Aeria Games has announced the beginning of closed beta registration for their new title Grand Fantasia!

Grand Fantasia is a free-to-play massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) that has enjoyed great success in other territories. It is currently being prepped for the English language release later this year by US-based publisher Aeria Games.

Set in an expansive and carefully crafted fantasy world, Grand Fantasia offers players a variety of engaging features, including: branching class trees, innovative pet customization and crafting systems, incredible mounts, and auction houses. Players looking for more of an action-oriented experience can also participate in player-versus-player (PvP) combat, team-based battlefields, and challenging dungeons.

 "Closed Beta is a crucial step in bringing Grand Fantasia to players, " said Brian DeSanti, Associate Producer on Grand Fantasia. "We are excited to launch an MMORPG that seamlessly blends an anime aesthetic with Western-style gameplay."

For more information about the game and to sign up for the upcoming closed beta, players are invited to visit the Grand Fantasia website at http://grandfantasia.aeriagames.com/node/32

Santa Clara, Calif. (July 16, 2008) – Free-to-play PC game publisher, Aeria Games has acquired Cronous — the classic MMORPG game developed by Lizard Interactive for distribution in North America.

Aeria Games will add Cronous to its portfolio of free MMORPG games such as Shaiya and Last Chaos to offer a release that may have a different appeal to players. Cronous is a more traditional MMORPG game that has game play which is familiar to original Dungeons & Dragons and Diablo fans. Players can choose from classes such as Fighters, Valkryries (like Rogues), Magicians (like Wizards) and Savages (like Barbarians). Game characters gain special attacks and magic spells specific to their classes through leveling.

Around the world, Cronous attracted players for its massive amount of content including over 100 maps and dungeons as well as quests with variable storylines that are affected by the player’s actions. Aeria Games is confident that Cronous is a game that can occupy its players for a long, long time.

The exclusive North American release of Cronous through Aeria Games will be free-to-play with no upfront or monthly costs. Special in-game items and decorative equipment will be available for optional purchase using Aeria Points — the universal currency on the Aeria Games portal.

Cronous will be available for beta testing in July 2008 and release is expected for August 2008.

Richman Online Launches Open Beta

Aeria Games is proud to announce the Open Beta launch for Richman Online (RO). RO is a massively multiplayer online board game that allows players to buy and sell properties while competing with their friends.

In Richman Online, players are able to:

- Purchase property and build on it, with five levels of possible construction and multiple types of buildings, each calculating the rent it charges in a different way!
- Invoke the effects of a wide variety of game cards, with effects such as letting you control your dice roll, stop an opponent dead in their tracks, or add free levels to your property. Strategic use of cards can turn the game in your favor!
- Use missiles, land mines, poison gas, and other nasty effects to damage other players; and their properties!
- Choose from among three different game modes: Regular Play, Battle Mode, and Boss Mode!
- Travel the board on foot, on motorbikes, or in cars; each granting you the ability to roll a different amount of dice per turn!
- Buddy up with spirits of fortune to increase your cash and dodge paying rent, and push the spirits of poverty and misfortune onto your opponents!
- Enjoy items such as cars, mopeds, elemental dice, special game cards, pets, and stylish outfits with stat bonuses, purchasable from the robust Cash Shop!
- Play as one of five wacky, anime-inspired characters, with more hidden characters unlockable!

To learn more about Richman Online, please visit the official website:
Richman Online Website

California, U.S.A. (June 10, 2008) – Last Chaos, the first title of Aeria Games is prepared to pour out one of its most innovative and latest content updates, the Tomb of Theos.

The Tomb of Theos is a dungeon for level 75-plus players who will have the chance to control entry into the dungeon. The controls of the dungeon are placed squarely into the hands of the master of the guild that owns the dungeon.

In order for a guild to have ownership of the dungeon, the guild must go through the dungeon and secure a crystal, but with certain circumstances. The guilds have only two hours to secure the crystal, and at the end of those two hours the guild who has last secured it will win the dungeon.

“The competition for the dungeon will be fierce,” said Tim Adams, associate producer of Last Chaos.

Once the dungeon is secured by the winning guild, a system comes into play that allows the guild to have complete control over the dungeon. The guild has the ability to change the condition in the dungeon from the pollution factor and monster difficulty.

“The owner can increase the damage in 10 percent increments, up to 100 percent effectively doubling the amount of damage players do while inside the dungeon,” Adams said.

In order for guilds to enter the dungeon siege, a fee is imposed by the guild who owns the dungeon, while at the same time they can also impose a tax on all the gold the enemies drop. A guild can earn up to 20 percent of all the gold dropped.

“Overall, owning the castle is a big financial gain for any guild, and is also a symbol of their power on any given server,” Adams said.

Guilds will have the chance to gain ownership of the dungeon once a week but with new obstacles. Once a guild has ownership, they can construct small obstacles for guilds returning that will remain in the dungeon even when the guild loses ownership.

With the new dungeon system implemented, players have a whole new arena of game ahead of them every week in order to have control of one of the most difficult areas in Last Chaos.

