Mobile Suit Gundam Online - Gameplay Images

Namco Bandai Online announced on Friday that it will release a new Mobile Suit Gundam Online game for Microsoft Windows systems in Japan. The game will feature battles with over 100 players — the most players ever available in the franchise.

The game has each player assuming the role of a mobile suit pilot in the world of the first Mobile Suit Gundam television anime series. The player can choose between the Earth Federation or Zeon forces and fight alongside friends in various battlefields. Players can eventually command other pilots and encounter famous pilots from the original anime. Each side of a battle can have up to 52 players, for a grand total of 104 players.

The game will feature not only customizable units and characters from the first anime, but also those from original video anime spinoffs and other projects. The game will also have different game modes and rule settings for players to try out.

The first alpha test period will run from December 16 to 18 in Japan, and the official website is accepting application for testers now. Namco Bandai Online has not set a date for the formal launch of the game.

How I wish this game would be in english and brought over stateside...

Players control an avatar within a game world in a third person view. Players can also pilot various vehicles and Mobile Suits. They can fight various other Mobile Suits, Vehicles controlled by other players, or NPCs.

Each Mobile Suit and Vehicle may be improved by the player and outfitted with an array of equipment.

The player's avatar can be created on one of two factions, the Principality of Zeon or the Earth Federation Forces, each with their own unique cities, vehicles, and Mobile Suits.

Players may attack other players of the opposing faction, as well as their own.

Players may form teams, which organize large groups of players and allow them coordinate activities through a reserved chat channel.

In order to combat enemies, players must "lock-on" to their enemies and initiate attacks, but all aiming of the weapons in the game is done automatically.

Images from A.E.Media, Info via AnimeNewsNetwork