News/2008

2008

July

• July 18th - Graal Ghetto News!

Come to Graal Ghetto! We have a lot for you to play:

• Guns/Swords
• Gangs/Buisness
• Hotels
• Cars
• TrashPicking/Fishing
• Events & Tons Of Event Items

And more come and see for yourself! Houses will soon be released!

Hiring: LAT,NAT,GAT,Gani

• July 18th - GraalOnline Forums: Update

The Official Graal Online Communication Center is now free to those who have bought a Gold Subscription in the past, or currently have an active subscription.

Also, updates have been made to the forums. Now users can create social groups, tag threads, and much more.

• July 9th - Graal iPhone/iPod: Will be released on Apple AppStore!

The happy owners of an iPhone/iPod Touch will soon be able to play Graal on it. This Friday Apple will launch the version 2.0 of the iPhone/iPod software including AppStore (a shop to install new software).

If everything goes well, Graal Zone for iPhone/iPod will be one of the first multi-player arcade games to be available on the AppStore. Graal Zone for iPhone/iPod is a special version of Graal Zone for PC with some training levels and custom maps. Graal Zone on iPhone/iPod will be free.

We are releasing also Graal Zone+, a premium version of the game with more weapons, vehicles and maps.

To celebrate the launch of the iPhone/iPod version we will organize events, stay tuned!

• July 6th - Project Mythic: Combat released, once and for all!

Combat system is released, once and for all!

If you logon, create a character, then login with it - you'll see a NPC giving you instructions on how to enter combat.

Currently you will face as many baddies as there are players in your party (party system not released yet) and they will be the same level as your party leader. They will have randomized looks, and randomized stats between 3 and 21. If you beat them everyone in your party will level up, if not, try again!

Exp system will probably not be released until we get this town ready and open it up, so if you're willing to help with levels or graphics - get in touch! :)

June

• June 29th - New trading cards!

New effects and a brand new pets system are waiting for you to be discovered. Collect the new trading cards, find a full set and unlock several new effects that make you look better or get one of the pets which work on any Graal server. Following the successful launch of the first trading cards in December 2007 we are again giving prizes to the first players who collect a full card set. Between the first 3 players who collect a full set we will randomly choose one player to win a Wii game console. This time it will be more challenging, with several rare pets and a total of 18 sets to collect.

You get the new trading cards by buying "Random Cards" in the in-game shop window. Beside trading cards you can also win tombola cards which let you participate in a tombola at the end of the summer (September) to win another Wii game console! The prizes are sponsored by Ticketsurf, a new payment method available for Graal players in Canada, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Brazil and more.

Existing cards (marked with 'available only this winter') will be converted to the new card system and can be used for another 2 weeks.

• June 28th - Silence is hiring!

Silence is now opened to public with several releases to come soon. But Silence needs you, the graal community to be accomplished and become a great server. Within the RPG, Fantasy theme has to be added.

We'r hiring:

• -Scripters.
• -SFX (Sounds): If you are able to make your own sounds, tell us about it !
• -GATs: In fact, the tileset is almost done, but needs some more help to be

colorful and represent a world full of life, but with sadness at the same time.

Log in to Silence now, and become part of the next generation of RPG/Fantasy themed Graal playerworld !

Silence's official box: [email protected]

Silence awaits you.

• June 28-29th - Zone Events

Last weekend Jasper and Jurre won the Snowrace tournament and received red and blue rifles. New events:

Saturday, June 28th 19:00 Servertime (1:00 PM EST) - Hosted by Ravenblade1979 Redpistole Event! "Event type to be decided"

Also that day, 22:00 Servertime (4:00 PM EST) - Hosted by Tenchry_P2P Redpistole Event! "Event type to be decided"

Sunday, June 29th, "Time to be Decided" - Hosted by jkool666 (unless decided otherwise) Golden Weapon Event! Deathmatch, Useable Weapons: Appirces, ApRipper, Magnum, Muramasa

• June 27th - New Forest Island Released

Forest has been busy planting trees and moving entire towns. Baleron and Avanik was moved, a good time to explore somtething new. The rest of the cities were redesigned a bit to be more accessible. Quite a few changes to the kingdom island as well, some of these changes will allow you to swim to the smaller island. New walled city with gates for a new touch as well, with places for player houses in the city. Now forest members can be a true city dweller. We haven't forgotten about those that just like to be out in the trrees either. Several locations along various roads should look very nice for a few houses here and there.

