I am not sure that this source should be relied on, but anything on Granado Espada is worth knowing. From what seems to be a press release of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), "IAH has already received more than 20,000 sign-ups for Granado Espada’s closed beta testing, which commences on 23rd January 2007."

The problem is that the press release is dated of the 20th December and it is at this date that they "began" their survey for beta entrance... In my case, I hope it is not true or accurate anymore, if it even was, since I want to play the game right now and in english at least. Let's all hope for a January 12 2007 close beta start!

Here is the press release:
http://gameshogun.ws/Business/2006/12/29/granado_espada_the_mmorpg_wins_top_prize

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Singapore, 20 December 2006 – The eagerly-anticipated massive multiplayer online role-playing game, Granado Espada, has won Korean gaming industry’s most prestigious prize – the Grand Prix, at the 2006 Korea Game Awards on Monday night.

 

Awarded by the President of South Korea, Roh Moo-hyun, the prize represents a first ever win for Granado Espada’s creator, Hakkyu Kim, who is also the creator of Ragnarok Online, one of the most popular MMORPG in South East Asia.

Granado Espada beat other popular games such as Ninety Nine Nights, Zera and Sudden Attack to clinch the evening’s top prize. Granado Espada also won the Technology Creative Award for Graphics in the annual awards ceremony, which is in its third year.

Kim said: “This prestigious award leaves me speechless, as I have never been lucky with awards. There are so many good games with great graphics. I was only hoping that we could win for music (OST).”

The game had its commercial launch for Korea in July this year.

The English version of the game will be distributed by Infocomm Asia Holdings (IAH), which holds the exclusive distribution rights for the game in six South East Asian countries as well as Australia and New Zealand. Without any publicity or marketing, IAH has already received more than 20,000 sign-ups for Granado Espada’s closed beta testing, which commences on 23rd January 2007.

Roland Ong, CEO of IAH, said: “We are very happy that Granado Espada received the recognition which it is due and I would like to extend my congratulations to Hakkyu Kim. It proves that Granado Espada is a quality product and it also validates our philosophy to only license top products for the South East Asia market.”

Granado Espada is the first game which IAH will launch. It has also obtained the licence to Hellgate: London, which is being developed by the makers of the hugely successful PC game, Diablo. The company has also recently obtained the licence for a third game Emil Chronicle Online, which is distributed by Gravity, the publishers of Ragnarok Online.

 

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J-Nius

k2newb, I would really like to know where you get all these informations about the game. How come you know there is another english version coming out? Are you working for the company responsible for it? Beta testing maybe? The only fact I'm sure right now is that I can't wait to play the game...

You can trust the site. We post Press Releases when we received it, as long as it is not more than 6-months old.

Also, Granado Espada South-East Asia is also open for Australia and New Zealand players or rather, the scope of the GE-SEA server includes AU and NZ.

What I didn't quite understood is the OP's "ASEAN" comment. It sounds like our blog network is an ASEAN blog. No, we are not affiliated with the ASEAN, we're not politically attached to anyone.

Originally posted by k2newb
The SG beta has actually already began, however they are planning on allowing about 15K players from around the world access begining on sometime this month (1.23 is definately a possibility).. 

As I have said before, the company releasing this game in NA/EU/UK will be doing a completely different translation and localization for the game.  There are major differences the game will have when compared with its sisters around the world.  The biggest is its name (which has changed, but it will still carry Granado Espada as a tag line).

To my knowledge the new 'teaser' website for the game is done except for the new logo with the new name.  They are anticipating releasing that information sometime this week as well as the NA/EU/UK launch date (Sometime in May for NA and in June for EU/UK).

As soon as the new website is up Ill post here.

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Originally posted by Wart

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Originally posted by k2newb
The SG beta has actually already began, however they are planning on allowing about 15K players from around the world access begining on sometime this month (1.23 is definately a possibility)..

As I have said before, the company releasing this game in NA/EU/UK will be doing a completely different translation and localization for the game. There are major differences the game will have when compared with its sisters around the world. The biggest is its name (which has changed, but it will still carry Granado Espada as a tag line).

