Shaiya, Guild Wars most anticipated in China
by Alan Rose 
{ Nov 6th 2006 at 3:58PM }
According to new research from Chinese gaming portal 17173.com, Guangdong-based distributor Optisp (EVE Online) is home to the most anticipated online game in China, the Korean import Shaiya: Light and Darkness. WoW distributor The9 is hosting two of China's other highly anticipated Korean titles, Guild Wars and Soul of the Ultimate Nation. The fever over Shaiya is reportedly due to some racy ads that prompted Chinese censors to request less suggestive promos. I'm sure the two half-naked women prominently featured in the game's propaganda had nothing to do with that. 17173 has collected some in-game screen shots and wallpapers of Shaiya's physical embodiments of "light" and "darkness" (can you guess who's who?).
See also: China online gaming trends
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
_habit_ @ Nov 6th 2006 4:12PM
Those are some surprisingly real looking bodies in that picture... >_>
Saneless @ Nov 6th 2006 4:20PM
Yeah, I'm with the pic. ORPG's are by their very nature dull and boring and, well, stupid. But that picture is at least worth looking at. Content? I got nothin.
ProjectGSX @ Nov 6th 2006 4:35PM
Yes please! :o
Aaron @ Nov 6th 2006 4:36PM
Mmmm...
Oh wait, there's an article?
Feanor @ Nov 6th 2006 4:38PM
Quality hoochin'.
kinshadow @ Nov 6th 2006 4:41PM
For anyone else that is sick enough to like those images, here's the url for the wallpaper download:
http://www.shaiya.com/download/download_wallpaper.asp
scott @ Nov 6th 2006 4:45PM
The picture reminds me of the politically-incorrect Corean expression, "Riding the white horse."
What does the actual gameplay look like?
sinergy @ Nov 6th 2006 4:45PM
Too bad the actual game looks NOTHING like the CG. Anyone look at those in-game screenshots? ew!
scott @ Nov 6th 2006 4:48PM
Ah, nevermind my question in post 7. Looks bad.
Matt @ Nov 6th 2006 4:57PM
Some higher-res wallpapers:
http://www.fond-ecran-photo.com/Jeux%20Vid%E9o/fond-ecran-Shaiya:%20Light%20and%20Darkness.htm
Mark @ Nov 6th 2006 5:21PM
So, no one cares about the new Aion renders, eh?
Judd @ Nov 6th 2006 5:42PM
Wowee Wowee, I like. How much?
NoBullet @ Nov 6th 2006 5:44PM
Bellevue, Washington is in Korea? That's news to me. Guild Wars is not a Korean game, just the publisher.
trent @ Nov 6th 2006 6:01PM
/cry
Ikthog @ Nov 6th 2006 7:22PM
Yay, another terrible Asian MMO! By the usual MMO gender standards, they're both wearing heavy armor.
Eric Bostrom @ Nov 6th 2006 7:16PM
/me points at lap
put here.
darko82 @ Nov 6th 2006 10:27PM
@Ikthog, it's heavy armor because it creates a magical aura of defense. ;)
Leto @ Nov 7th 2006 4:40AM
Awesome wallpapers, I love the one with the black-haired woman has her arms stretched out and she's surrounded by darkness.
O_o @ Nov 7th 2006 6:25AM
Since the article doesnt tell much about the game, here is a list things of note:
1. It took developer (SONOKONG) 3 years to develope, spending a budget of 7 billion KRW or 7.5 million USD.
2. Music produced by George Oldziey (Uderworld, kill bill) from the warner bro studio. 80 people orchestra(symphony?) and 40 people band were employed.
3. During closed beta phase, the game was the top search term on Naver or whatever, which apprantly is Korea's largest search engine. (think google)
4. Received both critical and fan acclaim. "an Artwork in MMO" claimed one critic.
as for key features:
There're side quest systems, 12 playable classes, 2 factions, support thousand of players PvP etc etc... blah blah...
Adam @ Nov 7th 2006 12:42PM
Not a fan of the ladies, are we Trebe...I mean kinshadow