Massively http://www.massively.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://www.massively.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Aion's community address for November]]>http://www.massively.com/2009/11/26/aions-community-address-for-november/http://www.massively.com/2009/11/26/aions-community-address-for-november/http://www.massively.com/2009/11/26/aions-community-address-for-november/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The November community address for Aion is out, and it's mostly good news.

The good news, of course, includes the stunning nine-minute trailer depicting the future of Aion. Player response was overwhelmingly positive, and netted NCsoft more than a few immediate resubs. The Community Team has also been doing a good amount of work that, while not quite as fun to look at as the trailer, brings results that players can't help but be just as happy about. The Aion team has set up a dedicated Game Surveillance Unit focused solely on taking out bots, gold spammers, and the like. (It seems to be working so far, a recent Tweet reports over 27,000 botting accounts banned this week.) The community address also mentioned the ubiquitous grind complaints. Some short-term changes to grind, loot, and risk vs. reward are on the way, and a more long-term solution seems to be in the works.

On the downside, the server transfer system has been delayed until the Community Team can be sure of releasing a solid finished product. It's a frustrating issue for players, but hopefully the delay will be worth it.

The full community address can be read here.

MassivelyAion's community address for November originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionbotcommunity-addressgold-spammerncsofttrailerThu, 26 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NCSoft reveals "Visions of the Future" for Aion]]>http://www.massively.com/2009/11/24/ncsoft-reveals-visions-of-the-future-for-aion/http://www.massively.com/2009/11/24/ncsoft-reveals-visions-of-the-future-for-aion/http://www.massively.com/2009/11/24/ncsoft-reveals-visions-of-the-future-for-aion/#commentsFiled under: , ,


"As the Daevas dream, they see Atreia's future." Just in case there was one person left out there who didn't find Aion to be a visually stunning game, NCSoft released a nine minute gameplay trailer last night entitled "Visions of the Future". The trailer was presented on the official forums and greeted with a storm of "OMG".

Upgraded graphics improved the appearance of an already beautiful game, but that wasn't the thing that caused the excitement among Aion fans. An extensive look at player housing offered samples of available exteriors and interiors, as well as furnishings. And for the remaining fans who hadn't begun salivating? Mounts. In fact, seen here and there were what appeared to be flying mounts, as well as a dinosaur. The first half of the video was rounded out with clever aerial camera work designed to highlight changing seasons over gorgeous landscapes, and promises of swimming.

The video rounded out with an aptly named segment of "Pulse-pounding battles", both aerial and ground-based. Fire-breathing dragons, huge allies summoned from beneath the ground, and what one fan described as "awesome nuking" completed the picture.

A "never ending challenge", promises the end of the trailer. Take a look for yourself after the jump and see if you agree.

MassivelyNCSoft reveals "Visions of the Future" for Aion originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-the-tower-of-eternitymountsncsoftplayer-housingtrailerTue, 24 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft bans 16,000 Aion accounts]]>http://www.massively.com/2009/11/23/ncsoft-bans-16-000-aion-accounts/http://www.massively.com/2009/11/23/ncsoft-bans-16-000-aion-accounts/http://www.massively.com/2009/11/23/ncsoft-bans-16-000-aion-accounts/#commentsFiled under: , ,

One of the continued complaints we hear from Aion players is that bots litter the game's digital landscape, severely reducing the enjoyment of actual flesh-n-bones players. So we feel inclined to shout, "Good news, everybody!" at today's announcement by NCsoft that nearly 16,000 accounts have been banned during a recent unscheduled server reboot.

That's a huge number and certainly nothing to scoff about. This should hopefully alleviate much of the problem, at least temporarily -- and then future banhammers will likely come crashing down.

We hope nobody was caught in the crossfire with today's bans, but if you do find yourself without an Aion account to play and are 100% sure of your innocence, you can create a support ticket. Obviously, this isn't ideal if you're suddenly without your account, so with any luck there aren't any cases of mistakenly banned players.

MassivelyNCsoft bans 16,000 Aion accounts originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionbanbanhammerbansbotsbottingeulancsoftncwestMon, 23 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Patch 1.5.1 goes live for Aion]]>http://www.massively.com/2009/11/21/patch-1-5-1-goes-live-for-aion/http://www.massively.com/2009/11/21/patch-1-5-1-goes-live-for-aion/http://www.massively.com/2009/11/21/patch-1-5-1-goes-live-for-aion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


A new patch for an MMO is a bit like a present. At best, it can provide a number of new opportunities for fun and enjoyment. At worst, it can break several things you already liked and now have to replace. Aion has recently deployed the new patch 1.5.1 and, as could be expected, fan reaction is somewhat split on whether it's a nice present or the immortal pairing of socks and underwear. Certainly there isn't a major content influx, and the often-requested reduction of the game's grind has yet to be implemented, but there are still a number of nice updates and additions.

