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Wings Over Atreia: Snips and snails and Asmo tales
That's what this week's column is made of! Back when I first decided I wanted to venture to the dark side of Aion and compare the leveling experiences of the two realms, I didn't really fathom that there would be so much content added that it would be hard to break away from sampling all of the goodies on my home server. Besides that, with all of the changes, comparing the leveling is just impossible. I knew that it would be easier with the introduction of repeatable quests, but it's just plain stupid-easy to level now as opposed to way back pre-Balaurea. Even with the leveling comparison effectively nixed, I still can report on the differences in the feel of the two worlds as well as just run through and reflect on my impressions of the Asmodian life to give some screen time to the glowy-eyes. Did I mention I love the glowy eyes? With that in mind, Wings Over Atreia devotes this week to the furbacks (said with love!). Glide past the cut for a look at Daevic life in Asmodae from Ascension to the Abyss.%Gallery-137905%
Wings Over Atreia: Is the dark side stronger?
"Is the dark side stronger?" "No, no, no. Quicker, easier, more seductive." "But how am I to know the good side from the bad?" "You will know...when you are calm, at peace, passive." - Luke Skywalker and Yoda, The Empire Strikes Back, 1980 While diminutive Jedi Masters seem pretty sure that the dark side isn't any stronger than the light, I on the other hand, am unconvinced. People have always been obsessed with the dark, whether its gothic architecture, horror films, death metal, or any number of other subcultures that glorify life in the shadows. Hell, even the old cliche about women preferring bad boys is a cliche for a reason. Looking at online gaming, you can find more evidence of this, whether it's the fact that Warhammer Online's population skewed heavily in favor of the Destruction faction on many servers, or that the scuttlebutt around many The Old Republic fan forums centers on how frakking awesome it will be to dress in black and brandish a red Sith-flavored lightsaber. Join me after the jump, and your journey towards the dark side will be complete.
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.
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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.
NCsoft and DC Comics announce Aion comic book
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-71519% 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!
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 dev discusses the genesis of Aion at GDC Europe
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.
NCsoft reveals Aion's Priest subclass: the Cleric
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-70359%
Final Aion CBT promises a sneak peek at launch day content
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.
Aion intro cinematic beautiful but slightly vague?
With Aion set to launch in just over a month, it seems like we're getting goodies on a daily basis that help keep the hype train in (loco)motion. The most recent release is the game's intro cinematic that gives a brief overview of Atreia's history and tries to set the tone for the PvPvE struggle between the Elyos, Asmodians, and Balaur.The trailer is done in CGI but there are times when it's hard to tell whether or not they are using cinematic graphics or in-game graphics. This is a testament to the game's Crytek engine, which the developers really seem to have taken advantage of. As for the intro story, well, to be honest it's a little vague. That isn't to say that the lore of Atreia is weak -- it truly isn't -- but the cinematic doesn't really get into the lore all that much, which has left some viewers confused. The most common questions we're hearing are, "Why are the Elyos and Asmodians fighting each other? Shouldn't they be unified by a common enemy?" and "What's this about an assassination?" One witty commenter wanted to know if Atreians are mole-people because they seem to be living inside the planet rather than outside.Check out the video for yourself after the cut!
Hands on with the Aion beta: The lore of Atreia
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.
The Daily Grind: Asmodian or Elyos?
When I first heard about Aion: Tower of Eternity, my first thought aside from "wow" was "I'm so going to play Elyos". It was the wings, you see, and I always seem to play on the 'good side'. However, having now played both sides, I'm torn. I love the look of the Elyos and their angelic society, but I also appreciate the struggles of the Asmodians. Plus they do that groovy glowing-eyes-in-combat thing which just looks awesome. I might just roll one of each. I was curious to see a lot of people loitering in Pandaemonium over the weekend advertising their Elyos guilds and the same thing happened during CBT1 but with Elyos advertising their Asmodian ones.So now you've had a chance to play both factions from Aion: Tower of Eternity I'm curious to know whether you will still roll (insert your faction here) or whether you've had a change of heart. Does a particular faction's lore or locale grab you more or have you just bonded with your avatar so much that you can't dream of defecting to the other side? If you've not changed your mind, are you going to stick with your avatar during CBT3? Were you glad the Aion devs allowed you to play Elyos this weekend or were you glad you could finally roll that Asmodian? Speak up, readers, and let us know what you think.
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Hands on with the Aion beta: Becoming a Daeva
As the Aion: Tower of Eternity Closed Beta Test 2 continues, it's time to go deeper into Asmodae. You've explored Tunapre Lake, passed through Sap Farm, explored the Odella Plantation, braved the ghost-filled Ishalgen Prison Camp and you've even discovered the Forgotten Place of Exile. As you level, the Raiders and other NPCs start to mention Daevahood and an old man called Munin. Are you ready to meet destiny? Join us after the jump to find out what the future holds.
The Daily Grind: What did you think of Asmodae?
So, Closed Beta Test 2 is over and the next one is over a week away. Aion has gone silent for now and that means we have a time to reflect on the weekend's event. I got my warrior maiden to level 10 quite easily and spent the rest of the time exploring the available zones including Altgard. I have a feeling I ended up in Morheim too but scarpered as soon as I noticed the mobs were level 40. While I will probably stick with Elyos, I can't get over how beautiful Asmodae is. It's much more aesthetically pleasing than the parts of Elysea I've seen and if they could just move the sky from Altgard Fortress and Tunapre Lake to Elysea I'd be set.So come on beta-testing readers? What did you think of Asmodae? Was it what you expected or were you, like me, a little surprised? Has it made you reconsider which race you're going to roll when the game goes live later this year? Speak up and drop your thoughts in the comments box below.
