Finally, Ragnarok Online 2 to be released in 2010

[cinderboy]

Source: http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...hp?story=26299

Ragnarok Online 2 introduction: http://www.gravity.co.kr/eng/games/ragnarok2.asp

Ragnarok Online was Gravity’s first popular MMORPG, and one of the first Korean titles ever to make a significant splash in Western markets.

The game was most popular in Japan and Korea, and that’s where the userbase remains strongest. In 2007, Ragnarok II was released to open beta in Korea on the Unreal 2.5 engine, and was relatively poorly recieved.

Nothing has been heard about this sequel until now. In Busan at Korea's G* conference, we asked Global Business Manager Yunghun Lee what happened to Ragnarok II.

“It’s a difficult question to answer,” Lee admitted. “We launched Ragnarok II in 2007. That version wasn’t really enough for the market, so we tried to revise all the systems, but it takes time. We changed the engine and everything, it’s like a totally new game. The engine changed several times, but now we’re using Gamebryo.”

The game is nearing completion now, and Lee says “We’re going to release the game next year.”

Gravity had attempted to release games in various genres over the last few years, but Lee admitted that those were rather unsuccessful. Gamasutra has learned through financial filings that the company’s board felt the previous CEO, Il Young Ryu, was taking the company in inadvisable directions.

This carries forward a thread of distrust in Gravity’s management, after accusations in 2006 that the previous chairman, Jung Ryool Kim, was diverting money from the company to himself.

Under the new (as of 2008) CEO Brian Yoon Seok Kang, the company has refocused its efforts on expanding and extrapolating the Ragnarok brand, similar to what Square-Enix has done with Final Fantasy VII.

The original Ragnarok Online is still getting content updates, but more interesting is the company’s side-move into social networks. “Right now we’re developing a Ragnarok web game, a social network game,” says Lee. “It’ll be released next year as well, with an announcement coming before the end of this year. SNGs are one of our major concerns, so that includes directly linking to Facebook or other social networks.”

[Bryan]

Too late, honestly.

[cinderboy]

They re-did the game with a new engine and stuff, no one actually knows what are the new things yet, i wldnt write the game off now since they mentioned they are going to focus on the Ragnarok franchise.

[hotyman]

Same as Bryan,
I don't think anyone is still hyped for RO2
Ro2 is a failure.

[cinderboy]

Same as Bryan,
I don't think anyone is still hyped for RO2
Ro2 is a failure.

Cos you didn't actually read about the part they are refreshing the game with new stuff.

Seriously, not being a fanboy here, no one has seen the revamped game, and ppl are already writing the game off ? Seriously ?

[PeRo]

I thought they've stopped with RO2 after the flop, I would be satisfied if the game was exactly like RO with gorgeous graphics, and good armor designs with customization.

[hotyman]

Cos you didn't actually read about the part they are refreshing the game with new stuff.

Seriously, not being a fanboy here, no one has seen the revamped game, and ppl are already writing the game off ? Seriously ?

I read about them making it 'new'
but if you'll compare it to everything comming out next year,
this will be nothing.

I know I'm writing the game off before anyone has seen it,
but FF14, the new WoW, Star trek etc.
Will definately be way better than this.

Also, I'm not a fan of them remaking RO in 3d, same as back then, it just ruins the idea of RO imho.

[cinderboy]

I read about them making it 'new'
but if you'll compare it to everything comming out next year,
this will be nothing.

I know I'm writing the game off before anyone has seen it,
but FF14, the new WoW, Star trek etc.
Will definately be way better than this.

Also, I'm not a fan of them remaking RO in 3d, same as back then, it just ruins the idea of RO imho.

Wow, you are comparing a free-to-play RO2 with studios with millions in budget, and not to mention p2p games.

Now get off my thread, troll.

[hotyman]

Wow, you are comparing a free-to-play RO2 with studios with millions in budget, and not to mention p2p games.

Now get off my thread, troll.

I'm not trolling, just giving my opinion,
and... wait, what? Free-to-play?

I thought only the Private server would be F2P and once the game came out it'd be P2P O.o

If it's F2P it'll definately be a great game on the market though

By the way..

“Right now we’re developing a Ragnarok web game, a social network game,”

I wonder how that will turn out O.o

[poeticas]

Never said I'm 100% right, but that's why i rather make a bet on it to make things interesting =)

well that's why i sayd just in case

[BubbleTea]

I'll be looking forward to this. :]
Since I am a fan of Ragnarok Online, mhm. >: D
Hopefully they keep to their word.

[Ascend]

i hope they changed the battle system to a faster pace.... like ragnarok of course.. the game who had the craziest attack speed and critical hits lol..

[Fence]

Hmm I wonder how really new brand it will be.

Under the new (as of 2008) CEO Brian Yoon Seok Kang, the company has refocused its efforts on expanding and extrapolating the Ragnarok brand, similar to what Square-Enix has done with Final Fantasy VII.

Lol I kinda fear that part :
-Ragnarok into your mobile phone
-Ragnarok Online Versus II
-Remake of Ragnarok Online 1 on PSP or DS
-Ragnarok the return of the vengance of its father
-Ragnarok the live movie

[Ragdac]

Isn't there a Ro game for the ds already xD?

[cinderboy]

there's already RO on mobile phones and DS.

[poeticas]

there's already RO on mobile phones and DS.

WTH ! can you give me link or something i begg you !

[Terminal09]

Glad they are finally releasing it, but I doubt I will ever try it out.
Ragnarok Online is a badass game though.

[cinderboy]

WTH ! can you give me link or something i begg you !

if u understand korean...

http://www.mobilegravity.co.kr/violet/main.asp

[poeticas]

if u understand korean...

http://www.mobilegravity.co.kr/violet/main.asp

is it free ? O.O

[markca]

hopefully the remaking of the whole RO2 comes out great.
haha I like the 'detailed movements of characters eyes and even 10 fingers'

[Fence]

Lol my bad I didn't even know it

Well I'm only looking forward the new version of RO2.

[poeticas]

OMg all the talking in that Ro on DS ... xD

[SorenEmblem]

The original RO2 was supposed to have RO1's class system except you could change between different classes freely, with each of them having their own job level.

It was a pretty stupid idea cause your base level remains the same regardless.

[YumikiiChan]

Well, I've actually played Ragnarok 2, seeing the new stuff was fun at first, some of the songs in the game are pretty amazing aswell. But, even though the fact that I didn't really like RO1, it was still better than RO2. If they had released it earlier it would probably still have been a flop because it doesn't have the Ragnarok feel to it anymore. Now it's just another generic grinder.

[MoonLight21]

looks like RO 2 will be a fail.. hmm