Multi-player gaming goes massive

The next generation of online video games has been introduced to the Philippine market by Level Up! (www.level-up-games.com), the first local company to offer Massively Multi-Player Online Games (MMOG) in the country.

Level Up!, which conducted months of market research and focus groups before launching a new online gaming business model, expects to lure the large community of gamers with the arrival of MMOGs locally.

Developed in different parts of the world, MMOGs allow thousands of users to play at the same time, from any pc with an internet connection. Ben Colayco, game boss of Level Up!, said that they intend to market and distribute MMOG games exclusively in the country, eventually building local online gaming communities nationwide.

Colayco explained that Level Up! will be localizing other MMOG games to suit Filipino culture and taste. He added that they chose Oz World as the first title for the Philippines because it is easy to learn and works on a dial-up Internet connection, making it more accessible to the local market.

Colayco said that Level Up! is also set to hold a number of unique activities that will strengthen its online gaming business. Although currently in its testing stage, one of the company’s notable plans is to set up an MMOG television show on Home Cable’s Link TV. Other activities include an on the job training (OJT) program for college students, a film festival, inter-collegiate competitions, as well as promotional events and parties to lay down the groundwork for this pioneering community.