Parallel Kingdom

Parallel Kingdom
Developer(s) PerBlue
Publisher(s) PerBlue
Platform(s) Android, iOs
Release date(s) October, 2008 [1]
Genre(s) Role-playing video game, MMORPG

Parallel Kingdom is a mobile location-based massively multiplayer game that places a player in a virtual world on top of the real world, based on the player's GPS location. Parallel Kingdom (abbreviated PK) is the first location-based RPG for the iOS and Android platforms. The game was developed by PerBlue, a privately held mobile and social gaming software company founded in 2008 and based in Madison, Wisconsin. In 2011 the game's user base surpassed 1,000,000 players worldwide.[2]

The game is set in a virtual world or "Parallel Kingdom" where users claim their territories based on their GPS location or by making friends who invite them to travel to new places.[3] Parallel Kingdom is a freemium game, meaning it is free to download and play, but players have the option of purchasing premium content.[4]

Overview

Funding

PerBlue, developers of Parallel Kingdom, received $800,000 USD in Series A funding led by the Marquette Golden Angels Network.[5] [6]

Game play

Parallel Kingdom is a territorial RPG with a diverse range of ways to play. In order to travel around the world a player has the option of using GPS to relocate through their phone, or to build in game flags on unclaimed areas. It has many features that allow for players to be focus on many types of gameplay, or choose a unique combination of styles, such as PvE, PvP, Merchant, and Socialite.[7]

The PvE side of PK has many different features to it. Players can find a diverse range of NPCs to interact with. NPCs have many behaviours, some are passive-aggressive, others are aggressive, while others are so aggressive they will chance you until one of you is dead. Some can only be found alone, others are always in packs. NPC difficulty is determined by a player's equipment level, meaning a player should always be able to at least have a chance of dealing with an enemy they spawned, if prepared properly, and with proper strategy. However some enemies may have been spawned by another player in the area, and might not adjust to the player's difficulty, so a player should always be wary and pay attention! Players choosing to play PvE have the choice trying their luck at exploring Dungeons. Dungeons are challenging theme'd areas that require a player to go through room by room and slay the boss(es), which will give them a special reward. Some PvE oriented players can even choose to avoid fighting all together, choosing to explore and harvest and gather materials, such as wood, and stone. Though, even then, NPC might defend nearby resources that they value![8]

PK's PvP gameplay has many styles to enjoy. Players can choose to duel one another, either in controlled city duelling arenas, or anywhere outside in the world. Players should always be careful, as they can be attacked by anyone at any time, many choosing to be aggressive thugs in-order to steal gold from unaware players. Players may also build a variety of buildings, such as Kingdoms and Flags, they can also claim limited resources such as Stone Mines. The nature of limited resources, including land, makes for players very interested in fighting over land. There are many ways to fight one another, such as kingdom warfare, flag burning, and brawls.

Players can choose to focus on Merchant and Socialite gameplay. PK has a large number of items available to gather and collect in-game, with features such as Trade Posts that allow players to buy and sell their items for currency. Players have the ability to communicate through a variety of ways such as Map Chat, Kingdom Chat, Private Messages, and Global Chat.[9]

Revisions

Parallel Kingdom has gone through five major iterations, known as "Ages". Each Age introduced new features and gameplay mechanics.

Reception

Parallel Kingdom was nominated for four categories in the 2009 Best App Ever Awards: Best MMO, Best Augmented Reality Game, Most Creative Use of iPhone Hardware, and Best Use of Location Services.[10]
Parallel Kingdom was a finalist in the Mashable Awards 2011, under the category of Best Mobile Game.[11]

Charity contributions

In 2011, Parallel Kingdom partnered with PlayMob in "Food For Good". PK player to used in-game currency, Food, to purchase real food for children suffering from droughts in Kenya. The initiative resulted in 2500 meal vouchers for SOS Children, said to be the world's largest charity for orphaned and abandoned children.[12]

In June 2012, Parallel Kingdom partnered with PlayMob in "Save a dog, Feed a cat, Buy a hat". PK players used in-game currency, Food, to purchase in-game limited additions hats.[13] Each hat purchased resulted in a cash donation made to cat and dog charities.[14]

In November 2012, Parallel Kingdom partnered with PlayMob, again, in the event "HELP USA". PK players used in-game currency, Food, to purchase in-game limited addition turkey hats. The Parallel Kingdom community raised enough for 500 meals to be distributed by HELP USA.[15]

References

  1. ↑ "PerBlue - Mobile and Social Gaming". perblue.com. August 29, 2012.
  2. ↑ "CrunchBase Profile". Tech Crunch. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  3. ↑ "Parallel Kingdom - Overview". PerBlue. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  4. ↑ "Parallel Kingdom - Get Food". PerBlue. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  5. ↑ Gallager, Kathleen (2010-09-21). "Madison social gaming company raises $800,000". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  6. ↑ Keith Andrew. "Mobile studio PerBlue picks up $800,000 in first funding round". Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  7. ↑ "Stake Your Claim". Parallel Kingdom. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
  8. ↑ "A Parallel World Awaits You". Parallel Kingdom. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
  9. ↑ "Getting Social". Parallel Kingdom. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
  10. ↑ "2009 Best App Ever Awards". Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  11. ↑ "Mashable Awards 2011 Finalists Announced". Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  12. ↑ Jon Jordan (5 October 2011). "Parallel Kingdom's players buy 838 Soup Can Hats to fund Kenyan famine charity". PocketGamer.biz. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  13. ↑ "Save a dog, Feed a cat, Buy a hat". parallelkingdom.com.
  14. ↑ "Dogs Saved, Cats Fed, Hats Bought! And the winner is..". blog.playmob.com. June 19, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Thanks for Giving, and Other Community News!". http://parallelkingdom.com. February 2012. External link in |work= (help)

External links

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