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Everything Aion: Transportation 101

Lesley Smith — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 20:00:00 EST

Transportation is important to any MMO, especially one like Aion which doesn't include the option of a mount. Yes, there are no cats, no horses or flying creatures to ride. It's just you, your feet, your wings and a little magic. Now the starter zones might look small but the main areas are ten times the size which can take a good half an hour to cross, not including time spent dying. Today we're going to have a look at transportation and what you need to know to navigate around. Elysea and Asmodae so join us after the jump to find out the secrets of travel in Aion.

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Everything Aion: Transportation 101 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Sep 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Everything Aion: Flight 101

Lesley Smith — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Aion, Events, in-game, Lore

Flight is probably the thing which has drawn most people to Aion. The idea of soaring high above the cloud on a pair of white/black-feathered wings is a universally appealing one. The reality, however, is a little different. Flight in Aion is not something you can do immediately nor indefinitely and the rules for this are not just to be annoying, they are a part of the game's world and lore.

Join us after the jump when we look at everything you need to know about using your wings.

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Everything Aion: Flight 101 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Everything Aion: Five things you need to know about surviving in Atreia

Lesley Smith — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Aion, Events, in-game, Patches

With NCsoft's release of Aion coming up on the 22nd and 25th September in North America and Europe, we thought we had better give you the basics on the land of Atreia ahead of the open beta which begins today. So, we're going to give you all the info you need to dive into their beautifully detailed world. After the jump, we're going to look at the five things you need to know if you've never played Aion before.

Continue reading Everything Aion: Five things you need to know about surviving in Atreia

Everything Aion: Five things you need to know about surviving in Atreia originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Will you be playing Aion open beta this weekend?

Brooke Pilley — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Aion, The Daily Grind

With Aion's open beta set to launch this weekend (September 6-13), we're curious: Do you plan on giving it a shot? The game has gone through several closed beta phases dating back to early June. All closed beta phases leading up until the very last one were using an older version of the game client (1.1). They've recently upgraded to 1.5, so we highly suggest giving it a try before making any final judgments based on early testing experiences. We also hear the open beta version will be the version Aion launches with in North America and Europe. Be sure to read up on Shadow of the Balaur.

Open beta characters will be capped at level 30, which is high enough to test a good mix of what the game has to offer including Rifts and the Abyss. Rifts are portals that will take you into your enemy's PvE lands and the Abyss is a giant PvPvE zone where the game's three factions battle for supremacy. I'm personally going to play a bit next week as an Elyos Gladiator named Snafzg on the NA servers, so make sure to say "Hi!" if you see me putzing around. Settling on a class has been challenging thus far.

Want to know more about Aion? NCsoft invites you into the world of Atreia where the Elyos and the Asmodians fight each other and the evil Balaur for control of the shattered planet. Check out out all our coverage of this must-play MMO!

The Daily Grind: Will you be playing Aion open beta this weekend? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NCsoft and DC Comics announce Aion comic book

Lesley Smith — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Aion, Events, real-world, Events, in-game, Lore, New titles, News items

NCsoft and DC Comics have teamed up to create a limited edition comic based on Aion which focuses on the Asmodian Daeva Aiva. She might look familiar as her image is used to advertise the game and a statue of her will also be found in the Collector's Edition when Aion is released later this month.

"Aiva's Story" is the work of artist Neil Googe and writers David Noonan and Ricardo Sanchez. Aiva's life is torn apart when her family is killed by an Elyos raiding party. Embittered, she endures a harsh life as a mercenary, fighting Karnifs and the Mau. She brings with her a festering hatred for the white-winged Elyos, eventually ascending to Daevahood and is posted to the Abyss. The comic book will be available (albeit in limited quantities) at the Aion booth at this weekend's Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle but fans will also be able to get their hands on a copy by purchasing the game at GameStop in the US and Electronic Boutique stores in Canada..

You can check out our gallery below to see the cover art in it's full glory, as well as some internal artwork.

Gallery: Aion: Aiva's Story

NCsoft and DC Comics announce Aion comic book originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aion open beta client now available for download

Lesley Smith — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Aion, Events, in-game, Launches

Aion's open beta is officially on the way so everybody will be able to sample the delights of Atreia between September 6th and 13th. Ahead of this, NCsoft has announced the availability of the Aion beta client. The client can now be downloaded from various corners of the internet, including FilePlanet and GamersHell, but the company has also announced they are making it available via BitTorrent.

Despite its shady reputation as the medium of choice for file-sharers and illegal downloads, BitTorrent itself is quite legal. Indeed it's a popular method of downloading files which has been embraced by numerous companies over the years. However, if you still want to use traditional methods, NCsoft has also announced that FilePlanet will be giving away a selection of open beta keys beginning Tuesday, September 1st. But anyone who has pre-ordered the game or won a full beta key from a competition just have to bid their time until the open beta begins.

Aion open beta client now available for download originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NCsoft announces Aion NA and EU open beta details

Lesley Smith — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Aion, Guild Wars, Events, real-world, Events, in-game, Lore, New titles, Patches, News items

There have been rumblings for weeks about an open beta for Aion, NCsoft's latest MMO and the company has finally confirmed details about what we can expect. North American and European gamers who may not have gotten access to the Closed Beta Tests will get an opportunity to sample Aion, exploring the beautiful world of Atreia as either an Asmodian or Elyos. The beta will take place between September 6th - 13th and will include the new Westernised character customization options, as well as a chance to see The Shadow of Balaur, the newest patch which was added to the Korean version of the game in August.