Leaving aside the bugfixes and optimization with only a mention that they should help the game play more smoothly all around, several instanced dungeons have been adjusted somewhat. Nearly all of these changes look beneficial to players -- reductions in difficulty and increases in reward, as well as added UI displays for important objectives. They've also added stealth-detecting NPCs to starter areas and increased several NPC health totals in an effort to curb destructive PvP tendencies. Quest experience at mid-to-high levels has been adjusted upward, rewards have been slightly improved on several quests, and level-difference experience penalties have been reduced. Last but not least, there's now more incentive to hold a fortress in the Abyss and work to defend it, as rewards are offered for defending players. Aion's fans aren't all happy about the changes, but it's best if you take a look at the changes yourself. Just remember that even if you don't like it, this present is unreturnable.

MassivelyPatch 1.5.1 goes live for Aion originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-patch-1.5.1aion-the-tower-of-eternitygame-mechanicsgrindlevelingncsoftnews-itemspatchespvpSat, 21 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Wonder what he's reading]]>http://www.massively.com/2009/11/16/one-shots-wonder-what-hes-reading/http://www.massively.com/2009/11/16/one-shots-wonder-what-hes-reading/http://www.massively.com/2009/11/16/one-shots-wonder-what-hes-reading/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


For some of us, there's nothing quite as good as getting some gaming time in, save perhaps cracking open a good book. Sometimes you can even get a good book in while getting some MMO time. When you add in being in the lovely lands of Aion, that's a pretty solid combination -- or at least a pretty one as today's One Shots shows! This great picture comes to us from Steffan A. who writes in: I started a new character on Triniel, and I was wandering through Munihele Forest when I just had to stop and take a screenshot. Aion is one of the best looking MMORPG's I have ever played, and I think I'll be staying for awhile.

For some, it's all about the beauty. For others, it's all about the play. Others still prefer a bit of both! We'd love to see screens of your favorite MMO, if you'd like to send 'em on in. Just email them to oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the name of the game, and a quick description. We'll do the rest. Easy, no?

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: Wonder what he's reading originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionncsoftone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotssteffan-aMon, 16 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Developer communication as it affects games]]>http://www.massively.com/2009/11/15/developer-communication-as-it-affects-games/http://www.massively.com/2009/11/15/developer-communication-as-it-affects-games/http://www.massively.com/2009/11/15/developer-communication-as-it-affects-games/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Developer chats aren't only important when it comes to what players know about the game -- they're also important in how the players approach the game. That's one of the more interesting conclusions to be taken away from Elder Game's latest discussion regarding the interactions between developers and community. As Eric Heimburg points out, developers and community teams have two main approaches to dealing with their players, both of which affect the attitude of players and their perception of the game as a whole.

Aion is his choice of examples for the first type of communication, in which the development team is essentially totally silent. The attitude is either complete silence, or denying that a bug is actually a bug. On the flip side, Champions Online embraces an open style of communication in which the developers loudly talk about bugs, system problems, and so on. Heimburg goes on to point out the positives and negatives of both sides -- Aion, for instance, creates an impression that things are working as intended even when they aren't. That works well until it becomes absolutely transparent that something is wrong, at which point the credibility is lost. Champions Online has a much more prevalent sense that the players should work with the developers and give them slack, but that only extends so far. It's an interesting look at a complicated issue, and worthy of an in-depth reading.

MassivelyDeveloper communication as it affects games originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionchampions-onlinecocommunitycommunity-relationsdeveloperdevelopersdiscussionelder-gameeric-heimburgforumsopinionSun, 15 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NCSoft asks Aion players to fly their fan flags in public]]>http://www.massively.com/2009/11/14/ncsoft-asks-aion-players-to-fly-their-fan-flags-in-public/http://www.massively.com/2009/11/14/ncsoft-asks-aion-players-to-fly-their-fan-flags-in-public/http://www.massively.com/2009/11/14/ncsoft-asks-aion-players-to-fly-their-fan-flags-in-public/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

NCsoft and the Aion staff have been spending a lot of time lately working to get the Aion community involved and engaged in ways beyond just playing the game. They began with the Eye on Community feature, brought out Aion apparel, and now NCsoft gives you Aion Around the World.

