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Aion's banhammer system includes volcano-summoning rabbits

by Griffin McElroy { Dec 5th 2009 at 11:30AM }

As anyone who's ever played an MMORPG probably already knows, in-game gold sellers are a complete blight on the genre. Nothing is more disruptive to your personal, epic fantasy tale than frequent private messages informing you that "GOLD4CASH $5/500 $10/1200 $20/3000 buy now msg plz!!!!" That's why we were so pleased to hear that the GMs in Aion go above and beyond when it comes to banning these currency-hocking players from the game. They don't just suspend their accounts, you see -- they utterly decimate their avatars.

Check out the video after the jump to see the game's unique brand of justice-serving in action.

[Via Kotaku]

Continued →

Guild Wars 2 trailer introduces us to the game's races

by Griffin McElroy { Dec 4th 2009 at 4:00PM }

Let's see, there's the human race, the nomadic warrior race, the mystical forest people race, the big ugly race, and the miniature race. Looks like all the MMORPG archetypes are covered! Fine, there's a bit more lore contained within the above trailer for Guild Wars 2, which explains all the motivations and backstories for each of the game's five races. Still, who cares about that stuff? Where's all the loot?

For a comprehensive breakdown of the trailer's plot elements, and some speculation on how the story of the sequel will unfold, we suggest checking out our sister site, Massively. This kind of thing is right in their wheelhouse.

NCSoft hints at Guild Wars 2 beta in 2010 and launch in 2011

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 10th 2009 at 6:30PM }

The last we heard on the tentative launch window of Guild Wars 2 was a fairly vague "2010 or 2011." Fortunately, if comments made by NCSoft CEO Jaeho Lee during a recent investors' call are on the level, it seems NCSoft has made up its mind about the game's release year. Kind of. Somewhat. A little.

While speaking about the game (and another of the company's titles, Blade and Soul), Jaeho stated, "I believe there will be certain public events in the year 2010 ... at least a closed beta test for those titles. Commercialization will be expected, at this point, probably some time in the year 2011." We can stick it out until the year after next before getting our hands on this good-lookin' sequel -- we just hope it's not pushed back any further. See, we'd really like to invest some time in the game before the world ends.

Watch the Aion launch trailer while you wait for a server

by Ben Gilbert { Sep 22nd 2009 at 7:29PM }

Approximately 12 hours ago, NCSoft flicked the proverbial switch in the US, thus opening the flood gates to its new MMO, Aion. Unfortunately, many users are still running into some unusually long server queues. If you've already run out of ideas from Massively's server queue survival guide, why not watch this launch trailer for the game you're waiting around for? It's pretty sweet! Don't you wish you could just play the game right now?

...

Oh. Right.

Gallery: Aion Beta: Asmodae

Gallery: Aion Beta: Elysea

Pre-order early admission creating long queues in Aion

by Ben Gilbert { Sep 21st 2009 at 8:00PM }

And so the story goes: Gamer meets MMO, many other gamers meet MMO, hours-long queues result, forcing gamers to find something else to do. Such is the case with the soon-to-be released Aion, forcing those wishing to play the game to turn to (gasp!) other things.

The problem arose as folks who pre-ordered the game were allowed early entry into servers on September 20. It appears as though so many people put down their money early for Aion that the game's servers simply couldn't handle the flood of new players, creating two or more hour waits for some folks. Our sister site Massively has put together a list of things to do while waiting for the queue time to die down, though we'd suggest you buck the trend now and hop right back into World of Warcraft like you know you're going to do anyway in a month's time.

Gallery: Aion Beta: Asmodae

Gallery: Aion Beta: Elysea

NCSoft promises at least one major Aion update every year

by Griffin McElroy { Sep 21st 2009 at 6:30PM }

Though NCSoft's winged MMO Aion doesn't go live until tomorrow (or Friday for Europeans), the developer is already promising additional content for the title. Speaking to VG247, NCSoft's Christian-Peter Heimbach explained, "there will be at least one major update a year," and later added "there will be free content updates for all players, and we're looking then at how big the major updates will be."

