Massively

Aion: Ascension launches and class begins

MJ Guthrie — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Expansions, Game Mechanics, Launches, Patches, Previews, News Items, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Guides

And we have lift off! Aion Ascension has launched at last, and finally, some of those tidbits we were teased with in the notorious Visions Trailer are in-game. Housing! Mounts! New Zones! Choirs of winged Daevas singing!

Not only are these much anticipated features available, but the new Truly Free business model has now made its way to another NCsoft title. Edward Chang, Director of Product Management at NCsoft, states,

"We started converting current players to the new business model late last week in preparation for today's launch and we couldn't be happier with the response, tripling concurrency in a matter of hours. We spent a considerable amount of time focused on optimizing Aion Ascension for the Truly Free business model, and early feedback from the community indicates that we made the right decisions."

What more could be added to this good news? How about a free introductory course of helpful hints to offer Daevas a little boost! It just so happens we have the syllabus for Ascension 101 right here, penned by none other than Producer Adam Christensen. Read on for Adam's very own tips and tricks for the 3.0 patch. Don't worry -- there won't be a quiz at the end!

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Aion: Ascension launches and class begins originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: An interview sheds light on the new BlackCloud

MJ Guthrie — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Expansions, Interviews, Free-to-Play, Interviews (Massively's), Wings Over Atreia

Information is like gold 'round these parts, and I've been out prospecting, sifting, and searching in the hopes of at least finding a few flakes if not hitting pay dirt. But even with Aion Ascension just around the corner, finding many nuggets of information on the new BlackCloud Marketplace hasn't panned out. Until now. Eureka!

Welcome to the Massively Gold Rush. OK, so maybe a "rush" is a bit of an overstatement, but I have discovered a few golden nuggets about Aion's renovated cash shop and impending 3.0 expansion. I had the chance to catch up with Producer Adam Christensen and learn a bit more about what Daevas will find in the BlackCloud Marketplace as well as get some details about various new upcoming features like housing, mounts, and the level 60 Daevanion armor.

And with the BlackCloud Marketplace finally opening its doors, Daevas can check out the selection for themselves and pre-purchase items to be delivered at Ascension's Launch.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: An interview sheds light on the new BlackCloud

Wings Over Atreia: An interview sheds light on the new BlackCloud originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aion producer talks about 3.0 and being truly free

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Aion, Business Models, Patches, Previews, News Items, Free-to-Play

The conversion to free-to-play is taking place in less than a month for Aion, and that means an influx of new players along with a massive new update. Producer Adam Christensen recently sat down to record a short video for the fans discussing how the conversion will work, what players can expect in terms of the update's storyline, and what to expect in terms of store offerings once the conversion takes place.

Christensen explains that the primary motivating factor behind the removal of subscriptions was a simple need for players to have a larger influx of other people to group with -- the game plays best with other people, and making the game free-to-play would secure a larger number of people. He also opines at length about features such as housing and the new dungeons coming with patch 3.0. The full video is just past the break, and if it piques your interest, clear a little time away around April 11th to give the game a shot.

Continue reading Aion producer talks about 3.0 and being truly free

Aion producer talks about 3.0 and being truly free originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia's Aion 2.7 sneak-peek: Dev death match

MJ Guthrie — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Video, Aion, Expansions, PvP, Opinion, Hands-On, First Impressions, Wings Over Atreia

You all just better be grateful that NCsoft is working out the kinks by using me as a guinea pig so you can have a smooth launch! Even if by launch I only mean the PTS, which is set to go live today with Aion's newest patch. Yes folks, I -- your intrepid Wings Over Atreia correspondent -- was invited to a media sneak-peek to check out the Crucible 3 arenas coming very soon to a live server near you. Who am I to pass up a few practice runs through the new arenas before the rest of the masses? So I touch-down mid-week for some additional Atreian coverage. And come on, no one could pass up the chance to stealth up behind a dev and unleash a flurry of dagger blows into his/her back!

Unfortunately, logistical and technical difficulties stretching for days plagued this endeavor. Yours truly was especially cursed. However, just when it seemed like the event wouldn't happen, there we were, standing in Kaisinel Academy in spiffy new duds and queued to enter what is arguably the highlight of 2.7: the PvP arenas. At this point, I forgave all previous problems because I got to commence some slaughter on a few NCsoft employees. What?!? You all know you want to! I tested my dagger and sword against Scott Hannus, producer of the game guide; two members of the game guide team, Sean Orlikowski and Ryan Compton; Adam Christensen, Associate Producer; Dom Wai, Brand Manager; and two members of the community management team, Felicia Johnson (Nyx) and Curtis Grooms (Anhtoo).

Oh, and I learned some pretty neat things about the upcoming patch as well.

So how was the experience? And just exactly how tasty are Aion's forthcoming goodies? Whet your appetite past the cut with my impressions of the two instances and the new PvP gear as well as check out a video. Then join in on the PTS server to experience for yourself.

Gallery: Aion 2.7

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia's Aion 2.7 sneak-peek: Dev death match

Wings Over Atreia's Aion 2.7 sneak-peek: Dev death match originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: 2.5 -- Going live on 25!

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 16 May 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Interviews, Patches, Opinion, Hands-On, Wings Over Atreia

The wait is nearly over! Before long, we... oh... pardon me a moment while I grab the door...

Ah, it was just the grammar police. Yes, I know that technically it should be the 25th, but that really doesn't have the catchy ring to it. And who doesn't want a catchy title? Luckily, I was let off with just a warning this time. So back to our topic at hand!

This past week, before Aion's public test server reopened its doors to the masses, Massively had the opportunity to explore patch 2.5 right at NCsoft's PR offices in San Francisco (*cries for having moved to the East Coast*) -- diving into the new content, enjoying the graphical upgrades, and even asking a few questions about what's still to come.

Our very own Bree Royce donned some leather, grabbed a bow, and descended upon the new instances -- Esoterrace and Empyrean Crucible -- to get a taste and share some hints about these new fights. Catch a windstream past the break to check out her impressions as well as some other interesting tidbits about what is in store for Daevas in Aion's upcoming patch, Empyrean Calling.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: 2.5 -- Going live on 25!

Wings Over Atreia: 2.5 -- Going live on 25! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 May 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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