HKO CB Testing Part 1

I was so happy about playing HKO that I started to write a blog about everything I experienced my first day. After I published it, I immediately had to delete the entry due to the fact that I re-read the non disclosure agreement that comes along with playing HKO CB. I was about to e-mail Abby and ask if I could post some screenshots, when I checked the Hello Kitty Online Community and LittleToki beat me to it — thanks LittleToki!

Anyway, here is what I wanted to share:

I started off a little rough. I have a Mac. HKO requires Windows. Hmmm… Simple enough. I called my brother Ed (who is a genius) to help me set up my Macbook. He made it seem like it was going to be very easy partitioning my hard drive through Apple’s Boot Camp and installing Windows… Oh boy! Was he wrong! I stayed up all last night trying to get my Mac to be more PC — in the name of Hello Kitty, of course. With no luck, I went to sleep and called him when I awoke. I mean, look at the error message I kept getting:

Actually, that was only one of many. I reminded him that people in China were probably already getting a head start on me too. He decided that Boot Camp was not the way to go. Instead, I downloaded a trial version of Parallels and the rest is history..

I have never played an MMORPG before, but know many people who have an addiction… Like buying multiple accounts so he can build up a few characters. Ed gave me one advice, “Do not get attached to your character.” He is right… But my character is going to be soooo cuuute!

The first thing I did was walk around and explore the area. I also looked at other people around me to see what they were doing. The graphics are so incredibly cute! There is so much creativity, design, imagination and talent in what I saw — and I only saw Sanrio Harbour and Florapolis. I believe I will know the names of many (if not all) of the Sanrio characters by heart. This game is really inspiring to me and makes me want to create something that will make people smile.

Here are some screenshots of my progress. That is my character information and inventory interfaces. So far, I have learned how to accept and complete various quests, gain back my life/health, gain energy, fight starfish (don’t worry, the starfish just become very dizzy, Sanrio does not promote violence and fighting does not increase your skill level)… The basics I guess.

I have no pet… Nor do I have a farm, belong to a guild, have a house… But I am learning… You have to crawl before you walk.

Current Map Area of where you are. The right side has an info panel that you can check and uncheck boxes to show you where the NPC’s (non-playing characters) are located, where you can shop, locations of other players…

HKO World Map showing Sanrio Harbour and Florapolis (I know it says Sanrio Harbour but I think my computer was acting up)… Those are the two places I have currently been to.

Anyway, I am having so much fun playing the game — endless fun, for real. I cannot wait till it goes live and I can share this experience with my kittitastic friends! For more screenshots and artwork, check out Hello Kitty Online’s Downloads Area — you will not be disappointed.

Things I have fond extremely usefull:

1. Tutorials
2. Chat — just ask somebody for help — everyone was so nice and eager to offer assistance
3. If all else fails, I ask Ed

“Hello Kitty” Reference in a Too $hort Song

I am not usually surprised when female celebrities know about Hello Kitty because they probably grew up with her. There are many pictures floating around of Hello Kitty with Mariah, Paris, Kimora, Britney, Christina, Lisa, Cameron… But when I heard Hello Kitty in a Too $hort song, I was kinda excited! I was listening to a mixtape — DJ Vlad’s Hot In Here 4 and got to the 22nd track, “Burn Rubber” by Too Short (and produced by Lil Jon so you know the beat is hot)… Anyway, he raps, “Take your ass straight on out of Sin City / Wearin all pink just like Hello Kitty…” Lol — Made me smile and I had to repeat that song a few times just make 100% sure he was talking about my beloved Hello Kitty… And he was.

FYI: The content of this song is not for youngins or the easily offended.

Hello Kitty Stickers From Charisse

When Brian (my room mate) came back from the east coast (because his beautiful fiancé Charisse lives there) he brought me back some Hello Kitty stickers — courtesy of Charisse. I love the blue puffy sticker sheets — I wasn’t going to open them but they come with two sheets so I think I just might.

Hawaiian Hello Kitty

Things I recall from my childhood:

1. My parents went on business trips a lot
2. Ed (my brother) and I stayed with our nanny
3. I don’t think we minded

One of the reasons why was because when they were away, it gave us a chance to miss them. Our father (Ed’s dad and my step dad) was pretty strict too, so I guess I needed a break from that. The best part was that we usually received gifts when they came back!

Nowadays, I receive things from my friends who go on trips. For example, my friend Michael got me a cute little something from Puerto Rico. My friend Jessica just came back from Hawaii and got me these cute Hello Kitty notepads. This stuff makes me happy. I think, “Wow, you’re on vacation. You’re chill-axing and you were kind enough to think of me!” Makes me happy — so thank you!