• June 23rd - 'New clothing system on GK - GFX Contest

Today we updated the clothing system on Graal Kingdoms. Now you are able to carry your favourite outfits with you. So you can save the time running the the clothing shop. But you have to craft these outfits now, there isn't just plat you need. Don't worry, there are just basic items like cloth, skin, coal and so on needed in order to craft your favourite items. We are also able to give out clothing in a limited number now. This means there are more exotic clothings you can win in events, find randomly on the map, trade with them or just show what you've got.

Along with this update we started a graphics contest you can take part in. The graphics of the winners are going to be used for the first collection of limited clothing. All other graphics will be public to everyone every time. Url: http://forums.graalonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80206

• June 22nd - New town on Zormite released

Out of a travelers dairy: "I felt how the earth below my feet was slowly starting to move. Something was different on my travel through the land of Zormite today. Then suddenly there ground opened just a half mile in font of me and a big dust cloud came up. I started to run there and as I almost reached the coast on the west the dust was fading away. I couldn't belive my eyes but there it was.. a big sign with a name on it 'Vateril'. Everything was looking nice around there. The town had a mill, a well, a bakery and other shops but there was something strange. It was the house of Zohaun's brother the blacksmith. It looked different somehow in a good way. I was wondering if this blacksmith was able to craft some special weapons in the near future."

• June 21st - New Governor of the Crescent Pirates

A new Governor of the Crescent Pirates was announced by Governor Felix Lionheart upon his retirement. The new Governor of the Crescent Pirates would be none other than Paul Cypher, a fearless pirate and a great leader. Congratulations Paul!

• June 15th - GK Summer 2008

School's out, it's summer time, and Graal Kingdoms is waiting for your arrival. Trade items with other players, enjoy many events, level yourself above the rest, and manifest your own destiny on this medieval themed server. Raise your very own pets, learn spells, and help prevent the evil of the Bomy moon from enveloping our world!

We hope to see you there!

• June 13th - New Subscription System

We are introducing a new more flexible subscription system - you get a starter pack with your subscription, and you can pause your subscription:

Euro conversion

Right now we are losing an incredible amount of money each month just for currency conversion. That's why we have decided to switch the billing system completely to Euro. We know that odd Dollar numbers on the bill (like .37) might be confusing, but we hope that you understand this step. At the same time we lower the Euro prices so that the actual difference between old and new amount will not be too huge. So depending on where you come from and what you want to buy, some prices might be slightly higher or lower. On the subscription page you can easily convert the amount to your local currency.

New subscription system

We have changed the subscription system to be based on Gelats. That means you buy an amount of Gelats on the website, and then subscribe directly in the game using the Shop window. The subscription system has been simplified: we again only offer one Gold subscription which works for any current server (Zone, Kingdoms, Classic, under construction and hosted playerworlds). The price is in the middle of old single server subscription and gold bundle: you subscribe and then pay 300 Gelats each month.

Free starter pack

When you buy a subscription or gelat pack on the website then you get an additional starter pack for free. The starter pack includes items for Zone, Kingdoms, Unholy Nation, Zodiac and Era and makes the life for new players easier.

Flexible subscriptions

The subscription system is now much more flexible. First you don't need to subscribe for 12 months upfront: you can subscribe one month, then pause and continue later with your remaining Gelats. You will get an e-mail notification when your subscription is near the end and there are not enough Gelats on your account.

• June 9th - Project Mythic: Combat System Released!

You are now able to duel players one-on-one on Project Mythic. Want to try it out yourself?

1) Create a new character and login with it.

2) Find a suiting victim, then say /duel <charactername> (ie. /duel Ziro)

3) Wait for the player to accept your duel request. Note: if it's not accepted within 60 seconds your request will time out.

We're also still hiring interested level makers and pixel artists, poke me xXziroXx (Ziro) in-game!

• June 7th - Zone Plasma Chaingun

Hightech in your hands: the new Plasma Chaingun shoots a stream of powerful plasma bullets, works with any class and requires less reloads than the metal chaingun. Now available in the Zone Shop.

