Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Hellgate closed beta keys now available]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/hellgate-closed-beta-keys-now-available/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/hellgate-closed-beta-keys-now-available/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/hellgate-closed-beta-keys-now-available/#comments After announcing that Hellgate would soon rise from the ashes, T3 Entertainment has now revealed that keys for the upcoming closed beta are now available. Keys can be obtained on the official Hellgate site or on "popular online game destinations." A list of participating sites can be found here.

Sadly, Joystiq's Massively already ran out of keys, so we suggest you track one down through one of those other "destinations" as quickly as possible.

JoystiqHellgate closed beta keys now available originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 May 2011 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betahanbitsofthellgatehellgate-londonpct3-entertainmentMon, 23 May 2011 12:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Hellgate: London servers set to reopen in Europe and U.S.]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/18/hellgate-london-servers-set-to-reopen-in-europe-and-u-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/18/hellgate-london-servers-set-to-reopen-in-europe-and-u-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/18/hellgate-london-servers-set-to-reopen-in-europe-and-u-s/#comments The online world of Hellgate: London experienced its apocalypse (or, judging by the game's ruined, lifeless environments, its second apocalypse) almost one year ago, only remaining open in Korea as a free-to-play title. Today, HanbitSoft, the company responsible for keeping the game on life support in Korea, announced it had secured worldwide publishing rights for the title, and would revive the game in Europe and the U.S. later this year.

The MMO, which has appropriately been remonikered Hellgate: Resurrection, has adopted a universal free-to-play model during its downtime. It's also acquired a few new features, thanks to developer T3 Entertainment. Hopefully, the studio didn't succumb to the crippling waves of depression which hampered the game's original creators.

JoystiqHellgate: London servers set to reopen in Europe and U.S. originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>free-to-playhanbitsofthellgate-londonhellgate-resurrectionkoreammommorpgMon, 18 Jan 2010 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Gravity Bear comes out of hibernation]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/26/gravity-bear-comes-out-of-hibernation/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/26/gravity-bear-comes-out-of-hibernation/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/26/gravity-bear-comes-out-of-hibernation/#comments Late last year, Diablo 2 art director and co-founder of Flagship Studios, Phil Shenk, set out to form a new company: Gravity Bear. As CEO, he brought along Hellgate: London senior software engineer Kevin Klemmick to serve as the new studio's technical director. Both men subsequently vanished. Until yesterday, that is, when Shenk updated the Gravity Bear blog with news the dev will make its "first 'official' press announcement in a few days."

The company's first game -- recently tested by "friends and family" according to Shenk's Twitter feed -- will be for "social platforms" (read: Facebook and the like) but its exact nature is unknown. We're hoping for a Diablo-like dungeon crawler announcement "in a few days," but that unfortunately wouldn't really be in keeping with Gravity Bear's cutesy mascot. (Unless said cartoon bear has a thirst for blood ... and you should never underestimate those guys.)

JoystiqGravity Bear comes out of hibernation originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flagship-studiosgravity-bearhellgate-londonphil-shenkMon, 26 Oct 2009 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flagship lost Bill Roper friends and loved ones]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/18/flagship-lost-bill-roper-friends-and-loved-ones/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/18/flagship-lost-bill-roper-friends-and-loved-ones/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/18/flagship-lost-bill-roper-friends-and-loved-ones/#comments
Every day we ponder if now is the time to stuff our credibility into a rocket, shoot it into the sun and become the world's most irreverent and depressingly unqualified development studio. But we have to admit, interviews like Gamasutra's new one with Bill Roper, in which he details how the downfall of Flagship turned games into a business for him, give us pause.

At one point, he says, "It was a really dark time. It cost me a lot more than just the money we'd put into the company and things like that. It cost me a lot on a personal level with friends and loved ones that I wasn't able to keep in the process." ... So, wait, it's not just drawing pictures of gigantic guns and space babes while you tighten up the graphics on level three? Looks like we'll be keeping our day jobs.

JoystiqFlagship lost Bill Roper friends and loved ones originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 May 2009 20:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperflagshiphellgatehellgate-londonMon, 18 May 2009 20:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Hellgate: London staying open as free-to-play game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/26/hellgate-london-staying-open-as-free-to-play/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/26/hellgate-london-staying-open-as-free-to-play/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/26/hellgate-london-staying-open-as-free-to-play/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Hellgate: London will apparently continue on as a free-to-play title according to IP owner HanbitSoft, reports Gamasutra. Namco Bandai planned to pull the plug on the servers January 31, but HanbitSoft asserts the game will push forward. Forward and upward, allegedly, as the Korean publisher plans to update the game and strengthen community features.

