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Everything Aion: Transportation 101
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.
Everything Aion: Flight 101
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.
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Everything Aion: Five things you need to know about surviving in Atreia
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.
Aion open beta client now available for download
Aion's open beta is officially on the way so everybody will be able to sample the delights of Atreia between September 6th and 13th. Ahead of this, NCsoft has announced the availability of the Aion beta client. The client can now be downloaded from various corners of the internet, including FilePlanet and GamersHell, but the company has also announced they are making it available via BitTorrent.Despite its shady reputation as the medium of choice for file-sharers and illegal downloads, BitTorrent itself is quite legal. Indeed it's a popular method of downloading files which has been embraced by numerous companies over the years. However, if you still want to use traditional methods, NCsoft has also announced that FilePlanet will be giving away a selection of open beta keys beginning Tuesday, September 1st. But anyone who has pre-ordered the game or won a full beta key from a competition just have to bid their time until the open beta begins.
NCsoft announces Aion NA and EU open beta details
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.
NCsoft announces its PAX plans
It's nearly September which means the Penny Arcade Expo is swiftly approaching. Taking place between September 4th-6th in Seattle, PAX is fast becoming the new must-attend convention for all sections of the industry, from developers to publishers and gamers. NCsoft has just announced their plans for this year's convention and this focuses on their three big IPs: Aion, Guild Wars 2 and City of Heroes.NCsoft will once again have booths at the event, one per game. On the Aion front, they will be showing the latest build of the game, which includes patch 1.5 (aka The Shadow of the Balaur). Producer Brian Knox and Associate Producer Lani Blazier will also be on hand at booth #642. At the Guild Wars 2 booth (#842), there will be Q and As with the Live Team, a talk on the upcoming novel The Fall of Ascalon and the chance to win a 128 page Art of Guild Wars 2 artbook. Finally at the City of Heroes booth (#542) you can take a peek at the new update ("Power Spectrum") and nab a special PAX Costume Power code. There will also be a player meet up on the Saturday night (September 5th) hosted by the Online Community Relations team, for more information on that click here.
NCsoft announces Aion has gone gold, now being manufactured
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.