• June 1st - Zone Red Pistols Events

This Sunday, Zone will have an event hosted on Deathmatch for Redpistoles. Zone will also have an event hosted for Redpistoles, and the exact event type and location have not been decided. The general time will be 18:00 server time through 21:00 server time. Don't forget the progress on Zone Debug, the Bunker map could be out soon!

Nataxo with redpistoles.

May

• May 31st - Zone Doubleshot Event

Saturday, This coming Saturday, Zone will have an event hosted on Deathmatch by Tench Doubleshot King (Tenchry_P2P). The prize for this event will be doubleshots! The time will be announced later this week.

• May 28th - Zone Tournament

On Wednesday, May 28th, at 01:00 server time, there will be a hide and seek event on Deathmatch. The prize will be 250 Pipebombs. After that a Snowrace tournament will be held. The rules for the Snowrace will be announced shortly. The prize for the tournament will be 500 gas grenades to first place and 250 pipebombs to second place.

• May 25th - Zone Player of the Week

The Zone player of the week for last week was Lashivas with an astounding 1711 kills! Congratulations Lashivas!

• May 25th - The Adventure of Questing is back on Classic

After having gone through many small changes to rebuild both the Original Graal and Adventure feel, Classic has finally seen the release of 2 new Quests, in the form of Sardons Tower and the Gnome Caves. Both are implemented as part of a main storyline and should provide a decent hour of gameplay at minimum, more details are contained inside of the npcserver message.

• May 6th - Project Mythic: Call for help

Project Mythic is in grave need of help from Level Makers and Graphic Artists. The potential is there, but the man power is not. We want to create a quite big town (10x10 levels), but we simply lack the people for it.

We seek those of you who are experienced, or at least know your way around, with creating levels. We do have a custom tileset, so "practice makes perfect" comes to my mind. We're in huge need of anyone that can be of assistance in this department!

If that wasnt all, we are keeping our eyes open for anyone with a talent for graphics that'd be interested in helping. Your task would mainly be to assist with tile requests, or you who wish to design clothing/equipments etc.

Come check us out, there's no harm in that! If you do want to apply, contact me (xXziroXx) by:

• email to [email protected]
• forum PM on forums.graalonline.com
• send me a PM in-game

Cheers!

• May 3rd - Zone Events

This weekend several prize events will be held on Zone.

On Friday night a red pistol event will be held (time will depend on number of players online). On Saturday afternoon, an event will be held for red pistols at 19:30 server time (1:30pm est).

Above is the sneak peak of the bunker map that is in progress on Zone Debug. The player is holding redpistoles. To conclude this fabulous weekend, another pair of red pistols will be hosted off on Sunday. Cash (Cash_P2p) was the player of the week last week with a total of 695 kills for the week.

April

• April 28th - Epic Mage!

It was time for a big event!

The Graalians had to spar 1vs1 with some handicaps to make it stronger so they really had to show there skills to be a mage. After the spar the mages had to go to a dungeon and kill evil monsters only with there spells!

Googi won the Gloves of Arcania

• April 28th - Atrius is hiring!

After a large amount of development, Atrius finally requires the need of a few more staff to get the server fully bug-free! We're getting close to the end of our work, and we need help!

Right now Atrius is hiring:

• NAT's
• GAT's
• SFX

If you would like to apply, just log onto Atrius and contact an administrator.

Atrius looks forward to being finished, and with YOUR help, we can achieve it.

• April 27th - Zone New Iricia

Iricia has changed significantly - turrets, more bunkers, and a bigger base one. If players like it then the new map will stay online.

There is also a new weekly kills stats - become the player of the week! For sending messages to guild members use the new /guild message command.

• April 26th - AEON - Hiring!!

AEON - 4 Worlds on just one server. Yes! On AEON we do it big

AEON has under the past months been making a lot of progress,

Elan (The Classic World) will soon be finished. Opan (Modern World) and NSC (Futuristic world) are keeping up with Elan. Right now we're looking for talented, dedicated staff.

We are hiring:

• Classic and Modern LATs
• GATs
• Gani Makers

To get the applications, just simply go to our forum: AEON's Forum.

Good Luck!

Join AEON today!

