aion-beta posts

Everything Aion: Transportation 101

by Lesley Smith Sep 6th 2009 at 8:00PM

Transportation is important to any MMO, especially one like Aion which doesn't include the option of a mount. Yes, there are no cats, no horses or flying creatures to ride. It's just you, your feet, your wings and a little magic. Now the starter zones might look small but the main areas are ten times the size which can take a good half an hour to cross, not including time spent dying. Today we're going to have a look at transportation and what you need to know to navigate around. Elysea and Asmodae so join us after the jump to find out the secrets of travel in Aion.

Tags: aion, aion-beta, aion-open-beta, aion-patch-1.5, aion-the-shadow-of-the-balaur, aion-the-tower-of-eternity, aion-tips, aion-tower-of-eternity, asmodian, asmodians, elyos, elyos-daeva-ascension, ncsoft, open-beta

Everything Aion: Flight 101

by Lesley Smith Sep 6th 2009 at 4:00PM

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Aion, Events, in-game, Lore

Flight is probably the thing which has drawn most people to Aion. The idea of soaring high above the cloud on a pair of white/black-feathered wings is a universally appealing one. The reality, however, is a little different. Flight in Aion is not something you can do immediately nor indefinitely and the rules for this are not just to be annoying, they are a part of the game's world and lore.

Join us after the jump when we look at everything you need to know about using your wings.

Tags: aion, aion-beta, aion-flight, aion-open-beta, aion-patch-1.5, aion-the-shadow-of-the-balaur, aion-the-tower-of-eternity, aion-tips, aion-tower-of-eternity, asmodian, daeva, elyos, everything-aion, open-beta

Everything Aion: Five things you need to know about surviving in Atreia

by Lesley Smith Sep 6th 2009 at 10:00AM

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Aion, Events, in-game, Patches

With NCsoft's release of Aion coming up on the 22nd and 25th September in North America and Europe, we thought we had better give you the basics on the land of Atreia ahead of the open beta which begins today. So, we're going to give you all the info you need to dive into their beautifully detailed world. After the jump, we're going to look at the five things you need to know if you've never played Aion before.

Tags: aion, aion-beta, aion-launch, aion-patch-1.5, aion-the-shadow-of-the-balaur, aion-the-tower-of-eternity, aion-tips, aion-tower-of-eternity, asmodians, balaur, elyos, kinah, legions, open-beta

NCsoft and DC Comics announce Aion comic book

by Lesley Smith Sep 2nd 2009 at 5:00PM

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Aion, Events, real-world, Events, in-game, Lore, New titles, News items

NCsoft and DC Comics have teamed up to create a limited edition comic based on Aion which focuses on the Asmodian Daeva Aiva. She might look familiar as her image is used to advertise the game and a statue of her will also be found in the Collector's Edition when Aion is released later this month.

"Aiva's Story" is the work of artist Neil Googe and writers David Noonan and Ricardo Sanchez. Aiva's life is torn apart when her family is killed by an Elyos raiding party. Embittered, she endures a harsh life as a mercenary, fighting Karnifs and the Mau. She brings with her a festering hatred for the white-winged Elyos, eventually ascending to Daevahood and is posted to the Abyss. The comic book will be available (albeit in limited quantities) at the Aion booth at this weekend's Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle but fans will also be able to get their hands on a copy by purchasing the game at GameStop in the US and Electronic Boutique stores in Canada..

You can check out our gallery below to see the cover art in it's full glory, as well as some internal artwork.

Gallery: Aion: Aiva's Story

Want to know more about Aion? NCsoft invites you into the world of Atreia where the Elyos and the Asmodians fight each other and the evil Balaur for control of the shattered planet. Check out out all our coverage of this must-play MMO!

Tags: aion, aion-aiva, aion-beta, aion-comic-book, aion-patch-1.5, aion-the-tower-of-eternity, aion-tower-of-eternity, asmodian, asmodians, ncsoft, pax, pax-2009, penny-arcade-expo

NCsoft announces Aion NA and EU open beta details

by Lesley Smith Aug 27th 2009 at 1:00PM

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Aion, Guild Wars, Events, real-world, Events, in-game, Lore, New titles, Patches, News items

There have been rumblings for weeks about an open beta for Aion, NCsoft's latest MMO and the company has finally confirmed details about what we can expect. North American and European gamers who may not have gotten access to the Closed Beta Tests will get an opportunity to sample Aion, exploring the beautiful world of Atreia as either an Asmodian or Elyos. The beta will take place between September 6th – 13th and will include the new Westernised character customization options, as well as a chance to see The Shadow of Balaur, the newest patch which was added to the Korean version of the game in August.

