Game Power 7 has announced that they have launched the closed beta test for the Arabic version of Rappelz.

Yes! The time has come for the first MMO online game in Arabic to be published in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region.

Game Power 7 (http://www.gamepower7.com) , the first online game publisher in the region, has successfully launched the Arabic version of Rappelz (http://rappelz.gamepower7.com) Closed Beta Test (CBT) on November 25th.

Rappelz, a famous MMORPG that is published in more than 10 regions and countries), is the first MMO game to be localized and culturalized to Arabic language and culture, and the first that is serviced and operated within the region.

The launch was highly welcomed by Arab gamers who had been looking for an Arabic MMO game for a long time.

The commercial release of the game is expected to start by the end of January 2009.

Read more here.

Good for them..

Although, having played Rappelz for a while, it wasn't my cup of tea for several reasons. I can't think of a better way to introduce MMO's to a region other than providing them a sub-par game. It might work out, who knows.

Well this is a good start I guess (being from that region and all, though not live there now). To my knowledge though, there are many Arabic speaking people that play MMOs these days, and it's not something new to them. Plus having it in Arabic language might make it sound a little dumb. A lot of us are educated, and speak multiple languages. English is a second language in many of the Arabic countries.

I wish they had localized a better game than Rapplz though

wow. i didn't know that MMOs could also turn arabic. this is really quite a big move for the MMO industry, catering not only to the developer's country and to the US, but also to the middle east.

sure............ i would say english mmos are better, even i dont like mmo to be in the language where i was born from, but its actualy pretty nice idea i dont hate it. but wht i wish for is tht they start spreading korean and japan mmos i would definatly jump all night for tht, kinda disapointing tht all good games are hard to find in english -.-