<< on AEON we do it big. >>

• April 20th - Varia is Hiring!

Welcome to Varia!

A land of Change and Adventure. Develop the land you're bound to explore. Plant seeds and return to find a plant with some goodies attached. Fight endless amounts of demons and creatures to save the people of Varia and be rewarded handsomely. Buy some land and start a farm. Grow fields of Strawberries forever, maybe raise some pigs or chickens. Come join the fun and grow with us.

This is a very short description of the Varia Vision. I need you, the Graal Community to help me accomplish this vision of mine.

Varia is Hiring :

• LATs - Send two levels (one inside/one outside:warp connected)
• GATs - Send 3 images of your choice that you made
• NATs - Send 2 scripts, demonstrating triggeraction with some params
• Developers - Send in each of the following.

Send your applications to [email protected]. You may contact through my Graal account (Angel_Light) or my AIM (AgainstTheQuo) or my MSN ([email protected])

Thank-you! Sincerely, Jex Varia (Angel_Light)

• April 18th - Ardeo is Hiring!

Ardeo, a world full of surprises and secrets needs several Level artists, Animation Artists and Graphics Artists. We at Ardeo attempt to make a world that keeps evolving by the hands of the players, and we need your help to make that happen! Apply for a position and help work on one of these features:

• • A very intense combat system.
  • Hundreds of weapons
  • A large, living world

And much, MUCH more...

For applying, contact Codein (AIM=Corsein, MSN= [email protected]) or Pimmeh (AIM= Pimmeh, MSN= [email protected]) See you in Ardeo!

• April 6th - Zone Wars - Relaunched

We have relaunched the, once very populair Zone Wars planet! Some nice effects and more balance has been added. When your team loses you also get into a winning room now (which is new).

Last week we also released a new weapon in the gelat shop, which is the Assaultpistol. This is a weapon with fast bullets and can be bought for 75 gelats. Next week we plan to release the plasmachaingun, so be there!

March

• March 29th - Zone Bots Events

The Events Team can now spawn bots on any planet, which makes it possible to host fun new events. The bots are fast and can avoid bullets, team play is recommended to beat them!

• March 23rd - Easter Event - Easterhouse

On easter Graalians had to fight evil egg monsters to get new items and a lot of experience! Thanks to Tig and Stephen who developed the easterhouse for us!

• March 23rd - Project Mythic: Extended Hirings

After the nice input on the server received by players after opening up the little we have on Project Mythic for the LAT hirings, we've decided to open up a few more spots in the staff team.

We are currently accepting applications for the following:

• Pixel Artists - Your primary objectives would be to help out with tiles, or character equipments, whichever you prefer.
• Concept Designer - Have great fantasy? Love to draw, using whatever it may be? We are looking for help with designing a quite large castle town, that can't look too repetitive. Possibly accepting applicants for just equipment designing.
• Level Maker - Still available spots here.

Contacts:

• Ziro (xXziroXx) - AIM: irxzirox, email/MSN: [email protected]
• Angel (Omaster2) - AIM: mShort345, email/MSN: [email protected]

Oh and, if you can't work in a team, never heard of the GraalEditor, or haven't the slightest clue about what a pixel is - don't bother applying please. Expect the until now delayed PvP duel system to be released within the nearest days as well!

• March 23rd - Easter Updates

Happy Easter everybody! We have added a Bunny on Zone which you can kill to gain eggs, but which can also kill you! Enjoy the special gifts in the eggs, the new outfits and many more updates to come soon.

• March 15th - Zone Lava Blaster Event

New Events: Lava Blaster Event: Try to push the other players into the lava with your blaster! It's a last-man-standing event.

Foot Race Dash: On the snow race map you can now do a dash (like Sonic): Hold S or D, then run and try to avoid hitting walls.

• March 8th - Project Mythic in need of Level Maker(s)!

Work on Project Mythic, formerly known as Mythic Legends (not the same as the current server with the name though), is moving forward in a fast pace. The server will have some rather 'unique' features, such as:

• Turn Based Combat
• Simple, yet effective, NPCs - such as town folks walking around "living their own lives".
• Dynamic weather, that actually has an effect on the world.

