Sword of the New World is a persistent state project aimed at launch this summer for North American and European gamers. Revealed last week, it takes place, as the title indicates, during the time when European explorers, adventurers and colonists braved the lengthy, perilous Atlantic crossing in small, sailing ships. Some did so in search of riches, whether by establishing new, profitable trade routes or by taking them through force of arms. For others, the vital motivation was to build a better life in a land where they could escape tyrannical oppression and openly practice their beliefs. However, the game's primary focus is not historical accuracy. Rather than trying to simulate the harsh and frequently unappealing realities of the period, it transports players to a romanticized version that seems likely to provide a suitably sweeping yet somehow familiar backdrop. 

Perhaps a bit ironically, the endeavor originates in Korea, where the domestic edition is known as Granado Espada. Its developer is imcGames, which is working with the publisher for the western hemisphere, K2 Network, to adapt it for the latter's audience. Among the changes announced to date, the most significant may be a new, expanded avatar customization element with numerous costume options. Another of note is a new story that reportedly incorporates hundreds of additional quests. There will also be an improved control scheme and in-game tutorial; these may well be more important than usual when we consider that the title's most distinctive feature is the ability for the player to control up to three characters at a single time. We asked K2 Vice President of Product Development Grantley Day and imcGames CEO Hak Kyu Kim to tell us more.

Jonric: What kind of online world is Sword of the New World Vis, and what distinguishes it within the category? Why is the original title, Granado Espada, being changed for the West?

Grantley Day: Sword of the New World Vis is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game set in the vein of a traditional MMORPG... think Neverwinter Nights 2 or Dungeon Siege II in an MMO world. The reason I use those two titles in comparison is because of the key feature that sets SNW above every other MMORPG in the market and coming into the market in 2007. This key feature is the concept of multiple character control. In SNW, you don't control a single warrior, caster type or even healer. Instead, you are given the option to create a party of three characters to explore and conquer the world. That party can be any makeup you choose - fighter, caster, healer; caster, caster, healer; fighter, fighter, healer; etc. This design aspect is truly a breath of fresh air to see; in a market where so many me-too MMO products are coming out this year, SNW truly offers game players something new and exciting.