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[Aion Europe going F2P on February 28th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/aion-europe-going-f2p-on-february-28th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/aion-europe-going-f2p-on-february-28th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/aion-europe-going-f2p-on-february-28th/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Aion - Cleric casting
We told you earlier this week about Aion's incoming North American free-to-play transition (not to mention a little ditty called Ascension/3.0), but today we've got word that Gameforge AG has released the official date for Aion's European payment plan switcheroo as well.

The change-over will occur simultaneously on February 28th for the English-, German-, and French-language versions of Aion's EU client, and you can download said client right now at the game's official website.

Gameforge also says that the Ascension patch will hit Europe "in the spring," but there are no more specifics. We'll bring you more definitive info from the world of Atreia as soon as we have it.

[Source: Gameforge press release]

MassivelyAion Europe going F2P on February 28th originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-euaion-europeaion-f2paion-free-to-playatreiabusiness-modelsdaevaf2pf2p-conversionfantasyfree-to-playgameforgegameforge-agncsoftpayment-modelsThu, 23 Feb 2012 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion double AP event looks to temporarily revitalize endgame]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/aion-double-ap-event-looks-to-temporarily-revitalize-endgame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/aion-double-ap-event-looks-to-temporarily-revitalize-endgame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/aion-double-ap-event-looks-to-temporarily-revitalize-endgame/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Spend any time at Aion's endgame and you'll quickly realize that everything revolves around Abyss Points (AP). Hitting 55 is really the tip of the iceberg when it comes to PvE progression and the ability to be competitive in PvP, as you'll need plenty of pricey gear and stigmas to stand a chance. AP is so important, in fact, that even PvE mobs in the Abyss and Inggison dole it out.

Unfortunately for Daevas everywhere, the AP gods are undeniably stingy. Acquiring a full set of 55 armor, jewelry, and the weapon of your choice literally takes months (or even years) depending on how much AP you manage to farm on a daily basis. NCsoft is temporarily addressing this problem with a new in-game event dubbed For War and Glory. The event's double AP bonuses (and halved AP losses) kick off today and will run through the server reset on March 30th.

NCsoft is also tweaking the game's rifting mechanic yet again, and defensive buffs in Heiron and Beluslan will be removed until March 23rd (buffs in Eltnen and Morheim remain). Both events are part of the larger Spring 2011 Reactivation Celebration, which runs from March 24th to March 31st and welcomes back Daevas to "train for the greatest battle this planet has seen yet." Check out all the details on the official Aion website.

MassivelyAion double AP event looks to temporarily revitalize endgame originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abyss-pointsaionapatreiabeluslandaevadaevasdouble-apend-gameendgameeventsfantasyfor-war-and-glorygrindheironhow-about-permanent-double-apin-game-eventncsoftncwestriftingriftsWed, 16 Mar 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft offers Aion double XP olive branch over server outages]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/04/ncsoft-offers-aion-double-xp-olive-branch-over-server-outages/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/04/ncsoft-offers-aion-double-xp-olive-branch-over-server-outages/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/04/ncsoft-offers-aion-double-xp-olive-branch-over-server-outages/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The thunderous roar you just heard was the sound of thousands of Daevas clapping their hands, stamping their feet, and beating the air with their wings in unison. You may have even heard a few huzzahs and hell-yeahs tossed in for good measure. Why all the fuss? Double XP is returning to Aion. In fact, it's already here, as NCsoft turned on the firehose this morning at server restart.

The bonus runs through next Wednesday, and instance timer lockouts have also been reset (i.e., if you ran Taloc's Hollow last night, feel free to run it again today rather than 46 hours hence). The sudden rash of goodwill stems from the server outages this past Wednesday, many of which occurred during prime time and forced Daevas to seek their entertainment elsewhere.

You can read the official announcement on the Aion website.

MassivelyNCsoft offers Aion double XP olive branch over server outages originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionatreiabonus-weekendsdaevadouble-xpfantasygrindin-game-eventsncsoftpvepvpserver-downtimeserver-outagesFri, 04 Feb 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A year in the life of Aion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/24/a-year-in-the-life-of-aion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/24/a-year-in-the-life-of-aion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/24/a-year-in-the-life-of-aion/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Grab yourself a glass of mela juice and join me in an anniversary toast! September 22nd marked one year to the day that Aion was released into the hands of hungry Daevas-to-be in the Western market. And what a day that was! Heralded by NCsoft as its biggest launch to date, Aion saw a record number of players attempt to dive into the world of Atreia and prepare to spread their wings.