The first patch HanbitSoft plans to release "soon" will combine the game's two modes, along with balancing game and class issues. Could the title that helped bring down Flagship Studios find an audience in the nurturing arms of the Korean developer?

JoystiqHellgate: London staying open as free-to-play game originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flagship-studioshanbitsofthellgatehellgate-londonPCMon, 26 Jan 2009 18:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Former Flagship exec swims back into law to defend games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/22/former-flagship-exec-swims-back-into-law-to-defend-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/22/former-flagship-exec-swims-back-into-law-to-defend-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/22/former-flagship-exec-swims-back-into-law-to-defend-games/#commentsFiled under: ,


When former Flagshiper Steve Goldstein came up for air, his lungs weren't filled with the dank stink of failed game design. Leaving behind his role as business development director and general counsel for the Hellgate: London developer, Goldstein resurfaced as senior counsel at the law offices of Stubbs Alderton & Markiles LLP.

The move may not be as big of a leap as you might think. Goldstein used to work as an associate for the LA-based law firm, which specializes in corporate, securities and IP cases. In his new role, he will work to grow the firm's video game and interactive media practice and expand the organization's list of game industry clients. We imagine the money is better, and the grinding much much less.

JoystiqFormer Flagship exec swims back into law to defend games originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hellgatehellgate-londonlawThu, 22 Jan 2009 05:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Former Flagshipers form Gravity Bear ]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/02/former-flagshipers-form-gravity-bear/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/02/former-flagshipers-form-gravity-bear/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/02/former-flagshipers-form-gravity-bear/#commentsFiled under:


Phil Shenk has become the latest to row ashore following the sinking of Flagship Studios, announcing the launch of a new development studio awesomely named Gravity Bear. Shenk will serve as the CEO, while according to Shacknews another Flagship survivor, former Hellgate: London senior software engineer Kevin Klemmick, has climbed aboard the dense grizzly as technical director.

The studio is the third to emerge from Flagship's splintered remains, following the founding of Runic Games and Turbine's new Redwood City, CA branch in recent months. Nothing yet has been revealed regarding Gravity Bear's focus or future projects, though we have to wonder if the experience of being sucked into Flagship's financial hellgate was enough to sour the company on dabbling once more in anything remotely MMO.

JoystiqFormer Flagshipers form Gravity Bear originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flagshipflagship-studiosflagshipstudiosgravity-beargravitybearhellgatehellgate-londonhellgatelondonTue, 02 Dec 2008 18:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard veteran Bill Roper joins Cryptic Studios]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/03/blizzard-veteran-bill-roper-joins-cryptic-studios/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/03/blizzard-veteran-bill-roper-joins-cryptic-studios/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/03/blizzard-veteran-bill-roper-joins-cryptic-studios/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Former Blizzard director Bill Roper, whose most recent stint was co-founder and CEO of the now-defunct Flagship Studios (Hellgate: London), has joined Cryptic Studios. According to the press release, Roper will serve as Design Director for the upcoming superhero-infused MMO, Champions Online.

In an interview with GameDaily, Roper said his first order of business is to dig "deeply" into Champions Online. "There's a lot of fantastic stuff here, and we'll focus on figuring out what's working, what needs some polish and rethinking other things." CO is currently in production for PC and Xbox 360 with a tentative Spring 2009 launch, although given the timing of Roper's hire and from what he said in the interview, we wonder if that'll be pushed back.

An application for the CO beta is currently available. Cryptic Studios is also currently working on Star Trek Online, due out sometime late next year.

[Via Big Download]

JoystiqBlizzard veteran Bill Roper joins Cryptic Studios originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperblizzardbreakingnewschampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studioshellgate-londonPCMon, 03 Nov 2008 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Namco closing Hellgate on Jan. 31]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/24/namco-closing-hellgate-on-jan-31/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/24/namco-closing-hellgate-on-jan-31/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/24/namco-closing-hellgate-on-jan-31/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Namco Bandai has issued a statement saying that, come Jan. 31, the servers for Flagship Studios' stillborn online RPG, Hellgate: London, will, like its developer, disappear forever. In effect, Namco will be closing the gate door on one of the more disappointing launches in role-playing history.

