After months in the free play, open beta stage, Lineage 2 celebrated its much-awaited commercial launch with a grand celebration at the SM Mall of Asia last January 12. Hundreds of people--players and non-gamers alike flocked to the mall's Music Hall to witness the biggest, grandest game launch yet this side of Asia.

The massively multiplayer online role-playing game celebrated its Southeast Asia launch simultaneously in four other venues as well: Baguio, Cebu, Davao, and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. Live broadcast feeds connected all five venues to each other.

Lineage 2's kickoff party lasted all afternoon and well into the night as various contests, activities, and performances peppered the event.  As the rains poured outside the MOA during the launch, so did the prizes. A total of P1M in cash and gift packs were given away, in addition to the much-coveted, premium in-game items.

Some 5,000 people attended all five event venues. Early registrants came in as early as 1 am., and MOA's Music Hall was already at full capacity a mere hour after the launch's opening. The huge crowd was there for the rest of the day, up until the event's culmination that night.

For the long-time Lineage 2 players, the MOA launch held a Battle Tournament that pitted some of the best in the game. As the ultra-competitive Battle Tournament went underway, Lineage 2's very own Game Girls further turned up the heat with their song and dance performance of their first single, "Have Fun, Go Mad." The girls performed for two more times throughout the event.

As promised, some of the country's popular music acts came to further enliven the crowd: Sugarfree, Paraluman, and Top Junk.