GunZ: The Second Duel (or simply GunZ 2) is an online third-person shooting game created by South Korean-based MAIET Entertainment. It is the sequel to 2003's GunZ: The Duel. Gunz 2 began its first closed beta test in Korea in early 2011, however it has yet to be released. Gunz 2 is currently greenlit on Steam via its Greenlight program, and has entered into beta testing on February 17, 2014 via Steam Greenlight.[4] The Steam version of Gunz 2 is available for international players, mainly in North America. The European version of Gunz 2 was hosted during its open beta phase by ProSiebenSat.1 Media.[5] On 15 December 2014 the licensing agreement between MAIET Entertainment and Prosieben ended where MAIET opened a Steam server for the European region.[6]
| GunZ 2: The Second Duel | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | MAIET Entertainment |
| Publisher(s) | MAIET Entertainment |
| Engine | Realspace v3 |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
| Release | 2011 (Korea Beta) |
| Genre(s) | Third-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Online multiplayer |
On September 4, 2015, a news post on Steam announced that the company MAIET Entertainment is no longer operational. The post also states that all rights for the game were taken over by the company MasangSoft Inc. This sparked anger among the game's fanbase due to the lack of communication from either company.[7]
On March 31, 2017, MasangSoft announced all servers for GunZ 2 except US-West will close on May 10, 2017 at 5:00 PM PST. They cite accumulated deficit as a reason for the closures.[8]
Gameplay
editGunZ 2: The Second Duel is a multiplayer third-person shooter mixed with swordplay, similar to the first game GunZ: The Duel. The game emphasizes fast-paced gameplay and advanced free-movement mechanics such as dashing, wall-running and tumbling. The players can split into two teams, either GSF or NAU. There are six different classes to choose from (Ivan, Elena, Rena, Max, Wayne, and Rose), all with different sets of skills and play styles.
The advanced movement mechanics allows the player to maneuver in unique ways and create deadly combat techniques using rhythmic keystrokes. The game's advanced combat system is very similar but arguably not as exploitable as its prequel.
GunZ 2's network communication is solved by player hosted servers, when the players joins the game one of the players will be assigned the role to act as a hosting machine. MAIET released a dedicated server solution to the US West region for testing purposes and declaring to expand later to other regions when it's stable. The dedicated server was later removed from the game.[9][10]
The game offers different game modes to play:
- Deathmatch
- Team Deathmatch
- Team Elimination Players will each round spawn simultaneously and killed players will become spectator for the rest of the round. The team that successfully kills everyone in the other team will win the round.
- Campaign A Story mode for Gunz2, where you can play together in co-op mode to defeat NPCs enemies and complete missions.
Storyline
editContinent of Astra, 1863 AD. During the war between the Axium Empire and Republic of Trivia, Mankind makes one of the greatest discoveries of its history, Optimite. At the same time, Adam Corp, a supranational mega corporation was founded with its basis in energy industry. Adam Corp rapidly expanded with its enormous capital and became the third power of the world along with the empire and republic. Adam Corp is a group of brutal capitalists who do not hesitate to victimize anyone who stands in their way. The bigger they have become, the more devastated the public have become. To stand against the super villain, people of Astra have formed a vigilante group called Guardian Sans Frontier, the GSF.