To my knowledge the new 'teaser' website for the game is done except for the new logo with the new name. They are anticipating releasing that information sometime this week as well as the NA/EU/UK launch date (Sometime in May for NA and in June for EU/UK).

As soon as the new website is up Ill post here.

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I'm curious too on how you get your info.

Anyways, hmm... hopefully they wont butcher it. lol
I like the game as it is already.

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I don't know how much I can vouch for him, but I did read something like that somewhere within the GE-SEA circles forming.

Also, "rebranding" a game is very common nowadays.

As someone who works in the gaming industry for a decade already, I've seen too many re-branding of games and online games when it's licensed to a different region.

Recently, there's "Super Dancer Online", developed by 9you.com, a Chinese developer and publishing house, was rebranded as "DANCE!" by Acclaim and is currently in closed beta.

They did not just rebranded it, but they changed everything.

Then there's With Your Destiny II which was rebranded as Supreme Destiny.

There is this.... and that.... the list goes on.

So I won't be surprised if they decided to rebrand "Granado Espada" in the US/UK regions.

Originally posted by Laibeus_Lord

You can trust the site. We post Press Releases when we received it, as long as it is not more than 6-months old.

Also, Granado Espada South-East Asia is also open for Australia and New Zealand players or rather, the scope of the GE-SEA server includes AU and NZ.

What I didn't quite understood is the OP's "ASEAN" comment. It sounds like our blog network is an ASEAN blog. No, we are not affiliated with the ASEAN, we're not politically attached to anyone.

 

I didn't mean to say you (I guess I can say that now) are affiliated to ASEAN but that the press release is from them, written by them, is it not? It was in the category of press releases and ASEAN+. And for the fiability of the "source", there was two parts of it: the blog and ASEAN. I know I can trust the blog now, thank you for your reply, but how accurate was ASEAN in this press release (see the first post about beta sign-ups)?

Message to NA/EU team(s?) of Granado Espada english launch:

Please hurry to show yourself officially because if I'm able to play the SG version before yours, it will be harder for me to stop playing theirs to play yours! Thank you.

UPDATE

The close beta will not launch January 23rd. Possible launch in February. The previous final release date set to March 2007 is now undetermined.

It seems that the date of January 23rd was accurate in December, and in the press release, but an earthquake made communications difficult in the beginning of January delaying their operations.

Sources

Anime Desho Desho? Tsubaki works for Granado Espada.sg!

GranadoEspada.cc Closed Beta starts on 23th, Singapore CB Delayed

So... We can't play NA-EU version. We can't play SG version. The only choices left are to wait, again (and again), or to play the Korean or Japanese version and miss everything of the story, quests, dialogues if we can't understand these languages.

Damn... im getting tired of waiting for this game... i really want to play it, i want to PAY for it, come on, anybody, if u own a game company, BUY GE rights, coz I WILL GIVE MY MONEY FOR U!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAA!!! damn.. im so completely addicted to a game i've never played before... i just can't understand this.. lets just hope they can release de singapore version soon, coz in japanese (or other ininteligible language for most of us ocidental gamers) its impossible to enjoy the game.. in english, it will be awesome,.. we set the proxys up and dominate it.. HAUAHUAH XD :P GE GEGEGEGE Plz i need u!

Edit: God heard.

Originally posted by boommer99
I don't know if you all missed it but:

www.swordofthenewworld.com

It will be Stateside by Summer and should be released in EU shortly there-after.  Its a gorgeous game.  On the website you can sign up for updates on when the beta will begin. 

As has been already stated, there are somethings that will be different from the Asian version and the English version.  Even the SG and NA/EU versions will be different and have different storylines and quests.

I personally cannot wait.  This game is my #1 Choice for 2007 right now.

But u alredy can create your aconunt to try jin the close beta test...u just have to anwser 30questions and they will select the 5.000 bests to play in the close beta

Originally posted by andretomitao

But u alredy can create your aconunt to try jin the close beta test...u just have to anwser 30questions and they will select the 5.000 bests to play in the close beta

That beta client will be different from the NA/EU beta.