As with the final CBTs, the open beta will have a level cap of 30, which means new players to the game can experience ascension to Daevahood as well as the PvPvE area known as the Abyss. Gamers who pre-ordered Aion will also get access to the pre-select and a two-day headstart before the game officially launches on September 22nd in the US and the 25th in Europe. The pre-select will take place on September 18, while Aion's headstart period will begin September 20. So if you want to take part, it might be wise to pre-order now, especially given the new Guild Wars cross promotion we told you about earlier in the week.

Tags: aion, aion-beta, aion-cbt, aion-open-beta, aion-patch-1.5, aion-the-shadow-of-the-balaur, aion-the-tower-of-eternity, aion-tower-of-eternity, asmodian, asmodians, elyos, elyos-daeva-ascension, guild-wars, ncsoft

NCsoft posts epic video interview with Aion Lead Designer Yongchan Jee

by Lesley Smith Aug 21st 2009 at 1:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Aion, Interviews, New titles, News items

GamesCom is in full swing with NCsoft taking full advantage of social networking, from twittering about their activities to streaming video on Facebook in order to promote their newest MMO. Aion has been the talk of the show with everything from an eye-catching booth and drool-worthy swag to live theatre (a must-see even if the acting is cringe-worthy) to an interview with the Korean development team.

Associate Producer Lani Blazier took to the stage to put the audience's questions to Aion's Lead Designer Yongchan Jee in an epic seventy minute video. This includes discussing the origins of the combat system and PvPvE, what makes Aion different from other games like WoW and Lord of the Rings Online to offering advice for would-be games designers. The interview itself is great because it's not just all about the English devs, instead we're getting to the source and a chance to listen to direct answers from one of the creators of 2009's most anticipated MMO.

Check out the full video after the jump.

Tags: aion, aion-beta, Aion-gamescom, aion-interview, aion-the-tower-of-eternity, aion-tower-of-eternity, lani-blazier, ncsoft, yongchan-jee

NCsoft dev discusses the genesis of Aion at GDC Europe

by Lesley Smith Aug 21st 2009 at 12:00PM

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Aion, Lineage 2, Game mechanics, Lore, MMO industry

Aion dev Yongchan Jee spilled the beans on the game's origins as part of a GDC Europe Q and A session. Gamasutra were on hand to find out what exactly makes the game stand out in Korea. This included addressing a gap in the market for 'AAA' titles after the release of Lineage II and World of Warcraft, as well as focusing on a faction warfare angle which sees the two player-controlled races of the Elyos and the Asmodians fighting against each other and the terrifying Balaur. Jee also discussed how the game was rebooted in 2006 and while this did affect the moral of the developers, it ultimately allowed them to start from scratch and create a truly memorable game.

Lee also focused on the character customisation, discussing the concepts of beautiful and ugly characters in MMOs like World of Warcraft, where Korean players often favour the Alliance over the Horde. He also explained why the devs chose to create Aion as a zone-based MMO over a seamless world. Aion fans should definitely check out Gamasutra's write up for even more hints at Aion's gestation and conception.

Tags: aion, aion-beta, aion-the-tower-of-eternity, aion-tower-of-eternity, asmodians, balaur, elyos, gdc-europe, gdc-europe-2009, lineage-2, lineage-ii, world-of-warcraft, Yongchan-Jee

NCsoft reveals Aion's Priest subclass: the Cleric

by Lesley Smith Aug 18th 2009 at 5:00PM

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Screenshots, Aion, Classes, News items

It seems with rumblings of an open beta reverberating through the interweb, Aion is never far from the thoughts of the avid MMO player or Team Massively. NCsoft just sent through a new (and shiny) batch of lovely Cleric-centric screenshots for your perusal. Focusing on the first of two subclasses, Clerics are healers who use "the power of magic to strengthen allies and heal their wounds. They can resurrect their allies. They are formidable opponents in melee when using a mace and a shield."

Focusing on a rather gruff-looking Elyos, a dainty female Asmodian with scary eyes and another Asmodian sporting what looks like a new set of wings, the images are pure eye candy. Got beta withdrawal symptoms yet? Well check out our gallery below and hang on in there. Over the coming weeks we'll be bringing even more Aion news your way as we hurtle towards the much anticipated launch.

