Rebranded as Aion: Ascension, NCsoft's MMORPG adopts new business model early next month.
Next month, gamers can trek through the expanses of Atreia in NCsoft's massively multiplayer online role-playing game Aion for free, the company has announced. The 2009 game will relaunch as the free-to-play Aion: Ascension on April 11. Previously, the switch was planned to take place sometime this spring.
Aion: Ascension will launch as part of the game's 3.0 update, which brings a new level cap (60), as well as fresh zones, mounts, houses, and instances to the game. Aion: Ascension will give gamers access to the entire game, which includes two expansions, more than 3,000 quests, more than 30 instances, and auction houses.
For more on Aion, check out GameSpot's review of the MMORPG.
Eddie Makuch (Mack-ooh) is a News Editor at GameSpot. He works out of the company's Boston office in Somerville, Mass., and loves extra chunky peanut butter.
I know I must be the only adult admitting to liking this. I've always kinda' liked AION though. I've never played it as my hardcore one and only game, but it felt nice to get that explore and do different stuff itch scratched from time to time over the past two years. Now with this patch, it's more sane than ever to keep as an icon on my desktop. It's even prettier, bigger, more populated, and cheaper! Its a sore pecker, you can't beat it!
Mmm, will try it since it looks nice and i like testing my laptop, but most free to play mmo's tend to force you to spend just as much if not more than a subscription just to stay competative...
@ Discguru You should reinstall it's been a completely different game since 1.5, there is still grind (it's an MMO) but it is now at a minimum. 3.0 which releases simultaneously as F2P looks to add a lot more content. @ every one else who's curious It will feel premium as nothing is changed at all from the premium version, in fact it may feel more premium as they will release a lot of the stuff on the store in korea here.
Hate against NCSoft escapes me. Yes, much has not gone smoothly for them but a company dedicated to MMO is a good thing. Aion was too much of a grind for me, although I love the game environments. I might reinstall, but I doubt it.
there is already a free model out in EU but they got restrictions such as trade,chat and all those anoying crap free players cant use. This is the US version and they are useing a "Truly Free" model with as it says everything is free asides from some In game marketplace items
Oh NCSoft; how kindly has karma treated you after that whole Richard Garriot/Tabula Rasa fiasco, crapping on your paying subscribers fiasco, etc, etc... I hope it treats you in an even kinder manner with all your future endeavors. Crappy game companies never learn until they're kicked in the nuts... hard...
The only thing now is to wonder: Will it be really free or they will just have that illusion as a way to get people to play it?
EH, I honestly can't get excited about any MMO's, free or not. The whole MMO model itself is flawed and feels so wholesale. It's like the bulk foods of the grocery store - so generic with nothing special to boast about. I like game genres more focused, that is appealing in its own way, not a game that tries and appeals to the masses but ends up being bland to all.
Never was interested much in Aion when it was Pay-To-Play, why should I now? I doubt their newly adopted FtP model is any different from the rest. That is, unless they truly do make it free and accecible to everyone without any limits. Otherwise, it's the same as the rest: Free to Play, Pay to Enjoy.
Sony Online Entertainment offering a completely separate "Extended" free version of MMORPG; will operate parallel paid iteration; beta start date scheduled for around August 17.
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