Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[TERA producer's letter discusses new launcher, development progress]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/19/tera-producers-letter-discusses-new-launcher-development-progr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/19/tera-producers-letter-discusses-new-launcher-development-progr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/19/tera-producers-letter-discusses-new-launcher-development-progr/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Screenshot -- TERA
A new holiday edition producer's letter has been published on the official TERA site, and in it Chris Hager announces that he is currently using the studio's new launcher to log in to the game. Why is this such a big deal? Hager explains that it "represents a huge leap for us here at En Masse." He goes on to tell how, over the past year, the team has worked "directly and intimately with the Bluehole development team to... add features that appeal to western gamers."

But why is the new launcher so important? Because it's one of the features that the studio built from the ground up. Hager also notes that the game has been in alpha for "about 4 months" and that this week is the last week of alpha testing. He says the team is also looking forward to "the next step in TERA's journey toward launch next spring." Here's to hoping that next step is a beta test. For the full letter, just click on over to the official TERA site.

MassivelyTERA producer's letter discusses new launcher, development progress originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalpha-testingblueholebluehole-studiochagerchris-hagerdevelopmenten-masseen-masse-entertainmentproducer-letterproducers-letterprogressterathe-exiled-realm-of-arboreaMon, 19 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA's Korean version influenced by Western feedback]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/28/teras-korean-version-influenced-by-western-feedback/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/28/teras-korean-version-influenced-by-western-feedback/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/28/teras-korean-version-influenced-by-western-feedback/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

TERA
While we're still impatiently drumming our fingers waiting for TERA to release in the West, it turns out that our feedback is causing real change in the game's live Korean edition. According to a forum post by Producer Chris Hager, Bluehole Studio has taken several suggestions passed along by En Masse and is incorporating them into the live version of the game. Hager says that this is "just a taste" of how the two developers are interacting and collaborating.

On November 24th, the next big Korean update will hit the servers, and with it come the implemented suggestions from En Masse's fans. This update will include a dungeon finder system, rest XP, group XP bonuses, modified PvP rules, a guild battle system, and "more skill diversity through new master Glyphs." Oh, and there will be the ability to sit because roleplayers would be lost otherwise.

"This is a very exciting time for us as we are starting to see what true collaboration looks like," Hager writes, "and it also shows that you guys do carry a voice with us. The best part is that there is more to come."

MassivelyTERA's Korean version influenced by Western feedback originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bluehole-studioChris-Hagercollaborationen-masseen-masse-entertainmentfeedbackguild-battleskoreakoreanrest-xproleplayerssuggestionsterawestwesternFri, 28 Oct 2011 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA podcast highlights convention news]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/02/tera-podcast-highlights-convention-news/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/02/tera-podcast-highlights-convention-news/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/02/tera-podcast-highlights-convention-news/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

TERA - castanic female
Episode five of the official TERA podcast is in the can, and it's also available for your listening pleasure on the TERA website. The show finds En Masse community manager Evan "Scapes" Berman talking with producer Chris Hager and COO Patrick Wyatt for approximately 20 minutes.

The subject?

Convention season, of course, and the gang talks about everything from the TERA Gamescom demo to the preparation necessary to convey a certain message to members of the gaming media. The trio also mentions the challenges inherent in answering difficult questions on stage at a major convention, and Wyatt even chats briefly about his experiences working on Blizzard's seminal StarCraft RTS.

MassivelyTERA podcast highlights convention news originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arboreabehind-the-sceneschris-hageren-masseen-masse-entertainmentevan-bermanfantasygamescommmo-industryofficial-podcastpatrick-wyattpaxpax-primepax-prime-2011scapesteratera-onlineFri, 02 Sep 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2011: TERA producers reveal server vs. server endgame content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/27/pax-2011-tera-producers-reveal-server-vs-server-endgame-conten/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/27/pax-2011-tera-producers-reveal-server-vs-server-endgame-conten/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/27/pax-2011-tera-producers-reveal-server-vs-server-endgame-conten/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

TERA - Velika cityscape
This year's PAX Prime doesn't feature an En Masse Entertainment booth for TERA, but the company did host an informational shindig for journalists and fans at its offices in downtown Seattle over the weekend. Producers Chris Hager and Stefan Ramirez ran the show, and the presentation focused heavily on the action MMO aspects as well as the game's depth.