Aion has come a long way since that first day, when two-plus hour queues thwarted many a prospective Daeva from experiencing the rich new world. While some of us admittedly didn't survive the initial nightmare queues at launch (cough, cough), we nonetheless found reasons to return after a couple days, a couple months, or even longer. The introduction of two free updates in the past year -- 1.9 and Assault on Balaurea -- have addressed and ironed out some of the kinks that plagued the game and frustrated players. Adjustments to leveling, population, PvP, monetary rewards, and new content, along with a sprinkling of some fun elements, have enriched an already beautiful world and improved gameplay. If you have been away for a while, come on back and join the party. There is cake!

As Daevas scatter petals about, meander past the cut and onto memory lane where we look at how Aion has evolved over the course of the past year.

Continue reading A year in the life of Aion

MassivelyA year in the life of Aion originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.91.9-patchaionaion-gameanniversaryAnniversaryEditionassault-on-balaureabalaureadaevaexpansionExpansionsfeaturedfluffishalgenlevelingleveling-curvenc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionpetspoetaRetrospectivereviewWings-Over-AtreiaFri, 24 Sep 2010 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: First impressions of the assault]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/13/wings-over-atreia-first-impressions-of-the-assault/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/13/wings-over-atreia-first-impressions-of-the-assault/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/13/wings-over-atreia-first-impressions-of-the-assault/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

With the launch of Aion's long-anticipated expansion, Assault on Balaurea, NCsoft has laid out a spread of goodies, from tasty little morsels of fluff to meatier content fare. What all did this free expansion bring to the plate? Solo instances, pets, ground assault PvP in new zones, higher-level materials and crafting, and new travel methods are just a few of the goodies that awaited Daeva when they first logged in last Tuesday.

Hungry Daevas have had almost a full week to either nibble at or just plain dive into the buffet of new offerings in the world of Atreia. Even with a glitch (seriously, is there something in the MMO rulebook that says a launch cannot go off without a hitch?), a number of Daevas have been scarfing up everything they can get their wings on. The release even brought back many old faces, who stopped in to sample the new goodies.

So how did all this taste? Grab a napkin and munch your way through the cut to savor the new flavor of Aion for yourself.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: First impressions of the assault

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: First impressions of the assault originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.0aionaion-2.0aion-gameasmodianassault-on-balaureadaevaelyosexpansionfeaturedFirst-Impressionsfluffflyingfortress-siegefortsgalleryGelkmarosInggisonnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionpatchpetsscreenshotscreenshotsWings-Over-AtreiaMon, 13 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively interview: Elysean Council captures Divine Fortress]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/10/massively-interview-elysean-council-captures-divine-fortress/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/10/massively-interview-elysean-council-captures-divine-fortress/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/10/massively-interview-elysean-council-captures-divine-fortress/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Keeping our eyes on the Aionosphere, Massively applauds the accomplishments of fellow gamers. At the end of June, Daevas were introduced to the Elysean Council during an interview with NCsoft; this group from Trineil was heralded as the first to capture the Divine Fortress on any North American server in Aion. In their interview, leaders in the council chimed in to give their fellow Daevas a glimpse of this ground-breaking experience. Interested in diving more in-depth with the Council, Massively had the chance to speak with one of the leaders -- Nightroad -- about the siege, and what's been happening since.

Read about it after the cut.

Continue reading Massively interview: Elysean Council captures Divine Fortress

MassivelyMassively interview: Elysean Council captures Divine Fortress originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abyssaiondaevafeaturedfortressinterviewncsoftsiegesSat, 10 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: The ties that bind]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/28/wings-over-atreia-the-ties-that-bind/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/28/wings-over-atreia-the-ties-that-bind/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/28/wings-over-atreia-the-ties-that-bind/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Flaws. Bugs. Annoyances -- like a level 45 slaughtering you while your little level 18 self is quietly going about gathering Lumesia. Moments that just make you want to find a dev and toss him off the nearest high rise; all games have them, no one denies this -- not even Aion players (although they usually don't feel the need to discuss them with those who don't play).