1970 AD, Today. After the cold war, Adam Corp has completed their armament expansion and began manufacturing combat robots, which was prohibited by the international law. GSF quickly picked up the intel and dispatched their agents to an island in the republic where the core facilities of Adam Corp’s military factories are located. Hence begins the battle of GSF to cease Adam Corp’s bold ambition to take over the world.[11]
Though never explicitly mentioned, it is suggested that the universes of GunZ 1 & 2 are indeed connected. Although GunZ 1's lore isn't as expansive, GunZ 2 has the same mansion map from GunZ 1, which features the statue of Ryswick the Great. One of the songs of GunZ 1's OST is named Ryswick style, likely a reference to the statue of the same name.[12]
History
editThe game was initially announced in 2010.[13] and expanded to have a second server in Taiwan in May 2011.[14] A closed beta occurred in August 2012[15] and sought Greenlight in March 2013.[16] On March 25, 2013[17] in mere months before the cancellation of the first game by Aeria (who bought out rights owner Ijji in 2012) it was announced that the English version of the game would be distributed via Steam, and was registered on Steam that day. It was greenlit for a wider international release on June 13. On March 29, it expanded to include Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East.[18] On April 3 it expanded again to include Asia, Europe and the United States.[19]
By April 4, after only 10 days on Steam, the greenlight project made the top 100.[20] It climbed to the top 50 by April 18,[21] the top 30 by April 29,[22] and the top 15 by May 23.[23]
On May 7 a member of the Gunz 2 North America team was interviewed about the game, where they clarified that those who joined the Steam group would get invites to the beta test of the game.[24] On June 3, a press release from ProSiebenSat.1 Games revealed that they will publish the European version of the game, scheduled to be released in winter of 2013.[25][26] MAIET also gained a Taiwanese publisher in Wasabii.[27] On June 13, Gunz 2 received Greenlight approval from Steam, meaning that the English version for North America would moving forward, followed by the South American version.[28]
On August 21, MAIET announced that closed beta testing had begun in Europe and Taiwan, while the open beta test was scheduled to occur in December. They also confirmed that it would be available with English and Korean voices while other language options would be available in Portuguese and Spanish.[29] On December 15 they announced those releases would be pushed back to early 2014[30] and later clarified that it was scheduled for January, then it was pushed to February.[2]
September 4, 2015, after months of silence from Maiet, Gunz2 Team (A.K.A. Masangsoft) made an official, public announcement on Steam to the community of Gunz 2 that a new company has taken over the game.[7] Since that announcement, with the exception of maintenance and system recovery notices, Gunz2 Team/Masangsoft has not informed the public of any further development.[31]
References
edit- ^ "GunZ the Second Duel specification". Archived from the original on 2015-02-16.
- ^ a b "MAIET status update". 29 January 2014.
- ^ "Steam Community :: Discussions".
- ^ "GunZ 2: The Second Duel on Steam".
- ^ "Home". gunz2.co.uk.
- ^ "Steam Community :: Group Announcements :: GunZ 2: The Second Duel". steamcommunity.com. 14 December 2014. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
- ^ a b "Steam Community :: Group Announcements :: GunZ 2: The Second Duel". steamcommunity.com. 4 September 2015. Retrieved 2016-03-12.
- ^ "Steam :: GunZ 2: The Second Duel :: Notice of Server Closed (May 10th / Except US West)". 31 March 2017.
- ^ "Please give us feedback on Dedicated Server - US WEST Only for now :: GunZ 2: The Second Duel General Discussions". steamcommunity.com. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
- ^ "Steam Community :: Group Announcements :: GunZ 2: The Second Duel". steamcommunity.com. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
- ^ "Gunz2 Official Ask Me Anything (AMA) - Answers :: GunZ 2: The Second Duel General Discussions". steamcommunity.com. Retrieved 2016-03-12.
- ^ GunZ The Duel OST - Ryswick Style [Duel Theme 5], 8 August 2011
- ^ "Game scheduled for 2nd half 2011". 8 December 2010.
- ^ "First overseas server announced". 10 May 2011.
- ^ "Closed Beta 1 announced". 19 August 2012.
- ^ "Game seeking support for Steam release". 25 March 2013.
- ^ "GunZ 2 Steam Greenlight".
- ^ "Adding more countries to service area".
- ^ "Updates on GunZ 2 global service policy".
- ^ "We've made it to Top 100!".
- ^ "We're in the Top 50!".
- ^ "We are now in the Top 30".
- ^ "We are currently ranked 15th!".
- ^ "GunZ 2 Beta & Interview".
- ^ "Après avoir acquis les MMO d'Alaplaya et les droits européens des MMO de SOE, ProSiebenSat.1 signe l'exploitation de GunZ 2, et affiche des ambitions en matière d'eSport - en vue de retransmissions ?" [After acquiring the MMO alaplaya and European rights MMO SOE ProSiebenSat.1 sign operating GunZ 2, and displays ambitions eSports - for broadcasts?] (in French). JeuxOnline.info. June 2, 2013.
- ^ "The publisher ProSiebenSat will be releasing GunZ 2: The Second Duel in the last quarter of 2013 for Europe". Facebook. June 4, 2013.
- ^ "GunZ 2 Online at Wasabii.tw". Archived from the original on July 19, 2013.
- ^ "GunZ 2 has been greenlit!". MAIET Games.
- ^ "GunZ 2 Launch Schedule Updates". 21 August 2013.
- ^ "GunZ 2 For Steam Pushed". 15 December 2013.
- ^ "News - All News". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 2016-03-12.