The Aion team is enjoying the international popularity of their game and want to see it in action. Community Manager Andrew "Tamat" Beegle explains "to highlight the global phenomenon that Aion has become, we want to see pictures of our community members in public locations. We're looking for pictures of our players participating in exciting activities or showcasing Aion-themed merchandise, art, or cosplay."

Tamat and two other Aion team members Ayase and Amboss illustrated the idea by cleverly getting themselves into one photo while 5,000 miles apart. (We anticipate someone taking the idea a step farther by doing the same thing with their entire guild.) Aion will be featuring the pictures on their site for the next few months, so get to work on those wings, grab your camera, and send your photos to the Aion Community email. Have fun!

MassivelyNCSoft asks Aion players to fly their fan flags in public originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-around-the-worldaion-communityaion-the-tower-of-eternityncsoftreal-world-eventsSat, 14 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion live server numbers crunched]]>http://www.massively.com/2009/11/13/aion-live-server-numbers-crunched/http://www.massively.com/2009/11/13/aion-live-server-numbers-crunched/http://www.massively.com/2009/11/13/aion-live-server-numbers-crunched/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Aion has been out for roughly 6 weeks so we thought it might be fun to crunch some of the numbers NCsoft provides on their official North American website. We've taken a look at realm balance, class balance, and what level Aion's population is at. Data collection occurred on November 12 at noon Eastern. A spreadsheet containing all data can be viewed here.

Realm population balance (Elyos vs. Asmodian)

Realm population balance is 50/50 on 3 of 14 servers. The remaining 11 servers have the Asmodians ahead of the Elyos by a 51:49 ratio. It appears as if NCsoft's forced realm population balance mechanic is keeping things under control, but one wonders how rampant these disparities would be if character creation was unrestricted. We've seen unbalanced two-faction MMOs before.

It should be stated that these numbers only represent a tally of Elyos and Asmodians across all servers and not how organized or active each realm is in PvPvE.

Continue reading Aion live server numbers crunched

MassivelyAion live server numbers crunched originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionfeaturedncsoftncwestnumber-crunchingnumberspopulation-balancerealm-balanceserver-metricsserver-statisticsFri, 13 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion announces holiday items for players]]>http://www.massively.com/2009/11/10/aion-announces-holiday-items-for-players/http://www.massively.com/2009/11/10/aion-announces-holiday-items-for-players/http://www.massively.com/2009/11/10/aion-announces-holiday-items-for-players/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The holiday season is approaching, and NCsoft is leading the charge for the annual rush of holiday celebrations and items in MMOs. Yesterday they announced the Aion Holiday Ascension Pack for those of you who haven't purchased the game yet, or are hoping to receive it as a gift.

The Ascension Pack comes with an extra holiday bonus in the form of four gifts to give your character a little boost and shine up his or her appearance a bit. It contains 20 Lesser Life Potions, 15 Lodas Amulets, 15 Lesser Running Scrolls, and a special dye for your character. You'll get a different dye color depending on where you purchase your Ascension Pack, so you may want to choose your purchase place with that in mind.
  • Amazon - Hot Orange Dye
  • Best Buy - Mustard Dye
  • Game Stop - True Black Dye
  • Target - True Red Dye
  • Wal-Mart - True White Dye
Aion is only the first game to begin announcing their holiday plans - we're sure much more will be coming soon, and we're looking forward to it!

MassivelyAion announces holiday items for players originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionholidayholiday-2009holiday-ascension-packncsoftTue, 10 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion reports nearly 1 million copies sold in North America and Europe]]>http://www.massively.com/2009/11/09/aion-reports-nearly-1-million-copies-sold-in-north-america-and-e/http://www.massively.com/2009/11/09/aion-reports-nearly-1-million-copies-sold-in-north-america-and-e/http://www.massively.com/2009/11/09/aion-reports-nearly-1-million-copies-sold-in-north-america-and-e/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Aion hit the ground running earlier this year, easily breaking the 400,000 mark for pre-orders, and they're continuing the trend. The first month post launch was occasionally rocky, but the good seems to easily outweigh the bad in the eyes of fans: NCsoft announced today that they have sold nearly one million copies of Aion: The Tower of Eternity in North America and Europe.

North America accounted for over 500,000 of those copies, and European sales stand at around 470,000, allowing Aion to make up an extremely respectable 52 percent of NCsoft's total sales last quarter.

