Aika fans, you have waited most patiently, ever hopeful and resilient, and now the moment has arrived. 

Gala-Net is very proud to announce that the 1^st Closed Beta Test for Aika Online will run from February 3^rd to February 9^th, 2010.  With 5 nations, all 6 classes, and a level 30 cap, we’re confident that the lucky players selected to participate in CB1 will have plenty to explore and enjoy.  Check your email inboxes over the next few days to see if you’ve been chosen—if you have, you’ll receive instructions on redeeming your beta key so you can get the very first look at the Western premiere of Aika.

We’ll keep bringing you the inside scoop on special game features on a daily basis as we approach and run CB1, so come back often to the Aika website.  Follow us on Twitter and Facebook, as well, to stay in the loop about the latest developments, including beta key giveaways!

Thanks very much for sticking with us, and for further information read on to the official press release below.

Aika Online to Enter Closed Beta Testing February 3^rd by Gala-Net, Inc.

Sunnyvale, CA—January 26^th, 2010 Gala-Net, Inc., a leading free-to-play online game publisher, has announced today its first Closed Beta Test (CBT) for Aika Online in the North American market.  The first CBT will run from February 3^rd through February 9^th and will allow players to play all 5 nations, all 6 classes, and levels 1 through 30.

Aika Online is an epic fantasy MMORPG developed by JoyImpact, creators of Neo Steam: The Shattered Continent.  Five nations vie against one another for control of Arcan, waging war on a scale never before seen in an MMORPG.  Nations hurl themselves against one another in massive castle sieges, relic thefts, and customized battlegrounds.  Each nation is ruled by a player, the Lord Marshal, whose supreme power is supported by a regime of guilds. 

Preeminence is an uncertain throne, however, as nations may ally together to usurp the ruling kingdom and guilds may conspire to overthrow the ruling council.  Players take a pivotal role in this drama as they choose one of six classes, each of which undergoes multiple evolutions, and are assisted by their Pran—an intelligent, sassy fairy familiar which supports them in all their endeavors.  Aika’s gameplay innovations have not gone unnoticed.  The Korea Game Industry Agency (KoGIA) awarded Aika the prestigious 2009 Best of Show: Prime Minister’s Award, Player’s Choice: Best Online Game, and Best Game Design & Scenario.

“Aika Online represents many tremendous advancements for PvP-centric MMORPGs.  The game engine has been custom designed to support 2,000 simultaneous players in a single, real-time battlefield—a remarkable technical achievement.  Players choose to become a citizen of one of five nations, where they can siege each others’ capitol fortresses, raid rival nations’ enchanted relics, and compete in a variety of warfare scenarios.  Not only must players manage these tactical objectives, but they must also remain vigilant of greater strategic goals. 

Players determine multinational alliances, the workings of their nations’ economies, and the governance of their citizens.  Beneath these innovative elements, Aika contains the core features of a premier MMORPG: dungeon instances with multiple difficulty settings, raids, a comprehensive crafting system, and an immersive storyline with over 1,000 quests.  We look forward to debuting Aika’s deep and unique world to Western players!” – Patrick Paik, Marketing Manager, Gala-Net, Inc.

Users can sign up for the Closed Beta at http://aika.gpotato.com.