Overall, I just don’t see Aion pulling in numbers that compete with WoW fo pretty much the same reason I didn’t see WAR doing it. Gameplay mechanics aside, the setting is just not as appealing. WAR was grim, dirty, and had a twisted sense of humor whereas Aion, albeit beautiful, is very strange looking and has no ties to any preexisting IP.

WoW, on the other hand features an incredibly diverse and flexible setting for its players that is vibrant and familiar. Yet it is also a setting that reinterprets and puts a spin on traditional high fantasy elements. There's a safety zone there but also enough room for thematic exploration.

MMO veterans and adventurous players will certainly seek out Aion, but I don’t see million of people giving up their precious elves, gnomes, and orcs to play as something as bizarre as a “Deva”. The big competitor we're going to see is TOR, having an IP with a footprint so deep and beloved in our culture that its lasted for decades. Now that's something to look out for.