So why is it we stay in games that, at times, make us want to rip our hair out by the fistfuls? With such a plethora of games catering to a wide variety of play styles, how do we stay faithful to a particular one over the long haul, even when we know it isn't perfect? No, it isn't because we are all secretly masochistic. Or because we detest our barber/hairdresser. Looking around me in games both past and present, watching those who could be considered die-hards stay in (and enjoy) games long after the masses have fled, I found themes that mirrored some of my own reasons -- because, alternately, there are the moments that make it worth it. Not the art, the features, or the wittiness of the quest dialog. Rather, the ties that bind us: Friendships, epic memories, and just plain stubbornness.

Charge across the bridge and we'll delve into my top reasons for sticking with a title, even in the face of the raging malcontents.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: The ties that bind

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: The ties that bind originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionatreiadaevadaevaseltnenepic-memoriesfeaturedfriendsfriendshipfriendshipsmemoriesmorheimncsoftpvpstubbornstubbornnesstiesventriloWings-Over-AtreiaMon, 28 Jun 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Five quick tips for Aion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/23/five-quick-tips-for-aion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/23/five-quick-tips-for-aion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/23/five-quick-tips-for-aion/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

For those lucky enough to get past Aion's login queue, we're happy to announce five quick tips that will enhance your gaming experience. You can expect more of these kinds of posts in the weeks and months ahead. Let's get right into it, shall we?

1. Change the channel

The initial rush of new players coming in to Aion can really bung up certain areas of the game. While we're all for being social (see #5), this can lead to some long and frustrating waits for shared PvE content. Or maybe you're on a lower end rig and the massive amounts of players on screen is causing you performance issues. There is a remedy and it's called channel surfing.
Click the menu tab near your skill bar > Click 'Support' > Click 'Change Channel' > Pick a channel from the drop down and press 'Okay' -- You will be teleported to the exact same spot in another channel
You may also need to change your channel to meet up with group mates or rendezvous with another player to make a trade (item, gold, etc.).

Continue reading Five quick tips for Aion

MassivelyFive quick tips for Aion originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-tipschatdaevaflightguidehelpkinahncsoftsocialWed, 23 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aionsed: This time, I put the joke of the title before the colon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/23/anti-aionsed-this-time-i-put-the-joke-of-the-title-before-the/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/23/anti-aionsed-this-time-i-put-the-joke-of-the-title-before-the/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/23/anti-aionsed-this-time-i-put-the-joke-of-the-title-before-the/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


The people who follow my personal blog or follow me on Twitter or listen to the Massively Speaking podcast probably saw this column coming from a mile away. Aion and I... we have some business to take care of.

This week is Aion's launch week and I do believe that I need to put my thoughts down on the game, like so many other journalists are doing this week. Now, please, even before we start, I need to make it clear that this isn't a review. This is my collected thoughts about the game as I've played it through closed beta, open beta, the head start, and now the live game. I've made alts on all of the classes, I've gotten past level 10 as the templar, I've done grouping, and I'm actually going to continue playing after this column is done. I delayed these thoughts because I wanted to make sure I was confident in what I was about to say.

So what are my collected thoughts on the game? Well let's start off with the good, and go on to the bad, and then finally hit our synopsis. Hit continue reading, because I can assure you that this is going to be daevafinitely interesting. (And, most likely, full of bad, bad Aion puns.)

Continue reading Anti-Aionsed: This time, I put the joke of the title before the colon

MassivelyAnti-Aionsed: This time, I put the joke of the title before the colon originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-the-tower-of-eternityanti-aliaseddaevafeaturedhumorncsoftopinionpunsWed, 23 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion's launch day trailer revealed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/21/aions-launch-day-trailer-revealed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/21/aions-launch-day-trailer-revealed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/21/aions-launch-day-trailer-revealed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Tomorrow (this Tuesday) is the highly anticipated launch of NCsoft's newest contender in the MMO ring, Aion. Of course, many of you Aion fans are already playing in the pre-order head start that began yesterday, but tomorrow is the official launch for the game.

With tomorrow's opening in mind, NCsoft has released the final promotional trailer for Aion, splicing bits of in-game footage and pre-rendered movies together to form a kaleidoscope of pretty. There's pretty daevas, pretty battles, pretty environments, pretty monsters, and even pretty particle effects. Like we said -- pretty.

