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In an announcement sure to thrill Mac RPG fans pining for a massively-multiplayer online role-playing game, NCSoft have both announced and demonstrated that their online-only RPG Lineage: The Blood Pledge is coming to Mac OS X. This is amazing news for several reasons—although you most likely have never heard of it, Lineage: The Blood Pledge is the most popular MMORPG in the world, with over four million subscribers (currently all in Asia). This is also the first time Mac users have been invited to join a PC MMORPG after its launch, something many pundits said was nigh impossible. The game is already up and running under Mac OS X, and is due to launch in February—yes, of this year!

Here is the press release:

NCsoft(tm) Corporation, the world's largest independent online game company, today announced Lineage(tm) for the Mac. With its superior power, performance and graphics capabilities, the Mac is a tremendous platform for online gaming. The timing is perfect as NCsoft recently launched the North American version of this massively popular subscription-based online game and is building on more than four million subscribers and 330,000 concurrent users worldwide. The Mac version, which launches in February, will be on display in the Mac OS X Game Arcade at the Macworld Conference and Expo taking place this week at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA.

"We are obviously thrilled to be able to bring Lineage to a new audience," stated Richard Garriott, legendary game developer and executive producer at NCsoft's Austin, Texas office. "Companies that do not release Mac versions of their games these days are making a giant mistake. The Mac and its super-modern operating system, Mac OS X, provide the ultimate gaming experience and there's a huge untapped market of gamers using this platform."

Mac users and PC users will be able to play alongside each other in Lineage. The game raises the concepts of community, player interaction, and combat to new levels with the introduction of Blood Pledges-strong alliances with friends and allies in the game world. Once a Pledge is formed, the players can develop a strategy for overtaking a castle.

"The Mac offers the most powerful hardware, exceptionally stunning 2D and 3D graphics and the best game titles for both casual and hardcore gamers," said Ron Okamoto, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations. "We are delighted that NCsoft is opening the doors of Lineage to the entire Mac community. The combination of Mac OS X and Lineage will connect avid Mac gamers around the globe and revolutionize online massive multiplayer role playing games."

Lineage players can choose from four different character archetypes—a heroic knight, clever wizard, nimble elf, or royal prince/princess.

Creating a character is quick and easy. New players can immediately jump into the game and learn the ropes in a Lineage new player area where they may quickly level up and learn the basics in preparation for the adventures and perils that lie ahead. And unlike other subscription-based games, Lineage offers FREE updates that expand the game world to exotic new lands filled with fierce creatures.

Lineage comes with a 30-day free trial. After the trial period, players are charged US$15 per month. Players can save money by purchasing four months at a rate of US$11.25 per month. An Internet connection is required to play Lineage.

As you can see, Mac OS X users have a lot to look forward to. For more information on this game, be sure to visit its web site, and watch IMG for Mac-specific details in the future. Stay tuned for more Expo coverage.

Lineage

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