Aion players will be glad to know that NCSoft is planning on making patch 2.5 one of the biggest patches yet, implementing a truckload of new and welcome features to improve the game experience.

Of particular mention is the graphics upgrade. NCSoft will be implmenting a "High Quality Graphics Option" which allows players to play the game the way it was meant to be played. This option makes a HUGE difference in the visuals department, as it makes colors more vibrant, textures smoother, and makes the environment in general more lively than before. The option gives the already graphics heavy game an even bigger appetite, so make sure you have a high-end graphics card installed if you don't want to suffocate your system. The difference is that significant.

Also worthy of mention is th

That's right, Buy to play + Cash shop. As found in arenanet's blog (Which is linked to from the official GW2 site):

".... Dye hues themselves will be unlockable through various means, both in-game and out."

"With the transmutation system, you’ll be able to acquire new items known as Transmutation Stones through our in-game store that allow you to customize your appearance."

The first one, most Guild Wars players will know. In the old game you could dye your armour. As for the transmutation stones, they're allowing you to take a set with good looks and put the look onto a armour or weapon set with better stats. And to clarify, the in-game store refers to the shop with buying items with real money already available in Guild Wars 1.  (See http://w

NCSoft has confirmed the date for Aion OB - 11th November 2008, its a exciting news for all aion fans

New OB CG Trailer comes with the news

Video provided by video.mmosite.com

 

As the Open Beta of Aion is approaching, NCsoft announced the twelve Lords of legend on the official website.

The main story line

The Drakens were Atreia's first beings, but as they grew stronger and prouder they challenged Aion and became a destructive force to Atreia itself. In order to protect the Tower of Eternity, twelve Empyrean Lords were sent as guardians against the Draken warriors who had named themselves the Balaur. After a long war however the Tower was destroyed, and the world of Atreia was split in two.

The introduction of the twelve Empyrean Lords

These names will also be the names of the Servers for open beta--in Korea and presumably in the west also. If so, Which server would you like to choose?

AionSource's Hellrose translated this information form Korean official Aion website. AionSource is a large English language Aion fansite.

 

Aion: Tower of Eternity will feature a character's ability to fly, but it won't come easy. Developers have released the details of a quest string that end with flight. Check it out, along with several screens:

Thursday 28th August - Brighton, UK/... NCsoft® Europe presents details of what Asmodians must do in order to be able to fly in the epic and beautiful Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) RPG, Aion: The Tower of Eternity. The chance to earn your wings and become a Daeva comes relatively early in the life of every true Asmodian, though the path itself can be hard and somewhat mystifying. As you reach level 9 you discover that you must find the Asmodian known as Munin, who has been detained deep within the Ishalgen Prison Camp.

Trapped within a crystallized prison cell, Munin is your key to Ascension. This Daeva can discern the future, even trapped in his cell. This expert fortuneteller will be able to tell your future and how you will ascend to be a mighty Asmodian, but first he needs items that can help piece together your past. He will need these items, the cards of fate, from three different disciples in order to proceed.

The first appears as an old tailor by the name of U

Here are a few questions and answers that Aion Globalgotfrom NCSoft and we are more then willing to share them withMMOSITE.com.Q&A held with Ken, the developer from Korea whovisited GC inLeipzig.13. How will larger

This press release announces that NCSoft has acquired Carbine Studios, a new game development company based in Aliso Viejo, California and formed by a number of former Blizzard employees. Financial terms were not disclosed. Carbine Studios is currently working on an "unannounced project that promises to break new ground in massively multiplayer gaming.". Here is a snip:

Kevin Beardslee, Carbine's vice president of design, was a lead developer on Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft. Tim Cain, Carbine's programming director, was the producer, lead programmer and designer on the award winning Fallout, and co-founder of Troika Games. Carbine's Executive Producer Jeremy Gaffney previously worked as executive producer on NCsoft's City of Heroes, and established the product development group at NCsoft's Austin headquarters as VP of development. He was also a co-founder of Turbine, Inc., where he spearheaded development on Asheron's Call.

Officials from NCsoft Europe, subsidiary of the South Korean massivelymultiplayer online (MMO) game publisher, have announced that thecompany is to expand its offices in Brighton, England, following amajor investment from the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA).

NCsoft has made use of SEEDA’s Selective Finance for Investment inEngland (SFIE) grant system to facilitate the expansion of its currentBrighton offices and support a move to the new CityPoint development inBrighton, in two years time. The offices have already expanded fromjust three people in September 2004 to a current total of 112 staff.

A total of 116 new high skilled jobs are expected to be created at theEuropean headquarters by 2010. The exact size of the grant has not beenmade clear although the money will also be used to diversify thecompany’s output further, presumably involving the creation of titlesaimed specifically at the European market.

Geoff Heath, NCsoft Europe’s CEO, commented: “Brighton is a lively andgrowing hub for the creative and software sector. Our expansion willstimulate local competition and the exchange of best practice in theregion. SEEDA’s support of our investment will help grow the bus

Open to all users of FilePlanet:

FilePlanet users can experience Richard Garriott's Tabula Rasa in this exclusive beta event. Get in now and play with full access for the rest of beta! Keys are limited so don't miss out - get yours and play beta today. Beta spots are LIMITED - JOIN TODAY!

Play the beta, pre-order, and you could earn 10 free days of Tabula Rasa! North American Beta users who pre-order and have a level 15 character at the end of beta are eligible!

NCsoft have announced Q1 financial results for 2007 and things seem to be looking up for the company.

Next Gen have a run down of the report and say that NCsoft have posted a sales increase of 9%, and operating and pre-tax incomes both rose 96%. Net income rose 107%. So, financials seem to be fine right now. NCsoft’s CFO, Lee Jae-ho expects further growth “in the second half after releasing a string of new game titles”.

This would seem to imply that TABULA RASA (N. America), AION (Korea), DUNGEON RUNNERS and the GUILD WARS ‘Eye of the North’ expansion are on-track for release this year. Interestingly, LINEAGE and LINEAGE II account for a huge, 79% of sales, while GUILD WARS brings in 14% and CITY OF HEROES/VILLAINS brings in only 7%. Grab the details.

“NCsoft’s largely attributed the growth in operating income to the company’s implementation of a rigorous monitoring system including a Project Review Committee and a Milestone Review Committee. As a result of these efforts, operating costs dropped 10% from the previous quarter.”