If you're interested in seeing this brand new launch trailer, then you don't have to go far! We here at Massively have the pleasure of hosting the video, and it's available for your viewing enjoyment right after the break. So hit that "continue reading" button below and immerse yourself in the final trailer for Aion.

Continue reading Aion's launch day trailer revealed

MassivelyAion's launch day trailer revealed originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aiondaevain-game-graphicslaunchlaunch-trailerncsofttrailervideoMon, 21 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Aion server queue survival guide]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/21/the-aion-server-queue-survival-guide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/21/the-aion-server-queue-survival-guide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/21/the-aion-server-queue-survival-guide/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


So you pre-ordered Aion and you're super excited to jump into the game during the headstart release that's going on right now. You've set aside a whole block of time for your game play, you have your snacks at your side and your DVR ready to play some great entertainment while you grind your night away. You type in your username and password, accept the EULA, select the server that you made your character on during the pre-selection annnndd.....

...you get slapped in the face with a 2 hour wait time.

Don't worry, we've been there. Trust us on that. But here at Massively, we're not going to let you down in your moment of need. We've compiled a great list of fun things to do while you wait for that server queue to drop. Follow along after the break, and we'll be happy to show you the golden road to boredom elimination.

Continue reading The Aion server queue survival guide

MassivelyThe Aion server queue survival guide originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aion-onlineaion-the-tower-of-eternityangelblog-archivesboredomdaevafacebookforumsinstant-messengerinvisible-petmovienapsncsoftpaper-hatpizzapizza-deliveryserver-queuesock-puppetssurvival-guidetwitterMon, 21 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion's third podcast takes on the east vs. west gaming approaches]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/14/aions-third-podcast-takes-on-the-east-vs-west-gaming-approache/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/14/aions-third-podcast-takes-on-the-east-vs-west-gaming-approache/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/14/aions-third-podcast-takes-on-the-east-vs-west-gaming-approache/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


The next video in the Aion podcast series is up, and this time the staff speaks on the differences in how the Western and Eastern markets perceive gameplay, and how Aion manages to stretch their Tower of Eternity across both markets.

According to the podcast, the team has designed Aion with a global mindset -- such as tempering the experience grind with story and adapting the graphics to straddle the cultural preferences of both markets. In addition to that, they wished to bring new perspectives to the industry as a whole, including their take on flight and the use of PvP in PvE settings, such as the notorious Abyss.

But don't take our word for what they said in the podcast when you can view it right here! We've embedded the video in this post right after the break, so hit "continue reading" to see what the Aion team has to offer!

Continue reading Aion's third podcast takes on the east vs. west gaming approaches

MassivelyAion's third podcast takes on the east vs. west gaming approaches originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-podcastaion-the-tower-of-eternityculturedaevaeast-meets-westeastern-marketglobalncsoftvideovideo-podcastwestern-marketMon, 14 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Everything Aion: Flight 101]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/06/everything-aion-flight-101/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/06/everything-aion-flight-101/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/06/everything-aion-flight-101/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

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.

Continue reading Everything Aion: Flight 101

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-betaaion-flightaion-open-betaaion-patch-1.5aion-the-shadow-of-the-balauraion-the-tower-of-eternityaion-tipsaion-tower-of-eternityasmodiandaevaelyoseverything-aionopen-betaSun, 06 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Things that make you go kweh pt. 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/24/anti-aliased-things-that-make-you-go-kweh-pt-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/24/anti-aliased-things-that-make-you-go-kweh-pt-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/24/anti-aliased-things-that-make-you-go-kweh-pt-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


A wing timer? Seriously? Seriously?

And now for the number one thing that drives me nuts -- Aion's flight timer. I know, I know, the other two topics were more universal and covered all MMOs. Plus I shouldn't be firing arrows into a game that hasn't even come out yet, but this just seemed to warrant my attention for how confused I was about this whole subject.

Let me lay it out for you all, especially for those who weren't in the beta. At the very end of level 9-ish you get told that you are, in fact, a Daeva -- an immortal angel that protects your race -- and you are granted permission to go to your city of awesome in the clouds. There's a cutscene depicting an awesome ceremony where you're accepted into the ranks of the immortal and you "prove your divinity" by exposing your wings for all to see. It is one hell of a lead up and a great cap for the first ten levels. You come off of that story-arc feeling completely empowered, and it is awesome.

