View source for Soul of the Ultimate Nation

{{cleanup rewrite|date=April 2012}}
{{Infobox video game
| title        = Soul of the Ultimate Nation
| image        = [[Image:Suna2MiFH0873E7 --.jpg]]
| caption      = ''S.U.N.'' Japanese promotional poster
| developer    = [[Webzen]]
| publisher    = Webzen (Korea, South America, Australia, Europe, rest of Asia) <br> [[The9]] (China) <br> GameOn (Japan) <br> [[NHN Corporation|NHN]] (North America & UK) via [[ijji]] <br> Ingamba (Russia)
| designer     =
| composer     = [[Howard Shore]]
| engine       =
| released     = April 19, 2007 (Taiwan) <br /> May 24, 2007 (China), April 21, 2008 (Japan), October 21, 2009 (Europe, South America, Australia, rest of Asia), late 2009 (North America), 2011 (Russia)
| genre        = [[Fantasy]] [[MMORPG]]
| modes        = [[Massively multiplayer online game|MMO]]
| platforms    = [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]]
}}
'''''Soul of the Ultimate Nation''''' (often abbreviated as ''S.U.N.'') was a fantasy-based [[MMORPG|massive multiplayer online role-playing game]] (MMORPG) produced by [[Webzen]], a Korean-based company. It was operated in [[South Korea]] by Webzen and in [[mainland China]] by [[The9]]. The game was launched in [[Taiwan]] on April 19, and in China on May 24, 2007 as a paid online service<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.webzengames.com/pr/prView.asp?cPage=1&PrsIdx=30& | title= WEBZEN Announces the Launch of 'Soul of the Ultimate Nation' in China | access-date=2007-05-31 | date=2007-05-23 | publisher=Webzen Inc}}</ref> and closed on July 3, 2013.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Soul of the Ultimate Nation - Game closing due to lack of players | url=https://mmoculture.com/2013/06/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-game-closing-due-to-lack-of-players/ | last=cinderboy | date=2013-06-06 | website=MMO Culture | language=en-US | access-date=2020-04-30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title=Soul of the Ultimate Nation Relaunching In First Half of 2019 | url=https://mmos.com/news/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-relaunching-in-first-half-of-2019 | last=Altay | first=Omer | date=2019-02-10 | website=MMOs.com | language=en-US | access-date=2020-04-30}}</ref>
In December 2005, Webzen sold an export contract for the game to The9 for $13 million [[US dollars|USD]] in total, which at the time was the largest single export transaction in Korea's online game history.<ref>{{cite web | title=Webzen Sells China Rights to Soul of the Ultimate Nation | url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6141182.html | date=2005-12-13 | access-date=2007-05-31 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070711215720/http://www.gamespot.com:80/news/6141182.html | archive-date=2007-07-11}}</ref> In 2006, ''S.U.N.'' was selected as the most anticipated online game at the 2nd Annual 'Best Online Game Selection' in China.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.webzengames.com/pr/prView.asp?cPage=1&PrsIdx=20& | title = S.U.N. Voted 'Most Anticipated Online Game' at China's 'Best Online Game Selection | access-date = 2007-03-15 | date = 2006-04-25 | publisher = Webzen Inc.}}</ref> In a survey by Gametrics, the largest Internet cafe survey website in Korea, ''S.U.N.'' was ranked among the top 10 games in Korean Internet cafes.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://news.mmosite.com/content/2006-07-07/20060707012504077.shtml | title = S.U.N. ranked among top 10 games in Korea | access-date = 2007-03-25 | date = 2006-06-18 | publisher = Gametrics}}</ref> Also, ''S.U.N.'' received the award at the Digital Contents Awards by Ministry of Information and Communication and [[SK Telecom]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://news.mmosite.com/content/2006-07-11/20060711223900983.shtml | title = S.U.N. receives Award at Digital Contents Awards | access-date = 2007-03-15 | date = 2006-07-11 | publisher = Webzen Inc.}}</ref> in 2006.