It would be foolish to list too many things, might result in empty promises. Anyways.. we're trying to create a town connected to a castle, with our own custom tiles. What we're looking for, is one or two Level Makers wanting to design the town (tiles needed can be requested by our tile maker), and later on detail it.

If you are remotely interested, feel free to contact one of the following:

• Ziro (xXziroXx) - email: [email protected]
• Angel (Omaster2) - AIM: mShort345
• Pimmeh (Pimmeh) - AIM: Pimmeh

Related Threads:

Main Thread

Videos

• March 8th - Zone Video Contests Winners Anouncement

Last week the Zone players took part in a video contest, and the best submissions where added to the forums and people could vote for which video they like most. The winners are Lord Conorr, Az and Jesper which got the new Twin Blade weapon as prize.

Watch the videos at http://forums.graalonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78923

• March 7th - AEON has opened a world to players

AEON has released its classic-themed overworld, Elan: The Faded Nation.

The release of the overworld is accompanied by the release of several systems:

• A Town Takeover System. Guilds are able to capture Elan's Towns, and receive perks for controlling them.
• A hunting system. Players can hunt animals and sell their hides for some cash. Higher level hunters can choose more powerful weapons.
• A mining system. Higher level Miners have an easier time mining. Miners can also purchase better axes. Draisines make it easier for Miners to travel through the mines.
• An automated Event Bot. Elan offers a variety of events. If an Event Staff is not on, the Event Bot temporarily takes the place of staff.
• Guild PK Rankings. Guilds can prove they are the best by reaching the top of the Guild PK Rankings.
• A wide selection of Weapons and Prizes. Shops are scattered throughout the playerworld.

In the works:

• Guild and Individual Spar rankings

• March 2nd - Atrius is back!

You can look foward to:

• Gangs
• Businesses
• New Quests with Prizes
• In-Game Instant Messaging
• GPS Style Map
• and much more...

We hope you enjoy the new features and come and play! Enjoy!

-TheJames (Manager of Atrius)

• March 1st - Utopia is back!

Utopia is currently back from it's "In-Developmental Staff-Only" state. Along with the opening, we've introduced the:

• New Inside OSL
• Biz System (Still being developed)
• Ammo System (All guns)

• Also, we are hiring:
• 1-2 NAT's
• 1-2 GAT's
• Please hop on and talk to Ork for a job.

• All for now!

• Best Regards,
• Ork
• Utopia General Manager

February

• February 26th - Effects Team Hiring

N-Pulse is now hiring for the Effects Team and the Radio DJ Team! The effects team is made up of people that can make Sound Effects, Ganis, and Particle Scripts. If you are skilled in any of these areas, please come to N-Pulse and PM Stromstedt for further information.

• February 10th - Day of the Sun

On February 10th Graal Kingdoms hosted the legendary Day Of The Sun! Many Events and Fun at Graal Kingdoms was a rule! At the end of the Day of the Sun all Graalians had to collect some items for the sun so the sun melt the snow! Thanks to all Event Master for 5 Hours permament hosting!

Here are the results of the winners:

• DesirableDreams=3 Event Coins
• Ziro_of_the_Turks= 4 Event Coins
• Alex51= 4 Event Coins
• protozero= 11 Event Coins/Shield of the Sun
• roboman43= 1 Event Coin
• Tigairius= Shield of the Sun
• superjason5= 3 Event Coins
• Fishigidande= 3 Event Coins

• February 7th - Bionic getting ready for Hosted

Hello everybody! A lot of people know about Bionic, but for those people that have never heard of us: Bionic is a growing server. We've been doing alot of work to bring forward a brand new server that Graal has never seen before. We have new ways to get Exp. On our server we have a new Exp System, new events, new jobs and how to earn money in different ways than you've ever seen before. Also we have a brand new magic system and are working on a fighting system but we need some help.

We are looking for 1 or 2 NATS, 1 LAT and also 1 Gfx and 1 Gani maker. We have applications made for each department. There is currently no chief for those departments so who knows if u might take those spots in the future, but talk to Rave Platinum (Manager) on the server (MSN [email protected], AIM Rave6298).

We hope to see you all soon! We're getting ready to hit Hosted Tab thank you...

