Ragnarok Online Closed Beta is Now Open

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Ragnarok Online (RO), the most popular MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) in the Philippines which revolutionized the landscape of online gaming will once again open the gates of Rune Midgard.

Publishing partner companies Electronics Extreme Ltd., and ELITE, began its CLOSED BETA TEST on June 20, 2017, 3:00 pm. Henceforth, beta testers got firsthand experience and involvement on this phase by helping the ROPH team in providing the best MMORPG experience.

During the Ragnarok Online’s Q & A Session, last May 12, 2017, Kamphee “Ken” Phiromwad, Managing Director of Electronics Extreme, and ELITE CEO Johnny Paek revealed some of the most awaited game details:

·         It will be protected by EasyDefender (Solid proof from Thailand), this improves the game experience with its anti-bot and cheat protection systems;

·         FREE TO WIN: All Key-items could be dropped in game. All you need is teamwork and assiduity. It will provide everything that gamers need to advance and thrive in-game;

·         An special Revo-Classic version of the game starting with the 2-1 class, with class 2-2 and high class expected within 6 months and 1-2 years, respectively;

·         The return of the demised Morroc Town;

·         Monsters will be back to their original spawn point and will ignore the level differences between players and monsters;

·         Guild Wars will be released within the first 3 weeks with Godly Items not be immediately available but will soon be released;

·         Customized events for the Philippines;

·         Revival of team competition through the Ragnarok World Championship; and

·         There will be 2 available servers in CBT, namely, Thor and Loki.

ELITE, ensures that there is a continuous improvement of game experience through gathering of data during and after CBT. There is also a 24/7 customer support that will be available to handle all concerns that the players may encounter.

*CBT Client ready for download on their official website.

Fil-Am Whiz from Silicon Valley to Keynote 5th Geeks On A Beach

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Helping raise roughly $40 million for a Silicon Valley company before it produced its first intelligent wearable headset is just one of several feats for this Filipino-American for a serial entrepreneur and "World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer" awardee.

Yobie Benjamin can talk about several amazing things during the 5th Geeks on a Beach (GOAB 5) in Puerto Princesa, Palawan on August 24-25, said Tina Amper of TechTalks.ph and organizer of this annual tech startup event in the Philippines.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is GOAB co-organizer.

TechTalks.ph members Happy Garaje is responsible for branding; PRworks for media and public relations; and Sym.ph for web development of Geeks on a Beach.

“We hope the presence of Benjamin will inspire local startups and M SMEs. But more important, we are looking forward to having this global technology leader to interact with industry leaders and the startup community to drive action for the betterment of the Philippines and the world. GOAB continues to aim for measurable impact by facilitating potential projects and business deals not only for individual companies but also for the Philippine startup ecosystem,” Amper said.

For starters, Amper pointed out that this former political prisoner during the Marcos dictatorship days raised $40 million for Avegant, the company that makes and sells the Avegant virtual reality video headset and Skully, an intelligent motorcycle helmet that helps you see what is happening at the back, receive and make calls, and communicate with nearby vehicles.

Benjamin recently raised $18.5 million for Token that provides software to banks that enables them to issue a new payment type designed specifically for use in the digital era.

According to Amper, Geeks on a Beach gathers hundreds of technology entrepreneurs and professionals along with concerned government agencies to also look at ways of leveraging technology to help address Philippine social and environmental problems.

Amper said, this former political prisoner’s social concerns can be seen in his involvement in yet another company that is developing the ability to perform 50 diagnostic tests using only a drop of blood. This service, he said in a talk at Stanford University in Silicon Valley, will soon be given for free to whole populations in return for big data.

In Kenya, Benjamin is involved in Wildlife Works that sells carbon credits for protecting the rainforest and wildlife from poachers. The poachers, he said, included Al Shabbab terrorists. In Brazil, Benjamin’s company applied the same business model to mobilize the coastal population to protect mangrove forests.

Geeks on a Beach has partnered with the City of Puerto Princesa in Palawan. Known for its environmental advocacy, the city is the location of the world-famous underground river. The Tubbataha Reef, one of the world’s biggest ecosystem, is located some 92 nautical miles southeast of Puerto Princesa.

PLDT Innolab is supporting GOAB 5 as co-presenter while A Space is co-producer. The sponsors include Payoneer, Z alora, PouchNATION, Istorya.net, Synergy 88 Digital, Uniform Solutions, and NXTLVL Academy.

The media partners are e27, Tech in Asia, Auza.net, Innopub Media, Geeks in Cambodia, Asian Journal Publications, Balikbayan Magazine, Mobile Ecosystem Forum, ConnectedWomen.co and QueenCityCebu.com, The organizational partners are the Philippine Software Industry Association, the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines, UP CebuINIT, Digital Commerce Association of the Philippines, Developers Connect,Science and Technology Advisory Council - Silicon Valley, Mynimo, Teradoor, Israel Chamber of Commerce Philippines, and the Cloud Security Alliance Philippines.

GOAB is organized by Techtalks.ph, powered by Sym.ph, branding by Happy Garaje, and pr by PRWorks.

NCCA, DOT Launch KulTOURa Mobile Travel Guide

Wazzup Pilipinas!

There is a new mobile app that can help tourists enjoy their stay in the country by giving them a better appreciation of Philippine culture and history. As a bonus, it’s great for students too.

This is the Kultoura Philippine travel guide app which the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) launched today in collaboration with PLDT wireless subsidiary Smart Communications and InnoPub Media.

Representatives from Smart, NCCA, DOT and InnoPub sign the memorandum of agreement for the KulTOURa app at Rizal Park Visitors Center.

The Kultoura app features information on heritage sites, historic schools and churches, nature parks, popular attractions, famous landmarks and other must-see places in various parts of the country. The app also contains colorful details of the history of selected cities and provinces, including their famous personalities, delicacies and other interesting trivia.

Available as a free download for Android and iOS devices, the app is continuously being updated to provide more relevant content and encourage travelers to explore the country. It will soon offer other services such as a chat bot, which can give automated travel advice; allow users to take virtual tours; and enable purchases via a digital marketplace.

Though initially designed as an aid for tourists, the mobile app is also a handy resource for students. The comprehensive information found on the app can help them gain a better understanding of the rich culture and history of the country.