In what the company calls a "gesture of support," those wishing to continue playing the game online until the lights come on and the bouncers shoo them out on Feb. 1 will be able to do so on the house.

JoystiqNamco closing Hellgate on Jan. 31 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 24 Oct 2008 17:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flagship-studioshellgate-londonnamco-bandaiPCFri, 24 Oct 2008 17:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Anatomy of a disaster: Flagship Studios founder speaks]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/19/anatomy-of-a-disaster-flagship-studios-founder-speaks/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/19/anatomy-of-a-disaster-flagship-studios-founder-speaks/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/19/anatomy-of-a-disaster-flagship-studios-founder-speaks/#commentsFiled under:


Flagship Studios' founder Bill Roper recently spoke with 1Up about how the Hellgate London developer ended up becoming another cautionary tale for young developers out there. Roper explains that the revenue model on Hellgate was broken and much of the money coming in went into keeping the game online, instead of expanding content like it should have.

Roper also admits the quality of the title wasn't great. He blames the PC market for being "lousy last year" and concedes Flagship didn't have unlimited money to hold on to Hellgate any longer. He also confesses that the company overreached trying to make "an MMO and an RPG and a shooter," attempting to please everyone and (obviously) satisfying very few at the end. Roper explains the Flagship Studios disaster in 1Up's interview in detail -- definitely worth a read for any aspiring studio head.

JoystiqAnatomy of a disaster: Flagship Studios founder speaks originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperflagship-studioshellgate-londonmythosTue, 19 Aug 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Just to be clear: Flagship Studios is dead]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/just-to-be-clear-flagship-studios-is-dead/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/just-to-be-clear-flagship-studios-is-dead/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/just-to-be-clear-flagship-studios-is-dead/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Despite playing along like nothing was wrong not too long ago (making the image above more than appropriate), Flagship Studio's co-founder Max Schaefer tells Gamasutra that "for all intents and purposes" the company is closed down. It is no more. It has ceased to be. It's expired and gone to meet its maker ... etc., etc.

Some former Flagship employees have gone on to start a new studio, but what they'll be working on is anyone's guess as the rights for the deceased developer's IPs were gobbled up by other companies. Now, let's all move on and learn from Flagship's mistakes and try not to repeat them. Writing stories about lots of people losing their jobs is never fun.

JoystiqJust to be clear: Flagship Studios is dead originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Aug 2008 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flagshipflagship-studioshellgate-londonmax-schaefermythosPCrunic-gamesFri, 15 Aug 2008 11:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Former Flagship Studios Seattle team becomes Runic Games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/10/former-flagship-studios-seattle-team-becomes-runic-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/10/former-flagship-studios-seattle-team-becomes-runic-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/10/former-flagship-studios-seattle-team-becomes-runic-games/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Since the very first word was uttered concerning the firing of nearly all of Flagship Studios' staff, the story has unfolded into a twisted bramble of confusion regarding IP ownership and disappointment for the Mythos and Hellgate: London developer. Today, however, we got the first bit of somewhat uplifting news on the matter -- Flagship's Seattle chapter (the group formerly in charge of Mythos) was recently reformed and remonikered into a new development team: Runic Games.

This news came from a brief press release on the newly formed company's website. While the release promises further details in the coming days concerning properties Runic will be working on, little else is explained -- such as the fate of the former employees of Flagship proper, or whether or not the team plans to regain control of their "highly anticipated" MMO. We'll keep you updated, provided these announcements will be as prompt as the reborn developer suggests.

[Via Evil Avatar]

JoystiqFormer Flagship Studios Seattle team becomes Runic Games originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 10 Aug 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flagship-studiosflagship-studios-seattlehellgate-londonmythosPCrunic-gamesSun, 10 Aug 2008 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New North American development studio hiring help for Mythos, Hellgate: London]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/03/new-north-american-development-studio-hiring-help-for-mythos-he/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/03/new-north-american-development-studio-hiring-help-for-mythos-he/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/03/new-north-american-development-studio-hiring-help-for-mythos-he/#commentsFiled under: ,


Following the closure of Flagship Studios, the fate of their two intellectual properties, Mythos and Hellgate: London, seemed cloudy at best. Immediately after Flagship let go of nearly all of their staff, HanbitSoft (a large investor in Flagship) claimed to have possession of the two titles. Shortly thereafter, Flagship exec Bill Roper announced that his company still clung to life, as well as to all their technology and IPs, much to HanbitSoft's chagrin. Two weeks ago, Namco-Bandai reportedly picked up Hellgate, though the game's page on Namco's site mysteriously vanished a week later.

