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The Daily Grind: What did you think of the first weekend of the Aion beta?
I spent this weekend in Atreia taking part in the first Aion beta test. I got my mage (and then spiritmaster) to level 10 and managed to explore the fringes of Eltnen by the time the beta ended in the wee small hours of this morning GMT. I would have loved to make it to the full 20 levels but a weekend was never going to be long enough to do that. How did you do? While I still think the game looks beautiful and I love the look of my Elyos as she glided through the evening air, the beta is by no means finished yet. I'm curious to see the rest before making any firm judgments on the game itself. However I've noticed that opinions are divided both within Team Massively and also people who got into the beta. Some folks loved every aspect of the game, from the graphics to the lore whilst others were bitterly disappointed. So tell me, constant readers, has your opinion of the game changed after playing for a weekend? Are you now more keen to see the full game or have you decided it's not for you? Do you think as many people will login for the next beta and try playing as an Asmodian?
Hands on with the Aion beta: Your first steps into Elysea
Yesterday, we showed you the character creation process for Aion: Tower of Eternity and today it's time to enter Elysea. The lower portion of the fractured world of Atreia, Elysea is, for the most part, as beautiful as its inhabitants. Poeta is a starter zone (actually more of an island) where the Elyos level from 1 to 9 on their journey to become Daeva and choose a subclass. It is where you learn how to play and are gently introduced to the mechanics which make Aion a very different kind of MMO.
Hands on with the Aion beta: Creating your Elyos
So the Aion beta has finally begun! You won a key, downloaded the client and now is the time to take your first steps in Elysea. For the purposes of this beta you get to play on what amounts to a PvP server and can only create characters from one faction, in this case the Elyos. However you get eight character slots meaning you can create a male and female toon from every class should you wish to.One of the best parts about starting a new game, whether it's live or on a test realm is the chance to create your avatar. The virtual personification of all your hopes and dreams as well as desires to kill anything that moves. The most important thing you're ever going to do, regardless of the game, is create a virtual you and in this game customization is the big buzzword. So join Massively after the jump on a whistle stop tour of creating your first toon in NCsoft's must-play title.
The Daily Grind: Do you prefer a structured or sandbox beta?
Betas are fun. There's that awesome feeling of specialness, you (and a few others) have been chosen to join an elite group to try out the next biggest MMO of the year. Then there's that feeling of adventure, the chance to look at a new vibrant world, immerse yourself in lore and craft a unique character. Sometimes, you even get a chance to offer feedback and actively help shape a new virtual world. Most betas are sandboxes and involve lengthy periods where you can play to your heart's content. You get a specific number of zones to play in and you can wander where you will, choose professions and do quests. But some, like Aion, are structured and designed to test a specific faction or zone, they are usually shorter, deployed in stages and much more focused. I want to know whether you prefer being left to your own devices over a period of weeks or months. Alternatively do you prefer having a shorter but more intense period of play when you are given the option of playing a specific faction? Do you prefer to choose your class or just explore and see what the world has to offer? Drop your thoughts in the comment box below.
Aion: Tower of Eternity: Preparing for the beta
I know I'm going to sound like a broken record but the Aion beta is coming. Here at Massively Towers we've gone Aion crazy since we found out about it and even gave away a batch of keys to two hundred lucky readers. Yes, all around Europe and North America people are opening their inboxes to find magical golden (in a metaphorical sense) keys which allow them access -- however briefly -- to the mystical world of Atreia. The beta, which is taking place between Friday and Monday, is the first of an ongoing series and each will examine a specific aspect of gameplay. This first jaunt introduces the angelic Elyos and the starting zone of Eltnen, you will be able to level to 20 and try any of the four main classes (which then branch out into two subclasses as you level up).
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 beta keys now in the wild, US beta confirmed
The Aion beta is fast approaching but you all knew that, right? Well confirmation came last night via the official NA Community Twitter page that keys for this weekend's event are now being distributed to thousands of lucky testers who took part in numerous giveaways. But that's not all. A couple of hours later aion_liv updated with a link to yet another beta giveaway, this time at MMORPG.com confirming there will also be a US beta this weekend. However every one of the 5000 keys they were offering had gone in a matter of hours.US players will be able to take part in their own beta test which follows the same lines as the EU: the chance to roll an angelic Elyos and level from 1 to 20 while exploring the zone of Eltnen. The US beta will begin at 12 noon PST on Friday, June 5, 2009 and conclude at 12 midnight on Sunday, June 7, 2009. More information about entering the US beta and respective giveaways can be found on the game's NA official site.If you use Twitter and don't yet have a key to either beta, don't fret as both the Liv in the US and Ayase in the EU are tweeting about any beta giveaways so you might want to add them to your follower list, along with the game's producer Brian Knox and, for those in the EU, German Community manager Martin Rabl. If you have already entered a giveaway for a key - such as the one we held earlier in the week - you might also want to keep one eye on your inbox and keep checking you spam folder just in case.
