Second beta test detailed for online Tales game

TOYKO--Namco announced that it will hold its second closed beta testing of the PC role-playing game Tales of Eternia Online from January 16 to February 6. The test will mainly serve to work out final adjustments to the game and server-capacity assurance, possibly hinting that Namco is coming close to making an official launch date. The company originally planned Tales of Eternia Online's launch for spring 2006, but in January, it was postponed to an unspecified date.

Registration for Tales of Eternia Online's second beta test will begin on December 13 through its official site. There will be 50,000 registrants picked for the test, and they'll be notified by mail after January 5. Users that miss out will still get a chance to try out the game before the general public, as Namco also plans on holding an open beta test later on.

Characters that are created during the closed beta test period can be carried on to the open beta test, although the experience points, skills, and items earned during the test will be reset. Namco hasn't announced if characters from the open beta period can also be carried on to the launch.

Gamers that register for Tales of Eternia Online will also get an additional bonus. Namco is giving out ceramic white PSP Value Packs bundled with a copy of Tales of Eternia to 10 lucky registrants, regardless of whether or not they win a spot for the beta test. There will be 500 additional registrants who will also get a free QUO card, a prepaid card that can be used for shopping, worth 500 Yen ($4.13).