Interviews// Pristontale II, The Creative Force

I recently had the pleasure of heading off to Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, to be wined and dined and hotelled and looked after like royalty for the launch of Pristontale II, a Korean MMO that's making its way to Europe courtesy of start-up publisher Key to Play.

What a jolly trip! If there's one thing that went into the launch, it's time and effort. From the word go, I was met at the airport by a rep complete with an iPod (just like the free Nano I'd been sent in advance of the trip) to tell me just why was there. I already knew, of course. I'm not in the habit of getting on a plane for absolutely no reason, but it made for a dramatic start.

After a day spent sampling the delights of one of Europe's most beautiful cities, it was time to get to the nitty-gritty of the launch. We were met at the hotel by a leather-clad chap in sunnies who delivered a suitably dramatic introduction to a mystery tour of the city. He was a bit embarrassed, frankly, as the assembled cynical journos looked on. But, the message in the elaborate start to the launch was clear: Key-to-Play, the company that is bringing Pristontale II to Europe, means business.

So, let's just get this straight at the start: free iPod, free flights, free hotel, free food and booze, and lots of free time in Barca. Okay? I've declared all that up-front.

A tootle around Barcelona ensued (intending to show us how the world of Priston lurks just below the surface of the world we know) and we made our way to the Cathedral museum. There we were greeted by a display that was... I'm going to say dramatic; "Acrobats leaping around and people in giant bat-suits" dramatic. I'd love to try to describe it to you, but you'd be far better off just watching it - which you can, with the video at the end of this story.

One thing's for sure, if as much effort goes into making sure Pristontale II runs smoothly as went into the launch event, Key-to-Play's customer service team will be round at your house every night making you cups of tea and emptying your chamberpot so you don't have to leave your PC.

I sat down with Toni Garcia, creative director of Key-to-Play, and Jesus Diaz, the company's general manager, to get the skinny on Pristontale II and the company's plans for Europe.

(So you know, these guys are Spanish, so in places the interview has been tweaked a little for sense. The meaning remains intact.)


SPOnG: First up, could you just tell us who you are and what you do at Key-to-Play?

Jesus Diaz: Key-to-Play, basically, is portal games. The target of Key-to-Play is to bring the best games to the gamers around the world – mainly now we're in Korea and Asia. Basically, from players, to players. This is the main target of the company.


SPOnG: So, give us the sales pitch for Pristontale II. Why should people play it over one of the other MMOs that is out there on the market?

Jesus Diaz: Let me make an important point. This is not a pay-to-play game. It's a free game. You can download the game for free, you can play for free. You can find some items that you can purchase, but you can play for free. The client is free, available at our website, KeytoPlay.com and Pristontale2.com. This is the first point. This is a free-to-play game.

From the artistic point of view... Toni is the right guy to tell you this!