Then, after grabbing yourself a very shiny new weapon from one of the other daevas, you go out to do some, well, angel-ish things? Honestly, the downer here is that things don't change that much from you being mortal. You're still someone's pool cleaner, except now you have wings. Of course, that's what you think until you hit the flight button and they slap you with a one minute flight restriction. Yes, that's right, you can stay in the air for one minute. A whole minute!

Of course you can increase this timer with buffs and consumables in later areas of the game, as this restriction is supposed to make you think tactically about aerial combat. Yet, when your box art depicts a winged angel so prominently and one of your back of the box features is "where your character wields devastating powers and sweeping wings to explore a celestial world," you're kind of leading people into disappointment.

Plus, it's not really a minute of flight in one direction. It's more like 30 seconds of flight in one direction, because you have to remember to reach a lower altitude before your wings die out. Yes, you will take falling damage if you're still lollygaging in mid-air when that timer hits zero. You may be immortal, but you're not immune to broken legs.

And that's a wrap

Well, that's all of the room I have for this week's senseless complaining. Tune in next week when I sit down and have a conversation with a moogle concerning mog slavery and mistreatment in Vana'diel. Good night, everybody!
Colin Seraphina Brennan is the weekly writer of Anti-Aliased who is pretty much mentally unstable. When she's not writing here for Massively, she's rambling on her personal blog, The Experience Curve. If you want to message her, send her an e-mail at colin.brennan AT weblogsinc DOT com. You can also follow her on Twitter through Massively, or through her personal feed, @sera_brennan.

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Things that make you go kweh pt. 2 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aiondaevaflight-restrictionflight-timerimmortalncsoftwingsFri, 24 Jul 2009 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Which version of Aion will be available at launch?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/01/which-version-of-aion-will-be-available-at-launch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/01/which-version-of-aion-will-be-available-at-launch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/01/which-version-of-aion-will-be-available-at-launch/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


NCsoft is hoping that the pairing of flight and fantasy in Aion will prove to be a hit in both North America and Europe. Gamers who were accepted into the betas have been asking the Aion team about which version of the title the Western markets will see at launch. NCsoft has announced: "Aion is planned to release with version 1.5, the third major game update, bringing the content as up to date as possible. The Aion team strives to keep the game content consistent between territories, and releasing with this game version brings us one step closer to this goal."

Our own Lesley Smith has been writing about her experiences with the game through Aion's various beta test phases, particularly the experience of becoming a Daeva as an Elyos or as an Asmodian; we recommend reading her hands-on series if you're interested in this title. Massively will continue to cover Aion leading right up to the game's September launch.

MassivelyWhich version of Aion will be available at launch? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-the-tower-of-eternityasiaasmodianbetasdaevaelyoseuropefantasyflightkorealaunchesmmo-industryncsoftnorth-americaWed, 01 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands on with the Aion beta: Exploring Sanctum and Verteron]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/15/hands-on-with-the-aion-beta-exploring-sanctum-and-verteron/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/15/hands-on-with-the-aion-beta-exploring-sanctum-and-verteron/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/15/hands-on-with-the-aion-beta-exploring-sanctum-and-verteron/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

After leveling your stunning avatar to level 9, ascending to Daevahood and getting your wings, it's time to go out into the world -- well Verteron at least. But first, let's talk a little about the glorious city of Sanctum and what your new Daevic powers really mean. Join us after the jump as we take a closer look at Aion's hub city of Sanctum, the zone of Verteron and the basics of flying.

Continue reading Hands on with the Aion beta: Exploring Sanctum and Verteron

MassivelyHands on with the Aion beta: Exploring Sanctum and Verteron originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-betaaion-the-tower-of-eternityaion-tower-of-eternitydaevafirst-lookhands-onsanctumverteronMon, 15 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands on with the Aion beta: Becoming a Daeva]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/07/hands-on-with-the-aion-beta-becoming-a-daeva/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/07/hands-on-with-the-aion-beta-becoming-a-daeva/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/07/hands-on-with-the-aion-beta-becoming-a-daeva/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


In the last two days, we've walked you through character creation in Aion: Tower of Eternity and introduced you to the starter zone of Poeta. Now it's time to get to the interesting bit, the Ascension quest where you finally transcend your frail Elyos form and become a Daeva. While this ascension can take place any time after you ding level 9, there are a number of campaign quests which must be completed first These begin much earlier, around level six when you befriend the Forest Lord Daminu and gain the amusing title Tree-Hugger.