== Gameplay ==
Like some other MMORPGs, ''S.U.N.'' utilised the "[[hack and slash]]" way. Players were part of a rebel group known as "The Guidance". Items could be strengthened and upgraded throughout the game play of ''SUN''. For large-scale combat such as siege warfare, ''Soul of the Ultimate Nation'' utilised a combat map with partitions that divided players into multiple fields each containing 20-40 characters; the outcome of each battle having direct effects on the combat occurring on other fields. ''SUN'' also allowed players to strategically set the stage for battles by choosing different types of maps, entry numbers, degrees of difficulty and types of monsters for a customized game play experience. ''SUN'' had three types of specified maps using a zone map system. Players started the game in a city and had to create zones to play the game. In terms of maps, the mission maps were the primary places where players can solve missions. The hunting maps were for tracking down monsters to level up characters, gather items and acquire in-game money. The quest maps were used to fulfill quests and to help users better understand the overall scenario of the game.
The game underwent four stages of beta from September 2005 to May 2006 in South Korea, and received high marks from gamers. ''S.U.N.'' Taiwan moved from closed beta to open beta in December 2006.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://news.mmosite.com/content/2006-12-17/20061217185017645.shtml | title = S.U.N. to change from Closed Beta to Open Beta | access-date = 2007-03-15 | date = 2006-12-18 | publisher = Webzen Inc.}}</ref> The final open beta allowed game developers to improve the field maps, add a competitive hunting system and a mission ranking system.
SUN Korea adopted [[F2P]] mode and item mall model in November 2006.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://news.mmosite.com/content/2006-11-07/20061107231050448.shtml | title = Korean S.U.N. to go F2P | access-date = 2007-03-15 | date = 2006-11-08 | publisher = Webzen Inc.}}</ref> NHN USA Corp., the publisher of ''SUN'' in North America made a license agreement with Webzen in May 2009.
''S.U.N.'' was available for distribution and operation in [[North America]] through the gaming corporation ijji.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.nhnusacorp.com/pr/p_sRead.html?board_cd=01&board_no=106 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090624013626/http://www.nhnusacorp.com/pr/p_sRead.html?board_cd=01&board_no=106 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2009-06-24 | title = S.U.N. in North America via ijji | access-date = 2009-05-21 | date = 2009-05-21 | publisher = NHN}}</ref> A beta test of Webzen's version was held from October 14-16, 2009. Webzen's ''S.U.N.'' version came out five days later.
==Battle Zone System==
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Boss Fight.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Screenshot of a mission during Taiwan SUN beta testing]] -->
Under the Battle Zone System, players could create "rooms" for battles, be it against monsters or other players. Players had to talk with a specific [[non-player character]] (NPC) in each town to create such rooms. They could select different types of maps, areas, set the entry numbers, [[degree of difficulty]] and types of monsters within the map. For a players vs. monsters map, players formed a party and usually had to proceed through the map to complete certain map objectives, such as killing the boss monster. At the end of the stage, experience and loot were shared among the participants.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}
==Character classes==
Like in Webzen's earlier MMORPG, ''[[MU Online]]'', players had a selection of five different character classes: Dragon Knight, Berserker, Valkyrie, Elementalist and Shadow. For each class height, hairstyle, and face could be picked from several alternatives, but each class had a predefined gender. Since Episode 2's release, each class was available to another character. For example, a Dragon Knight could be a Valkyrie, and an Elementalist had the possibility of being a Shadow; all of this is in terms of skill set and play-style.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}
==Soundtrack==
The soundtrack for this MMORPG was composed by [[Howard Shore]].
== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}
==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060612204536/http://sunonline.co.kr:80/ ''S.U.N.'' official Korean website]
* [http://sunonline.webzen.com/ ''S.U.N.'' official America/Europe website]
* [http://www.soulultimatenation.com.tw/ ''S.U.N.'' official Taiwan website]
* [http://sunonline.ru/ ''S.U.N.'' official Russia website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110814083611/http://sun.cubizone.com:80/ ''S.U.N.'' official S.E. Asia website]
* [http://www.sunonline.jp/ ''S.U.N.'' official Japan website]
[[Category:2006 video games]]
[[Category:Massively multiplayer online role-playing games]]
[[Category:2007 video games]]
[[Category:Fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing games]]
[[Category:Ijji]]
[[Category:Inactive massively multiplayer online games]]
[[Category:Products and services discontinued in 2013]]
[[Category:Video games developed in South Korea]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Windows-only games]]
[[Category:Webzen games]]
[[Category:The9 games]]