Aion

Some people play MMOs because they love the challenge. Some are there for the social aspects. Still others stick with their favorite titles because they're deeply in love with the content or lore. Every single gamer reading this post has a different reason for logging into their MMO of choice instead of watching television, reading a book or choosing any other type of recreation.

There is no right way to enjoy a game. Despite the fact that our comments section is often filled with people letting others know what they "should" or "shouldn't" be playing based on their affinity for certain in-game functions, having fun is a very personal experience that depends entirely on your tastes and desires. If you're having a good time in a game, you're doing it right.

It's all about the little things.

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As much as I can understand and even encourage a wide array of gaming rituals, this particular one really needs to go. But it's out of our hands; in order for it to happen, kinah-selling must be seriously curtailed in Aion. Some players have questioned whether NCsoft even cares about the kinah-selling problem. I think the answer to that came in the studio's announcement this past week. In a bold new move in the fight against illicit RMT, NCsoft is poised to piledrive the kinah-selling population.

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While North American Daevas have been enjoying all the goodies that came with Aion 3.5 since last October, folks across the pond had to continue to wait for their turn. Now, though, the wait is finally over as Gameforge has released patch 3.5 on the European servers. EU Daevas can get their PvP on in new arenas, enjoy special legion quests (along with a legion level cap increase to eight), and dive into new dungeons like Tiamat's Stronghold. Players wanting a break from the adventuring side of life can take part in the new village improvement process to get new housing designs and add NPCs to the neighborhood.

Get a glimpse of Tiamat as she awaits you in the trailer after the break, then hop in game to face her for yourself!

[Source: Gameforge press release]

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I'm a big fan of Korean MMOs. I don't know why, exactly, other than I'm partial to the unquantifiable exoticness on display in games like ArcheAge, Aion, TERA, Lineage II, and others.

Unfortunately from my perspective, the powers-that-be in the MMO industry usually decide that Korean MMOs must be "westernized" before they debut in America, and while the term means different things to different games, it usually involves monkeying with the progression curve, rewriting quests that depend on cultural context, etc.

I'd just as soon play Korean MMOs exactly as they were originally designed (albeit with a quality English text translation). How about you, Massively folk? Assuming you like eastern MMOs, would you prefer a straight-up language translation or do you support "westernizing" a game to make it more palatable to American or European audiences?

[Note: Something is wonky with the comments on this post today. Sorry for the weirdness!]

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

Well, speak of the devil! No sooner did I get done exploring the topic of whether or not PvP is player-generated content than I stumbled upon some players generating content based on PvP in Aion. And by "stumbled upon," I mean "noticed on the launcher while loading up for some winged fun." The group Epidemic Gaming was set to host a PvP tournament on the Tiamat server. As an obvious fan of PGC, I immediately made plans to attend.

I'll be the first to admit I am not by any means a master of PvP (so you can quit your laughing over there before your sides split), but both the announcement and the message itself brought a smile to my face and more hope to my heart. Heck, I may even have more spring in my step! Why? I'll tell you why! Join me as we check out this battle royal where the Daevas of Tiamat duke it out until there's only one standing as well as what an event such as this means for Aion.

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Beyond amazing character design, compelling narratives, and the presence of dragons, there is one thing that all MMOs depend upon for success: player loyalty. Without returning subscribers, a loving community, or folks dropping a few dimes in the cash shop now and again, MMOs simply wouldn't be a feasible way for a games studio to do business. Smart development teams have player retention departments tasked specifically with tracking and analyzing the rise and fall of player allegiances and finding ways to leverage loyalty is becoming an increasingly important aspect of the creation process.

Even the non-gaming world is getting in on the fray. Back in November, researchers at the University at Buffalo School of Management published a study tracing the roots of player loyalties in a variety of MMO environments. The study outlined the mentalities of MMO gamers and the things that successfully encouraged them to keep coming back for more looting, more grinding, and more /hugging. Most importantly, the study declared that an MMO that increases loyalty by just 5% can increase profits by 25-95%.

We sat down with Dr. Lawrence Sanders, co-author of the study, to dive a little deeper into the researchers' methods, results, and plans for future MMO investigation.

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The end is near! No, not of the world -- the end of 2012. And as is customary at the conclusion of a year, we look back over the past 12 months to assess the damage... er, I mean, review the highlights. This year, however, I'm not going to just ruminate on the top stories in Wings Over Atreia; I'm going to spice things up a bit with a naughty and nice list! That's right, folks; we are delving into both the great and the not-so-great things that have transpired in Aion since January.

So bust out the spiced mela cider, grab a plate of gingerbread shugos, and join me as I make a list and check it twice to see how NCsoft has been naughty and nice.

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We've been teased with bits of information and still shots for various aspects of Aion's upcoming 4.0 expansion for quite some time. Today, we finally get to see it live! No, I don't mean the patch is live, sadly; rather, NCsoft has released two trailers highlighting the new lands, classes, and skills that eager Daevas can expect when the expansion finally hits North America.

