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Aion adding fourth race to the Atreian struggle?
The battle for power across Aion's world of Atreia is currently fought between the clawed Asmodians, the light-winged Elyos, and the dragon-esque Balaur. But NCsoft Korea has posted a picture on the Korean forums teasing the entry of a fourth race to the mix. The line above the poster translates to, "A mysterious army begins to step forth from the shadows of the Abyss." And the text below the ominous red eyes reads, "The 4th race" followed underneath that by "Elyos, Asmodian, Balaur and ..." And what exactly? Could a fourth race really be entering Atreia for good, and if so, will the race be NPC-based like the Balaur, or could a new player race actually be in the works? Or could this be just a special event? And what race could those eyes represent? According to the announcement, we'll know more come September 6th. Until then, feel free to leave your speculations in the comments below. And you can check out the entire poster after the break.
The Stream Team: Labor Day edition, September 2 - 8, 2013
To the youngsters, Labor Day has always always seemed misnomer since folks actually get to take time off from school and work. So a more appropriate moniker would be Play Day, amirite? But the older crowd knows that the day was meant to honor the hard work and contributions of workers. So in the spirit of honoring hard work, we pay homage to those who tireless toil to entertain us -- The Stream Team! Hats of to you, and a three-BBQ-rib salute to boot! Want to join us in this week-long celebration for our streamers? Then tune in to Massively TV and watch a live show or two and catch a few reruns as well. We've got all you need to know right here. (For the snacks, however, you're on your own.)
Wings Over Atreia: No Aion block party for you!
Batten down the hatches and prepare yourselves for a storm, my friends, because I have a rant that's just waiting to burst forth! I know, I know -- it's hard to believe I am that riled up over anything in Aion. After all, I've managed a grand total of only four rants in more than three years. But I am! I am downright annoyed. Ironically, this rant also comes right when I was going to give you all the heads-up on an Aion job opportunity. It's not exactly what I'd call the best timing for NCsoft to make a blunder, but it is what it is. So what is "it" exactly? You know that big summer event block party that was advertised as going until September 4th? Well, I hope you got what you wanted out of it because the bartenders have packed up and gone home. That's right: The event ended two weeks earlier than announced. Not only did this seriously put a damper on my personal Atreian adventuring plans for the next couple of weeks, but it seriously screwed with my event guide for this week's Wings Over Atreia (no point now, right?). Even worse, "it" is the fact that Aion outright said one thing but did another. And that, my friends, just chaps my hide, ruffles my feathers, and gets my goat. The whole things leaves a sour taste in my mouth and gives the game's credibility a big fat black eye.
NCsoft sales are up, income is down
NCsoft may be in a more secure position with its financials at the present, as the company released its Q2 2013 earnings report with uplifting data. Overall, the publisher and its combined subsidiaries has increased its sales by 4% over last quarter and seen a healthy bump in operating profit as well. It's not all good news; NCsoft's net income has taken a 35% nosedive quarter-over-quarter. If you strip away the subsidiaries, however, NCsoft is doing well across the board. So what's fueling these numbers? Lineage 1 remains the backbone of NCsoft's financials, boasting "an all-time high" in the sales department. Aion is reportedly doing well in China, and Guild Wars 2 is providing "stable" profits. It looks as though North American sales has decreased from Q1, but an increase in Japanese and Korean sales has more than made up for the loss.
Wings Over Atreia: Does adding aether make a mech class more Aion?
NCsoft tried to do it to me again! Smack dab in the middle of my two-part new dungeons guide for Aion's latest expansion, the studio slipped out the news about the third new class and tried to derail my plans. Well this time, it did not succeed! But just because I made the topic wait a bit doesn't mean I am not about to devote a lengthy span of words on it. At long last, there is a date for when the mechanized Aethertech will join the Gunner and Songweaver in 4.0, even if the date is only about hitting the Korean beta servers. But that means that it's not far from going live there, and when it does, its debut on the North American servers won't be far behind. As you'd expect, this news sparked a bit of excitement. Some folks, however, are decrying Aion's flagrant foul of destroying its own mythos and all but spitting on the sanctity of its genre. So we're here to discuss that: Is the Aethertech an inexcusable aberration in the lore, or does it actually fit right in?
