Playing the Aion Beta

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A couple really nice people offered me keys to the Aion beta because they had extras from contests or pre-orders, but I decided that I wanted to go out and pre-order the game for myself.  It was only $5 down at Gamestop for a Beta Code that allows me access to all beta events and I assume some form of early access to the game.  I figured that if I didn’t like the game from what I saw in beta then I could just transfer that $5 to another game (like StarCraft 2) and lose nothing.

I don’t really understand if there is an NDA at this point.  Yes, they make you agree to one but the game is already out in Korea and in Open beta in China… and it’s the same thing, right?  I guess the Westernization might be something they want kept a secret or perhaps they just want to keep the chatter about their game down and allow those truly interested to find out information from websites like AionSource (great site, go there).

Until I can figure out whether or not there is an NDA, I won’t be blogging about my impressions of the game.  I will be taking screenshots, videos, and preparing to comment though, so worry not.   Believe me when I say that I really, really want to comment.

[Update:  There is a NDA for the North American beta.  I don’t know why, but there is and I’m going to do my best to respect it.  I’m going to get in touch with someone from NCSoft and see if I can get permission.  If I do, then I’ll write my impressions.  If I don’t, then I’ll try and direct people to impressions from the Chinese or Korean versions which I feel are accurate.]

  • I’m not sure you need to worry about the NDA if there is one. There’s a ton of info out there already, and a simple search on youtube is going to turn up a ton of content. There’s a guy on there (coldturkey something), who has posted some nice videos of various things.

  • Well…I don’t recall a single Korean MMO that I have liked and I don’t see Aion being any different. I hate games that are obvious grinders and it’s like all Korean games are designed for Internet Cafes only.

  • There’s an NDA, but people with certain types of passes (“press pass”, specifically) are allowed to break it.

    Not like that doesn’t stop everyone on MMORPG from posting about it in the forums anyways. =)

  • PeZzy, its a bit unfair to categorize Aion as Korean. It was built with both Western and Eastern markets in mind. Thats like saying you wouldn’t play WoW or Warhammer because it exists in Korea. The release order is just backwards for Aion. Plus, Aion is not simply a port over in an attempt to cash in on a few NA suckers(like the RF Onlines of the world).

  • I did the same thing with the Gamestop pre-order. But I knew that I was going to be getting this game with its US release from the time I spent in the Chinese Beta so it was a no-brainer decision.

    Now I’m just waiting on them to email me my access code and wishing I’d done this earlier.

  • @Pezzy

    I had the EXACT same line of thinking when I came into Aion. It surprised me a lot.

    It has those moments when you can tell who designed the game initially, but overall, the game does not feel Asian and certainly doesn’t feel grindy.

    Just saying…despite how it looks, it has much more than you’d expect.

  • Looking forward to trying Aion. I played Lineage 2 for a while and quite liked it although the grind heavy nature put me off but that seems to be something their fixing for us with Aion. I wonder why the Korean’s like it so much…

  • “but Aion is no ordinary “Korean MMO”.”

    Don’t worry, it will be once all the bots show up.

  • Can’t say I really blame all the NCSoft haters commenting here, but this one really deserves a shot.

    The NA NDA is retarded.

  • @keen: Here is what I want to know… How fundamentally different is it from WoW? Can you level via PvP? If so, from what level? Is it just quest, quest, quest then raid treadmill?

  • I don’t know if your allowed to talk about the game or not, but every single mmo message board I’ve seen have a lot of info already flooding out. Aionsource has several threads regarding players experiences in Aion this week. The mods are just allowing it and a couple Aion community managers that frequent the site haven’t spoke out about it. NCsoft doesn’t seem to care at this point so I say lets hear what you have to say.

  • I was looking forward to Aion until I was told by some players that there is little PvP under level 25 and that you have to wait for a random portal to appear that will let a set amount of players through in order to attack enemy players, and if you attack lower levels, you get a stat debuff. I’ll have to wait and see if I like it.

  • @ Taodee

    That is partially accurate. There is little PvP before 25. @ 25 you are granted access to the PvP zone where the real game begins. I would disagree with the only PvP being “a random portal”. Yes that is apart of the mechanics, but a very small % of the actual PvP gameplay.

  • Hehe, the NDA is pretty stupid if you ask me since I would be allowed to come over here and talk about the game if I played the Chinese/Korean versions.

    This isn’t breaking the NDA since it’s pure speculation, but I don’t think the beta or NDA will last very long. At least there’s that! 😉

  • The Korean version and the NA version are very, very similar. The Korean version is a good game. Playing a little relationship exercise …

    Korean = North American

    Korean = Good

    North American = ….

  • I enjoyed the game this weekend and am looking forward to when they test out the pvp. It’s a bit generic at first, but I’m amazed at how well the game plays on my pc at highest settings. If only Warhammer ran this well.

    It’s not a 100% purchase for me personally yet, but it’s damn close. If the pvp turns out as good as I’ve heard then it could keep me busy this fall for sure.

  • I’m looking forward to the actual review.

    I admit, I haven’t looked at it too closely and assumed that it would be a lot like Lineage II. The anime-like graphic style is also a bit of a turnoff not just to me, but to most of my friends (reactions are generally “it looks good, but I don’t want to play with a bunch of anime nuts”, heh).

    That all said, how it actually plays could completely change my thin surface outlook. =)

  • You’ll be pleasantly surprised, Rog. If you enjoyed LOTRO like I read on your blog then you’ll enjoy Aion.

  • One thing I am worried about is the apparent lack of spec trees or lack of customization beyond your characters look. What differentiates your assassin from the other 200 on the server?

  • The only differences will be your stigmas and your ability to play the class. Stigmas are skills you make from combining or forming something (I don’t know how they work exactly) but from what I hear most people want the same ones so diversity there is limited. In the end, you’ll feel about as different as you do in the majority of MMOS. Even with talent specs or skill trees there is a “best spec” or a general way to spec to be successful – Aion is no different.

  • True, but even with cookie-cutter specs, you still come across different specs occasionally. On top of that, you had healing shaman, ranged dps shaman and melee dps shaman depending on how they specced. Classes would play totally different based on spec. That is something I will miss quite a bit and may be a deal-breaker for me and a lot of other people.

  • Unless they change something for the NA version, you won’t find that type of customization in Aion.

  • I know. I’m in the beta as well but havent really gotten to play and now its shut down for two weeks. Damn it.

  • This game has been my sleeper pick forever, but I hope that the NA version fixes what I hear is a slightly grindy level 25+ experience and that the pvp endgame is deep enough to stick with for more than a few months.

    Will give it a shot if I’m not too busy. Most interesting-looking game until SW:TOR.

  • I am, frankly, amazed. I absolutely detest asian/anime style graphics normally, yet I am actually starting to get excited about this game. The more I read about it the better it sounds. I am just hoping it really has more of a “western” feel to the quests and such and not a horrid grindfest like Lineage.

    I am also hoping for compelling PvE instances and even raids. I spend most of my time PvPing but I do enjoy the occasional instance and raid. With flying they have the chance to make very compelling boss fights.