IRTH ONLINE PRE-LAUNCH
SPECIAL OFFER ANNOUNCED
DEDHAM, MA – OCTOBER 14, 2005 – Magic Hat Software, creators of MMORPG Irth Online which launches on November 1, 2005, has announced a Pre-Launch Special Offer effective October 15 through October 31, 2005.
The Pre-Launch Special Offer allows gamers to purchase Irth Online for $19.95, a 33% discount off the at-launch price of $29.95. The pre-order subscription fee will be $9.95 per month for the first six months, representing a 30% savings over the at-launch fee of $13.95 per month. Pre-Launch Special Offer orders may be placed online only at www.irthonline.com which explains the ordering procedure and payment options.
“Gamers who pre-order save $10 on the purchase price and $4 on the monthly subscription fee,” says Alan Chipura, Lead Game Designer.
If those who pre-order Irth Online choose the option of paying in advance for three months of subscription fees, they will receive an additional, fourth month for free. This offer will not be available after Irth Online is launched.
Magic Hat Software will offer both digital distribution and physical distribution options. Gamers with a high speed Internet connection may purchase an Irth Online access key to play the game online, and gamers using a dial-up connection may purchase the game either on CD-ROM (two disc set) or on a DVD (disc versions will not be sold at retail stores and may be purchased only on the Irth Online official game site). Each of the three purchase options – online, CD-ROM, or DVD – is priced at $19.95 as part of the Pre-Launch Special Offer. After the game is launched, the same three purchase options will be available at $29.95 each.
Pre-orders must be placed online after 12:01 AM ( EDT) on Saturday, October 15, and before 11:59 PM (EST) on October 31, 2005, the day before the launch. The Pre-Launch Special Offer allows customers to access the full game at 3:00 PM ( EDT) on Sunday, October 30, 2005, two days before the official launch.
Once Irth Online is released on November 1, 2005, all pre-launch offers cease, and the title will be available only at the $29.95 price, and the monthly subscription fee will be $13.95.
About Magic Hat Software
Magic Hat Software (www.magichatsoftware.com) was established in July 2003 in Massachusetts. The team is committed to the idea of creating a virtual world without artificial limits on player behaviour or play style, and trusting players to determine their own game experiences. Irth Online is Magic Hat Software’s first commercial MMORPG.
Contact: Doug Mealy (dmealy@om-pr.com) at Online Marketing and Public Relations
MMORPG IRTH ONLINE ANNOUNCES RELEASE
DATE AND PRICING STRATEGY
DEDHAM, MA – OCTOBER 9, 2005 – Magic Hat Software, developer of fantasy MMORPG
Irth Online, has announced the game’s official launch date is set for Tuesday, November 1, 2005. Pricing and distribution strategies were also announced.
“Our November 1 st release date is firm,” says Alan Chipura, Lead Game Designer. “The many suggestions provided by our avid and loyal Beta testers were so valuable that we absolutely had to incorporate them, even though it caused a slight delay in the launch date to November 1 st.”
At launch, Irth Online will be priced at $29.95 and the monthly subscription fee will be $13.95. Discounted pricing will be available in a Pre-Launch Special Offer to be announced in a few days.
Irth Online will only be available for purchase online. “Two years ago, in the early stages of development, we made the decision to distribute exclusively online and haven’t pursued any publishing deals,” says Mr. Chipura. “It made more economic sense for us to self-publish.”
Although no retail boxes are being produced for sale in retail stores, players who also want the game on disc may purchase Irth Online on DVD or CD-ROM for an additional $9.95 plus applicable shipping fees. Orders may be placed at www.irthonline.com and will be fulfilled immediately after the game is released.
