Aion (Open Beta, Launch Day Info too!)

[Ard]

Dude, if you think SWOTR is going to be that game, you are seriously more deluded than I ever gave you credit for being.

[DLRiley]

Dude, if you think SWOTR is going to be that game, you are seriously more deluded than I ever gave you credit for being.

I didn't say SWOTR is going to be that game rofl. It's just interesting to talk about.

[Draegan]

Yet you keep clicking on this thread.  Surely you have better things to do.  I really wish I knew what your native language was.  But I can't wait to keep guessing.

[kondratti]

I didn't say SWOTR is going to be that game rofl. It's just interesting to talk about.

I know I am wasting my breath... but .. well, go talk about it in that thread.

[Lantyssa]

Going back a few pages... if anyone is getting the boxed Collector's edition but doesn't play Guild Wars, I'd be interested in the GW Aion code.  I know someone else looking for one, too, if there is a second.  It's just an emote, but we like silly fluff.

[Feverdream]

I'll send you my code once the box arrives.  Glad someone can use it.

[Draegan]

I'll have one as well if anyone else needs it.

[Shatter]

Same if you need one, Ill never play GW

[Lantyssa]

Awesome.  Y'all are the bestest.

[Murgos]

I didn't say SWOTR is going to be that game rofl. It's just interesting to talk about.

I know I am wasting my breath... but .. well, go talk about it in that thread.

He has been.  Endlessly and pointlessly.  Conjecture and then ridicule of his own conjecture, it's pathetic.

[EWSpider]

I'd love a Guild Wars code if there's an extra after Lantyssa gets her two.   

[Checkers]

http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/3656/64461096.jpg

Fuck you NCSoft.

Edited to tone down my nerd rage a little . . .

[Outlawedprod]

Fuck you NCSoft.

Apparently there are a lot of GameGuard issues if you try to launch the client because they are doing some server update.
http://twitter.com/aion_ayase/status/3743200720
http://twitter.com/aion_ayase/status/3743266960

I was getting an incorrect country error yesterday.  No idea if the patcher got 1.5.0.3 today (CB->OB patch only takes you to 1.5.0.1) (Full OB client download is supposedly 1.5.0.3).

[Falconeer]

It starts tomorrow anyway, so why the rage? You have time to fix it.

LETTER FROM AION PRODUCER BRIAN KNOX ON OPEN BETA
September 3, 2009 2:08 PM
Hello!

Welcome to the Open Beta Test for Aion in both Europe and North America.

Below you will find a list of the major changes and additions to Aion since you last participated in our Closed Beta Test. We have done our best to provide a comprehensive list of changes. The Open Beta brings the game content up to the 1.5 patch that is available in Korea; the same updates that were made to the Korean live servers are being implemented here, as well. While there may be some differences when comparing the official NA/EU notes to fan site translations of Korea's official notes, the game content is the same.

Not only does Open Beta bring a number of game improvements and additions, you'll also notice that we had a major terminology overhaul to complete our effort of Westernizing the game. Many skills and items have changed since the Closed Beta Test and should be a welcome surprise as you explore the world.

While we feel the Open Beta version will provide a complete experience, we wanted to note that this is not our final update before launch. Our launch version is in internal testing, and it will continue to flesh out the 1.5 update with the help of your feedback and experiences in Open Beta.

Please remember this is an Open Beta Test, and while our goal is to provide you with a flawless Aion experience, there are behind-the-scenes infrastructure tests happening to prepare for launch. One very important area that will affect everyone is that we will be balancing races as folks rush to log into the servers. As a result, you may get a "This race cannot be created" message because that server is starting to become unbalanced. It's important to us that we try and keep a balance of the races during the Open Beta of Aion. If you come across this message, please feel free to try another server or wait until the server balance has tipped back.

Another hot topic has been our Web site and whether we will be bringing over some of the services that Korea has provided to their community. The short answer is yes! Just like the PowerWiki, we will be bringing some of these services to our own site. We hope to begin rolling them out in the coming weeks.

Overall, we are very excited for Open Beta - it is a culmination of a lot of effort and the feedback of our community. For example, one of the most requested features during Closed Beta testing was a suggestion to use the left mouse button to change the camera. We also added more content both in the persistent game world and in instanced dungeons. You'll see this change and many others were added in this game update, including:

1.   New Areas: Theobomos (Elysea) and Brusthonin (Asmodae)
2.   New Instances!
3.   Over 40 new default faces have been added to character creation.
4.   Increased PvPvE rewards
5.   UI changes (click-to-move has been disabled by default)
6.   New items!
7.   New skills + increased balance
8.   Tons of new quests.
9.   Advanced Stigma Stone System
10.   Chat Channels
a.   Class
b.   Region
c.   Looking For Group
d.   Languages

Find a full list of patch notes here.