It's awfully presumptive for an MMO developer to assume its game will still be alive and kicking one year after its launch date -- however, with a strong base of 400,000 pre-orderers, it seems unlikely that Aion will hastily go the way of Auto Assault.

Gallery: Aion Beta: Asmodae

Gallery: Aion Beta: Elysea

NCSoft flushing Dungeon Runners on January 1

by JC Fletcher { Sep 18th 2009 at 10:15AM }

NCSoft will close down the servers for its free-to-play MMO Dungeon Runners on January 1. Producer and lead programmer Stephen Nichols, delivered the news in the form of a "crap sandwich." No, really. "You know ... you say something nice, drop the bad news bomb, then say something else nice."

This particular crap sandwich consisted of "The game just isn't profitable" on a bun of "Awesome players for an awesome game! Kudos!" and "You'll be getting a 30-day game time serial code and digital copies of City of Heroes Architect Edition and Guild Wars Prophecies."

Nichols topped the crap sandwich, which we're sure he didn't expect us to describe in such detail, with a few bonuses for players for the game's "End Time," including boosted XP and loot drop rates. Of course, this is a game with "TURDs" for currency and "Bling Gnomes" that poop out items, so our dwelling on Nichols' metaphor is simply in the spirit of the game.

[Via Massively]

PalTalk takes patent infringement suit on the road, sues MMO devs

by Griffin McElroy { Sep 16th 2009 at 11:00PM }

PalTalk Holdings is feeling pretty zesty following its legal victory over Microsoft this past March, so it's decided to take its patent infringement suit against a few major players in the MMO market. Turbine, Sony, Activision Blizzard, Jagex and NCSoft are all staring down the barrel of PalTalk's litigation cannon -- which, after forcing Microsoft to come to a settlement earlier this year, now has a substantial amount of precedent supporting it.

PalTalk purchased two patents from a company called HearMe in 2002 for technology which shares data between networked computers, allowing users to see the same virtual space as they interact with one another in real time. One could construe that to mean PalTalk owns the patent on online multiplayer altogether -- but we're sure Activision's beefy legal team will have a few arguments to the contrary up its sleeve.

NCsoft Europe head confirms PS3 MMO was tabled

by Alexander Sliwinski { Sep 11th 2009 at 3:54PM }

The oft-hyped but never shown PS3 MMO in development by NCsoft is likely not to be. VG247 reports NCsoft's European Managing Director, Veronique Lallier, confirmed the company is "not working on anything at the moment." The executive stated that the "casual gaming" title the company was working on was "not something [it] continued, unfortunately."

The NCsoft PS3 MMO was first mentioned in the summer of 2007, with a follow-up announcement that the game would be announced by the end of that year. The following year, the company stated it would have "something to announce -- not only announce but to show -- by the second half of this year." Currently, NCsoft is "still looking at opportunities" for consoles. At least that two year charade is over.

NCSoft announces Aion open beta dates, pre-orders get early access

by Griffin McElroy { Aug 27th 2009 at 6:00PM }

If you're itching to try your hand at NCSoft's upcoming winged MMORPG, Aion, before its September 22 release, a recent press release has announced two methods of doing so. The first is probably the more noteworthy option -- the game is going into open beta for one week only starting Sunday, September 6. The sneak preview will allow players from both of the game's factions to reach level 30, and lets them fly, fight and fly-fight through every locale from the full game.

The second opportunity to beat the release day rush is by pre-ordering the game -- those who pursue this option can pre-select their servers and character names on September 18, then start playing a full 48 hours in advance on September 20. Is the five-dollars-down worth the exclusive pre-launch access? Sadly, we can't make that decision for you. We can, however, tell you what to have for lunch: Nachos. You're welcome.