Player-designed weapons arrive in Aion
Remember way back when (namely late 2012) when we learned of a couple of contests to design weapons for the new classes in Aion 4.0? Well those contests have run their course, and a winning design was selected for each class. And now, those weapon skins are finally available to players! Originally called the Mookie Gun, the winning Gunslinger weapon was designed by Liiga Smilshkalne, (a.k.a. Rakesh from the Israphel server). Now named Kippie's Nightmare, the final concept for the pistol "came naturally in the wee hours of the morning with the aid of a large cup of coffee," according to Smilshkalne. The winning harp design, created by Sergio Kishino (a.k.a Seey on the Tiamat server) was born from the loss of Internet. Without the game, Kishino drew an "outfit inspired by Guardian Commander and Kahrun, with a blue butterfly and golden details." Flutterlight Sonata, as the instrument is now called, completed that ensemble. As an exclusive reward, both creators received five of their winning designs. Others can get their own copies in the Black Cloud Marketplace. Be sure to check out the four new pieces of artwork in the gallery below.%Gallery-191538% [Source: NCsoft press release]
Wings Over Atreia: A quick guide to Aion 4.0 dungeons, part 2
Do you want to know why you are wading into a particular instance and decimating all you see? Or are you more of a just-get-in-and-get-it-done kind of Daeva? Either way, you've come to the right place! Welcome to the second half of the handy dandy Aion 4.0 dungeon guide. From lore to location, this guide will aid you in your journey to lay the smackdown on the latest Atreian troublemakers that are so rudely keeping your new loot from you. In the first half of the guide we could cover only six of the new instances: Steel Rose, Kamar Battlefield, Danuar Mysticarium, Danuar Reliquary, Danuar Sanctuary, and Idgel Research Center. Today's part two introduces and offers a bit of insight into the five remaining Dark Betrayal dungeons spread throughout Aion's newest zones of Katalam, Danaria, and Idian Depths. Each of these instances is for Daevas level 65+ and for groups of six (unless otherwise noted).
Aion 4.5 to introduce 'magical mechanical mounted' Aethertech class
NCsoft has announced a new class coming to Aion in the game's 4.5 patch. It's called the Aethertech, and it uses "magical mechanical mounts to unleash both short- and long-distance attacks," according to an NCsoft press release. "The Aethertech can form Gatling guns, rail guns, blades, electric whips, gigantic fists, and even rocket launchers," the firm says. Aion's 4.5 update will debut on the game's Korean test servers on July 29th. The patch will "arrive on North American servers after the normal localization process." We've tucked the brand-new trailer behind the break! [Source: NCsoft press release]
Wings Over Atreia: A quick guide to Aion 4.0 dungeons
Last time, when sharing my initial impressions of Aion Dark Betrayal, I mentioned how the expansion was so big that there was no way one Wings Over Atreia could cover it all. Well, that's putting it mildly; there's no way two or ten can, either! in fact, I am still finding gems tucked away both in game and in the patch notes, so we'll definitely have plenty to discuss for a while. This week, we're going to try to make a dent in that pile of topics by grabbing one and just running with it. Up this week: 4.0 dungeons. Now, this guide is not going to delve deeply into tips, tricks, or strategies for Aion's newest dungeons. Instead, it's concerned with the who, the where, and the why, offering a synopsis of each new instance and a look at the lore behind it. Heck, with 12 new dungeons, that's about all we could fit in -- and only half of them at that! Check out six of these new dungeons now, and stay tuned for the second half of our guide next time.
The Soapbox: You will not wish you had spent more time gaming
Spoiler alert: You are going to die. It's inescapable. Maybe you fall off a cliff. Maybe you grow old and fade peacefully into the nether. Maybe hawk-wolves pick the lock on your front door and attack while you're frying eggs and trying to remember what you had planned for the day. Maybe you sneeze on the subway and your head literally explodes, ruining the morning commute of dozens of office drones. Whatever the cause and time, death is the inevitable conclusion to the story of your life. It can be neat, it can be messy, it can be expected, it can be a surprise, but it always comes. And no matter who you are, I'm willing to bet one thing about that cacophonous moment in which the world slows and you stare death in the face: You will not wish you had spent more time raiding.
