Fantasy Earth: Zero

Fantasy Earth: Zero

Fantasy Earth Zero (Japanese: ファンタジーアースゼロ), formerly known as Fantasy Earth: The Ring of Dominion, is a massive multiplayer online game (MMO) developed by Fenix Soft(Square Enix) (the original developers, Multiterm, were absorbed into NHN Japan on September 1, 2007, however development rights transferred to Fenix Soft on June 2008).

Several months after the release of The Ring of Dominion, Square Enix cancelled the game because of a severe lack of demand. The publishing rights were later bought by Gamepot, who renamed it to Fantasy Earth Zero and had greater success with it when they dropped the subscription-based element present under Square Enix's PlayOnline service and it became a "free to play" game. The game recently claimed over 1,000,000 users. Revenue is generated using an in-game currency known as "arbs", which are bought for real money and can purchase items obtainable in no other way.

Gamepot Japan and Gamania Taiwan have established IP blocks that prevent players outside their respective regions from playing the game. Gamania HK has established an IP block as of December 20, 2012 preventing players from outside the region from playing. While PlayOnlineCN has not established an IP block allowing players from anywhere to play.

The original game entered beta testing on February 23, 2006, and was re-released by Gamepot Japan on November 2, 2006. On April 3, 2007, Fantasy Earth entered beta testing in mainland China. On June 3, 2008, it entered beta testing in Taiwan.

US players were finally able to play when Fantasy Earth Zero was announced by Gamepot USA on January 12, 2010. The first open beta in the US ran from March 3 to March 10, 2010. Players who took part in a "Kingdom War" in the first open beta were eligible to receive a "limited edition" weapon in the second open beta, which started on March 17, 2010. The game was officially launched in the United States on May 18, 2010. On February 3, 2011, Gamepot USA announced the closing of North America Fantasy Earth Zero service effective from March 21, 2011.