With this update there is a lot of great content and a very fun world to explore, and we hope that during Open Beta you will experience the magic that is Aion.

Open Beta starts 9 a.m. PDT (5 p.m. BST, 6 p.m. CEST) on Sunday, September 6th.

Brian Knox
Producer, Aion

[Draegan]

They changed a lot of the UI and functionality problems I had with the game.  Good stuff.

[Modern Angel]

Anyone know where Open Beta keys are still available? Or is it "wait until Fileplanet opens the doors completely" in another day or two?

[jpark]

Anyone know where Open Beta keys are still available? Or is it "wait until Fileplanet opens the doors completely" in another day or two?

I downloaded the pre-order.  I am not sure if the open beta will allow me to use that password/login account or do I have to create a separate one entirely?

[Venkman]

Totally guessing here, but since this is an NC Soft open beta and not some special event for a single site, I imagine it's open to all folks with keys.

[Modern Angel]

Right. But this is what Fileplanet does: SUBSCRIBE NOW TO GET OPEN BETA ACCESS, two days later here dudes have as many open beta keys as you want. I've not got a key since I did not preorder or anything so I'm prowling for truly open beta keys.

[Quinton]

Oh *that's* annoying.  I foolishly thought "open beta" meant "anyone can just sign up".  

EDIT: Oh, I actually had a key after all, but my gripe still stands.  Having to be a fileplanet subscriber or some other such nonsense is not exactly "open".

[Falconeer]

They call it open beta, but it's not. It's a deceiving "Exclusive Fileplanet Subscriber Beta". Doesn't seem very "open" to me.

[Quinton]

Zzelle on Siel (Elyos, Mage), if anyone else is checking this out and wants to say hello.

[Venkman]

Right. But this is what Fileplanet does: SUBSCRIBE NOW TO GET OPEN BETA ACCESS, two days later here dudes have as many open beta keys as you want. I've not got a key since I did not preorder or anything so I'm prowling for truly open beta keys.

Yea, that part is a PITA. But it turns out I forgot to cancel the quarterly payments I'd been making to FP, which is how I got mine. And how I was reminded to cancel 

[CaptainNapkin]

I'm green from the severe rubber banding, on a low pop server. Maybe I'll fire it up early morning to check it out. meh

[Falconeer]

Servers are working randomly. On a low-pop server I had like 20 seconds (TWENTY!) lag on any action. Complained with friend who said he was having perfect performances on a high-pop one. Rerolled there and everything's golden now.

[Draegan]

Someone was telling me they were having issues with some routers someplace in the world and the hamsters died.

[CaptainNapkin]

Seems like it. Was going to try a different server and couldn't connect. Forums showing Currently Active Users: 4992 (2417 members and 2575 guests) confirms it's not just me. Back to the consoles for tonight.

[Venkman]

Once I finally got in, it was stable for a solid 3 hours. But that was my third server attempt. Right now you really do feel like the game hangs at a few points before character select.

[IainC]

I was playing last night on Votan (flagged as low pop) a couple of hours after the servers came up, game was unplayable for about three minutes then it was smooth as silk for the rest of the evening even on my last gen machine.

[Threash]

I was playing last night on Votan (flagged as low pop) a couple of hours after the servers came up, game was unplayable for about three minutes then it was smooth as silk for the rest of the evening even on my last gen machine.

I had this experience too, game sucked for a few minutes then flawless the rest of the day.

[jpark]

I am certainly interested in Aion now that I have had some chance to play it.

First several hours during the weekend were fine.  But I found DC issues and crippling lag Sunday night and today.  Noticing for other players as well.

I know the standard line is "this is a beta test!" but Shadowbane did not address its lag until it was too late.  I hope that history does not replay here.

[DLRiley]

Well people had no problem playing Aion from korean servers.... so this is probably temporary.

[Lantyssa]

Unless the 1.05 patch buggered something, I'd be inclined to believe it was a network issues.   Play was flawless in the past beta weekends.

[jpark]

What comes to mind right now is Age of Conan.  A terrific game up to level 20.  I am wondering whether a similar outcome awaits Aion with folks quitting at level 25:

http://forum.mmosite.com/topics/245/200906/22/799,1.html

[waylander]

What comes to mind right now is Age of Conan.  A terrific game up to level 20.  I am wondering whether a similar outcome awaits Aion with folks quitting at level 25:

http://forum.mmosite.com/topics/245/200906/22/799,1.html

Good read but is that the 1.5 version that person is playing? I do agree that pre 1.5 the game felt very grindy, and I still agree that the guild system is terrible.