Wings Over Atreia: Initial impressions of Aion 4.0
After a bit of a rocky start (though an extended patch beats hours of waiting in a queue any day!), Aion's next big expansion finally made it out of the starting gates. And boy, did it hit the ground running! If you tried to make a new character, be it one of the new classes or not, you were tripping over new Daevas-to-be on the regular server and dealing with wait times to get on the very full Fast Track server. I, myself, made a new Asmodian Songweaver. Sadly, contrary to previous expansion launches, the new publish date for Wings Over Atreia did not leave me with nearly enough time to really wade into all the new content. There's simply so much I was barely able to dip my toes in! So diving even deeper into Dark Betrayal will have to wait until next time; for now, I'll just share my initial impressions gleaned from my first glimpses of 4.0.%Gallery-191538%
Aion 4.0 launches today, includes Asmodian incentives [Updated]
Today's the day! After months of waiting, Daevas will finally be able to spread their wings in Aion's latest expansion, Dark Betrayal, when servers open. And 4.0 comes with a dizzying array of changes, not the least of which includes the new Gunslinger and Songweaver classes to try, the new lands to explore, new fortresses to siege, and new levels and new skills to gain. To entice players into more balanced populations, NCsoft is also implementing an incentive program to encourage folks to play as Asmodians on certain servers; Asmodians on Tiamat, Siel, and Israphel will be rewarded with weapons, armor, and other supplies upon reaching certain levels. These rewards, however, are not retroactive and will only be granted on levels moving forward. While those additions alone sound like enough to keep many a Daeva busy, there's plenty more. Other tidbits introduced in 4.0 are an extension of the Fast Track server to include Inggison and Gelkmaros and the removal of arrows when using bows. For even more details and impressions on Dark Betrayal, watch for Wings Over Atreia this weekend. And check out the new classes tonight in a two-hour show (with a special guest) on Massively TV starting at 7:00 p.m. EDT. [Source: NCsoft press release] [Update: Expect a bit more downtime than anticipated. According to a post on the official forums, Aion "client files have gone missing from our 3rd party CDN" and the techs could need as many as six hours to fix the problem and bring the game online.]
Jukebox Heroes Exclusive: Aion 4.0's soundtrack
This week, Aion will welcome into the world a bouncing baby expansion: Dark Betrayal, aka Aion 4.0, on June 26th. While I don't play the game, I've been keenly interested in the soundtrack ever since first sampling its wares for the first-ever Jukebox Heroes column. There are several scores out for Aion now, and once Dark Betrayal hits this week, there will be yet another one. Aion 4.0's score was handled by four composers: Jeon Byungkyu, Joo In Ro, Kim Won Ki, and Park Soyeon. There are action pieces, tranquil tunes, and even goofy medleys, but the theme that connects all of these composers' works together is a pristine beauty that is the hallmark of Aion's collective score. So how would you like to listen to some new music? How would you like to hear six exclusive tracks from Aion 4.0? I know I was pretty excited when the team sent me the entire soundtrack and asked me to cherry-pick my favorites for this column, and I hope you enjoy what you're about to hear.
Some Assembly Required: Five ways MMOs should support player events
Over the course of Some Assembly Required, we've covered a few player-run events out there that haven't been highlighted in their respective game columns. After all, we're all about PGC here, and you can't really get content more player-generated than that! But with all the the possible events across the whole gamut of games, there's no possible way to attend them all, let alone cover them here; there is only so much time in the day and space in the column. Of course, that won't stop me from trying! From Age of Conan to Warhammer Online, a few of the events I've been able to catch are festivals, races, plays, fishing contests, tavern storytelling nights, quests (yes, quests), treasure/scavenger hunts, trivia contests, arena duels, gambling nights, musical concerts, war games, horse races, weddings, dance-offs, terraforming challenges, auctions, jousts, fashion shows, tournaments, funerals, crafter fairs, and more contests than can even be mentioned. These examples aren't restricted to any one genre, either; creatively concocted events run the gamut and include themeparks like Aion, MOBAs like SMITE, and more -- and not just sandboxes. As you might have noticed, that's quite a bit of content, content that comes at no cost to the the studio! So why is it these events can be so hard to find? With so much free content at their fingertips, it would behoove studios to make it the norm to support and promote these events. And the tools they need to do so are already at their disposal.
