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Just when you thought NCsoft's Dungeon Runners just couldn't get any better, they break out with a new way to pay. Now, Paypal is an option when paying for your premium membership. Of course the free-to-play option is still available, but they just make it so enticing to get that premium membership with extra storage space, better items and freedom from ads.

This Paypal usage does have some restrictions, of course. It only applies to those products purchased from the PlayNC Store and NCcoin purchases. It's also important to note that Paypal is not a payment option for any recurring subscription fee payment plans, only for the premium membership itself.

The pay-to-download business is booming, more and more MMOG companies are taking advantage of alternative non-credit card payment options. It sure beats driving down to the local big-box store.

Exteel is already six months into launch, and it stays kind of quiet not often talked about in MMOG circles. If you haven't heard about this one it's a free-to-play MMOG where players can take up giant robots and smash each other into bits like retro-rats. Several Massively readers even gave it the thumbs up in our launch post. As for recent news we covered the Trooper recently, and the new Last Stand battle mode that interjects a PvE element into the game. The latest information comes from Jae Hwan Kim, Exteel US Producer, in this interview with WarCry.

A genuine concern exists regarding Exteel's well being and sustainability because the game is an Eastern esque MMOG supported by micro transactions. There is a lot more room for failure in the Western market for this type of MMOG. According to Kim, Exteel is doing great and broke a concurrency record last week which is always good news for any MMOG. Also in the interview Kim talks about a few new features coming soon such as the new Clan battle mode, NCcoin versus in-game credits, along with his quick thoughts on game balance. Be sure to check out the official Exteel website where you can download the relatively small client.

If giant robot fighting is your thing (and, really, who doesn't love a good giant robot fight every now and again?), than NCsoft's free-to-play Exteel is your game. Today the NCsoft developers have passed along a dev paper where they discuss the Trooper Mechanaught, highlight available weapons, and cover the game's Last Stand battle mode. Want to hear what the developers have to say? Read on!

NCsoft's recently announced NCcoin system is currently only in use by the mech title Exteel. Despite that, it's obviously a technology that the mega-MMO publisher has plans for. Future titles might make very interesting use of the microtransactional model. That said, the company took pains this week to stress that already-released games are not going to be retrofitted with the NCcoin system if it's not appropriate.

Speaking with Eurogamer, a representative for the company indicated that Guild Wars will not be making use of NCcoin anytime soon."NCcoin will not be retrofitted in games that have business models that do not work with a micro-transaction system. We will, however, work to have NCcoin incorporated in as many of our games as possible. What role NCcoin will play in our future console offerings is yet to be determined." Further comments in the article indicate that the NCcoin system is ultimately about choice; NCsoft wants to offer consumers as many options as possible.

With all of the discussion about in-game advertisements going on, I thought I'd bring your attention to something else NCsoft is using to provide additional services in-game. Now whether you believe Exteel is a MMO or not, it's the flagship for NCsoft's micro-transaction model using NCcoin, and it's a great way to see if the model's going to work before potential roll-out to other titles. "But Jon," you might ask, "what is NCcoin?" Well, let me 'splain.

NCcoin is a dollar-per-penny in-game transaction process that allows you to purchase in-game equipment, upgrades and enhancements using real-world coinage. Unlike gold farming schemes, however, this isn't a third party asking you to spend $59.99 for 60 million influence. NCcoin is currently available in 100, 500, 1000 and 2000 denominations, and for that you pay $1, $5, $10 or $20, respectively. According to NCsoft NA president Chris Chung, "NCsoft's goal is to bring more and more people into the online gaming market, and part of achieving that goal is to continue to diversify how customers can pay and play."

Some notes for the next Exteel patch at the official site inform us of what's in store for NCsoft's free mech-battling MMO. The last thing to be mentioned in the short blurb is the inclusion of in-game ads after the patch is live. Players already participate in a microtransaction-based model in order to buy certain upgrades for their Mechanaught, but obviously this wasn't enough of a cash-spinner, so Exteel will be able to take its place in this table soon.

Aside from the ads, there are a few other changes to come with the patch. A new map called Face-Off will be launched, two new Mechanaught sets will be available (one purchased with NCcoins from real money transactions), some changes to Territory Control rewards, weapon balancing, and a super-deformed gameplay option.

Players waiting to tear it up on some Mechanaughts in NCsoft's latest MMO, Exteel can jump right in now that the game is live after a successful open beta. There is no database wipe, so any players that participated in the open beta will be able to play with their same wrecks. Exteel is an online 3rd person shooter featuring customized mechs, and the gameplay more or less revolves around beating the living crap out of your opponents with a large arsenal of weaponry. Our own Chris Chester posted a first impression look during the open beta that is definitely worth reading if you are considering playing the game.

• Exteel is free to play and free to download.
• Exteel is supported by RMT (real money trade) -- Exteel's micro-payment system is called NCcoin which will allow players to purchase more powerful weapons, skills, and parts for their Mechanaughts.
• Combat is high-speed gunplay, melee combat, think fast or die tactics.
• Decide on one of four battle modes: Death Match, Team Death Match, Territory Control, or Last Stand.
• Blends the immersive thrill of an FPS with the furious and brutal intensity of Hong Kong gun-play mixed with the feel of classic robot anime.
• Minimum and recommended computer specs.

Any Massively readers give Exteel a spin during the open beta? What did you think? Does RMT kill this for you? I'd rather deal with the RMT aspects in this type of MMOG than have to shell out for another subscription to be honest with you.