The first video highlights the new zone Katalam with its various landscapes, shows off a fortress siege, spotlights the new classes, and demonstrates a number of new skills, including the new intensity skills players charge for a more powerful effect. On top of that, it zooms through a host of new instances, introducing even more than those already revealed. It also appears to suggest a new type of character customization, but there is no additional information currently available. The second video focuses solely on the new skills coming to existing classes.

Feast your eyes on all of the visual goodness in the two trailers after the break and tell us what you think!

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Immortalize yourself in Aion!

Previously, NCsoft gave players the chance to make their mark in Aion by designing a unique weapon for the Gunner class in the upcoming 4.0 update; now, it's the Bard's turn. So instead of guns, get those creative juices flowing for musically themed creations.

Like the previous run, players should note that it is not actually a contest -- no prizes will be awarded either inside game or out. However, if your submission is chosen, you will not only get official recognition that your artwork will be incorporated in game, but you will also be able to participate in the naming process of your weapon.

The non-contest is open to everyone and runs from now until January 3, 2013. To participate, designers need to submit an original work, either hand-drawn or computer-generated, along with an explanation of the concept and intent behind the design. For full details, read the official rules.

The strains of festive music wafting about Santum and Pandamonium. The glow of twinkling lights adorning the trees. The chatter of Shugos wearing red velvet robes and hats. Yes folks, it's that time of year again: It's Solorius in Aion! And you know what that means... OK, besides a festival filled with holiday-themed goodies. It means it's time for the annual Solorius wish list! And this year the venerable list is combined with another annual tradition: the Solorius medley.

You may notice that this season's list is actually more modest compared to those from years of yore. It's not that I don't want to see a plethora of goodies injected into the wonderful world of Aion. On the contrary! But we already know of many things coming our way in 4.0, and I don't want to distract the devs from getting them out to us quickly. And besides, those previous lists have been whittled down as wishes have been granted. Don't believe me? See for yourself. Then be sure to add anything else you want to see in Atreia to the list.

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If the trickles of information about Aion 4.0 are making you crazy with anticipation, you might be pleased to hear that NCsoft has just revealed the four new instances coming in the expansion.

The new dungeons are: Underground Katalam, a labyrinth where owning the fortresses will make travel easier; Lunadium, home of the broken-hearted witch Grendal; and Katalamize, a 12-Daeva instance boasting the strongest boss of all of 4.0. On top of those, the expansion is also bringing yet another new type of siege, just like 3.0 introduced a new one with the Hearts in Tiamaranta. The new fortresses will also have two unique additions to the standard fortress instance: a solo instance and a special version for the controlling legion that offers better rewards than the original. For more details, check out the official announcement.

With so much news trickling out about Aion's upcoming -- and as of yet undated -- 4.0 expansion, it was easy to miss news about today's 3.7 patch. Mum's no longer the word, though, as NCsoft has just released the patch notes so folks can read up on what to expect when the servers come back online.

So what tantalizing new things await Daevas? For one, there's a brand-new level 55+ instance called The Hexway deep in Silentara Canyon. Many other higher-level instances will have altered entry times, changing from timed lockouts to opening at a specific time each day. Other additions to the game include a 2v2 training arena in the Crucible Coliseum, a new escape skill (in case you get stuck in terrain), and furniture paint guestblooms and paint remover. On top of that, Daevas also get a separate cube for quest items, coins, and tickets!

Changes are also coming to the Fast-Track server. Along with the Steel Rake instances, this PvP-free zone will allow Daevas up to level 55; however, the server XP boost is not available for the level 50+ crowd.

Aion's third and final new class has been revealed, sort of. MMO Culture reports on a lengthy Korean press release focused on the title's upcoming 4.0 patch during which NCsoft teased a couple of images that show a Daeva encased in some sort of fearsome mech suit.

The site says "it is almost certain that these machines can switch between cannon-ranged mode and a lance-melee mode." The class's English name is not yet known, but the Korean translates as Armored Castle. You can view the hour-plus press conference via the video after the break, but be warned that it's in Korean and lacks subtitles.

Aion's 4.0 patch is scheduled for December 20th in Korea. There is no word yet on a European or American launch date.

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Exploit: an act or deed, especially a brilliant or heroic one or to make use of selfishly or unethically? Well, both. But as much as I wish the title of this week's Wings Over Atreia referred to my amusing (and oh-so-heroic) antics throughout the gorgeous world of Aion, it is actually about the latter. Or is it?

Most likely, one of your first thoughts when you hear the word exploit is that it's a trick that takes advantage of some bug for personal gain. That thought is often followed by images of a banhammer. It makes sense; you are gamers, after all. Now, whether you regard exploits with admiration or with unbridled loathing is a matter of personal opinion. But does it have to be one or the other, or can it be both? It depends on the actual use of the word itself.

Thanks to a recent foray into Lower Udas Temple, exploits have been at the forefront of my mind lately. I have noticed that we actually use both definitions of the word for a variety of situations in Aion, yet we also ascribe the negative connotation to many of them. But is this warranted -- couldn't some actions simply be ingenious examples of problem-solving, or must they all be considered ban-worthy abuse? If the former, where do you draw the line?

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