However, a recent help wanted ad posted by T3 Entertainment, the Korean developers of casual music game Audition Online (and major stockholders for HanbitSoft), might put an end to the confusion. The ad calls for developers for a new San Francisco-based studio who wish to "passionately continue development of Hellgate: London and Mythos, along with other new games." As much as we'd love to believe that Mythos will reach North America, we're not quite sure if this dispute has truly been settled, or if another developer has simply entered the IP melee.

JoystiqNew North American development studio hiring help for Mythos, Hellgate: London originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 03 Aug 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flagship-studioshanbitsofthellgate-londonintellectual-propertymythosnamco-bandait3-entertainmentSun, 03 Aug 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Flagship Studios' entire staff fired, all intellectual property lost]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/12/flagship-studios-entire-staff-fired-all-intellectual-property/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/12/flagship-studios-entire-staff-fired-all-intellectual-property/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/12/flagship-studios-entire-staff-fired-all-intellectual-property/#commentsFiled under: , ,


A bit of clarification recently surfaced regarding the closure of Hellgate: London and Mythos developer Flagship Studios -- though we'd heard from an unnamed source that Flagship would be shutting its doors and letting go of "nearly everyone" on the payroll, Flagship community manager Taylor Balbi recently explained that the entire staff has been fired with a 30-day pension, paid for out of the pockets of the studio's higher-ups.

The studio's intellectual property has been turned over to two companies who had invested in Flagship throughout its short lifespan, with Mythos going to Korean gaming developer HanbitSoft, and Hellgate: London going to Comerica, a financial services company based out of Dallas. It's expected these two companies will work together to continue Asian development for these two titles -- though it's unclear whether the uber-charming Mythos will ever hit North American shores.

JoystiqFlagship Studios' entire staff fired, all intellectual property lost originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closurecomericaflagshipflagship-studioshanbitsofthellgate-londonintellectual-propertyipmythosPCSat, 12 Jul 2008 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Flagship Studios confirms layoffs, extent unknown]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/flagship-studios-confirms-layoffs-extent-unknown/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/flagship-studios-confirms-layoffs-extent-unknown/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/flagship-studios-confirms-layoffs-extent-unknown/#commentsFiled under:


Someone who is allegedly close to Hellgate: London developer Flagship Studios has informed Big Download that "nearly everyone" at the studio has been laid off. The news comes only days after studio co-founder Max Schaefer showed optimism about Mythos, the company's current project.

The news isn't exactly surprising following a Flagship programmer's blog post a couple months ago that employees were leaving the company "in droves." Gamasutra has confirmed there have been "significant staff cuts" at the studio, but there's no official word on the extent of the layoffs.

[Via GameDaily]

JoystiqFlagship Studios confirms layoffs, extent unknown originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flagshipflagship-studioshellgate-londonmythosFri, 11 Jul 2008 17:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Flagship taking time on Mythos, admits Hellgate mistakes]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/07/flagship-taking-time-on-mythos-admits-hellgate-mistakes/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/07/flagship-taking-time-on-mythos-admits-hellgate-mistakes/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/07/flagship-taking-time-on-mythos-admits-hellgate-mistakes/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Max Schaefer, co-founder of Flagship Studios, admits that things didn't go exactly as planned with its first title Hellgate: London; however, he believes the developer's sophomore effort, Mythos, is coming together much better. Schaefer tells Eurogamer (via GI.biz) that Flagship was "probably biting off too much" as a new developer with Hellgate and was rushed at the end, but with Mythos it's focusing on core features and taking time to polish.

Schaefer hopes Mythos can "put a dent" into some of the big MMOs out there and he believes the free-to-download-and-play model of the game -- with item sales bringing in money -- gives the developer a chance against the boxed subscription-based MMOs.

