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[Wings Over Atreia: F2P and vet rewards and bears, oh my!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/wings-over-atreia-f2p-and-vet-rewards-and-bears-oh-my/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/wings-over-atreia-f2p-and-vet-rewards-and-bears-oh-my/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/wings-over-atreia-f2p-and-vet-rewards-and-bears-oh-my/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Wings Over Atreia header image
OK, so maybe there aren't really any bears. Wait, I take that back -- there are maybe sorta bears... at least alluded to! Polar bears, to be exact. No really, work with me here: What Winter Festival, Atreian or otherwise, doesn't conjure up images of polar bears? We just won't get into the whole dancing bears thing. What we will get into this week in Wings Over Atreia, however, are musings about a few topics of interest that are swirling around lately, most notably Aion's upcoming conversion to free-to-play in Europe, the changes to the veteran reward system, and the aforementioned Winter Festival (sans dancing bears).

Quick quiz now: Other than involving Aion, what else do these three subjects have in common? Give up? Time. While this column usually delves into single topics at a time, the fact that two of these are time-sensitive necessitates that they share face-time, else the news most relevant to Daevas would become obsolete. The third is less time-sensitive but more time-relevant.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: F2P and vet rewards and bears, oh my!

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: F2P and vet rewards and bears, oh my! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-crucibleaion-gameaparenasCrucibleCrucible-Coliseumdredgionf2pf2p-conversionsfeaturedfestivalsfortressesfortsfree-to-plaync-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionopinionpvppvp-arenapvp-arenaspvp-gearvet-rewardsveteran-rewardsveteran-rewards-programveteransvetsWings-Over-Atreiawinter-festivalMon, 30 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: Coming soon -- Crucible III]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/26/wings-over-atreia-coming-soon-crucible-iii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/26/wings-over-atreia-coming-soon-crucible-iii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/26/wings-over-atreia-coming-soon-crucible-iii/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

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Look Pa! It's rainin' patches!

In the midst of Daevas gorging themselves on festivities and goodies galore, NCsoft tossed out another juicy bit of information that might have been lost in the frenzy: Patch 2.7 will release on October 19, 2011. "Wait a minute!" you say, with second-anniversary cake dribbling from your mouth. "Didn't Aion just have a recent patch?" Aye folks, that it did! This patch will actually be the third in only a five-month span.

Color me hopeful, but it certainly looks like someone was listening when I requested more frequent content updates. And I have to say I am pleased! Giving players more options only helps stave off boredom and retain players. From new instances (3rd Crucible, Padmarashka's Cave) to reductions in DP costs and skill cooldown timers, there are enough little goodies to keep Daevas entertained until the -- dare I hope not too long in coming -- next update.

So what does Aion have in store for us this time around? Join me past the cut for a look at the the upcoming changes.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Coming soon -- Crucible III

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Coming soon -- Crucible III originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-crucibleaion-gamecrucibleDredgionfeaturedinstancesnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionpatchpatch-2.7patchesplatinum-medalsPvPvEskillsupdateupdatesWings-Over-AtreiaMon, 26 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: Rant powers activate!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/25/wings-over-atreia-rant-powers-activate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/25/wings-over-atreia-rant-powers-activate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/25/wings-over-atreia-rant-powers-activate/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

So there I was, with another topic planned and article well on its way to completion when fate intervened and thrust a new subject upon me. And not in a happy-Fed-Ex-guy-handing-it-over kinda way either, but a growling, grumbling, grit-my-teeth-and-try-not-to-speak-in-asterisks (%#$**!) kind of way. Oh yes, this is a topic of great rantiness for me.

I freely admit that I rarely reach the heights of true frustration within Aion (not counting launch queues where I simply chose to stop logging in altogether), especially to the point of actually tossing aside another column to express and share said frustrations with you. But now, you have a second opportunity to witness my small yet developing rant lobe -- placed, I believe, somewhere behind the occipital lobe judging by the fact that when it revs up people tend to see red. And the truth of it is, I am going to derive great pleasure from venting about this topic. So what has me so fired up right now? The venerable AP harvesting grounds of the truly lazy: AFK Dredgions.

Queue up then enter past the break for a discourse on the evils of this practice and what NCsoft should do about it.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Rant powers activate!

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Rant powers activate! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Abyss-PointsAFKaionaion-gameAPchantra-dredgiondredgiondredgion-queuesfeaturedgriefinggroupsnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionsolutionssuggestionsWings-Over-AtreiaMon, 25 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion launches paid transfers and new website]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/27/aion-launches-paid-transfers-and-new-website/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/27/aion-launches-paid-transfers-and-new-website/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/27/aion-launches-paid-transfers-and-new-website/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Aion server drama (or two-hour dredgion cues) getting you down? Help is theoretically on the way, as NCsoft's previously announced paid character transfer service went into effect today. The Korean MMO giant is rolling out the process in three stages "to make sure that transfers go very smoothly." Balance caps are in effect to keep server faction populations as even as possible, and NCsoft indicates that it is keeping a close eye on the proceedings.

In other Aion-related news, the official website is live again after an extreme visual makeover designed to bring social networking functionality and game-related content to the forefront. The site's art assets have also been updated to reflect the game's newest patch, so head over and explore the new digs.

MassivelyAion launches paid transfers and new website originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionatreiadredgiondredgion-queuesfantasygrindmmo-industryncsoftnew-websitepaid-server-transferpaid-server-transfersqueuesserver-transferstransferswebsite-redesignwebsite-revampWed, 27 Apr 2011 19:00:00 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 1.9 patch details teased while videos of 2.0 dance in our heads]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/03/aion-1-9-patch-details-teased-while-videos-of-2-0-dance-in-our-h/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/03/aion-1-9-patch-details-teased-while-videos-of-2-0-dance-in-our-h/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/03/aion-1-9-patch-details-teased-while-videos-of-2-0-dance-in-our-h/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Thanks to one crazy community manager that likes to tease information, we've gotten a sneak peek at the upcoming patch information for Aion -- patch 1.9.

The patch is hosting a wealth of enhancements and updates to the game that includes a new looking for group system, quest updates, a brand new daily quest system, changes to the endgame dungeon Dredgion, a decrease in transportation and soul healing prices, increased experience gain, a two-handed weapon merge system, and much more. The whole thing actually totals over 26 pages of patch notes which NCsoft West are still translating for Western audiences.

Tomorrow, however, we've got a special look into some of the deeper mechanics of the patch, so be sure to come back and visit us at 11 AM Eastern time for all of the gritty details (as we need to be all hush hush until then.) But, for now, enjoy some beautiful concept art in the gallery below (in the form of desktop wallpapers) and a video of Aion's "update 2.0" patch stored after the break.

Gallery: Aion 2.0 desktop wallpaper


Continue reading Aion 1.9 patch details teased while videos of 2.0 dance in our heads

MassivelyAion 1.9 patch details teased while videos of 2.0 dance in our heads originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aion-1.9aion-2.0aion-onlineaion-patchaion-the-tower-of-eternityaion-visionbreakingdredgionncsoftpatch-1.9teasertrailervideoweapon-mergeWed, 03 Mar 2010 12:30:00 EST