Hello Kitty Online - Frequently Asked Questions

Hello Kitty Online (HKO) is the official MMORPG of Hello Kitty and Friends, and the first MMORPG to integrate social networking web services into the game experience.

Set in the magical world of Sanrio Land, players will embark on a fun-filled adventure and visit breathtakingly cute locales such as the Sanrio Harbour and the Flower Kingdom, or socialize in special renditions of real world cities such as London, Paris, Tokyo and New York. Lots of fun-filled activities await players in the game such as puzzles, quests, and live their own adventures as part of an enchanting storyline.

Players choose and customize their character avatars (toons), build their dream houses, cultivate their own farms, set up guilds, earn and spend Sanrio Points around the game world, and interact with their friends and favorite Sanrio characters.

Hello Kitty Online is more than an ordinary MMORPG because it is integrated with SanrioTown, the official Hello Kitty community. Many of SanrioTown's features and award-winning technologies are available within the game, making it a great way for players to meet friends and socialize in a warm and friendly environment.

2. What is an MMORPG?

MMORPG is short for Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game. MMORPGs are online games that allow thousands of gamers to play in the game's evolving virtual world at the same time via the Internet. In an MMORPG you take on an alternate persona for the duration of play, and manage the persona's growth and affairs in his or her online world.

3. How does Hello Kitty Online differ from other MMORPGs?

Hello Kitty Online (HKO) has a number of differences from traditional MMORPGs. Firstly, this is the only online game featuring Hello Kitty and friends. Secondly, HKO is integrated with the Sanriotown online community, which provides messaging and social networking services like email, blogs, discussion boards, online video sharing, flash games, and more.

In addition to traditional MMORPG elements such as the combat system and avatars, HKO has a number of social features built directly into the game system, including cooperative farming, multiplayer mini-minigames and more.

4. How much does it cost? Are there any fees?

Hello Kitty Online is free of charge and there are no subscription fees. Simply sign up to SanrioTown, download the game, and install it, and you are ready to play.

HKO does offer premium features and upgrades such as unique character customization options, in-game items and farm designs. These premium elements can be purchased from the SanrioTown Item Mall using Sanrio Points. Sanrio Points are purchased with real money.

5. Do I need an Internet connection to play?

Yes. HKO is an online game and an Internet connection is required. There is no offline version of HKO.

6. What are the system requirements? Will my computer be able to handle it?

Hardware requirements for HKO are minimal. Most computers equipped with Intel Pentium IV or equivalent processor will play the game without trouble. HKO requires at least 512MB RAM and 2GB on your hard disk.

Hello Kitty Online System Requirements

CPU: Intel ® Pentium ® 4, 1.5Ghz+
Memory: 512MB RAM (Preferable 1GB)
Hard disk: 2GB Disk Space
Operating System: Windows ®2000 / Windows ® XP /Windows Vista

Others: Web browser, DVD-ROM, Fast Internet connection
Network: 56K or above
Display card with support for DirectX® 8.0 or higher
Sound card with support for DirectSound®

7. Why do I need to sign up to SanrioTown to play the Hello Kitty Online game?

HKO is integrated with and uses many of SanrioTown's social features, and thus requires a SanrioTown account. SanrioTown has a unified account system for all features and products including SanrioTown email, blogs, flash games, video sharing, and of course Hello Kitty Online. It is therefore not possible to log in to HKO if you don't have an account on SanrioTown.

8. When is Hello Kitty Online going to be released?

We are working to release the game sometime in 2009. Please keep checking our web site for news and updates.

9. Will Hello Kitty Online be released for the Mac / Linux / any game consoles?

No, HKO will be playable on a Microsoft Windows machine or a machine that is running some form of Windows. If you have a Mac and Boot Camp, you can install Windows on it and HKO will work just fine. The web components of HKO can be played on a Mac but the game client itself requires a Windows environment.

Game World

10. Will I be able to meet Hello Kitty or any of the other Sanrio characters?

Sure you will! You will meet many of Sanrio's popular characters and interact with them. You will even have a chance to visit some of their homes. In many cases Sanrio characters will ask you to help them by completing the missions they offer you.

