COREONLINE is Square Enix’s brand new way to get gamers playing while hanging out online. The free-to-play service will be ad-based, with ads both in-game via loading screens and through a content choice system. For every 1 minute a player spends viewing any of the ads, they will gain a 20 minute block of playtime. The max amount of uninterrupted game time will be a full hour, after which new ads will need to be watched. If anyone is worried about pumped up loading ads, the company is firm that they will not be stretching those out to push more ads out. If players want to avoid the ads, they can purchase unlocked levels or even the full game. Not sure how fiscal that could be but hey, it’s an option!

Game time earned can be stored for later plays, if one registers with the site. Registering also enables achievements and cloud saves to add a bit of zest to the festivities. If COREONLINE takes off, the publisher might find ways to incorporate it into more global services. For right now, the service offers up Hitman: Blood Money and Mini Ninjas. Coming soon will be Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, Tomb Raider: Underworld and Gyromancer. The next year should see more Square Enix titles make appearances in the new service.

The COREONLINE service will run native in Google Chrome or through the Square Enix Secure Launcher plug-in for other major browsers. Any geeks out there curious about it? Let us know in the comments after the break! Also, check out the full Square Enix press release.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TOKYO (Aug. 29, 2012) – SQUARE ENIX HOLDINGS CO., LTD. today announced a new technology service for high definition games in the browser called COREONLINE. Developed by Hapti.co studio, a wholly owned Square Enix Group subsidiary, COREONLINE allows users to easily play popular, console quality games on the web.
“Square Enix is at the forefront of experimentation of new business and services models in the game industry,” said Yoichi Wada, chief executive officer of Square Enix Holdings. “Through our COREONLINE technology service, users can access our content easily through the browser.”
Games on COREONLINE are made available via a combination of Google and Square Enix’s proprietary technology, which allows for support of Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer. COREONLINE is easy to use, allowing players to click on a level and start playing instantly, and giving them the ability to start from any part of the game they wish.
Aspects of the user experience such as saves and achievements are managed in the cloud, and can be accessed from the browser. In the future, COREONLINE services may be a feature of Square Enix’s global online services.
Also launched today is a new business model for COREONLINE, enabling free content supported by video advertising, similar to television advertising. Users can elect to skip advertisements by purchasing levels and entire games.
Titles available at launch include HITMAN: BLOOD MONEY, from the famed HITMAN franchise, and MINI NINJAS. LARA CROFT AND THE GUARDIAN OF LIGHT, the award-winning title announced in collaboration with Google at their Google IO event in June 2012, will launch at COREONLINE in October. Also under development for COREONLINE is TOMB RAIDER: UNDERWORLD, from the famed TOMB RAIDER series, and GYROMANCER, the first title available on the service from Square Enix Japan. Further titles from Square Enix’s worldwide lineup of content are intended to be made available within the next year.
For more information on COREONLINE please visit http://www.coreonline.com
About Hapti.co
Hapti.co is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Square Enix Group, based in Copenhagen and specialising in digital products and services such as CORE®ONLINE and Gameglobe™. CORE®ONLINE is a new service that offers high definition games in the browser for free via an advertising supported business model. Gameglobe™ is a unique browser-based platform and game experience that allows players free access to limitless game worlds and creative possibilities, all in HD quality. For more information please visit: www.hapti.co
About Square Enix Group
The Square Enix Group leads a diverse range of content and service businesses as an integrated entertainment group. The Group develops, publishes, distributes and licenses entertainment content around the world under its internationally renowned brands including SQUARE ENIX®, EIDOS ® and TAITO® and operates a global network of leading development studios located in North America, Europe and Japan. The Group also boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 100 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 59 million units worldwide; TOMB RAIDER®, which has sold over 35 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®.

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