IAHGames announces the freedom fighters have won the day in their island paradise of Granado Espada, as this MMOG has gone the free-to-play route as of its latest content expansion. The game will now use microtransactions as a business model, and users who have already purchased game time under the old subscription method will have their remaining time converted to the game's virtual currency. They are also implementing a loyalty reward program to compensate those who have already demonstrated their dedication to the game. Full details are on the Granado Espada Website, and here's a bit:

26th December 2007 Singapore - Good news for Granado Espada (GE) fans - Five months after the launch of the multiple award-winning game, it is now available to gamers free to play (F2P) with the launch of the Bahia Island Expansion on the 20th of December.

With a pledge to bring a whole new dimension to the GE gaming experience, IMC Games, HanbitSoft, and local operator IAHGames will introduce a stash of new premium items which will feature exquisitely designed costumes to compliment the tropical beach scenes in the new expansion.

The expansion will feature new maps such as Bahia Island and Tierra De Los Muertos (Land of the Dead).

The move to F2P, in alignment with other global GE partners, is essential to bring gamers in the region in tandem with gamers worldwide. IAHGames assures that the move to F2P will bring about a new influx of GE gamers, aid the longstanding development and bring added excitement to the game.

Said Hakkyu Kim, creator of GE and CEO of IMC Games, “We believe that with this new model, many new gamers would then be able to share the rich content of the game while adding new colors to the vibrant GE community.”

To commemorate the move to F2P, IAHGames will be giving away ‘Loyalty Reward Packages’ to qualifying gamers as a gesture to thank them for their loyal support over the past months.

The package will contain various items and G-points (game currency worth real money).