Aion takes wing September 22

NCsoft preps angels-and-demons MMOG for Western launch on PC this fall; European rollout on September 25.

Aion: Tower of Eternity launched in NCsoft's native Korea late last year, and the massively multiplayer online role-playing game had an immediate impact on the company's bottom line. As part of its most recent financial disclosure, NCsoft attributed its 51 percent jump in first-quarter net revenues and 315 percent spike in net profits to the game.

Try not to park under this guy.

Turning its eye now to attractive Western markets, NCsoft said today that Aion will launch on the PC in North America on September 22, with the European rollout occurring three days later. NCsoft plans to offer the game both as a retail disc and through a variety of digital distribution channels, including the publisher's own Web site and Steam.

NCsoft is offering an advanced look at Aion before its official September release as part of its preorder incentive program. Those who buy the MMOG in advance at participating retailers--including GameStop, Amazon, and Best Buy--will automatically gain entry to Aion's closed beta test. The beta will be open to preorderers during the weekends beginning July 3, July 17, July 31, and August 14.

A story-driven MMORPG, Aion presents a conflict between two ancient races who have only recently reestablished contact with one another. One of the game's distinguishing characteristics is the importance of flight, which NCsoft promises will impact combat and quests as much as exploration.

For more information, check out GameSpot's previous coverage of Aion: Tower of Eternity.

57 Comments

  • Dacz

    Posted Sep 4, 2009 9:43 pm PT

    I also played beta since 07 and in my opinion it is better than WOW (played since 2004 til 0 and WAR (played since 2008 til AION arrived). WOW was so dragging to play. WAR is so much PVP but not much of 1vs1 PVP. I have a lot of fun memories playin WOW/WAR but it's time for AION now. But well, Blizzard is so rich now that they can pay any site to play dull with AION including this site.

  • JoeKing9mm

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 12:38 pm PT

    Played beta and honestly it seemed like a free to play MMO mechanic wise, with better graphics. It is very "asian like" despite people saying it isn't. the leveling ain't that fast either, its pretty grinding as if you want to level you must quest. I am not sure I saw any dungeons or anything "group related" in my time in beta. It offers nothing new except flight combat. Thats it. If you can name one other thing than do it. Quests and combat loses its appeal at about level 8. Only one race and 4 classes? I know its got subclasses but seriously...not trying to bash this game and I promise you I am not tied to any MMO here but I am not dropping 50 bux and 15 a month for this game.

  • seagon

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 9:44 am PT

    I didn't play this game untill last weekend's closed beta and i must say that i was stunned while i was playing this game.
    They didn't only add flight to combat only, but they actually integrated it into the game as an important aspect. Some quests can't even be finished without having wings.
    Overall, the graphics are very nice and smooth and allthough it's built with the crytec engine, it doesn't need a high performance computer.
    And i have to agree with SephirothTDL on his statements though i can't disagree with JrSlacker either, some people just won't like this game, or they aren't drawn to it as others are / will be.

    In short, i love this game and i am very very happy i bought the CE version to get into the beta... heck, i might even buy it in store for the collectors edition trinkets and box ;-) (Got the digital download from nc store).

  • dark_heavens

    Posted Jun 30, 2009 10:54 am PT

    Anyone know when I can get the pre order in Canada?

  • SephirothTDL

    Posted Jun 24, 2009 11:00 am PT

    @JrSlacker. Most of the games you list are common Western influenced games, and thats all you seem to be looking for. Youre pretty limited on the selections. Ive played my fair share of MMOs too, both Western and Eastern style, and Aion brings a mix of both elements to the game. It's a basically all the best MMO's in one package, so I really dont get how you decide its not worth it when the beta was level capped at 10...
    Its shows how narrow your view is, and you had decided before even going in.
    I'm sorry that you can't do 3 things at once in PvP, or need help finding a pig in PvE... maybe MMO's just arent for you. I recommend you play Fable 2. It has an option to use a huge yellow sparkly line you can follow that takes you to your next destination for quests. What you are looking for is hand outs, something easy and with no challenge.

    @denter21. You can turn that off in the options menu. This game also has some of the most competitive PvP guilds from L2, WoW, and GW in its community, and growing.

    PS. My name rules and youre just jealous =P

  • EmoOwl

    Posted Jun 24, 2009 9:38 am PT

    If the PvP system is going to be as good as the one in L2, this game will probably surpass WoW.

  • Melty123

    Posted Jun 24, 2009 9:34 am PT

    Looks good and NCsoft is doing great job but still Guild Wars are better and I can't wait for GW2 to come out.

  • denter21

    Posted Jun 24, 2009 5:53 am PT

    It looks very pretty, but if you've tried the Chinese version you'll know it's a pretty heavy grind and the combat is limited - by that I mean pressing a button to attack your opponent will automatically move you into attack range, kinda takes the skill of positioning and movement out of the game.

    Fans of PvE will probably not be disappointed, but if you're looking for a competitive PvP experience this probably won't be it.

  • ShockG707

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 10:50 pm PT

    As far as MMO's go I'm holding out for FF14.