Aion 4.0 slated for August launch in Europe
While Daevas in North America are looking forward to Aion's 4.0 launch next week, those in Europe have to wait longer due to the extra localization involved with multiple languages. But that wait won't be long: Gameforge has announced that the latest expansion is planned to launch this summer. Volker Boenigk, Executive Product Director for Aion at Gameforge, stated, "The necessary work towards this for 4.0 is progressing well and I'm confident that the update will be available on the European servers in August." Eager to storm the lands of Katalam or try your hand at the new Engineer or Artist classes (which become the Gunner and Songweaver, respectively)? if so, your time will soon be at hand. [Source: Gameforge press release]
Wings Over Atreia: Exclusive peek into Aion 4.0's new zones
I have a pretty standard M.O. when it comes to my MMOs: Regardless of how various tutorials want to direct me, I wander off and explore the new world I find myself in. I love to poke around, look into corners, and see all there is to see. The same goes for any time a patch or expansion opens up new places to meander through. That's really just how I roll/run/fly/shamble/hop. So it should come as no surprise that I am excitedly awaiting the new lands of Katalam and Danaria when Aion: Dark Betrayal launches on the 26th. I know that I am not alone in my anticipation, so for all those who are also looking forward to taking off into Aion's new realms, I've got something special for you. No, I can't let you into the game early (but if they ever open the door early for me, I'll prop it for you!), but I do have the next best thing to a first-hand experience: a visual tour. I've gotten a hold of -- legitimately, I swear -- a video and a number of screenshots showing off all three (yes, I said three) new zones, and I want to share them with you. On top of that, I also have some highlights of the story behind these new areas that Daevas will soon be soaring into. Join me to take a tour and learn the lore of Katalam, Danaria, and Idian Depths.%Gallery-191538%
Aion interview discusses changes in crafting, a new rift, and more
With Aion: Dark Betrayal just a short two weeks away, many eyes are turning (and returning) to the world of Atreia. The Gunslinger and Songeweaver have certainly sparked interest in new and veteran players alike. But 4.0 is more than just the new classes; it also includes an updated crafting system (to create items comparable to those in dungeons and the Abyss) and changes to neutral zone mechanics (to prevent invulnerable healers). To answer some player questions about 4.0 and beyond, developer Seunguk Baek discussed these topics with Massively, touching on lower-level PvP, racial abilities, and even a new type of rift for higher-level Daevas that opens to another dimension entirely. See what he has to say after the break.
Massively Exclusive: Aion 4.0 videos showcase new classes and skills
The clock is ticking down, and the wait for Aion 4.0 is almost over. But eager Daevas don't have to sit and twiddle their wings until June 26th to see the new classes in action; NCsoft offered Massively a sneak peek with a new trailer depicting the Gunslinger toting guns galore (from pistols to aethercannons) and the Songweaver, who packs a mean treble clef and can heal mana. If you want to blast holes in your opponents or turn them into dancing penguins, this is the video for you. Not interested in a new class? Then how about getting a gander at the new skills coming to the tried and true classes! There's something new for everyone as Daevas advance up to level 65. Take a look at those skills in the second video beyond the break. [Source: NCsoft press release]
Choose My Adventure: Put me in, coach
Every games writer must wonder, at some point in his career, whether he is in fact horrible at video games. Be the game Dota 2, EVE Online, or any of the other titles that make up my weekly play schedule, I worry I'm much better at having a good time than I am at actually manipulating game mechanics and making them perform the way I would want. But it doesn't have to be that way. Yes, dear friends -- I can change. I just can't do it alone. I need your help to become the most powerful, handsome, talented, handsome, elite-geared, handsome video gamester in all the world. It's up to you to Choose My Adventure and in doing so to decide which title offers me the best chance of becoming a golden gaming god and offers you the best chance to be my tough-but-fair coach who is totally a lovable teddy bear underneath all the swearing and yelling.
Massively Exclusive: Witness the betrayal in Aion's 4.0 E3 Trailer -- Beritra's Plot
We've known for some time now that Aion's upcoming expansion, Dark Betrayal, is coming out this month. And thanks to this weekend's announcement, we even have the exact date the new classes and new lands will become available. But one bit of information has still eluded us: The details of this nefarious betrayal. Who exactly betrayed whom? The answer lies in this new 4.0 E3 launch trailer. Dragon Lord Tiamat, defeated by Daevas, was betrayed by one of her own -- one who stole her dark secret to unlocking a powerful weapon for himself. And now that weapon is poised to bring forth a new era for the Balaur by eradicating Elyos and Asmodians alike. Get a glimpse of the newest threat to Daevas and watch the plot unfold in the launch trailer after the break. [Source: NCsoft press release]