Becoming a Daeva and earning your wings -- literally in this case -- is one of the reasons players have been so excited by Aion. It is your destiny and an inevitable part of the game play but it has some caveats. We'll get to those in a bit but first, join us after the jump, when we take a deeper look into the Ascension quest itself.

Continue reading Hands on with the Aion beta: Becoming a Daeva

MassivelyHands on with the Aion beta: Becoming a Daeva originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 07 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yesterday, we showed you the character creation process for Aion: Tower of Eternity and today it's time to enter Elysea. The lower portion of the fractured world of Atreia, Elysea is, for the most part, as beautiful as its inhabitants. Poeta is a starter zone (actually more of an island) where the Elyos level from 1 to 9 on their journey to become Daeva and choose a subclass. It is where you learn how to play and are gently introduced to the mechanics which make Aion a very different kind of MMO.

Continue reading Hands on with the Aion beta: Your first steps into Elysea

MassivelyHands on with the Aion beta: Your first steps into Elysea originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMORPG.com have a new developer journal for Aion, NCSoft's new MMO which is due to make it to the west later this year. Aion launched in Korea last year and has already proved highly popular. This journal introduces us to the Daeva, humans who have undertaken a sudden mystical evolution.

Daevas are revered by the people of Atreia and are created when the invisible lifeblood of Aion, Aether, infuses a human. This often happens to somebody who is undergoing trauma or pain. The human will then sprout feathery wings, break free from the bonds of gravity and mortality and become the first line of defense against the invasions from the Balaur and incursions from Daevas from the other side of the world.

You can read the full developer journal at mmorpg.com.

MassivelyAn introduction to the Daeva originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 May 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aetheraionatreiabalaurdaevakoreancsoftTue, 12 May 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Obama as you've never seen him before, an Aion character]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/04/obama-as-youve-never-seen-him-before-an-aion-character/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/04/obama-as-youve-never-seen-him-before-an-aion-character/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/04/obama-as-youve-never-seen-him-before-an-aion-character/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We're generally apolitical in terms of our content here at Massively, but this is something worthy of note: Obama in the fantasy MMO Aion: The Tower of Eternity? (We're sure this unscheduled appearance will come as a surprise to the President, himself.)

NCsoft really didn't have this in mind when creating the game's lore, but some rather inventive beta testers have created something which show off just how good Aion's character creation is. The end result is a player-created video that depicts Obama in ways his publicity people never anticipated, as an Elyos 'kicking ass' and saving trees on the road to ascension as a Daeva... Yes, this may piss off a few people -- namely the POTUS -- but it's all in good fun. Check out the YouTube embed below the cut in high quality.

Continue reading Obama as you've never seen him before, an Aion character

MassivelyObama as you've never seen him before, an Aion character originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aiondaevaelyosfantasyhumorobamapotuspresidentthe-tower-of-eternityvideoyoutubeWed, 04 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion's beauty shines through in Asmodian Ascension Quest video]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/aions-beauty-shines-through-in-asmodian-ascension-quest-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/aions-beauty-shines-through-in-asmodian-ascension-quest-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/aions-beauty-shines-through-in-asmodian-ascension-quest-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



NCsoft's upcoming MMO Aion: The Tower of Eternity is looking to be a graphically stunning game. The latest trailer, Asmodian Ascension Quest, shows off some gorgeous settings and reveals a bit of the lore, as it concerns the struggle between the Asmodian and Elyos races. The video follows a young Asmodian as she ascends to the lofty heights of the Daeva, having battled her way to godhood on land and in the sky in winged combat. If you like what you see here, be sure to check out the full high-res download over at our sister site Big Download.

[Thanks, Torak]

MassivelyAion's beauty shines through in Asmodian Ascension Quest video originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionasmodianasmodiansdaevaelyosfantasylorencsoftnew-titlesracesvideoMon, 18 Aug 2008 10:00:00 EST