11. How big is Hello Kitty Online's game world?

HKO takes place in Sanrio Land. At launch, Sanrio Land will contain 7 main areas, including famous cities like London, Beijing, Tokyo and others, as well as fantasy lands like Florapolis, the Dream Forest, and a newbie village (Sanrio Harbour) where players will learn how to play.

Game Play

12. Can I play as a Sanrio character like Hello Kitty or Keroppi?

No, because characters such as Hello Kitty and Keroppi are unique, so there cannot be more than one of each. Players won't be able to play as famous Sanrio characters, but they can meet Sanrio characters to interact with them in a variety of ways, such as playing mini-games, visiting their homes, and helping them with various tasks.

13. Are there classes and/or races?

HKO at launch will offer human avatars only. Players decide what skills and abilities their avatars focus on. In addition to that, players will have a wide virety of items, clothes and hairstyles to choose from in creating their very onw unique avatar. This means there is no need for different classes. Skills and skill levels, in-game actions, pets, gear etc., have effects on your avatar, allowing you to produce a distinct and individual character.

14. Is there player housing?

Yes. Players can choose from a variety of houses to build in their farms. Building these houses can be a fun-filled cooperative venture for guild mates. Once complete, players can decorate their homes with a large variety of furniture that they can either purchase from NPCs and other players, or they can make themselves.

Players can also plant and cultivate their farms with different crops and plants. Farms require careful care or they may develop infestations of pests, however at harvest time the rewards can be quite worthwhile. Farms also provide storage space for items.

15. Is it easy to learn to play Hello Kitty Online?

Yes, HKO is deigned to have an easy learning curve. There are many inter-linked game systems, which at first may appear a bit confusing, however a number of NPCs will offer helpful in-game tutorials.

Players who fear they may be completely lost can opt to learn how to play the game in the newbie village. Additionally, a playable turotial/Demo and several video tutorials are available - see HKO Tutorials.

Premium Content

16. What is premium content in Hello Kitty Online?

Premium content in HKO is purchased using SanrioTown Loyalty points and/or real money. Premium content is entirely optional - it is not required to play or enjoy Hello Kitty Online. Sanrio Cash Points can be purchased via credit card transaction, while Sanrio Loyalty Points can be earned by using the free services in SanrioTown. These points may then be used in the Item Mall to buy items and/or upgrades for your character in Hello Kitty Online.

17. What is the Item Mall?

The Item Mall is a section on SanrioTown where players can purchase special items for their HKO character. These items are not strictly essential to the game, but are quite valuable. Players can purchase items from the Item Mall using Sanrio Cash Points (purchased using real money) and Sanrio Loyalty Points (earned by using SanrioTown services). Some purchases are restricted to Sanrio Cash Points only, which means you will have to buy points before you can buy some items.

Miscellaneous

18. Will there be Player versus Player (PvP)?

HKO contains no PvP at this stage, and it is highly unlikely that it will be added in the future. Interaction between players includes teaming up, trading, chatting, emotions, mini-games, etc., but no PvP.

19. Will the game only be in English?

At first, Yes. Multilingual versions operated by regional publishers will also be available. European versions will launch in 2009 in Spanish, English, French, German, and Italian. Please visit the Sanrio Digital site for more information.

20. How much of the game has instanced areas?

Instances are locations that are only accessible by limited numbers of people at a time. HKO will have a number of instances, though at this time the scope of instancing is still fluid.

21. Will the battles be only solo or group?

In the present version battles are solo by default, although some powerful opponents will require multiple players to work together.

22. What kind of weapons/armors/items will there be?

HKO is a Sanrio game, and we therefore try to keep the atmosphere as peaceful, joyful, and non-violent as possible. This does not mean there will be absolutely no conflict or weaponry. HKO will not have traditional lethal weapons like swords or guns popular in other MMORPGs, but there will be plenty of non-lethal objects such as umbrellas, magic lollipops, brooms, etc. that will be used to clobber the forces of evil.

23. Will the game have high-end enemies to defeat?

Yes. Some high level monsters will require players to cooperate, and will be impossible (or nearly impossible) to defeat alone.