“We're going to have a dedicated server for ‘Dragon Nest SEA’ in the Philippines, and hopefully, this can be achieved by December this year.”
I'm taken aback. Clearly, I didn't see that one coming. That soon? I'm thinking vice-president and producer Addison Kang of Shanda Games, publisher of the free-to-play 3D multiplayer online action role-playing game (MO action RPG) in Southeast Asia, is just teasing me. After all, Addison is the playful and high-spirited kind of gaming executive. I remember interviewing Mike Morhaime, president of Blizzard Entertainment, at about this time last year, and I can't help but see the striking difference between the two. The look on Addison's face indicates he's not kidding.
Good news for Filipino gamers then, and fitting, too, as Addison reveals that majority of “Dragon Nest SEA” players come from the Philippines. A quick check on Facebook—a site that serves as a testament to how Shanda values social platforms to engage fans—confirms this.
"One strong point of the game is that it has high-end graphics but it can run on low-end PCs and on low bandwidth as well," adds Addison. “That's rare. This is one reason that ‘Dragon Nest SEA’ is popular in the Philippines.”
I double-check the minimum requirements. Windows XP, Pentium 4 or dual-core chip, 1GB of RAM, Nvidia 7600 video card, DirectX 9.0C and 4GB of hard-disk space. He's right. Well, of course, he is—what am I thinking? This is not to take away from the game's inherent appeal, especially now that Shanda Games has released “Dragon Nest SEA's" Saint Haven update as part of the MMO game's official launch.
The update brings with it an increased level cap of 32 (from 24); a new town, chapter in the main quest, and skill set; permanent shop items; and larger dungeons with mini-puzzles, among others.
Entering Cerberus Nest—the highest-level dungeon there and the only one that can be played in Hell mode—and living to tell the tale should give players some serious bragging rights.
I got a preview of Saint Haven and played “Dragon Nest SEA” for a few minutes earlier. Getting my ass whooped was a humbling experience. I learned one lesson: “Never get fooled by a game's cutesy visuals. You never know if it's actually fast-paced and action-packed.”
No wonder “Dragon Nest” has received awards like “China's Most Popular Online Game” and “Asia’s Best Design” and high ratings from sites like IGN.
Are they looking to partner with any organization from the Philippines? “We are talking to [professional-gaming organization] Mineski, but nothing’s concrete yet,” Addison says.
If and when they'll create their own Philippine-based team is something that’s going to be answered in perhaps a month or two also, so watch this space. For now, I’m just glad that Addison and company are setting up a dedicated server for the Philippines. It should significantly boost the gaming experience of Filipino “Dragon Nest SEA” players.
Happy (Dragon) Nest-ing!