Gallery: Aion: A closer look at the Priest: the Cleric

Tags: aion, aion-beta, aion-classes, aion-cleric, aion-launch, aion-open-beta, aion-screenshots, aion-the-tower-of-eternity, aion-tower-of-eternity, asmodians, elyos, ncsoft

NCsoft announces Aion has gone gold, now being manufactured

by Lesley Smith Aug 17th 2009 at 4:00PM

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Aion

Aion, NCsoft's latest MMO that is due to launch in the US and Europe next month, has just gone gold, the company has announced. For those not in the know, this means the game has been completed and is now being manufactured for release. Yes, that's it, the game is done. This comes after Aion has topped Steam's weekly sales chart and the Collector's Edition has almost sold out in the UK.

The announcement hits just a few days before GamesCom 2009 in Cologne, Germany where NCsoft will be demoing version 1.5 of the game, which includes The Shadow of the Balaur content patch that was released in Korea on August 5th. NCsoft will also be demoing this latest version of the game at this year's Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle and it will also be included with the North American and European versions of the game when Aion is released on September 22nd/25th. The Shadow of the Balaur promises new zones, instances, quests and some specially created Western looks within the expansive character customisation system.

Tags: aion, aion-beta, aion-patch-1.5, aion-the-shadow-of-the-balaur, aion-the-tower-of-eternity, aion-tower-of-eternity, gamescom, gamescom-09, gamescom-2009, ncsoft, pax, pax-2009

Aion Elyos and Asmodian origin videos revealed

by Lesley Smith Aug 14th 2009 at 5:00PM

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Aion, Events, in-game, Lore, New titles

With the sixth and final Closed Beta Test for NCsoft's newest title, Aion, beginning later today. Things are starting to get really interesting. YouTube is a haven for all things video, especially when it comes to gaming and a look at those which aren't yet out. Well, a Hungarian fansite has uncovered the Elyos and Asmodians origin videos and posted them on their Youtube channel. Both videos are short but packed with lore and done in a similar style to the Aion origins video we told you about last month.

Told from the perspective of a member of each race, the two videos narrate the first meeting of the Elyos and the Asmodians after years of separation. The Elyos blundered through a rift and a simple misunderstanding, perceived differently by each side, led to the start of a bitter feud. The Elyos believed the Asmodians were corruptions and that both them and their land must be destroyed, while the Asmodians feel it is their right to conquer the Elyos and their lush land simply because they believe they – and their Shedim Lords – were the ones who saved Atreia from complete destruction during the Cataclysm.

Juicy stuff, eh? Well check out the videos in their complete Korean glory after the jump (click on cc to get the English subtitles).

Tags: aion, aion-beta, aion-cbt6, aion-lore, aion-the-tower-of-eternity, aion-tower-of-eternity, aionsource

Final Aion CBT promises a sneak peek at launch day content

by Lesley Smith Aug 12th 2009 at 8:00PM

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Aion, Events, in-game, Lore, Patches, News items

Is it nearly September? Apparently so as the sixth and final Aion Closed Beta Test (CBT) kicks off this weekend. Over the last five CBTs we've had the chance to play both Elyos and Asmodians, to see the starter zones and the Abyss, to taste the PvPvE content, find our avatar's voice and, of course, spread our wings and fly. According to the game's official site, CBT 6 sees the level cap at 30, ready for some higher level content from The Shadow of the Balaur, also known as patch 1.5.

Perhaps more promising is the announcement of new story-driven content designed to give us a taste of what is to come: "We want to conclude closed beta testing on a high note, so we are arranging a series of story-driven in-game events, in part hinting at some of the much-anticipated content forthcoming in with our massive release day patch."

Here's hoping for a little Dreadgion action and a taste of Dark Poeta when the beta kicks off this Friday at noon PST and 8pm CEST over in Europe. We'll keep you updated as soon as the Aion dev team get into more specifics about their plans.

Tags: aion, aion-beta, aion-cbt6, aion-patch-1.5, aion-the-tower-of-eternity, aion-tower-of-eternity, asmodian, asmodians, elyos

Hands on with the Aion beta: The lore of Atreia

by Lesley Smith Aug 7th 2009 at 6:00PM

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Aion, Lore

Now we've had a good look at Aion and tried out both factions it's time to look deeper into what makes the game tick. You might have got your wings and may even have done a little PvP but you've probably starting to pay more attention to the reasons behind the enmity between Elyos and the Asmodians and the lore of Atreia. Indeed, it's hard not to as, like any MMO, lore is the backbone of the game itself and the reasons we play.

