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Sunday Comics: Dead Island While Jeff Freeman’s look at ELF Online was an instant classic as far as I was concerned, perhaps even better is an actual press release from Happy MMO. Nothing special seems to be happening (other than announcing that girls like the game), but there’s never a bad time for a deliciously awful Chinese MMO company press release — and what better way to drum up support for your wacky MMO than with an equally bizarre press release. Xin nian kuai le, indeed. Full release in all its Engrish glory after the jump.
Oh, how I wish I had seen the original press release for Happy MMO’s ELF Online. The sketchy translation both in-game and on their website leads me to believe the press release must have been a true gem. It’s clearly a game that’s not taking itself too seriously (running into a “wet nurse for newbie”? A “baby mode”?), and Jeff Freeman has a funny look at gameplay and environment in ELF Online. Considering the number of free to play Chinese MMOs that take themselves way too seriously, it’s almost refreshing (though perhaps hiring some starving ex-pat to provide translation services wouldn’t be such a bad idea):
All the quests that I completed were all of the kill 5 of this, kill 10 of that, collect 4 of these by killing 4 or more of those sorts, excluding quests sending me from one NPC to another. Stock MMO quests.
One other quest some might consider an exception, was the become-a-soldier-quest itself, after killing 7 of something, being required to swear that my little guy would fight to the death for the Imaginary Goddess.
But most people wouldn’t consider that an exception, and would instead say, “What now? I didn’t really read it.” Stock MMO players.
One of my wishes for 2008? That gems like this and Shanda press releases continuing flowing freely from China.
Hooray! Elf Online is recruiting players for its closed beta! Now what the hell is Elf Online? From Happymmo’s web page: Themed by the confrantation of the Imaginary force and the Evil Darkness force in the Dream Land world, the Elf Online provides a tricksy and relaxd game style with a creative and player-oriented gaming system. Jocose epic quest, risible pets, all kinds of strange shapes equipment, medal exchange system, prank system.
Sounds like… something is happening there. Yes! Even more quizzical is their method for recruiting beta testers, which involves the applicant first posting screenshots or information about the game to five forums, and then replying with links. I’ve heard of pyramid marketing, but this is pyramid public relations – a great and terrible new force on the internets. You know what? I’ll just give you a link. You figure it out.
Close Beta Testers Recruit Rules [Elf Online]