  • JrSlacker

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 10:29 pm PT

    @Disc, I played SWG for 4 years before I even went to WoW, and I would still be playing that if SOE didn't screw the pooch. Like I said, too many of these MMOs are trying to sale of this one thing you can do that no other MMO can. Fury tried it, fail, AoC tried it, fail, RF Online tried it, fail, vanguard fail, piriates fail, Tabula Rasa fail, I could keep going on how many "new awesome" MMOs were going to be the epic thing to make me go "oh wow, that's great".

    @ Seph, when they emphesize on "zomg ya got wingz ya can fight in da air" if that's their only sale point, what's the purpose if you can't keep going? Even in CoH/oV you could stay in flight and fight. Because that's the exciting part of PvP is staring at your bars. As for the PvP factor, I love to do it. Played a BH in SWG at the time you could hunt Jedi down and killed them. Seeing as though you fail to realize on how many MMOs I have tried, like I said, another Korean MMO.

    @Nurse, and that's how I felt about this MMO, but I was really unimpressed in the beta. I've been waiting for a new MMO to come out and give me an excuse to stick to it, was hoping for Warhammer, but no. Hopefully Bioware does something good with KOTOR.

    P.S. I know I'm ticking off all the anime and FF fanboys, but this isn't worth 15 bucks a month, so have fun with your character named after a character you didn't think up.

  • nurse_tsunami

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 10:14 pm PT

    I am going to keep my eye on this one. Graphics and gameplay seem intriguing, but my main motivation in getting it would be if I could convince my friends to join up with me. So far there hasn't been anything that has taken the WoW needle out of their arm.

  • SephirothTDL

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 9:26 pm PT

    @JrSlacker. No you cant fly forever, but obviously you arent looking at the whole picture. The game allows you to attack while flying, and how do you think this does in PvP? It adds to the adrenaline you get while in combat. (You have to watch your health bar as well as your flight meter.) Nothing more exciting than killing an enemy in mid air before you fall. =)
    Or if you don't wanna fight in the air, just simply wait til they come down.
    If this isn't a factor for you cuz you don't PvP, then ignore.

    If questing is an issue for you, I cant help you either. I didn't have any problems doing the quests, but that's just me.

  • JGoWild

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 9:06 pm PT

    I stopped paying for MMORPG's a long time ago, what difference is this game gonna make. After all one has to buy this game to play. Thanks, but no thanks. I will stick to my Perfect World International, or Runes Of Magic.

  • Pete5506

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 9:02 pm PT

    only if it was free

  • DiscGuru101

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 8:07 pm PT

    @JrSlacker: Sorry, your "comment beta review" of Aion smacks of a WoW fanatic. Considering I despised the slow pace, inane a.i., tiny spell list, and dull character graphics of WoW, I will be ignoring your anti-hype.

  • JrSlacker

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 7:44 pm PT

    @Rah, I've played the beta, stop being one of the people who think the "new MMO is going to bring WoW down.

    1. Flying in the game is gimped, yes you can do it, BUT there's a catch. There's a ring around a wing, that shows you how long you can stay in flight, since you CAN'T STAY IN IT FOREVER. For a game that has strong emphesis on "flying and fighting" what's the point if you're limited on doing so?

    2. The quests are just like any other MMO, kill the steriod ridden rabbits, deliver the rock to the lazy guy. On top of that, one of the quests I did, which invovled me on finding a guys pet "pig" it doesn't give you a general direction on where to go, like "norther part of X" it just normally says he's at the mines, go find him. So I spend time looking around blindly for this pig, and guess what. He was part of the scenery, a dead pig on a spik and it played, for what ever reason a cinematic showing him roast dead. I WOULD HAVE NEVER FOUND THIS.

    3. The combat is not exciting, I've tried warrior, priest, and mage. I just can't get into it. It reminds me of Guild Wars meets RF Online.

    The game isn't bad, but it's not great. I've been bored of WoW. I've done Yog in the new content, but there's nothing out there better, and I've tried every MMO that's been "on the hype list". No one opens their eyes and realise simplicity = good. Not trying to be differen't by adding in stupid crap to say "dur wer different".

  • DiscGuru101

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 7:04 pm PT

    Love the box cover art. I have waited a long time for Aion, so far I see nothing not to like.

  • nine32

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 5:19 pm PT

    Somehow I can't get excited for this MMO.

    I give them credit for developing a good new payment system, even though its skewed a little towards the expensive end. But ultra fast leveling, an Asian art style, and not bringing anything new to the table gameplay wise just isn't cutting it for me.

    I will try out any trial they have once its released though.

  • 1Mach6

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 3:39 pm PT

    Looks like a reskinned GuildWars with wings to me.

  • artanisxvi

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 3:06 pm PT

    if there was no monthly fee, I'm sure it would have been mentioned in the article. It is most definitely pay-to-play

  • chappy_man

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 3:01 pm PT

    is it pay to play cause if not it looks good enough to pick up

  • Nova_Luenros

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 2:51 pm PT

    I honestly can NOT wait for this game to be released! I've been keeping my eye on it for a while. It looks like so much fun and so fluid to play! Way to go NCSoft~

  • athenian29

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 2:41 pm PT

    Do the "angel"-type guys have as good of aim as plain-old pigeons?