“Since the Last Chaos community is so closely knit, every action by guilds on each server is felt by all the players,” Adams said. “At first it may be the most powerful guild who owns the castle, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there are rebellions amongst the players, and guild wars to follow.”

For more information on Last Chaos, please visit: http://lastchaos.aeriagames.com.

California, U.S.A. (June 9, 2008) – Aeria Games is proud to announce the acquisition of Pi Story, a massive multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed NCONY.

Developer NCONY is comprised of a group of experienced professionals with chief developers that have developed renowned games in the free-2-play market such as Lineage and Ragnarok. Pi Story is the company’s first MMO title that boasts elegant graphics and awesome game play for hardcore and casual gamers to enjoy.

Pi Story is a side-scrolling 2D game that allows players the functionality of user created content, Web 2.0 Technology and a wide array of game features.

Features of Pi Story:
• User Created Content Web Diary that is unique to each player.
• Web-enabled in-game Internet browser for players can connect inside out and outside in.
• BBS. blogs and bi-directional communities that allows players new ways of communication
• Guild activity system that is strategy-based and the ability to create a guild house.
• House system where players can decorate, and modify their homes.

For more information on Pi Story, please visit http://pistory.aeriagames.com.

California, U.S.A. (November 12, 2007) – Shaiya will be launched by Aeria Games for a Closed Beta test in North America starting on the week of November 26th.

Shaiya is a fantasy Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG). Located on a distant planet, Shaiya puts players in the middle of an age-old blood feud between two warring factions: the Union of Fury and the Alliance of Light.

The Beta test phase gives players early access to a game with dozens of maps, hundreds of monsters, over 1,000 quests, and more than 1,000 different items, armor and weapons. This classic-style MMORPG offers players:

PvE, PvP, RvR: The best of all game worlds in one game. Slay monsters, battle friends in duels, smite opposing players in PvP, and fight for control of the continent in Realm versus Realm combat. To the winner of RvR goes the blessing of their Goddess and all the bonuses that includes!

Intriguing Content: Run bootlegs to the opposing faction and sell wares to the enemy. Go on quests that range from delivering love letters to completing a hit on an enemy. Impact your entire realm with your acts of heroism on the battlefield.

Classic RPG Elements: shining armor, dragons, elves, orcs, swords, magic, dramatic music, beautiful realms, quests, faithful steeds, and never-ending of battle of Light versus Darkness.

Players are encouraged to sign up for CB on the Shaiya website at: http://shaiya.aeriagames.com

North American game publisher Aeria Games has announced the open beta release of the Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMORPG) Twelve Sky.

Twelve Sky is an oriental style, martial arts based Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG). Located in ancient China, Twelve Sky puts players in the middle of an age old conflict between three warring factions. Featuring realistic martial arts weapons and moves, plus a robust RVR system, Twelve Sky is by far one of the best Free-to-Play PVP-based MMORPG games released to date.

Players can find out more information and create a free account from the Twelve Sky website. http://12-sky.aeriagames.com

Aeria Games Announces the Open Beta of Project Torque and Offers a $1000 Cash Prize Contest

California, U.S.A. (October 8, 2007) – Aeria Games announced today that the open beta for Project Torque has begun! Project Torque is one of the first MMORGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Racing Game) to hit North America. This game embodies the essence of competition and delivers all the fun of casual gaming. Tune your car, personalize it, and then show it off and race everyone at the track.

$1000 Cash Contest - In November, Aeria Games will randomly pick 32 people from our highest level players in Project Torque. These finalists will test their skills, luck, and mettle against each other in an all-out battle for the $1000 grand prize, a Philips amBX system, Logitech gaming equipment, and ultimate bragging rights!

For more regarding Project Torque, please visit: [http://project-torque.aeriagames.com]

This Saturday Aeria Games will be conducting a large stress test of the Twelve Sky beta server. For this large event we would like to invite as many players to participate as possible!

To be included, players are encouraged to do the following:

1. Create an account at Aeria Games http://www.aeriagames.com
2. Download the Twelve Sky beta client http://www.12-sky.com

The stress test will take place on Saturday, September 29 from 12-3 PM PST. Prizes will be awarded to a few lucky participants. They will include...

Top Prize: $75 gift certificate for Best Buy 2000 Aeria Points (AP) Twelve Sky Poster

Two Other Winners Will Each Receive: 1000 Aeria Points (AP) Twelve Sky Poster

Aeria Games to Launch the Closed Beta for Dream of Mirrors Online (DOMO) in North America “California, U.S.A. (September 21, 2007) – Aeria Games announced today the addition of DOMO (Dream of Mirror Online) to its extensive offerings of FREE-TO-PLAY massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs). Aeria Games plans to announce the date for the Closed Beta test of DOMO in the near future. “

Aeria Games Opens the Closed Beta of Project Torque to the Public “California, U.S.A. (September 21, 2007) – Aeria Games announced today that the closed beta for Project Torque has been opened up to the public. Over the past few weeks, the team has worked very hard to add a large variety of new and exciting game features such as new cars, tracks, and game modes.”