Aion has their player base to thank for the sales, but their timing certainly didn't hurt. They enjoyed a launch time relatively free of competition -- the MMO market wasn't exactly glutted with new high-fantasy PvPvE titles in 2009.

Aion officially launched September 22nd in North America, and September 25th in Europe.

MassivelyAion reports nearly 1 million copies sold in North America and Europe originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-onlinencsoftsalesMon, 09 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion 1.5.1 patch additions receive an overwhelming "Meh"]]>http://www.massively.com/2009/11/09/aion-1-5-1-patch-additions-receive-an-overwhelming-meh/http://www.massively.com/2009/11/09/aion-1-5-1-patch-additions-receive-an-overwhelming-meh/http://www.massively.com/2009/11/09/aion-1-5-1-patch-additions-receive-an-overwhelming-meh/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The latest additions to Aion's 1.5.1 patch notes illustrate the "damned if you do, damned if you don't" reality that is MMO development. They also show a potential communication disconnect between the game's players and developers or possibly even unrealistic expectations. Upon reading the pages and pages of player comments on these patch note additions, the general opinion can be summarized as such: "These changes don't address our major complaints."

There's no doubt that 1.5.1 will greatly improve Aion (less grind anyone?), but players seem to be sticking on a few major points that aren't yet in the tentative patch notes. Most of the players commenting on these notes seem to feel that Aion's first big patch should tackle the crashing fortresses issue (crysys.dll), flying spiritmaster pets, better UI customization, and a number of other issues (less grind included). There also appears to be resistance to a new debuff that will be added to aether extraction. Players will now be randomly debuffed when gathering, but can quickly remove it by typing a captcha. This change is obviously aimed at bots, but many state this will become an annoyance for everyone.

Check out our summary of part one of the patch notes and AionSource's interview with NCsoft's Lani Blazier to get a comprehensive view of the situation.

MassivelyAion 1.5.1 patch additions receive an overwhelming "Meh" originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-patch-1.5.1aionsourcecrysys.dllinterviewlani-blaziernc-westncsoftpatchesMon, 09 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: The hat needs work]]>http://www.massively.com/2009/11/08/one-shots-the-hat-needs-work/http://www.massively.com/2009/11/08/one-shots-the-hat-needs-work/http://www.massively.com/2009/11/08/one-shots-the-hat-needs-work/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


When it comes to Aion, many players love just how highly detailed and cool-looking their armor and weapons are. However, when it comes to the recent holiday hats from the Aion Halloween event, those glowy pumpkin heads just don't really cut it in comparison. Even considering that, they're still fun to see. This recent image comes to us from our long-time One Shots contributor, Johanis, who writes in: Here is Metros...now almost level 25 Templar who just got his Halloween Hat. Lookin' good!

One Shots is all about reader contributions. MMOs from big to small are welcome. Just email them to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the name of the game, and a quick description. We'll post them out here and give you the love for sending 'em in.

Gallery: One Shots


MassivelyOne Shots: The hat needs work originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionhalloween-2009johanisncsoftone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotsSun, 08 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion grips top ten digital sales charts a month past release]]>http://www.massively.com/2009/11/07/aion-grips-top-ten-digital-sales-charts-a-month-past-release/http://www.massively.com/2009/11/07/aion-grips-top-ten-digital-sales-charts-a-month-past-release/http://www.massively.com/2009/11/07/aion-grips-top-ten-digital-sales-charts-a-month-past-release/#commentsFiled under: , ,

You'd be forgiven for thinking Aion would've fallen off the Steam and DIrect2Drive top ten sales charts, what with the fire hose blast of new PC releases. Fortunately for NCsoft, that isn't the case as the game is still clinging to said charts in the face of games like Dragon Age: Origins, Borderlands, Torchlight and Left 4 Dead 2. Boldness!

Actually, the game is pretty darn good -- if you don't mind your peanut butter with extra grind -- so that's not a huge surprise all things considered. It's always a good sign when an MMO can stay on the top ten after its launch, moreso when it does so against high profile, high pedigree releases. So, rejoice Aion players, you've likely got a strong community! (We could've just told you that, but now numbers vindicate said observation.)

MassivelyAion grips top ten digital sales charts a month past release originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionborderlandsd2ddigitaldirect2drivedragon-agedragon-age-originsl4d2nc-westncsoftsteamtop-tentorchlightSat, 07 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you still playing a September MMO?]]>http://www.massively.com/2009/11/06/the-daily-grind-are-you-still-playing-a-september-mmo/http://www.massively.com/2009/11/06/the-daily-grind-are-you-still-playing-a-september-mmo/http://www.massively.com/2009/11/06/the-daily-grind-are-you-still-playing-a-september-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

September 2009 saw the release of Champions Online, Dungeons & Dragons: Eberron Unlimited (an older MMO going F2P), Fallen Earth, and Aion. This was easily the busiest month for MMOs in recent memory and we're sure many of you at least picked up one of them to try out. We're curious to know if you're still playing a September MMO just over a month later. If so or if not, why?