• February 2nd - Zone Jump'n'Run Race

A new event has been added on Zone: the Jump'n'Run Race! Everyone starts at the bottom of the map and must jump onto platforms to get to the top. Only the Blaster and the Gravity Hammer are working here. On the way to the top you can find several moving platforms, baddies and destroyable blocks. A lot of players participated in the events.

We have also updated the Platform map to balance it more. The Events Team can now hold events for guilds and only allow certain weapons for doing melee-only events and similar.

January

• January 28th - Classic Dev Update

CLASSIC has started its redevelopment in earnest at last. The Minigame System with Graalian Invaders is back. More games will be following soon. It can be found in a shop in Nimda with high scores being found in Coms Tower.

You also have your choice of tilesets. We've had commands for /system tiles old and /system tiles new. Thor has added /system tiles original. It gives Classic back its more Zelda like look.

DC has also released the fishing pole. It can be found in its usual location in Avalon. Level 2 lure is released at this point.

Jet skis are also back on Avalon as well as in The Joint's spar for those wet spars.

• January 26th - Zone Platform World

Today we have released something entirely different from what you know about Zone! This Platform world creates a whole new, nice environment for Events. Together with this world we have released a new weapon, the Gravity Hammer. The weapon has 2 different types of usage (melee/shoot) and is available in the Gelat Shop. Special thanks goes to Sayian (SayianOozaru) for creating the graphics of the weapon and Hato (PaperMario) for creating the ganis.

• January 26th - Symphonia is Hiring!

Symphonia is hiring all kinds of Development positions:

• 1/2 Scripters
• 1 Graphic Designer
• 2 Level Designers

If your type of development isn't there please apply within the server. Or go and view this thread: http://forums.graalonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78475

• January 19th - Zone Weapons Spar

The Zone events team can now host spar events where only certain weapons are enabled, e.g. melee spars. Expect some fun events this weekend!

• January 17th - Zenkou

Zenkou - Closing down on Release

Hey, we all know that Zenkou has been around for ages... "When are they finally going to release?" Well, we have a lot of content as it is but we are in need of more. Zenkou is in need of some new development staff who are willing to help us in our final push for classic. The positions that we are looking for are:

• 2 Graphics Makers
• 2 Level Makers
• 1 Scripter

Log on and contact the staff if you wish to join our dish.

• January 17th - 10 Years of Graal

Exactly 10 years ago Graal has been started. Thanks to players and developers for staying with us for that long time and enjoying the game. Expect many more exciting things in the future!

• January 14th - Kingdoms Ghoul Town

A new town has been released on Crescent Island, Ghoul Town can be found on the small island at the top of Crescent Island. In the Tavern there is a spar upstairs with all the tables and chairs and other interiors of a bar. So you can have a bar brawl or just relax with friends. You can craft weapons and tools in the blacksmiths and cannonballs in the cannonball shop or just visit one of the many houses around the island. There is also some barracks with a large spar and a resting room for pirates.

• January 12th - Kingdoms Big Event

Many players participated in this event - equipped with water cans, pickaxes, scythes and more they followed the hints given by the events masters and searched for hidden objects and characters. After more than two hours the winners of this scavenger event received new items like the belzebub shield.

• January 12th - Trading Card Winners

The lucky winners of lifetime Gold access for collecting all trading card sets are ... XiLe (trevor987) and Bolivian! Congratulations!

To everyone else: we will give more nice stuff in a few weeks, everyone who has a full card set will have a chance to win rare items or Graal 3D preview access.

• January 12th - Zone New Spar

The new spar dropship has been released on Zone! It brings back the two spar rooms where you can watch people, adds a new snow spar room and you can also fight against the spar bot again. Have fun and gain a high spar rating by beating players in the spar rooms!

• January 9th - Sunny Ville Needs Help!

Sunny Ville is a new server idea, brought by an Esteria scripter. We are currently hiring:

• 1 SCRIPTER
• 2 GRAPHICS ARTISTS (you will need to know how to work with other Graphics Artists and how to make a tileset)
• 2 LEVEL DEVELOPERS

For more info on the server, please see: http://forums.graalonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77890

• January 5th - Kingdoms Snowman Building Contest

Once again a snowman building contest was hold on Graal Kingdoms, the 10 players who built most snowmen got some special items including event coins. Come see those snowmen or build your own snowman to get a gift box before the snow is melting !