The show started with a repeat of the recent Castanic healer video, and from there Hager and Ramirez set about profiling the game's mechanical aspects (including the combat, glyph, and crystal systems). The presentation was geared towards folks who haven't really kept up with TERA, as there wasn't much discussed that we haven't known about for a while. Aside from the action talking points, we also got bits about story, the details on the political and vanarch systems, and some info on the argons.

En Masse also trotted out the first mention of its plans for server vs. server combat. The system is designed to provide additional endgame content via PvE and PvP. "It's going to have players from other servers coming to your territory, on your server, and invading your space," Hager explained. He went on to mention how guilds will need to ally with one another to repel the invaders, and if the alliance proves strong enough, take the fight back to the invaders' home turf. En Masse was very coy about the details on this new system, and we expect more information will be forthcoming as we move toward TERA's spring 2012 release date.

Finally, we managed some quality hands-on time with the game during the event, so check in with us periodically this weekend and we'll bring you a detailed report.

Massively's on the ground in Seattle during the weekend of August 26-28, bringing you all the best news from PAX Prime 2011. Whether you're dying to know more about SWTOR, Guild Wars 2, City of Heroes, or any MMO in between, you can bet we'll have it covered!

MassivelyPAX 2011: TERA producers reveal server vs. server endgame content originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-combatarboreaargonschris-hageren-masseen-masse-entertainmentendgamein-game-eventslorepaxpax-2011pax-primepax-prime-2011server-vs-serverserver-vs-server-warstefan-ramirezstoryteratera-onlineSat, 27 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[En Masse delaying TERA launch to 2012 [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/en-masse-delaying-tera-launch-to-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/en-masse-delaying-tera-launch-to-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/en-masse-delaying-tera-launch-to-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

En Masse Entertainment has finally broken its silence about TERA's launch window, and there's both good and bad news for fans of the upcoming fantasy game. The bad news is that there's still no definitive launch date. The good news is that the time window has been narrowed considerably.

In a new press release issued this morning, En Masse said that TERA will release sometime in the spring of 2012. That should put to rest months of speculation as to whether the game will reach North American shores in 2011 (as well as whether it will be competing for launch customers with The Old Republic, which BioWare expects to release prior to the end of the year).

En Masse publishing vice president Chris Lee commented on the launch delay, indicating that the extra time will result in a more polished product. "The game's action combat and depth has generated a lot of interest, and we are committed to making sure every aspect of the game lives up to our standard of quality," he said.

[Update: Producer Chris Hager has penned a post on the official TERA website that offers a bit more info. In a nutshell, the North American client will enter alpha testing "later this year," with beta scheduled for early 2012.]

MassivelyEn Masse delaying TERA launch to 2012 [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-combatalphaarboreabetachris-hagerchris-leedelayen-masseen-masse-entertainmentfantasylaunch-datelaunch-delaynorth-american-launchpress-releaseteratera-onlineWed, 03 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA E3 recap video explains political system]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/tera-e3-recap-video-explains-political-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/tera-e3-recap-video-explains-political-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/tera-e3-recap-video-explains-political-system/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

E3 2011 is a distant memory, but En Masse is still getting a bit of mileage out of the event thanks to a newly released TERA video compilation. The trailer shows off portions of the closed-doors media presentation from this month's trade show, and the footage is heavy on action combat and lush sequences featuring the game's gorgeous visuals.

The clip also devotes a good portion of its running time to the recently announced political system, and producers Chris Hager and Stefan Ramirez fire off some pretty tantalizing soundbytes relating to player interaction and the possibility of affecting the game world. "That means getting votes, buying votes, smearing your opponent, taking out your competition, raising taxes, making tons of cash money, controlling your province, putting players in prison, running your own events, managing your own towns, and just doing whatever you want," Ramirez says.

