutes, walang kumukuha eh. Nandoon pa ‘din, walang kumukuha.

Sir David: Ahm.. bilang Pilipino, ano ang masasabi nyo sa performance nyo doon sa Ragnarok World Championship?

Team Influenza: World-class! *all chorus ‘World-class’ then chuckles* Ah alam ko na.. performance namin is world-class second placer. *all laugh*

Sir David: Magandang sagot ‘yan! Next year ba may plano kayo mag-world champion?

Team Influenza: Oo naman, lahat naman eh! Oo naman!

Sir David: May pag-asa ba kayo? *grins*

Team Influenza: Sana! Hahahaha!

Sir David: Gusto kong malaman reaction nyo ‘dun sa bagong Ragnarok Renewal.. ano sa tingin nyo mangyayari?

Team Influenza: ‘Dun sa renewal? Bagong build.. ‘yung 3rd job.. bagong strategy, scratch lahat.. bagong line-up.. bago lahat.

Sir David: Itutuloy nyo pa din ba ‘yung laro kahit 150 na ‘yung level cap?

Team Influenza: Oo naman! Mas exciting! ‘Yung pinsan kong 12 year old, excited na siya mag-150! Hahaha!

Sir David: Sa susunod na Ragnarok World Championships, ano ‘yung gusto nyo maidagdag at maibawas?

Team Influenza: Bawas timbang. *all laugh* Dagdag premyo.

Sir David: Ano ba nakuha nyong premyo?

Team Influenza: Seven thousand dollars. Hahaha!

Sir David: Kung wala kayong bot, at gusto nyo magpalevel, ano gagawin nyo?

Team Influenza: ‘Yung mga bodyguard na ano.. ‘yung mga mercenary. Tapos ‘yung mga scroll na pampataas ng EXP..ipapalaro ko sa pinsan kong 12 years old

Sir David: … na di marunong mag type?

Team Influenza: uu yung di marunong mag type.

Sir David: Ano gusto niyong maidagdag sa Ragnarok na nakikita niyo sa ibang MMO?

Team Influenza: Players, tournaments. Ok naman siya ngayon marami lang talaga nagsawa. Tsaka matagal na, matagal na ang Ragnarok.

Sir David: Kung ang alaga niyong hayop ay natutong magRagnarok, ano job niya?

Team Influenza: Pet parin *tawanan* puede ring awing homunculus, bio(chemist) madali lang magbio, isa lang pinipindot eh *tawanan*

Sir David: May masasabi ba kayo sa mga nagbabasa ng pinoygaming network?

Team Influenza: Masasabi lang naming aim high parati. Keep playing, keep playing! At Rok on! *tawanan*

Sir David of Pinoy Gaming snatched the man for an interview. Read on…

Sir David: What do you think so far of the Filipino gaming community?

Jun Lee: It’s been great actually, I mean Philippine gamers are much more “core” than I thought actually. They consume the content really quick, they level up really fast and they have a lot of the heart for the games they play. So, I mean that is something we can feel just like in the movies, like a fan. I mean that tells us how deeply they love this game. So it’s not just playing game for enjoyment but it’s becoming more a part of their lives I guess. So I am very impressed. We love Philippine gamers.

Sir David: As a Filipino gamer, we’ve always envied Korea. Korea has a huge gaming community. Do you see the Philippines as something like that near in the future?

Jun Lee: Oh yea, definitely. I mean Korea obviously is leading in online game industry around the globe but we started about year 2002, it’s been only eight years, so after a couple of years later in the Philippines, why not? You guys can dominate the Southeast Asian market, why not? This energy and this love from the heart can really drive this community and this industry to grow much more faster and bigger.

Sir David: Regarding, Korean MMORPGS, is there any way you guys can take out the grinding in the future? It has always been a concern for us Filipinos.

Jun Lee: Grinding, yes, yes, I personally don’t like that either but I mean a lot of game developers tried to take that out and by taking out the grinding, they instead put in a lot of more missions, such as the World Of Warcraft cases, you have more missions to lower the maximum level cap so they can get to this much level and enjoy the rest of the content. Therefore, you have to know more and more the contents’ in and out and every time you bring in new contents, the other contents existing have to be in balance with each other, which is a very difficult job. We’ve tried it and at the beginning a lot new users liked it but did not stay too long in the game. In a way, they say it’s is fun, different. But I’m not so sure, you know what I mean? So, we’re still looking for what the users really like. They do complain, they say “It’s not good”, “I don’t like it”. I mean I don’t like it either but if I don’t grind in MMORPG games, I mean we have to find some other different contents to provide to make it [grinding] lower and I guess all gaming companies have to study that more. I agree, I mean it’s too much [laughs].

Sir David: What can we expect from your company? What are the games you‘re working on?

Jun Lee: Well, we have two more project, in-house development right now. Some casual games, some MMO games as well. I mean the title is still the project title so we haven’t really announced it yet. If we do, we’ll definitely bring it here in the Philippines with you know, probably, Level Up.

Sir David: Will you be able to give us a teaser?

Jun Lee: Uh no, not yet [laughs]. You might get to see it through the GStore next month, the game show in Korea. Maybe we’ll announce some information but for now not yet, we’re not ready yet [laughs]

Sir David: Thank you for your time

Mafia scored 4 wins against AnL’s 3 points.

Congratulations to  Team Mafia.