No MMO in the history of MMOs has experienced a perfectly smooth launch and these September titles were no exception. Did the action-packed combat of CO pull you in or did the lack of content push you away? Were you awed by DDO-EU's polished suite of tools or annoyed by the limitations put on free accounts? Was Fallen Earth's post-apocalyptic setting a breath of fresh air or did you choke on a mouthful of radioactive bugs? Did the beauty and smoothness of Aion make your heart beat faster or did its grind and bot infestation crush your soul? Just how impressed were you with September's crop of new MMOs?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Are you still playing a September MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionchampions-onlinecrypticddoddo-ebberon-unlimitedfallen-earthicarus-studiosncsoftnew-titlesthe-daily-grindturbineFri, 06 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively wishes you a happy Halloween]]>http://www.massively.com/2009/10/31/massively-wishes-you-a-happy-halloween/http://www.massively.com/2009/10/31/massively-wishes-you-a-happy-halloween/http://www.massively.com/2009/10/31/massively-wishes-you-a-happy-halloween/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Halloween is probably second only to Christmas in terms of holiday popularity. Ask just about anybody what their favorite holiday is, and they'll probably list one of those two (if it fits the culture). Naturally, as MMO players, we have fun celebrating it in our virtual worlds just like we do in the real world. And boy, this year, do we ever celebrate. Just about every active MMO out there had (or has) something going on. The 2009 lineup included:
Most of these events last a few days into November, so if there's any one in particular you're dying to experience, you might still have a chance if you have a subscription laying around. If you're not able to visit any of these in person, we have screenshots from many of these events in the gallery below. Enjoy!

Gallery: Halloween 2009

EverQuest II CostumeAnother EverQuest II CostumeEverQuest II ScarecrowEverQuest II's Headless HorsemanEverQuest II Skeletons

MassivelyMassively wishes you a happy Halloween originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brraaaaaainsscavern-of-chaosdaemon-moon-risingdays-of-the-deadgalactic-moon-festivalhalloweenhalloween-2009halloween-in-mmosharvest festivalharvest-revelhaunting-of-norrathholidayholidaysmmo-halloweennights-of-lost-soulsnights-of-the-deadpumpkin-festivalroundupspooks-and-scarecrowssuper-spooktacularthe-deadly-apocalypsethe-mad-kings-revelrySat, 31 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Details for Aion's new Veteran Rewards Program]]>http://www.massively.com/2009/10/31/details-for-aions-new-veteran-rewards-program/http://www.massively.com/2009/10/31/details-for-aions-new-veteran-rewards-program/http://www.massively.com/2009/10/31/details-for-aions-new-veteran-rewards-program/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We probably don't need to point out the glaring congruity that each month you play Aion will soon be rewarded with four XP boost amulets; but we will. NCsoft just spilled the beans on their new Veteran Rewards Program. This seems slightly ironic because the game has only been out for a month. We suppose it's probably a good strategy to entice players to stick around; especially after an MMO's first month, which is arguably the rockiest.

Players will now receive special items for each month they remain subscribed to Aion. Months one to six award four Lodas Amulets (20% bonus XP for one hour) and four Revival Stones (self/player resurrection). Additionally, month one gives a cube expansion ticket (+1 free row) and a special Michael Jackson dance emote. Month three grants an extra title (Adept of Aion ) and another Forbidden Dance emote. Month six gives players special level 40 Black Cloud wings.

The disclaimer states that NCsoft can expand, revise, or end the Veteran Rewards Program at any time. With the first six months plotted out, it seems likely they will continue as the game soars ahead. Check out the official description page for full details on how to qualify.

Continue reading Details for Aion's new Veteran Rewards Program

MassivelyDetails for Aion's new Veteran Rewards Program originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionlodas-amuletmichael-jacksonnc-westncsoftrevival-stoneveteran-rewardsveteran-rewards-programSat, 31 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion releases tentative patch notes for 1.5.1]]>http://www.massively.com/2009/10/30/aion-releases-tentative-patch-notes-for-1-5-1/http://www.massively.com/2009/10/30/aion-releases-tentative-patch-notes-for-1-5-1/http://www.massively.com/2009/10/30/aion-releases-tentative-patch-notes-for-1-5-1/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In last week's community address, Aion promised some changes on the way in the next update. Today they released some tentative notes for that update as a preview of things to come. Of course the patch is still in testing and things are open to change, but it's a look at where things are headed.