The Irth Online Story
Irth Online’s virtual world is populated by three distinct PvP civilizations -- The Arcadians in the snowy north, The Morbus in the southeastern swamps, and The Mezoteks in the tropical southwest – which have a thousand-year history of battling to capture the resources of the others to ensure survival. This persistent state of war inspired peace-loving pilgrims from all three civilizations to form their own civilization, and this fourth civilization in Irth Online is non-PvP, and survives via commerce in lieu of combat. Players join Irth’s history at a period when a fragile truce exists, and will determine the course of history of each civilization.
Gamers are encouraged to visit the official Irth Online website at www.irthonline.com to get all the latest news updates and game details.
About Magic Hat Software
Magic Hat Software (www.magichatsoftware.com) was established in July 2003 in Massachusetts. The team is committed to the idea of creating a virtual world without artificial limits on player behaviour or play style, and trusting players to determine their own game experiences. Irth Online is Magic Hat Software’s first commercial MMORPG.
Contact: Doug Mealy (dmealy@om-pr.com) at Online Marketing and Public Relations (www.om-pr.com).
IRTH ONLINE ANNOUNCES ALIENWARE SWEEPSTAKES
DEDHAM, MA – AUGUST 24, 2005 – MMORPG Irth Online, created by Magic Hat Software, has announced, in cooperation with Alienware® Corporation, the Irth Online Sweepstakes which begins today. Players must complete a series of in-game quests to become eligible to win prizes.
Each of two Grand Prize winners will receive an Alienware Aurora™ 5500 computer. The systems have AMD Athlon™ FX Processors, Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional, Alienware 460 Watt Max Power Supply, ATI Radeon™ X800 Pro 256MB DDR3, 16B Dual Channel Low-Latency DDR PC-3200 at 400MHz, 250GB Serial ATA 7,200 RPM with 8MB Cache, 16x DVD / 52x36x52x CD-RW Drive, and a 16X Dual Layer ± R/W Drive. Monitors are not included. A free copy of Irth Online will also be awarded to the two Grand Prize winners.
Two Second Place prize packages each include a free copy of Irth Online and two free lifetime subscriptions – one for the first player to complete the Sweepstakes quests on the Genesis server and one for the first player to complete the quests on the Pegasus server.
Eight people will each win the Third Prize comprising a free copy of Irth Online plus an Irth Online tee-shirt.
Sweepstakes entrants must be bona fide Beta Testers registered with Magic Hat Software. Anyone age 18 or older may become a Beta Tester, at no cost, simply by applying at www.irthonline.com. Once registered, Magic Hat Software will provide each new Beta Tester with an access code needed to enter the Sweepstakes. Current Beta Testers may enter using their existing access code. All entrants must comply with the Sweepstakes Rules posted on www.irthonline.com.
Entrants must complete three primary quests. The first quest is information gathering, the second quest involves crafting weapons to regain Princess Mirrim, and the final quest contains epic adventures and battles to bring the Princess to her final destiny. Each primary quest contains a series of progressive sub-quests – each must be completed before the next quest can be started. New, smaller quests will be added daily to ensure continued fun for both hardcore and casual gamers. The full story scenario and all the details can be found on www.irthonline.com.
Grand Prize winners and Third Prize winners will be selected in a drawing of numbered tokens which players find or earn throughout the quests over the duration of the Sweepstakes. Two Second Place prizes will be awarded to the two players who finish the Sweepstakes quests first (one per server as described above).
Sweepstakes entries for the Irth Online Sweepstakes will be accepted during the period of August 24 through September 10, 2005. The Sweepstakes ends at 11:59 p.m. E.D.T. on September 10, 2005. Sweepstakes prize winners will be announced on September 12, 2005 on the Irth Online website.
About Magic Hat Software
Magic Hat Software (www.magichatsoftware.com) was established in July 2003 in Massachusetts. The team is committed to the idea of creating a virtual world without artificial limits on player behaviour or play style, and trusting players to determine their own game experiences. Irth Online is Magic Hat Software’s first commercial MMORPG.
Contact: Doug Mealy (dmealy@om-pr.com) at Online Marketing and Public Relations (www.om-pr.com).