Staying in power to continue doing whatever you want is the trick, of course, and the video spends a good amount of time detailing ways to maintain control over your province. While it all sounds pretty spectacular, it also raises plenty of questions (like, how is all of that going to matter in an MMO that lacks serious consequences in terms of a death penalty or gear/stat loss?). Whatever the answers, we can't wait to learn more. Check out the full video after the cut.

Continue reading TERA E3 recap video explains political system

MassivelyTERA E3 recap video explains political system originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blueholebluehole-studiochris-hagerconsequencese3e3-2011e3-2011-recape3-recapen-masseen-masse-entertainmentfantasyplayer-jailpolicy-pointspolitical-systempoliticsstefan-ramirezteratera-onlinetrailervanarchvanarch-missionsvideoThu, 23 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The MMO Report: Nerd-flu edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/the-mmo-report-nerd-flu-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/the-mmo-report-nerd-flu-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/the-mmo-report-nerd-flu-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

In this week's MMO Report, Casey comes to us directly from E3 2011, where he verbally spars with a variety of game developers while battling off hunger, fatigue, and nerd-flu. Watch Casey's stats slowly dwindle as he confronts the many dangers of E3, such as overstimulation and the dreaded natural light.

The first stop on Casey's E3 journey is an interview with Square Enix's Frank Fonseca, with whom he discusses the upcoming tactical MMORPG Wakfu. He gets a few details on the political system and discovers how tactical combat plays out in an MMO space.

Next, he gets some face-time in with Producer Thomas Farrer and Creative Director Torfi Frans Olafsson from CCP, who tell Casey all about how the interplay between EVE Online and upcoming DUST 514 will work and why DUST 514 is different from other console shooters.

From there he scurries off to En Masse's booth to have a chat with TERA's North American Producer Chris Hager, who discusses TERA's big political system reveal as well as the name of his potential political party.

Last stop on the Casey-train is BioWare's booth, where Casey parleys with Star Wars: The Old Republic's Senior Live Producer Blaine Christine. Blaine gives Casey the low-down on Tatooine, the newly introduced player vehicles, and what players can expect in regard to The Old Republic's much-hyped story.

For the full video, sadly lacking in the Uncle Casey's mailbag department, jump on past the cut.

Continue reading The MMO Report: Nerd-flu edition

MassivelyThe MMO Report: Nerd-flu edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blaine-christinechris-hagerdust-514e3-2011eve-onlinefrank-fonsecammo-reportnerdflustar-wars-the-old-republicterathe-mmo-reportthe-old-republicthomas-farrertorfi-frans-olafssonvideovideoswakfuThu, 16 Jun 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA producer: Getting to endgame doesn't take a lot of time]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/tera-producer-getting-to-endgame-doesnt-take-a-lot-of-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/tera-producer-getting-to-endgame-doesnt-take-a-lot-of-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/tera-producer-getting-to-endgame-doesnt-take-a-lot-of-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Episode three of the official TERA podcast is a wrap, and community director Jason "BrotherMagneto" Mical sits down with En Masse producers Brian Knox and Chris Hager to talk voice acting, E3 2011, and the recently concluded community play event. There's also a few interesting blurbs related to TERA's endgame, both in terms of reaching it and what it entails.

Hager discusses the challenges of recording "greet and goodbye" dialogue snippets for quest-givers as well as more involved cinematic presentations that will occur throughout the TERA progression experience.

Knox jumps right to fan concerns about TERA's leveling curve, saying that it doesn't have much in common with your typical grindfest. "We're putting a lot of focus on adding more content to the endgame and making sure there's lots to do at max level. Getting to max level in TERA, it doesn't take a lot of time. We've made sure that progress is fast and efficient," Knox explains. So what is there to do at endgame? Knox says that dungeons and boss fights will play a significant role, and En Masse will be tweaking the difficulty levels to continually challenge players.