As with the final CBTs, the open beta will have a level cap of 30, which means new players to the game can experience ascension to Daevahood as well as the PvPvE area known as the Abyss. Gamers who pre-ordered Aion will also get access to the pre-select and a two-day headstart before the game officially launches on September 22nd in the US and the 25th in Europe. The pre-select will take place on September 18, while Aion's headstart period will begin September 20. So if you want to take part, it might be wise to pre-order now, especially given the new Guild Wars cross promotion we told you about earlier in the week.

NCsoft announces Aion NA and EU open beta details originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NCsoft announces its PAX plans

Lesley Smith — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Aion, City of Heroes, Events, real-world, MMO industry, News items, Guild Wars 2, Hands-on

It's nearly September which means the Penny Arcade Expo is swiftly approaching. Taking place between September 4th-6th in Seattle, PAX is fast becoming the new must-attend convention for all sections of the industry, from developers to publishers and gamers. NCsoft has just announced their plans for this year's convention and this focuses on their three big IPs: Aion, Guild Wars 2 and City of Heroes.

NCsoft will once again have booths at the event, one per game. On the Aion front, they will be showing the latest build of the game, which includes patch 1.5 (aka The Shadow of the Balaur). Producer Brian Knox and Associate Producer Lani Blazier will also be on hand at booth #642. At the Guild Wars 2 booth (#842), there will be Q and As with the Live Team, a talk on the upcoming novel The Fall of Ascalon and the chance to win a 128 page Art of Guild Wars 2 artbook. Finally at the City of Heroes booth (#542) you can take a peek at the new update ("Power Spectrum") and nab a special PAX Costume Power code. There will also be a player meet up on the Saturday night (September 5th) hosted by the Online Community Relations team, for more information on that click here.

NCsoft announces its PAX plans originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NCsoft announces Aion has gone gold, now being manufactured

Lesley Smith — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Aion

Aion, NCsoft's latest MMO that is due to launch in the US and Europe next month, has just gone gold, the company has announced. For those not in the know, this means the game has been completed and is now being manufactured for release. Yes, that's it, the game is done. This comes after Aion has topped Steam's weekly sales chart and the Collector's Edition has almost sold out in the UK.

The announcement hits just a few days before GamesCom 2009 in Cologne, Germany where NCsoft will be demoing version 1.5 of the game, which includes The Shadow of the Balaur content patch that was released in Korea on August 5th. NCsoft will also be demoing this latest version of the game at this year's Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle and it will also be included with the North American and European versions of the game when Aion is released on September 22nd/25th. The Shadow of the Balaur promises new zones, instances, quests and some specially created Western looks within the expansive character customisation system.

NCsoft announces Aion has gone gold, now being manufactured originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Final Aion CBT promises a sneak peek at launch day content

Lesley Smith — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Aion, Events, in-game, Lore, Patches, News items

Is it nearly September? Apparently so as the sixth and final Aion Closed Beta Test (CBT) kicks off this weekend. Over the last five CBTs we've had the chance to play both Elyos and Asmodians, to see the starter zones and the Abyss, to taste the PvPvE content, find our avatar's voice and, of course, spread our wings and fly. According to the game's official site, CBT 6 sees the level cap at 30, ready for some higher level content from The Shadow of the Balaur, also known as patch 1.5.

Perhaps more promising is the announcement of new story-driven content designed to give us a taste of what is to come: "We want to conclude closed beta testing on a high note, so we are arranging a series of story-driven in-game events, in part hinting at some of the much-anticipated content forthcoming in with our massive release day patch."

Here's hoping for a little Dreadgion action and a taste of Dark Poeta when the beta kicks off this Friday at noon PST and 8pm CEST over in Europe. We'll keep you updated as soon as the Aion dev team get into more specifics about their plans.

Final Aion CBT promises a sneak peek at launch day content originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NCsoft release Korean trailer for Aion patch 1.5

Lesley Smith — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Aion, Patches, News items

For us here in the west, the launch of Aion might still be on the horizon. However, having had the game for the better part of a year, gamers in Korea have already turned their attention to patch 1.5. Indeed this is something we should also be excited about as the localized version of Aion aimed at Europe and the US will include this newest content patch.

With this in mind, NCsoft over in Korea has revealed a trailer touting the new patch, catchily nicknamed The Shadow of the Balaur. According to translated patch notes from the official Korean site, 1.5 will include new instances that will see players visiting a twisted Balaur-infested version of the Elyos starter zone known as Dark Poeta. There's also a flying ship crewed by the adorable ferret-like Shugo and a new battleground. On top of that are plenty of minor changes including the ability to zoom in on the minimap, four new face presets, new armour sets and, my personal favourite, in-game clothing in the form of kimono and the imperial uniforms of China and Taiwan.

Check out the video after the jump for a taste of what's to come.

Continue reading NCsoft release Korean trailer for Aion patch 1.5

NCsoft release Korean trailer for Aion patch 1.5 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Aug 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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