Thankfully, it looks like the issue of EXP is being addressed pretty extensively. There are new repeatable quests that focus on crafting, increased EXP for gathering and crafting, increased EXP rewards for many quests in both regions, and a slight reduction in EXP penalties when you're in a group. We're anxious to see how this plays out when the patch is implemented -- a decrease in the grind will undoubtedly be welcomed by the Aion community. Rewards will be getting a little boost too, in the form of increased drop rates in several areas and new rewards here and there to make the grind a bit more rewarding.

The patch notes also include the standard tweaks -- bug fixes, skill balances, and changes to items and NPCs. Check out the full notes for all the current details, and we'll keep an eye out for a release date.

MassivelyAion releases tentative patch notes for 1.5.1 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionncsoftpatchpatch-1.5.1Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Last chance to upgrade Aion from standard to collector's edition]]>http://www.massively.com/2009/10/28/last-chance-to-upgrade-aion-from-standard-to-collectors-edition/http://www.massively.com/2009/10/28/last-chance-to-upgrade-aion-from-standard-to-collectors-edition/http://www.massively.com/2009/10/28/last-chance-to-upgrade-aion-from-standard-to-collectors-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


If you've been holding off on upgrading your standard edition version of Aion to the full-fledged collector's edition, now's your last chance. NCsoft is extending the upgrade window by only 48 more hours from Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 12:01 a.m. PDT to Friday, October 30, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. PDT. (Check the time in your area.) Here are the in-game goodies you'll receive for a $10 USD upgrade fee:

The original upgrade period ended a bit earlier than NCsoft intended due to an interneal error, which is why they are extending it until this Friday (or Saturday depending on where you live). Keep your eye on the NCsoft store if you don't want to miss out on this limited time offer. It's actually a pretty good deal because the price difference between the pre-launch standard and collector's editions was up to $20 USD depending on the merchant.

MassivelyLast chance to upgrade Aion from standard to collector's edition originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionblack cloudcollectors-editionemotesnc-westncsoftstandard-editionupgradeWed, 28 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Elvis is everywhere]]>http://www.massively.com/2009/10/28/one-shots-elvis-is-everywhere/http://www.massively.com/2009/10/28/one-shots-elvis-is-everywhere/http://www.massively.com/2009/10/28/one-shots-elvis-is-everywhere/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Okay, okay. It's not Elvis, but we feel reasonably certain he'd approve of those dashing sunglasses and the hair. That said, this One Shots comes to us from Justin M. who felt that a screenshot we've run earlier didn't do the lovely looks of Aion justice. As such, he sent in his own pretty shot along with the following note for us all to enjoy! Justin writes: Saw you post a picture talking about how beautiful Aion is, but the picture wasn't nearly as great as the many, many scenes that this game has. Here is one of my early pictures showing the diversity and beauty of the landscape, creatures, and my toon at level 14.

Think you've found a cooler looking shot from your favorite game? Why not toss in your own contribution and show off how awesome your favorite game is! It's easy to do. Just email it to oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the name of the game, and a quick description. We'll post it out here and give you credit for capturing a great moment.

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: Elvis is everywhere originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionjustin-mnscoftone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotsWed, 28 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively interview with Aion's new community manager]]>http://www.massively.com/2009/10/28/massively-interview-with-aions-new-community-manager/http://www.massively.com/2009/10/28/massively-interview-with-aions-new-community-manager/http://www.massively.com/2009/10/28/massively-interview-with-aions-new-community-manager/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Aion is easily one of the biggest MMOs of the year, so when a new North American community manager took over recently we decided it was the perfect time for an interview with the new team member, Andrew Beegle -- known as Tamat to community members.

We asked Tamat about new methods of community interaction, the hotly anticipated experience boost patch and even some personal questions about our new community manager. You can never really know enough about the person serving as the conduit to your main MMO -- at least that's what we tell them!

Continue reading Massively interview with Aion's new community manager

MassivelyMassively interview with Aion's new community manager originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aioncommunityexperienceexperience-boostexperience-patchfeaturedinterviewkoreakoreanmassively-interviewsnc-westncsoftnorth-americanorth-americanpatchservertamattranslationWed, 28 Oct 2009 11:30:00 EST