MassivelyTERA producer: Getting to endgame doesn't take a lot of time originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoblueholebluehole-studiobrian-knoxbrother-magnetobrothermagnetochris-hagere3e3-2011en-masseen-masse-entertainmentfantasyjason-micalteravoice-actingThu, 05 May 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion producer letter talks account security, transfers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/23/aion-producer-letter-talks-account-security-transfers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/23/aion-producer-letter-talks-account-security-transfers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/23/aion-producer-letter-talks-account-security-transfers/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Aion's been getting a decent amount of press this fall, first for September's Assault on Balaurea expansion and lately due to the uproar surrounding the 2.1 patch. Among other things, 2.1 substantially increased the game's loot drop rates, leading to huzzahs on one side of the aisle and raised eyebrows on the other.

Not to be outdone, NCsoft producer Chris Hager recently posted an open letter on the official Aion website, summarizing both the aforementioned changes and hinting at a few things to come for the world of Atreia. Hager gives a heads up regarding the final day for the free character transfers that have been ongoing since the summer. January 5th is last call, so make sure you've got your Elyos or Asmo where you want him.

Hager also mentions the fact that NCsoft is taking steps to increase account security, an issue that has plagued Aion since its launch in 2009. "We are stepping up our efforts and introducing a new secondary PIN system to Aion that will provide an additional layer of security to our players. This service will go live on December 1, 2010, and we will post a full FAQ in the coming days explaining exactly how it will work," he writes.

MassivelyAion producer letter talks account security, transfers originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.1account-securityaionaion-the-tower-of-eternityaion-tower-of-eternityassault-on-balaureacharacter-transferschris-hagerncsoftncsoft-westopen-letterproducer-letterTue, 23 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft to probe Aion players' thoughts on rifting]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/11/ncsoft-to-probe-aion-players-thoughts-on-rifting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/11/ncsoft-to-probe-aion-players-thoughts-on-rifting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/11/ncsoft-to-probe-aion-players-thoughts-on-rifting/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Aion's recent expansion, Assault on Balaurea, ushered in a host of welcome changes, ranging from new zones to frightfully cute pets. Rifting, on the other hand, suffered tremendously. But the folks at NCsoft want Aion players to know their cries have not fallen on deaf ears.

In a nutshell, rifts are portals that randomly open between the homelands of the Asmodians and the Elyos, allowing members of each faction to venture into the other's territory for some PvP action. The original system allowed higher level players to pop into lower level enemy zones and gank the heck out of people. Patch 1.9 introduced some restrictions to prevent ganking, but Balaurea just about broke the system by debuffing rifters into oblivion.

The developers know players are upset -- and they have a plan.

Continue reading NCsoft to probe Aion players' thoughts on rifting

MassivelyNCsoft to probe Aion players' thoughts on rifting originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-2.0aion-chris-hageraion-gameaion-riftingaion-rifting-changesassault-on-balaureabalaureachris-hagernc-softnc-soft-aionnc-soft-chris-hagerncsoftncsoft-aionncsoft-chris-hagerriftriftingriftsMon, 11 Oct 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion: Assault on Balaurea zone trailer -- Gelkmaros]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/31/aion-assault-on-balaurea-zone-trailer-gelkmaros/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/31/aion-assault-on-balaurea-zone-trailer-gelkmaros/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/31/aion-assault-on-balaurea-zone-trailer-gelkmaros/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Last week, NCsoft gave us a peek at one of the new zones in Aion's upcoming Assault on Balaurea expansion; today, we tour the Asmodian occupied land -- Gelkmaros. With fissures ripped in the very land itself and areas devastated by ancient battles (including the ancient city of Maravas), the Asmodians will find their stronghold treacherous, but not without surprising new allies.

Stranded in Balaurea since before the Cataclysm, the Reian tribe knew nothing of the war between the Asmodians and the Elyos until recently. These Daevas who stand watch over Subterranea, home of the evil Dragonbound, enter into a tentative alliance with their lost brothers and sisters from Asmodae.

As hostile as the land and creatures may be, the Asmodians must be ever vigilant to defend both the Vorgaltem Citadel and Crimson Temple against the assaults of the Balaur and Elyos forces, lest they lose the ability to travel with in their enemy's stronghold.

Once again, Massively asked Chris Hager, Producer of Aion, NCsoft West, a few questions about this new area.