Europe getting Aion beta and keys
Aion is huge and it's not even out here yet, but that doesn't mean this WoW-killer doesn't have a massive fan base. Well European fans are in for a treat as gaming site Rock, Paper, Shotgun are offering keys to any gamer who emails them. The Aion beta will be taking place between 5-7th June and will allow participants to get a taste of the game by leveling an Elyos (the angel types) to twenty and explore the most-recently revealed zone of Eltnen. The only catch being that you must be in Europe to enter the beta, so I'm guessing the keys will only activate if the servers confirm your IP address is within the EU.So what are you waiting for, EU folks? Get emailing now before all the keys are gone!
NCsoft reveals Eltnen in a video tour
NCsoft have revealed yet another new zone for its gorgeous and must-play MMO Aion. This time it's an area called Eltnen. The video tour gives a fly-by of the zone and is accentuated by some very beautiful Chinese-inspired music. However, the zone itself is filled with ruins and desert, but for the odd oasis. NCsoft also issued an official teaser for the site which goes into a little background about Eltnen's history: "Once the breadbasket of Elysea, Eltnen is now threatened by an encroaching desert. Lady Yustiel, one of the gods of the Elyos, has established several Mystic Springs in hopes of revitalizing the area, but so far there has been little improvement. Could there be a saboteur in the mix? As if this weren't enough, the area is also under attack from mutant wildlife, alluring succubi, statues that have come to life, volcanic spirits, and of course the ever-present Krall. The Daevas are mustering their forces, preparing to defend their ethereal fortress to the death, if that's what it takes."Check out the video after the jump.
Aion leading sales for NCsoft
It's one of the must-play MMOs of 2009 and not even out here yet. However Aion, which was released in Korea late last year, is driving sales for NCsoft, according to Gamasutra. The company held a conference call to discuss their sales figures and revealed Aion has generated 42.65 billion Korean won (around $34.57 million). The call also touched upon the game's growth, stating that the Korean beta started with 25 servers and that figure has now risen, post release, to 41.Check out the full press release from NCsoft after the jump.
Aion zone video for Verteron set to the tune of majestic
It's time lose ourselves on a magical journey through- whoa, whoa! Is that a lady with big, feathery wings? Oh good, it's a new zone video tour of Aion. For a second there we thought Hawkgirl was finally assaulting us for making fun of her helmet.NCsoft has really outdone itself with the world design in Aion. The architecture alone makes us wonder if we'll ever stop exploring long enough to level up. Also, we didn't once see a zone covered in mushrooms and slathered with purple. HuzzahOur standards aren't actually that low, we promise. In fact, considering that Aion is running on a beefed up CryEngine (the one from Far Cry) there was actually quite a bit of presupposition on our part.Since Aion is proving to be pulling some visual heft, we're feeling decidedly excited for the North American launch, which is still unknown to anyone but NCsoft. Hopefully with videos like this showing off the game's serious visual oomph, we'll get a concrete launch date soon. Check out the full video after the break.
Exploring the diverse armor of Aion
As if we needed another reason to be excited for NCsoft's Aion, a recent dev article gives us some info on the diversity of armor in the fantasy MMO. This article explains how NCsoft realizes the importance of distinctive armor and the distinctions of setting your character apart from everyone else. As an example, they show the same character (a female Ranger) sporting several sets of armor in various poses.While this is simply a brief sample of the armor sets that will be available in the game when it launches later this year, it's inspiring to know just how freaking gorgeous it will be. Even compared to the way the game looked in its first public showings at PAX and the Leipzig Games Convention last year, it seems to be improving every time we see it. Be sure to read the entire dev article for several more screenshots and more on the diversity of armor in Aion.
Aion interview explores aerial combat
One of Aion's most touted features is its aerial combat, with the game's own website challenging us to abandon our limited two-dimensional thinking to make way for the future. We're not alone in wanting to know more about these flight mechanics, and when asked about them in a recent interview at Ten Ton Hammer, Associate Producer Chris Hager was able to dish out a few details. In Aion, flight time and flight speed are statistics that can be increased through gear or buffs, so players will need to choose how much they want to beef up their flight, as opposed to their other combat stats. The reason that flight statistics should be looked into comes down to the movement and positioning in the game:Aion's combat is fast paced and movement / positioning are very key. How you move effects your stats in positive and negative ways. In addition to this you will possess skills that will throw your enemy in all directions.This will certainly give an advantage to skilled players that can deftly maneuver their character, and the clumsier ones will end up harming their own stats. At the same time, aerial combat combined with knockbacks or throws sounds pretty disorienting, and it could get tiresome chasing bouncing targets (or worse, being that bouncing target) through the air. We'll have to see how it all pans out. Check out the full interview for the flight details, as well as some discussion on Aion's system specs and archetypes.
