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Aion's Black Cloud Marketplace celebrates in-game grand opening, deals and freebies ensue

MJ Guthrie — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, News Items, Free-to-Play, Promotions

Usually when a store opens in a new location, a grand opening celebration soon follows. Aion's Black Cloud Marketplace is no different. Starting today, players can access the marketplace right from inside the game instead of having to tab out to buy items on the official site. And to celebrate this grand in-game opening, NCsoft is offering a free pet and a special deal! From now until March 12th, players can get a permanent Palmist Acarun pet (a three-headed baby dragon) through the in-game store. Additionally, the winning Shugo Aethertech design by player EMPIREinWAR will become available for purchase; those who grab theirs before the 12th will get 20% off the purchase price. Check out the new Aethertech in the new images below.

[Source: NCsoft press release]

Aion's Black Cloud Marketplace celebrates in-game grand opening, deals and freebies ensue originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Mar 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aethertechs arrive in Aion January 29th

MJ Guthrie — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Aion, Classes, Expansions, Patches, News Items, Free-to-Play

If you thought you'd have to wait until the end of Q1 for Aion's Steel Cavalry expansion, NCsoft has a surprise for you! Once dubbed patch 4.5, Steel Cavalry -- with its new Aethertech class, two new instances, and all-new skills -- is launching next week. As of January 29th, players can slip into the long-awaited final new class that uses a mechanized suit as a weapon. Daevas can also adventure through The Illuminary Obelisk and Iron Wall Warfront, the two newest instances to open in Atreia. Want a taste of what awaits you next week? Check out the trailer below.

[Source: NCsoft press release]

Continue reading Aethertechs arrive in Aion January 29th

Aethertechs arrive in Aion January 29th originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jan 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Aethertech class will debut with Aion's Steel Cavalry expansion

MJ Guthrie — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Classes, Expansions, Patches, News Items, Free-to-Play

Mech-lovers, rejoice: The Aethertech class is finally on its way to Aion! Although we don't have an exact date, NCsoft has just announced that the third new class for the free-to-play fantasy game will arrive in the first quarter of 2014 as part of a new expansion dubbed Steel Cavalry. That means that players will be able to suit up as an Aethertech before the end of March.

Previously referred to as patch 4.5, Steel Cavalry (so named for the battle machines that are joining the fray) will be also adding two dungeons to Atreia: The Illuminary Obelisk and Iron Wall Warfront. In The Illuminary Obelisk, players work to regain control of a shielding device in Katalam in order to repair it. The Iron Wall Warfront is a new battle to claim the Eternal bastion from the weakened forces of Pashid. We'll keep you posted as we learn more!

[Source: NCsoft press release]

The Aethertech class will debut with Aion's Steel Cavalry expansion originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Dec 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aethertech design contest winner chosen for Aion

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Contests, Culture, Free-to-Play

With the Aethertech class on its way for Aion 4.5, NCsoft has revealed the winner of the "Leave Your Legacy: Aethertech" contest in which players could design one of the mechanized suits for future inclusion in the game. The top pick was the 5H-0G0 by EMPIREinWAR, which is based on the Shugo race.

The devs were quite taken with the design choice. "We can sum this up in one word: 'witty.' From the naming all the way to the Shugo character itself, this piece was really fun to look at, which is why this is the winner," said Head of the Aion Global Development Art Team Jinhwan Kim.

The 5H-0G0, like all of the Aethertechs, will use its magical mechanical mount to crush, shoot, flail, and probably cuddle its way through Atreia.

[Source: NCsoft press release]

Aethertech design contest winner chosen for Aion originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Oct 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aion's anniversary events include cakes, pirates, and an aethertech design contest

MJ Guthrie — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Aion, Events (In-Game), News Items, Anniversaries, Player-Generated Content

Remember when we teased a bit about the upcoming anniversary events in Aion? Well now we can share all the details! When the Alchemy Event wraps upon the 18th, the Daeva's Day Events will take over. These events feature the famous cake buffs as well as quests to obtain wings and challenges to earn golden feathers (to buy even more rewards!). There's even a hide-and-seek game: Mini cakes are hidden throughout Atreia for players to find. This event runs September 18th to October 2nd.

But that's not all! GMs will host various mini-games and activities throughout the anniversary celebrations, rewarding players for participating. And on September 19th, players can celebrate Talk Like a Pirate Day with various pirate-themed activities and gear that's exclusive to NA.

And finally, NCsoft is holding another Leave your Legacy contest -- this time for Aethertechs. Interested participants need to submit their original Aethertech Key and Mecha design by September 25th, and the winning one will be released alongside the Aethertechs when 4.5 comes to NA. Full contest rules can be found on the official site.

[Source: NCsoft press release]

Aion's anniversary events include cakes, pirates, and an aethertech design contest originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Sep 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Does adding aether make a mech class more Aion?

MJ Guthrie — Sat, 10 Aug 2013 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Classes, Game Mechanics, Lore, Patches, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Wings Over Atreia

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?

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Does adding aether make a mech class more Aion?

Wings Over Atreia: Does adding aether make a mech class more Aion? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Aug 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aion 4.5 to introduce 'magical mechanical mounted' Aethertech class

Jef Reahard — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Aion, Classes, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Patches, News Items, Free-to-Play

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]

Continue reading Aion 4.5 to introduce 'magical mechanical mounted' Aethertech class

Aion 4.5 to introduce 'magical mechanical mounted' Aethertech class originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Jul 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia Exclusive: Aion 4.0 launches in June!

MJ Guthrie — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Business Models, Classes, Events (Real-World), Events (In-Game), Expansions, Game Mechanics, Interviews, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Interviews (Massively's), Events (Massively's Coverage), Wings Over Atreia, Anniversaries

Good news! (Well, at least for my police record.) As it turns out, I didn't have to resort to kidnapping to convince someone from NCsoft to talk to me about Aion at this year's GDC. I swear, Sean Orlikowski, the game's associate producer, came willingly.

It does, however, appear that in the fine print of the meeting proposal, I agreed to be outfitted with a special electronic device that would send massive jolts of electricity through my system if I tried to speak about something I shouldn't. So let's see how much I can share with you before this apparatus leaves me unconscious.

Can I tell you that Aion has a special celebration planned for the first anniversary of the Truly Free conversion? So far, so good, folks. Hmm... can I add that the next big expansion has a North American launch date planned without going unconscious... oh, appears so! OK, let's push this a little further: How about if I happened to mention that 4.0 will hit servers in June 2013 -- would I be zapped? Nope! So there you have it, folks: 4.0 is indeed going live in just two short months!

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia Exclusive: Aion 4.0 launches in June!

Wings Over Atreia Exclusive: Aion 4.0 launches in June! originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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