  • rahl247

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 2:40 pm PT

    1st there is no grind feel to the game took like 3 to 4 hrs of casual strate play to get to level 10.

    2nd the graphix is loads better then wow but not like aoc but it gets better performance.

    3rd the combat,movement and over all game is smoother then warhammer and aoc its as smooth as wow

    4th very little lag in the game.

    5th the combos in this game is loads better laid out then aoc

    anyone that thinks this is just another lorean mmo has not played it at all.
    there is no way a game company can make quests any different lookt at war with the pqs it failed.
    in any mmo all qs are gona be based on killx, collect x. deliver this and so on.

  • rahl247

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 2:32 pm PT

    champions online lol its just a remake of city of heroes

  • sniperhare

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 2:25 pm PT

    I'll be busy kicking ass in Champions.

  • armyofrobots

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 2:07 pm PT

    PC only, bah.

    I wish developers would show some more Mac love. Like..it's not that hard...

  • BelmontMaster

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 1:48 pm PT

    I'll check it out for sure.

  • Berem

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 1:45 pm PT

    This game looks promising, I'm going to give it a shot.

  • savageandres

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 1:36 pm PT

    @amareen18
    yes sadly it will be

  • amareen18

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 1:25 pm PT

    is this game going to be Pay to Play ?

  • Sechu

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 1:02 pm PT

    Looks good but needs more gameplay footage to judge it.

  • erikkup

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 12:58 pm PT

    I actually had quite a lot of fun playing over last weekend's closed beta even with levels capped at 10. I had gotten so burned out on MMOs that I thought I would never start a new one but this game had me wanting to play more.

  • pigman239

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 12:47 pm PT

    i'll reserve judgment till i see it in action

  • ASG_

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 12:29 pm PT

    I'm sorry for all of these developers making great MMO games, only to have WoW steal the stage.
    Give other games a chance!

  • SirSpoon84

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 12:08 pm PT

    loox hot, i need to go find more info

  • SephirothTDL

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 11:37 am PT

    Leveling is easy and less of a grind. You don't even realize you are leveling. It reminds me a lot of Guild Wars in the sense that you are more caught up in a story line. You still do quests like any other MMO, but how else are you supposed to play an MMO?

  • Oloryn

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 11:27 am PT

    Been playing the beta and I'm absolutely impressed. It completely has the look and style of an Eastern game with gorgeous visuals and an amazing soundtrack, but it presents itself with a Western style, meaning it isn't a grind to play. Combat is fun, interface is easy, and you can fly at level 10. It is still a quest based MMO with your classic quest types, but it integrates story very well. If you cant stand MMOs, this probably wont sell you, but if you have even a passing interest, check it out.

  • vortex_gw

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 11:22 am PT

    To all the guys who have been in the beta, what are the quests like? Killing X amount of monster Y for a lazy, stationary c*ck-head Z?

  • s0ldier69 posted Jun 23, 2009 11:18 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    s0ldier69

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 11:18 am PT (hide)

    looks like crap

  • vortex_gw

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 11:18 am PT

    Aion uses the modified Crytek engine and the game looks good. But let's face it people, it made by Asian studio so...
    Some sites are selling beta keys for the European beta real cheap.

  • KoolKat666 posted Jun 23, 2009 11:12 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    KoolKat666

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 11:12 am PT (hide)

    new new sh*tty mmo on my bday, *monotone voice* oh im so exited

  • SephirothTDL

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 11:10 am PT

    I got into this game for the PvP. I've only seen a glimpse of what it has to offer, but so far as the betas continue I have been pleased with the results. If you like Lineage 2, you'll more than likely love this game =)

  • Inconnux posted Jun 23, 2009 11:06 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Inconnux

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 11:06 am PT (hide)

    yet another generic mmo

  • sabawoon

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 11:05 am PT

    @Warshock Aion people are not stupid like AOC people. Not everyone have beast rigs to take care of high end graphics on an mmo. And about not being impressed part of graphics.....I think its time to check your eyes.

  • Warshock

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 11:01 am PT

    not really... it feels just like WoW... and it seems like they really didn't push the cytek engine hard enough... Ive put the settings all the way up and i'm not impressed. I thought it was going to be really fun and I guess it's not to bad. BUT something just seems to be missing from the game. I just moved my reservation to Mass Effect 2 and I guess i'm wanting too much from Champions Online to probably care about any other mmo at the moment.

  • tomjacobs

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 10:57 am PT

    I played the latest closed beta weekend and was thoroughly unimpressed.

  • JrSlacker

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 10:56 am PT

    Was in the beta.

    Just another korean MMO IMO.

  • LithuanianGamer

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 10:44 am PT

    Looking good

  • imgettingapsp

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 10:44 am PT

    i'm really hoping it's not just some pretty grind MMO

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