Gallery: The Mythos Overworld

The Overworld loading screenA kindly vicarThere are no walls in the OverworldAn AnchorshrineA Seaside Cliff

JoystiqFlagship taking time on Mythos, admits Hellgate mistakes originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flagshipflagship-studioshellgatehellgate-londonmythosPCMon, 07 Jul 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Best Of Big Download: June 8-14, 2008]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/14/the-best-of-big-download-june-8-14-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/14/the-best-of-big-download-june-8-14-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/14/the-best-of-big-download-june-8-14-2008/#commentsFiled under: ,


Did you have a good week? We had a terrific one at Big Download but with the release of Spore Creature Creator next week it promises to be an even busier time for our site. In the meantime here are the highlights from the past week

Exclusive Features

Continue reading The Best Of Big Download: June 8-14, 2008

JoystiqThe Best Of Big Download: June 8-14, 2008 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 14 Jun 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alone-in-the-darkarmaggedon-empiresbig-downloadcivilization ivCivilizationIvcodemastersgridhellgate-londonPCportalsupreme-ruler-2020Sat, 14 Jun 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hellgate: London programmer claims staff leaving 'in droves']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/11/hellgate-london-programmer-claims-staff-leaving-in-droves/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/11/hellgate-london-programmer-claims-staff-leaving-in-droves/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/11/hellgate-london-programmer-claims-staff-leaving-in-droves/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Things are not well at Hellgate: London developer Flagship Studios according to Guy Somberg, an audio and gameplay programmer at the fledgling studio. Somberg wrote on his personal blog a month ago - which was recently dug up by GI.biz - that people are leaving the company "in droves" following the poor sales and negative feedback of its post-apocalyptic jaunt.

Somberg does have some hope for the future (wait, isn't London occupied by demons in 2038?), saying that the game is doing well in Korea and has yet to start in China. He concludes that he likes the job, but that all the artists and programmers leaving the company is taking a toll on the future of Hellgate: London and Flagship as a studio. Well, we're hearing good things about Mythos ...

JoystiqHellgate: London programmer claims staff leaving 'in droves' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flagshipflagship-studiosflagshipstudiosguy-somberghellgatehellgate-londonhellgatelondonPCsombergWed, 11 Jun 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hellgate: London finds success in Korea]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/11/hellgate-london-finds-success-in-korea/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/11/hellgate-london-finds-success-in-korea/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/11/hellgate-london-finds-success-in-korea/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Last year's launch of Flagship Studios' Hellgate: London was not exactly what we'd call a family album moment, its release plagued by client crashes and enough bugs to have the Orkin man calling for backup. Still, one person's trash is another's treasure, as Bill Roper and company have announced that in the two weeks since the Korean launch of the Hellgate beta more than a million accounts have been registered. According to Flagship, this makes the MMO the most successful online game launch in Korea in the past three years.

Hellgate's beta officially kicked off in Korea on January 15, and according to Korean online game tracking service Gametrics, the game quickly found an audiences with gamers in PC Cafes, ranking ninth among online games, fifth among RPGs, and was the most popular beta being played. This was followed by a commercial release on February 22, a launch that Flagship boasts achieved "record sales," though it's a record that we're pretty sure will be broken soon enough.

JoystiqHellgate: London finds success in Korea originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Apr 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaflagshipflagship-studiosflagshipstudioshellgatehellgate-londonhellgatelondonkoreammoPCFri, 11 Apr 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hellgate: London balances, Stonehenge coming today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/21/hellgate-london-balances-stonehenge-coming-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/21/hellgate-london-balances-stonehenge-coming-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/21/hellgate-london-balances-stonehenge-coming-today/#commentsFiled under: ,

Do you still care about Hellgate: London? We don't ask out of an attempt at snarkiness, we're asking with genuine curiosity. We ask because there's a big update for subscribers dropping today and we just want to know if that describes any of you. Or maybe you're a former player and just want to keep up with changes. For example, even though out brief fling with the game ended months ago, we were still interested to hear that the game was adding Stonehenge, a large outdoor hub designed to break up some of the monotony of city living. There's also some balance tweaks to the character classes and a new Dueling Arena.

But do you care? Have you played? Are you still? Do you want to know what's going on in the world of Hellgate? Does this update pique your interest? Because we get the feeling that most of you have moved on or were never that interested to begin with. We look forward to hearing if that's right or off-base.

JoystiqHellgate: London balances, Stonehenge coming today originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Jan 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hellgatehellgate-londonhellgatelondonpatchesPCMon, 21 Jan 2008 12:30:00 EST