Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Virtual Dress Up

Poor Blueside, their hack-and-slash transformation of the Kingdom Under Fire series is getting little attention even though it just came out. Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom is being coined as an action RPG, but the online multiplayer gives it more of a Gauntlet vibe, just with plenty of red fluid.

While the game has been out in Korea, Asia and Oceania for a month I wasn’t aware Microsoft had plans to sell downloadable accessories via the Xbox Live Marketplace. On January 22, the first batch will arrive. Optional items like animal skull helmets, hats and goggles (why would anyone wear these while fighting orcs?) are examples of what will be on the marketplce.

I wonder if this was Blueside’s influence, Microsoft’s idea or a combination of the two. Since Blueside is in Korea they are no stranger to microtranactions, but usually games that use the microtransaction model are free to play, but built with inconveniences for non paying players. In any case Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom will be the first Microsoft published title to push virtual clothes.