Fly past the cut and through a video tour of Gelkmaros, then check out Chris' answers.

Continue reading Aion: Assault on Balaurea zone trailer -- Gelkmaros

MassivelyAion: Assault on Balaurea zone trailer -- Gelkmaros originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-gameassault-on-balaureabalaurbalaureachris-hagerfeaturedflightGelkmarosinterviewnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionncsoft-westpvpsiegesiegessiegingvideovideo-tourTue, 31 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion: Assault on Balaurea zone trailer -- Inggison]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/26/aion-assault-on-balaurea-zone-trailer-inggison/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/26/aion-assault-on-balaurea-zone-trailer-inggison/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/26/aion-assault-on-balaurea-zone-trailer-inggison/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Today, NCsoft unveils a video tour of Inggison, a new zone introduced in Aion's upcoming expansion, Assault on Balaurea. No longer confined to Atreia on the interior of the planet, players will venture forth to the lands on the outside. Filled with a variety of new plant and wildlife, Inggison is the Elyos foothold in Balaurea.

Even as they bask in direct sunlight (a treat not possible in the sundered lands of Asmodae and Elysea), Daevas in Aion will encounter new foes -- such as the Balaur-worshippers of Undirborg -- and fight old ones, as the Asmodians try to claim the Temple of Scales and Altar of Avarice Fortresses.

After watching the video, Massively asked Chris Hager, Producer of Aion, NCsoft West, a few questions about this new area.

Check out the video after the cut, as well as Chris' comments.

Continue reading Aion: Assault on Balaurea zone trailer -- Inggison

MassivelyAion: Assault on Balaurea zone trailer -- Inggison originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-2.0aion-assault-on-balaureaassault-on-balaureabalaurbalaureachris-hagerelyosfeaturedfortressfortress-siegeInggisoninterviewncsoftncsoft-westtrailervideo-tourThu, 26 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Release date announced for Aion 2.0: Assault on Balaurea]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/release-date-announced-for-aion-2-0-assault-on-balaurea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/release-date-announced-for-aion-2-0-assault-on-balaurea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/release-date-announced-for-aion-2-0-assault-on-balaurea/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Aion's Assault on Balaurea has been a long time coming. We chatted with Lead Producer Chris "Kinslon" Hager back in May, and fans have been scouring the patch notes, but one big question has remained unanswered: When?

We got our answer today. NCsoft has announced a September 7th release date for the free digital version of Assault on Balaurea. Boxed copies of the full game containing codes for exclusive in-game pets -- which carry some benefits for their owners -- are also available. Players can purchase those in North America on September 7th and in Europe on September 10th.

Check out the Aion site for more details.

MassivelyRelease date announced for Aion 2.0: Assault on Balaurea originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-2.0aion-assault-on-balaureaaion-expansionassault-on-balaureabalaureabreakingchris-hagerchris-kinslon-hagerkinslonncsoftFri, 16 Jul 2010 05:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion producer addresses legion renaming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/10/aion-producer-addresses-legion-renaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/10/aion-producer-addresses-legion-renaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/10/aion-producer-addresses-legion-renaming/#commentsFiled under: , ,


NCsoft producer Chris "Kinslon" Hager checks in to answer questions on the upcoming Aion server merges via this week's Eye on Community featurette. While NCSoft has explained both name change and item transfer policies in detail, it hadn't yet touched on how the server blending will affect legion names (legion being Aion's equivalent of a traditional MMORPG guild).

"Because we have fewer legions than characters, we're able to be more hands-on with legion name collisions. Our customer service team is going through active and inactive legion names, and we will be changing names based on specific criteria (legion size, contribution points, and so on). Similar to how we are handling name changes, if your legion's name is changed, we will be adding a two-letter designation derived from the name of your original server to the end of the legion name and giving your brigade general a legion name change coupon. You'll notice changes to legion names over the next couple of days leading up to the merge," Hager explains.

You can read the full feature on the official Aion website.