CM Ayase reveals Aion CBT2 and future beta plans
With only two days to go before the next leg of the Aion beta (aka CBT2), CM Ayase has posted more information on this weekend's event but also gone into a little more detail (much of which we already knew) about the on-going beta. However he also mentions what amount to the briefest of build notes letting us know about changes such as sever queues, NPCs fixes and 'culturalized content' (I chose to read that as 'lore') specifically for Asmodians. Ayase also reveals the subject matter of CBT3 which will focus on leveling an Asmodian from 1-20 while CBT4 will allow players to pick a side and level their avatar to 25. Perhaps the most interesting thing about the post is not what we're getting now but what is promised on the horizon including localized voice overs for cut scenes, localized tutorial video, in game pre-rendered movies (of which we saw a little in the first beta event) and more culturalized content for Asmodians and the Elyos. I'm excited already.
Aion Closed Beta Test 1 over, CBT2 dated.
It's seems everyone and their best friend was playing Aion this weekend, including most of Team Massively. The closed beta test (CBT) ended in the wee small hours of this morning with gamers providing plenty of feedback via the official forums. It wasn't too long before EU CM Ayase nipped posted an announcement regarding the next phase of testing which will see players becoming Asmodians:"The event is scheduled to start Friday, June 19th (9:00 PM CEST, 8:00 PM BST, noon PST) and to end on Monday, June 22nd (8:59 AM CEST, 7:59 AM BST, Sunday 21st 11.59 PM PST). In CBT2 we will want to focus on the very first area of Asmodae and have therefore set the level limit to 10, primarily to make sure it's properly run through, but also to allow testers to stop and perhaps smell the flowers more, to dive into the quests and quest texts more carefully and to better explore the arch-classes. More information will come shortly and more beta events are definitely set to arrive in the future, so stock up on those canned beans (okay, maybe something else) and stay tuned!"
The Daily Grind: Are you excited by the Aion beta?
I don't know about you but I'm so excited by Aion. I really can't help it, I've been following the game since it was announced. I'm pretty sure it was the angelic avatars, the ability to fly, an ethereal soundtrack and the Asian origins which captured my attention and I'm literally counting down the hours until the beta begins on Friday. Days like this make me love my job. By now the beta keys should have started landing in inboxes, including the 200 we gave away last week, and the fact they went so fast confirms my belief that a lot of people want to play this game.So come on, readers, do you have a beta key? Are you planning to roll an Elyos? Do you like the idea of a shorter beta testing a specific class/race/zone or do you prefer being left to your own devices with an entire world to explore? Would you rather play as an Asmodian? What about you folks who don't give a fig, why doesn't Aion interest you? Are you baffled by the number of people clamouring to play this new MMO?
Aion lore chapter 6: The aftermath
The Epic Cataclysm had just occurred and the people of Atreia find themselves recovering in the aftermath of the tower's collapse. How will they cope in this strange new version of their world? In true Aion style, the story of the cataclysm is told through the lens of both the Asmodians of upper Atreia and the Elyos of lower Atreia. This latest chapter of each viewpoint, Chapter VI, showcases the events directly following the tower's collapse and the 750 year period of evolution afterwards.If you have no idea what the previous paragraph means, then it's about time you read the entire story of Aion's lore. Told from two opposing perspectives, the story is currently at six chapters for each. They both tell abut the circumstances and events leading up to the Aion world that we will know when the game launches. Be sure to check out our entire Aion coverage as well as any new developments in this exciting new NCsoft fantasy MMO.
Aion's beauty shines through in Asmodian Ascension Quest video
NCsoft's upcoming MMO Aion: The Tower of Eternity is looking to be a graphically stunning game. The latest trailer, Asmodian Ascension Quest, shows off some gorgeous settings and reveals a bit of the lore, as it concerns the struggle between the Asmodian and Elyos races. The video follows a young Asmodian as she ascends to the lofty heights of the Daeva, having battled her way to godhood on land and in the sky in winged combat. If you like what you see here, be sure to check out the full high-res download over at our sister site Big Download.[Thanks, Torak]
Aion character creation video shows impressive customization options
Do you dislike character creation systems with limited customization? Clicking through the options there's not many hair styles to pick from and very limited facial choices. It lacks, the character creation system lacks everything. Or worse, there are a zillion facial sliders to adjust your eyebrows and ears, but once you log into the game all the tedious detail you worked on didn't really customize your character's facial traits at all. The only genuine difference amidst the throng of doppelgangers at the local market is newbie grab and high-end shiny equipment. As US Aion fans wait to play the game, let's look at Aion's mind-blowing character creation system. From the looks of the above video finding your doppelganger won't happen often in Aion: The Tower of Eternity. The character creation system looks to be a remarkable accomplishment considering Aion only features two playable races with the same origins, the Elyos and the Asmodians. As for Aion's current status, it wrapped up its latest closed Korean beta test yesterday. The patch notes from the Korean beta were translated to English recently, which added new content, balance changes, and lots more. One more bonus video is available for viewing after the cut.