While some of the lore can be gleaned from the in-game dialogue, sometimes you have to look deeper. NCsoft recently created a wiki on the official site, which allowed them to not only explain the game to new players but also gave them the perfect opportunity to expand on the lore. They also released an origins video, which presented key events in Atreia's history in the form of a narrated montage. Join us now as we look deeper into the lore behind a fascinating game.

Tags: aion, aion-beta, aion-lore, aion-the-tower-of-eternity, aion-tower-of-eternity, asmodian, asmodians, elyos, ncsoft, ncsoft-west, the-tower-of-eternity

The Daily Grind: Is beta testing just free labour?

by Lesley Smith Aug 6th 2009 at 8:00AM

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Sci-fi, Aion, The Daily Grind, Champions Online, Cities XL

It seems 2009 is the Summer of Betas. There certainly are a lot going on at the moment: Aion, Cities XL and Champions Online are just three of the most popular currently going on but the sheer concept of beta testing is a bit of a bug-bear amongst players. There are basically two camps: those who lap up a beta and treat it is a chance to explore the newest games (and seems to include most of Team Massively) or the latest content months before anyone else. Camp number two is a little more pragmatic. For these folks, betas (while fun and exciting) are just an excuse for Company X to save some money by getting a few million free and eager quality assurance monkeys. After all they ask for detailed bug reports and the same kind of information that is asked of professionals who get paid minimum wage to play games for hours.

So, readers, as you mull over your coffee and cereal this morning, I'm eager to know to which camp you see yourself belonging? Are betas just a cheap ploy to get a few thousand fresh pairs of eyes or a genuine attempt to gauge a new game? Drop your thoughts in the box below.

Tags: aion, aion-beta, aion-the-tower-of-eternity, aion-tower-of-eternity, beta, beta-test, beta-tester, beta-testers, beta-testing, betas, champions-online, cities-xl, the-daily-grind

Second Aion vidcast now available

by Lesley Smith Aug 5th 2009 at 11:00AM

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, Aion, Interviews

As we inch closer to the Aion launch on 22nd and 25th September (NA and EU, respectively), the excitement about NCsoft's latest MMO is reaching fever pitch. Yesterday, G4TV released the second Aion vidcast (the first one was hosted by IGN). Featuring devs including Associate Producer Lani Blazier and Producer Brian Knox, this one is all about character customisation. The interviews are also interspersed with some impressive in-game footage and rather arty shots of their Seattle offices.

The vidcast begins by going through the differences between PvP, PvE and PvPvE. Indeed the highlight has to be seeing Lani try to figure out the best pronunciation of PvPvE. There's also a rundown of the main classess and the sub-class choices you can pick upon Ascending. If you're looking for one word that sums up both the game and this vidcast, it would have to be 'uniqueness'. While none of the information will be new to people playing the beta or who have been following the game, it's great to see more of the people behind the game and their genuine passion for Atreia.

Hit the jump to check out the video.

Tags: aion, aion-beta, aion-classes, aion-the-tower-of-eternity, aion-tower-of-eternity, aion-video, aion-video-tour, brian-knox, lani-blazier, ncsoft, ncsoft-north-america, ncsoft-west

NCsoft release Korean trailer for Aion patch 1.5

by Lesley Smith Aug 2nd 2009 at 10:00AM

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Aion, Patches, News items

For us here in the west, the launch of Aion might still be on the horizon. However, having had the game for the better part of a year, gamers in Korea have already turned their attention to patch 1.5. Indeed this is something we should also be excited about as the localized version of Aion aimed at Europe and the US will include this newest content patch.

With this in mind, NCsoft over in Korea has revealed a trailer touting the new patch, catchily nicknamed The Shadow of the Balaur. According to translated patch notes from the official Korean site, 1.5 will include new instances that will see players visiting a twisted Balaur-infested version of the Elyos starter zone known as Dark Poeta. There's also a flying ship crewed by the adorable ferret-like Shugo and a new battleground. On top of that are plenty of minor changes including the ability to zoom in on the minimap, four new face presets, new armour sets and, my personal favourite, in-game clothing in the form of kimono and the imperial uniforms of China and Taiwan.

Check out the video after the jump for a taste of what's to come.

Tags: aion, aion-beta, aion-korea, aion-patch-1.5, aion-the-tower-of-eternity, aion-tower-of-eternity, aion-trailer, aion-video, balaur, ncsoft, ncsoft-korea, plaync, video