MassivelyAion producer addresses legion renaming originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Jul 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionchris-hagereye-on-communityguild-renamekinslonlegion-namesncsoftserver-mergeserver-mergesSat, 10 Jul 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion devs talk 1.9 features in new podcast]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/26/aion-devs-talk-1-9-features-in-new-podcast/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/26/aion-devs-talk-1-9-features-in-new-podcast/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/26/aion-devs-talk-1-9-features-in-new-podcast/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

If you're an Aion fan and are anxiously awaiting the forthcoming 1.9 patch (and honestly who isn't), you'll want to head over to the European website and check out the recently released patch-centric video podcast. NCsoft producers Chris Hager and Lani Blazier, as well as community manager Andrew Beegle, talk about everything from UI customization, to counter-stun mechanics, to reduced soul healing and travel costs.

"We have drastically reduced the prices of soul healing, soul binding, and transportation, and I think players are going to find it's a big win. I know we do internally because it is really expensive to heal your soul, bind to a location, and fly places," Blazier says. The trio also discuss the new equipment rental system and drop hints about a large amount of new quests coming in the update.

Check out the full podcast, and don't forget to peruse our exclusive interviews with Chris Hager about 2.0 as well as Aion in general.

MassivelyAion devs talk 1.9 features in new podcast originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 May 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.91.9-patchaionaion-the-tower-of-eternityandrew-beeglechris-hagercounter-stunlani-blazierncsoftnew-questsreduced-travel-costsWed, 26 May 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Exclusive: Aion's Chris Hager talks 2.0]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/24/exclusive-aions-chris-hager-talks-2-0/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/24/exclusive-aions-chris-hager-talks-2-0/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/24/exclusive-aions-chris-hager-talks-2-0/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Aion news is coming fast and furious of late, as Massively brings you another exclusive interview with Lead Producer Chris "Kinslon" Hager. Last week we spoke about the 1.9 update, currently slated to hit the live servers in early June, as well as the general state of the game. This week we chat about the monstrous 2.0 patch due in the Fall, as well as take the wraps off the new teaser trailer direct from Korea. Finally, we've got some exclusive screenshots of the new content in action.

Whew.

Got all that? Good. Check out the screenshot gallery below, and fly on over to page two for the interview and video.

Gallery: Aion 2.0 Exclusive


MassivelyExclusive: Aion's Chris Hager talks 2.0 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 May 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-2.0balaurchris-hagerfeaturedncsoftpatchespetsscreenshotstrailervideoMon, 24 May 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Exclusive Aion lead producer interview]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/21/exclusive-aion-lead-producer-interview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/21/exclusive-aion-lead-producer-interview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/21/exclusive-aion-lead-producer-interview/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Aion fans have been on a roller coaster ride of late, what with the recent announcement of the launch date for the highly anticipated 1.9 patch, as well as teasers regarding 2.0 potentially coming to America in the Fall. Tempering the good news was the announcement of pending server mergers, which are rarely regarded as a good thing in the player community.

In light of all the goings on, we were able to sit down with NCsoft's Chris Hager, Lead Producer for the western version of Aion, for some frank questions about the game, the company behind it, and the future.

Fly past the cut for the full interview.

Continue reading Exclusive Aion lead producer interview

MassivelyExclusive Aion lead producer interview originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 May 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.92.0aionaion-the-tower-of-eternitychris-hagerexclusiveexperiencefeaturedgrindinterviewkinslonncsoftncsoft-koreancwestpetspvepvpriftingFri, 21 May 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion producer talks stun removal, Dredgion tweaks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/02/aion-producer-talks-stun-removal-dredgion-tweaks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/02/aion-producer-talks-stun-removal-dredgion-tweaks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/02/aion-producer-talks-stun-removal-dredgion-tweaks/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The fourth and final interview in the Ask Kinslon series is hot off the presses, wherein Aion producer Chris 'Kinslon' Hager answers a few questions posed by NCSoft's Daeva of Journalism, a.k.a. Aquilanius. For the lengthy encore, Hager touches on user interface improvements, instance changes, and new skills as they relate to the upcoming 1.9 patch.

