Nexon's popular massively multiplayer title based on a world and themes derived from medieval Celtic mythology 

April 30, 2008 - Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed, goes to live for a year in the underworld, called Annwn, where two kings vie for dominance. Taking the place of one, Arawn, he wins his abiding friendship by besting the other, Hafgan, in combat, thus uniting the domain. Considered a medieval masterpiece and even Wales' foremost literary work, The mabinogi gold on begins in this manner. The book is a collection of tales ostensibly about the lives of Welsh royal families whose members are thought to represent pre-Christian gods. These stories, first written down in the 1300s, preserve an oral tradition that dates from centuries earlier. The compilation has been enormously influential. A number of experts believe it gave rise to such enduring figures as King Arthur and Merlin. They also cite it as having furnished the foundation for the fantasy fiction genre that's so popular today.

Named after this famed tome, mabinogi gold is Nexon America's latest free to play massively multiplayer release. Developed by the company's DevCat Studio and based in Celtic mythology, it employs a skill system with combat, magic and life categories. This means players can gain experience not just by engaging in armed hostilities, but also by learning spells, cooking meals, shearing sheep and more. As well, fighting is said to rely more on strategy and finesse than brute force within a system influenced by the classic rock, paper, scissors triangle. Some other elements worth noting include an assortment of challenging monsters, a variety of quests, and diverse locations aplenty to explore. We had the opportunity to question Senior Associate for Game Planning and Design Joe Wreggelsworth, Project Manager Duck Soo Choi and Director of Game Operations Min Kim about this intriguing title.

Includes six exclusive screenshots

Jonric: To introduce mabinogi gold, what kind of massively multiplayer game is it? What's the basic concept? Where does the title come from?

Joe Wreggelsworth: mabinogi gold is a world of discovery, exploration and growth. Almost everything in the game progresses to some degree. The continuing story arc and your character's age, skills and abilities are ever-changing, while every player is unique and living day to day to carve out a place in the world.