The One About V3.4.14

Guess what? We've just started localizing V3.4.14. The tentative launch date is 18 June 2009. Still far to early to confirm if we can launch on that date, but for now, that's the date we are working towards, plus minus 1~2 weeks depending on how the goldmaster client turns out.

V3.4.14 will be a very exciting major update since it encompasses a new art direction. This time the direction is headed towards a more masquerade, cirque du soleil type of look and feel.

I haven't received the 'official patch updates' document yet but some of the more interesting updates that are likely to be in the V3.4.14 patch are:

1) A cat pet which generates Intensify, Lv.11 of Fortify, Lv.10 of Divine Bless Buffs and has healing capabilities

2) New RNPC - Helena, who was a vice-leader of the Circus Troupe and has every Elementalist’s stance (except The Elemental Lord), as well as her exclusive stance.

3) Mysterious Treasure Box of Premium Treasure Box has been updated:

Reward Items	Number
Symbol of Taurus	1
Symbol of Leo	1
Symbol of Aquarius	1
Symbol of Sagittarius	1
Symbol of Capricornus	1
Epic Grade Glazium	4
Metal Armor Crystal - Grade 26	2
Robe Armor Crystal - Grade 26	2
Coat Armor Crystal - Grade 26	2
Leather Armor Crystal - Grade 26	2
Melee Weapon Crystal - Grade 26	2
Ranged Weapon Crystal - Grade 26	2
Magic Weapon Crystal - Grade 26	2
High Quality Sapphire	2
High Quality Emerald	5
High Quality Ruby	3
Damaged Ancient Glazium	1
Lv. 100 Enchantment Chip	3
Lv. 96 Enchantment Chip	5
Lv. 92 Enchantment Chip	8
Lv. 84 Enchantment Chip	5
Field Manual - Master (1 day)	1
1 Barrack Slot	1
Memoirs	5
Andre's Costume Box	5
Karja's Vanity Box	5
Ring Box	2
Eyewear Box	5
Veteran EXP Card	1
Progressive Mithridart	10
Recipe - Arsene Circus Troupe’s Red Ticket	1
Recipe - Arsene Circus Troupe’s Blue Ticket	1
Recipe - Arsene Circus Troupe’s Green Ticket	1
Warp Scroll Coupon	2
Treasure Hunter's Request Form	1
Legendary Treasure Book	1
Progressive Analeptic Remedy	10
Mystery Powders	5
EXP Card	6
Enhancement Booster	2
Socket Processing Tranquillizer	1
Enchantment Tranquillizers	5
Triumph Fillers	5
Mystic Ampule	5
Soul Crystal	5
Progressive Painkiller	10
Progressive Nutrition	10
Pure Otite	3
Hrin's Potion	3
Hrin's Ampule	5
Defensive Filler	5
Offensive Filler	5
Otite Perfume	1

I'll update more as we go along. Vietnam GE is likely launching its Closed Beta Test phase next month and has already launched their website over here.

Some Vietnam users playing on our servers expressed concern as to whether there will be IP blocks for their current accounts on our servers. As of now, I haven't heard any such thing and you guys are welcome to continue playing on our English servers. :)

I'll be flying up to Vietnam next week so I'll update more on V3.4.14 when I return. Drop me a comment if there's anything in particular you would like to know about for V3.4.14 and I'll pick a few questions to reply. I'll also be happy to hear your suggestions for the name of the next expansion since we haven't decided on it yet.

Oh wait! One last thing to update, we're having a blogging contest for Plantronics Gamecom 777 over here. The closing date is next Tuesday, 5 May 2009. Basically, it's an invitation for a product test drive of GameCom 777, the first surround sound gaming headset with Dolby technology for competitive gaming.

We are looking for a select group of bloggers who are gamers, has a keen audio sense, craves for a true 5 channel virtual surround sound experience, believes that headsets should be comfortable on the ears, even after hours of game play, likes to give feedback on their blog about GameCom 777.

If you fit the bill, write to us at iah.marketing@iahgames.com and include your full name, email address, mobile number, home address that we can deliver the headset to, and blog URL. 10 gaming bloggers will be selected to receive a Plantronics GameCom 777 headset for a free 2 weeks "test drive". If you love the GameCom 777 as much as we do, express exactly that in your blog before 5 May 2009 and you may just get to win this limited-edition launch kit!

The One About Team Arena

Some good news!

We are still in schedule for V3.2 and should be set to launch this Thursday, 9 April'2009.

Check out a sneak preview of the very awesome poster created by one of our creative team members, MooMoo:

Click here to download high resolution poster

Personally, I think it's one of MooMoo's best masterpieces ever! I immediately used it as my desktop wallpaper. It reminded me of the evolution of Granado Espada - From the first build of V1.8 fan art of the musketeer, to Dilos Latemn - the very first raid boss that I fought... To think I felt so intimidated by Dilos the first time I fought him! Back then, he was the Sekhmet of the game. When I first saw the poster, I got all choked up with emotions, as I reflected my own journey through Granado Espada... (or maybe it's just that time of the month where hormones have gone a-haywire)

I like how the direction of Granado Espada's latest updates is moving towards team-based missions and mini games. The Defense of The Zeia was named as such because of one of the new features, Team Arena which reminded us so much of the oh-so-popular DOTA (Defense Of The Ancients). The beauty of Team Arena is how it pretty much equalizes everyone, regardless of your levels, armors, weapons.

Kudos to Kaioujin who fully explored the system and gave me the brief on this!

Background of Team Arena - It don't matter if you're yellow or blue
There are two teams who will pit against each other in Team Arena - Yellow and Blue. Each team will have to work together to fight into their opposing team’s base and defeat the boss there in order to win the game. Each team can either be a 3v3 or 10v10.

The Map - Know thyself, know thy territory
There are two bases which is located at different ends of the map which are linked together by 3 path lanes that are guarded by towers and bosses. There are 3 levels of defenses for each team. I'm not going to go too much into detail but each of the levels are guarded by bosses and shooting towers.

Arena Coins - Choose how you spend them wisely
Periodically, monsters will spawn from the Gates located in the bases and path towards the opposing base in their respective lanes. These monsters drop Arena Coins when killed so it is the most common way for the players to gather Arena Coins to purchase buffs over at their bases.

The Buffs - Strategies revolve around these
This is the most important feature of Team Arena and the various strategies deployed will likely determine your team's win or loss. I can't wait to see what kind of tactics you guys will come up with!

Arena Coins are the only currency accepted by the merchant NPCs in Team Arena. There are a total of 5 NPCs in each base, which will provide the users with different features.

Consumable Item Volunteer
You will be able to purchase Team Arena Soul Crystal to resurrect your characters when they are killed in battle. Also, Base Return Sheets can also be purchased to allow quick teleportation for your characters back to base.

Team Upgrade NPC
This NPC allows you to increase the attack, defense and health attributes of your base creeps.

Enemy Debuff
This NPC decreases the accuracy, attack power, defense power of all the characters in the opposing team permanently. In addition, this NPC can also apply temporary status effects such as stun, electric shock and ritardi on the opposing team.

Family Attack Buff
This NPC increases the attack rating, attack power, attack speed, accuracy and physical penetration of all characters in your family.

Family Defense Buff
This NPC increases the defense rating, defense power, evasion, block, immunity and movement speed of all characters in your family.

Family Attribute Attack Buff
This NPC increases the magic penetration and additional elemental damage of all characters in your family.

Family Attribute Defense Buff
This NPC increases the elemental resistance of all characters in your family.

We will be posting up the Team Arena article pretty soon on the website, so stay tuned for more updates!