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PRESS RELEASE
BETA 3 STARTS AUGUST 13TH 2005
IRTH ONLINE ANNOUNCES THIRD
BETA TEST STARTS AUGUST 13TH
-- More Wish Assets Included --
DEDHAM, MA – AUGUST 12, 2005 – The third Beta test for Magic Hat Software’s MMORPG Irth Online will begin on August 13, 2005, and run through September 9, 2005. Gamers are encouraged to apply for Beta 3 on the Irth Online website.
“Our enthusiastic testers have continued to provide us with lots of new ideas and suggestions, and we are really appreciative of their efforts,” says Alan Chipura, Lead Game Designer. “The 38,000-square-kilometer world of Irth is filling up with new monsters, spells, and exciting adventures. We expect this ramp up to continue at the same ferocious pace as we go through Beta 3.”
One of the highlighted additions in Beta 3 is the incorporation of graphic assets purchased from recently-cancelled MMORPG Wish, including the introduction of an underground Dwarf City. The Irth Online development team anticipates that former Wish players will enjoy seeing some of their favorite characters, avatars, and action sequences come back to life in Irth Online. The inclusion of previously acquired Wish assets into earlier Irth Betas has been well received by gamers, especially by players who have converted their support from Wish to Irth Online.
Player housing and player looting have also been added to Beta 3. Every account can claim a house, and can furnish it by bartering for or purchasing items, or crafting them. Players who kill an enemy can now claim their victim’s uninsured possessions.
This is expected to be the final Beta for Irth Online before its planned release in September. Beta testers are welcomed to apply at www.irthonline.com, the official Irth Online site, where visitors can keep up to date on the latest developments and other game news.
About Magic Hat Software
Magic Hat Software was established in July 2003 in Massachusetts. The team is committed to the idea of creating a virtual world without artificial limits on player behaviour or play style, and trusting players to determine their own game experiences. Irth Online is Magic Hat Software’s first commercial MMORPG.
Contact: Doug Mealy (dmealy@om-pr.com) at Online Marketing and Public Relations (www.om-pr.com).
IRTH ONLINE ANNOUNCES SECOND
BETA TEST STARTS TODAY
05 – Magic Hat Software www.magichatsoftware.com
“We received over 400 suggestions from many thousands of Beta testers in the past three weeks since the start of our first Beta,” says Alan Chipura, Lead Game Designer. “Our tester community’s contributions were outstanding, and we’ve already incorporated many of them into Irth Online, as well as added lots of new content.”
During the first two weeks of the first Beta, the Irth Online team added new animations, male and female characters, and spells. Improvements were made to ground textures and action activity including the ability to actually cut down lumberjacking trees. Several new armors were incorporated such as Chains, Plates, and Scales made from Black Rock, Lava Rock, Copper, Gold, and Irthonium.
During the final week of the first Beta, the Irth team added over 30 new professions including Alchemist, Banker, Glassblower, Fur Trader, Healer, Jeweler, and Enchanter, and added more monster spawns, more spells, and new crafting skills. Also added were improved icons for such things as herbs, pike weapons, war fork, and many others. Over 20 new Trainer Weaponry items include Shields (Heater, Bronze, Great Flare Kite, Iron Round, and more) as well as Axes and Broad Axes.
“We have made literally hundreds of content additions, enhancements, and modifications, so the items we’ve mentioned so far are only a small indication of our efforts,” says Chipura.
Beta testers are welcomed to apply at www.irthonline.com, the official Irth Online site, where visitors can keep up to date on the latest developments and other game news.
About Magic Hat Software
Magic Hat Software was established in July 2003 in Massachusetts. The team is committed to the idea of creating a virtual world without artificial limits on player behaviour or play style, and trusting players to determine their own game experiences. Irth Online is Magic Hat Software’s first commercial MMORPG.
Contact: Doug Mealy (dmealy@om-pr.com) at Online Marketing and Public Relations (www.om-pr.com).