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Worlds.com files suit against NCsoft for patent infringement
You might remember earlier in the month we reported on Worlds.com placing down patents on two technologies that we commonly use in the MMO industry -- scalable chat and system and method of enabling users of interacting in a virtual space -- and how much havoc this could play with our favorite games. We also made the assumption that lawyers were going to begin marching from Worlds.com with suits in hand, beginning their demands of money.It turns out our assumption was right. Worlds.com has filed the necessary paper work to bring a suit against one of the big names in our industry: NCsoft. The suit was filed on Christmas Eve, December 24th, and charged NCsoft with infringement of patent 7,181,690, the system and method of enabling users of interacting in a virtual space, which was granted in early 2007. The suit cites all NCsoft titles, from Lineage to Aion, as the grounds for the patent infringement.As a small side note, patent 7,181,690 was filed in 2000 -- over a year after EverQuest launched and dominated the fledgling industry with somewhere around 300,000 subscribers.We contacted Worlds.com for comment on the 14th of December in connection with our first story, but they have not returned our requests for comment.We'll keep our ears to the ground as more developments appear in this story.Update: We have additional commentary on this patent suit.
Aion enters open beta in Korea
NCsoft has just announced that the highly-anticipated Aion: The Tower of Eternity MMO will be entering open beta in Korea on November 11th of this year. Not only is this exciting news for Koreans, but also for the rest of the world, as it means our betas are drawing near. NCsoft addresses this in a recent press release: "We are currently in the process of localizing and culturalizing the game for the western market in order to reach the same level of quality that the game provides for the western world, and are in heavy planning for our testing phases in North America and Europe. We are taking the utmost care in the localization process and we're dedicated to releasing the very best product in NCsoft West territories. With the ball now rolling, expect to hear much more, and see much more out of Aion in the coming months."To help us get even more excited about this game, they've sent along 2 new videos and a ton of new wallpapers in our gallery below. The first video is a CG cinematic (second video down), and the next video is an amazing 4-minute walk through some breathtaking in-game footage. This game is obviously much more than just winged combat, as these videos will prove.%Gallery-35608%
PAX08: Aion's first U.S. public showing
"Hey, isn't that the game where you have wings and fly around?"This was probably the number one quote heard around the Aion booth at PAX08. NCsoft's Aion: The Tower of Eternity had its first public showing in the States this last weekend at PAX, and the general consensus seemed to be mostly positive. As the opening quote suggests though, many gamers were after that novelty of flight, and we can't help but wonder if that will be enough to carry potential players through the game for the long haul.So we took this opportunity to spend an hour or so with the game, to get a few of those precious first impressions for our readers. Keep in mind that this is only first impressions on a game that isn't finished yet, so take it with a grain of salt.%Gallery-11511%
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.
Catching up with angels: Q&A with Aion's senior designer
The folks at NCsoft, as with many publishers nowadays, occasionally put together pre-packaged 'Q&A' pieces for sites like ours. They pass them around to get the word out about specific aspects of released or in-development titles. Today, they've given us one to clarify a few things about their angelic fantasy title Aion. They posed a few questions to the game's senior designer Kyoung Won Choi, running down everything from character customization and casual play to the broad details of their ambitious 'PvPvE' design.One concept he puts a bit of detail into is the siege system, something you're likely to recognize if you've ever played Lineage II.The main PvP area in Aion is the Abyss. There are several castles in Aion, all which can be captured by player guilds on behalf of their faction. A siege is in its very fundament a raid. Initially, each castle is controlled by the Balaur, who will not gladly give it up. A guild leader would gather his or her troops and initiate an attack on the castle and its defenders. After defeating the NPC defenders, the castle changes ownership. Since the battles take place in the Abyss, it's always possible that the other PC faction might interfere to either defend or attack. Once the castle has a new owner, there are a few hours during which no PvP can take place on the island. After this period, however, the castle is again open to attacks from the opposing faction.I don't know about you, but I haven't had a lot of exposure to this game as of yet. If you're interested, the Aion Source site seems to have quite a bit of background on the clearly beautiful title. That beauty is hard to understand just from the screenshots. I suggest checking out one of the gameplay videos NCsoft has released to date. Their most recent highlights some of the playable races, and ... again ... the beautiful scenery.Check out the interview here, and then speak up in the comments; while we won't be able to follow up directly with Mr. Kyoung, we'll get in touch with the US producers for the game to see if we can get you some more details. What do you want to know about this game? What makes sense about it, what doesn't? Let's use what NCsoft wants to tell us to figure out what we need to ask about.%Gallery-11511%