"So to clarify, all classes will get the stun removing skill at level 40. The duration when this skill is used is seven seconds. It has a one-minute cool-down. I can almost see the Assassin's minds running now with new strategies to combat this. I am honestly very excited to see what the new strategies that this will generate combat. Our players are smart and adaptive, and I have no doubt we'll see some cool combat tactics come out of this," Hager says.

The interview goes on to list some interesting tweaks to the high-level Dredgion instance, as well as movable hotbars and other long overdue UI tweaks. Check it out at the official site.

MassivelyAion producer talks stun removal, Dredgion tweaks originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 May 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.9aionask-kinslonchris-hagerdredgioninstancesinterviewkinslonncsoftskillsuiuser-interfaceSun, 02 May 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion producer talks casual leveling]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/27/aion-producer-talks-casual-leveling/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/27/aion-producer-talks-casual-leveling/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/27/aion-producer-talks-casual-leveling/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Aion's weekly Ask Kinslon interview column is back after a short hiatus. Aquilanius, NCSoft's Daeva of Journalism, has a few questions for producer Chris 'Kinslon' Hager, focused on the Energy of Repose and Energy of Salvation mechanics coming with the 1.9 patch next month.

The new systems appear to be designed to ease the leveling process, which has been a frequent complaint of Aion customers since the title launched last fall. "Energy of Salvation is for players who are leveling more slowly than other players of the same level. You can gain Energy of Salvation starting at level 15. It is intended for casual players, or players that really enjoy exploring and pursuing interests in game that don't drive directly toward leveling as fast as possible. It's also meant for people who get distracted by shiny things instead of leveling," Hager says.

Check out the full interview over at the official Aion web site.

MassivelyAion producer talks casual leveling originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.9-patchaionask-kinslonchris-hagerenergy-of-reposeenergy-of-salvationncsoftTue, 27 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion 1.9 lands next month]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/16/aion-1-9-lands-next-month/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/16/aion-1-9-lands-next-month/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/16/aion-1-9-lands-next-month/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The official Aion website has been updated with interview number two from the ongoing Ask Kinslon series. Aion producer Chris 'Kinslon' Hager has plenty to say about the upcoming Armsfusion and Mist Item Rental System, most of which was already known due to the 1.9 Korean patch that has been dissected, vivisected, and otherwise analyzed to death by U.S. players starved for a reason to continue their subscriptions over the last couple of months.

"The Mist Rental weapons are all 14 day weapons and are available every 5 levels so players can use them at a wide range of levels. Also, they are great for players who want to rent a good weapon to power through a weekend or instance instead of completing several daily quests to get the higher stat weapons or paying potentially a lot more for a weapon they would shortly outgrow," Hager said.

While that's all well and good, the real news from this interview was that 1.9 is finally coming to America in May, though NCSoft declined to give a firm date. Stay tuned to Massively for more.

MassivelyAion 1.9 lands next month originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-1.9aion-1.9-patchask-kinslonchris-hagerncsoftFri, 16 Apr 2010 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion producer talks 1.9, anti-stun mechanics]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/09/aion-producer-talks-1-9-anti-stun-mechanics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/09/aion-producer-talks-1-9-anti-stun-mechanics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/09/aion-producer-talks-1-9-anti-stun-mechanics/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Aion official site features a brief interview with producer Chris 'Kinslon' Hager regarding the forthcoming 1.9 game update. Though NCSoft remains as coy as ever regarding a release date for the elusive patch, Hager manages to drop a few hints about what's coming.

Perhaps most interesting (or alarming, if you're one of the eleventy billion assassins stealthing about) are the anti-stun mechanics being introduced. "If your character becomes stunned in combat, Remove Shock becomes available as a chain skill that you can use to remove the stun and increase your character's resistance to stun, knock back, and similar conditions for seven seconds. At later levels, class-specific skills that you can also learn will act as chain skills that let you go on the offensive in addition to the basic abilities of Remove Shock," Hager says.

He also mentions rewards for the much-anticipated daily quests. "The quest givers will offer are a wide range of rewards, from XP and Kinah to mist (time-limited) weapons, armor, and even some new titles," he says.

Check out the full interview as well as our previous 1.9 coverage.