Guild Wars 2 site opens, first trailer revealed

by Griffin McElroy { Aug 20th 2009 at 11:59PM }

And what a trailer it is! NCSoft and ArenaNet are taking their sweet time getting the upcoming sequel to their free-to-play MMO, Guild Wars 2, all put together. Finally, we get a look at the delicious fruits of their labor. The five-minute-long debut trailer for the game (posted above) reveals the game's five playable classes, gives a brief summary of the game's overarching plot, and caps it off with a stunning look at the title's varied environments.

There's also a fairly comprehensive FAQ sheet up on the game's recently-opened site -- the highlight from which is a re-confirmation that the game will feature zero subscription fees. Penny-pinchers, rejoice! This particular cost-efficient online RPG is looking phenomenal.

[Via Big Download]

Aion collector's edition announced, spec'd

by Randy Nelson { Jun 18th 2009 at 4:00AM }

In the ramp-up for the US release of its latest MMO, Aion, on September 1, NCsoft has taken the shrinkwrap off the game's $70 limited collector's edition and -- what's this? -- there's a pretty cool looking figure inside. Okay, it's a "hand-painted Asmodian Daeva." Still looks cool.

Pre-ordering the set will also get you some exclusive in-game items, which range from the ominous sounding Black Cloud Wings to the yawn-inspiring, single use "colored dye." To counter the latter's lameness, you'll be able to blast the included soundtrack CD whilst performing one of the two pre-order exclusive emotes: the "Aion Boogie." In the game, of course.

If the LCE's too pricey, the regular ol' edition comes in a steel case. And ... that's all. Still: steel.

NCsoft has solid Q1 sales, profits thanks to Aion

by Alexander Sliwinski { May 11th 2009 at 2:00PM }

NCsoft is apparently off to a good start in 2009 -- notwithstanding Richard Garriott's lawsuit -- thanks to "solid maintenance" of Lineage and Lineage II, along with sales of its new MMO, Aion. The publisher's sales were up 51 percent year-over-year to $107.7 million in the first quarter, with net income enhanced to $27 milllion, a 315 percent increase. It appears the Korean-based company's numerous international workforce cuts paid off.

NCsoft's CFO, Jaeho Lee, was happy that Aion's launch did not affect the performance of the Lineage series in Korea. Now we wait to see how the rest of the globe embraces Aion. The MMO is prepped to launch in China during Q2, with other major markets set for the second half of the year.

Garriott hits NCsoft with $27 million lawsuit

by Alexander Sliwinski { May 6th 2009 at 11:00AM }

Tabula Rasa's absentee landlord (well, before it burned to the ground), Richard Garriott, is suing NCsoft for $27 million, according to a Texas court filing. GamePolitics has the documents detailing how Garriott was laid off from NCsoft while he was still in quarantine from his space trip. However, due to the characterization of his termination as "voluntary," he apparently missed out on millions in stock options, which is what the suit is all about.

The official word -- up until this point -- was that Garriott left NCsoft late last year after ... let's see, as Garriott put it at the time, his trip into space "sparked" some new interests for him to pursue. Hopefully the lawsuit will shake out more behind-the-scenes NCsoft drama and Tabula Rasa embarrassment nobody was willing to discuss openly.

Update: The figure is $27 million according to the court documents. Thanks, @leighalexander.

Source -- Garriott suing NCsoft for $24 million [Kotaku]
Source -- Garriott sues NCsoft for $24 million [GI.biz]
Source -- Garriott sues NCsoft for million in stock options [GamePolitics]

Guild Wars franchise sells 6 million copies

by Richard Mitchell { Apr 24th 2009 at 8:00PM }

According to Videogamer.com, NCsoft and ArenaNet announced today that the Guild Wars franchise has now sold over 6 million copies. To celebrate the news, the subscription-free MMO will receive a new content update that will add new quests and more storage options. The party will also be extended into the Guild Wars universe itself starting April 28. We're not sure what the in-game celebration will entail, but we can only hope it will involve digital party hats and confetti.

Enjoy the party, Guild Wars fans. Hopefully, it will ease the wait for Guild Wars 2.