MassivelyAion producer talks 1.9, anti-stun mechanics originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.9aionaion-1.9aion-patch-1.9anti-stunchris-hagerdaily-questsinterviewncsoftpatch-1.9patchesstun-lockupdatesFri, 09 Apr 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion 1.9 patch highlights with producer Chris Hager]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/04/aion-1-9-patch-highlights-with-producer-chris-hager/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/04/aion-1-9-patch-highlights-with-producer-chris-hager/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/04/aion-1-9-patch-highlights-with-producer-chris-hager/#comments Yesterday NCsoft teased some of the upcoming features in Aion patch 1.9, making daevas the world over drool their sparkling, celestial spit. However, while everyone was busy drooling, we met up with Aion's producer, Chris Hager, for a more extensive look into the patch notes.

Patch 1.9 has a bunch of things going for it -- from the introduction of a new "rent-a-item" system, to daily quests, to looking for group interface enhancements and more. As we said yesterday, there's over 26 pages of patch notes which will be appearing on the Aion main website -- that's a huge number of fixes and changes.

While we can't cover them all in this document, we aim to hit the highlights of the patch that just hit the Korean test server. Now extend your wings and fly with us to the land after the break!

Continue reading Aion 1.9 patch highlights with producer Chris Hager

MassivelyAion 1.9 patch highlights with producer Chris Hager originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-gameaion-patch-1.9aion-the-tower-of-eternitychris-hagerfeaturedinterviewkorean-test-serverlocalizationnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionpatch-1.9Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft names new producer for Aion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/15/ncsoft-names-new-producer-for-aion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/15/ncsoft-names-new-producer-for-aion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/15/ncsoft-names-new-producer-for-aion/#commentsFiled under: , ,

NCsoft announced this evening that they have named a new producer for Aion. Chris "Kinslon" Hager left his Associate Producer position to make the step up to Aion Producer. Kinslon has been with NCsoft since the fall of 2005, working on Guild Wars and Lineage II as well as Aion.

Andrew "Tamat" Beegle welcomes Kinslon: "We're all very excited to follow our new Producer forward. His intricate knowledge of Aion and deep history with the game and NCsoft are invaluable as we move forward. Needless to say, there is plenty to be excited about that we have yet to announce."

The team at Aion has spoken very often about changes and new content coming in 2010, and this is presumably the first of many to come. Along with the rest of the Community team, as well as the fans, we wish Kinslon the best of luck in his new position.

Continue reading NCsoft names new producer for Aion

MassivelyNCsoft names new producer for Aion originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionandrew-beeglechris-hagerkinslonncsoftproducertamatFri, 15 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion interview explores aerial combat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/26/aion-interview-explores-aerial-combat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/26/aion-interview-explores-aerial-combat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/26/aion-interview-explores-aerial-combat/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

One of Aion's most touted features is its aerial combat, with the game's own website challenging us to abandon our limited two-dimensional thinking to make way for the future. We're not alone in wanting to know more about these flight mechanics, and when asked about them in a recent interview at Ten Ton Hammer, Associate Producer Chris Hager was able to dish out a few details. In Aion, flight time and flight speed are statistics that can be increased through gear or buffs, so players will need to choose how much they want to beef up their flight, as opposed to their other combat stats. The reason that flight statistics should be looked into comes down to the movement and positioning in the game:

Aion's combat is fast paced and movement / positioning are very key. How you move effects your stats in positive and negative ways. In addition to this you will possess skills that will throw your enemy in all directions.

This will certainly give an advantage to skilled players that can deftly maneuver their character, and the clumsier ones will end up harming their own stats. At the same time, aerial combat combined with knockbacks or throws sounds pretty disorienting, and it could get tiresome chasing bouncing targets (or worse, being that bouncing target) through the air. We'll have to see how it all pans out. Check out the full interview for the flight details, as well as some discussion on Aion's system specs and archetypes.

MassivelyAion interview explores aerial combat originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aerial-combataionaion-tower-of-eternityassociate-producerchris-hagerflightflight-mechanicsflyinginterviewknockbacksknockdownspositioningMon, 26 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST