Ten Ton Hammer - Taking MMO Gamers to the Next Level!

RMT and item shops have hit most major games in the genre and we are seeing our first trickle of it in Aion with the new Holiday Ascension Pack being offered this winter. I think many can agree that selling fluff items to those who wish to fork over the cash for them isn't terribly harmful, but where is the line drawn?

It was announced this last week that NCsoft will be offering an Aion Holiday Ascension Pack. This pack will have a few little goodies in it that combine both fun fluff items and a few minor items that will enhance playability. Armor dye, life potions, a lodas amulet that boosts experience gain, and running scrolls round out the little pack that will be available for purchase this holiday season. While I can say that these things are fairly harmless (assuming that the pack is limited one to an account) this paves the way for future marketing which may put up items that aren't so harmless.

Read up on this topic and review the last week of game and Ten Ton Hammer news in this week's Aion Newsletter!

Love them or hate them, at one time or another everyone needs a pick up group. Not only can they be frustrating, but they can cost us time, soul healing costs, and occasionally our sanity if we end up in a bad group. They don’t have to be as bad as they are though and with these few simple tips you can survive PUGs!

“That kill was mine, I hope you get eye cancer.” This is from a screenshot off my friend’s computer after a particularly bad day my friend had in Aion. Most of the time the kill stealing is at a minimum, but between bots and griefers, players are bound to run into unsavory characters. The mechanic also precludes a helpful Medeor from lending a helping hand while he runs by someone locked into combat. Is this game mechanic enjoying a welcome return or should it have been left on the shelf?

In the era of slackers it is surprising that there might be a backlash to doing nothing. All kidding aside, downtime is one of those nebulous and often misunderstood ideas in gaming. Aion includes different mechanisms for players to take a break and enjoy some downtime if they so choose. Some players don’t enjoy any downtime and view it as a waste of time. Today we review the different mechanics for downtime in Aion and how it promotes community building if it doesn’t tear apart the player base first.

Getting to max level is the goal of an MMOG, right? If that’s the case players have to consider whether to race to the finish line with a class they enjoy along the way or simply tolerate. Aion has many choices for leveling and eight classes to complete the process. Unlike some recent games, Aion has also introduced a significantly steeper leveling curve (or is it longer, I skipped that day of math). Due to the leveling time, choosing a class because of its endgame role may not be in a player’s best interest. Or maybe it is. Read the rest and find out.

With the recent mass bans in Aion, many players are left questioning what earns a ban and how they can avoid breaking the rules without losing their competitive edge. Find out what NCsoft considers cheating in a quick over view of the User Agreement and get some great tips on how to step up your game without the risk of losing your account.

The bulk of MMOs hitting the market are so concerned with making a great first impression that the games die off in the mid-level content and may or may not ship with any relevant end-game content. Aion attempts to overcome this by making the midpoint of leveling (level 25) a critical hinge point in the over-arching endgame. Aion has a few other mid-level-markers that make progressing achievable and rewarding as well. Aion has most player progression types covered, whether it’s those wanting to blast all the way to endgame, or those wanting to gather, craft, PvP or explore all of the zones.

The first max level characters are just starting to roll in and the bulk of the player base is closer to halfway to the end. That doesn’t stop us from wondering which direction NCsoft will take Aion in an expansion though. Players are not blowing through the content at the rate witnessed in other games, so maybe Aion’s inaugural launch game has a longer shelf life. Players won’t stay satiated long though; they will always need more content to chew up. Where will the lore-hounds turn for the expansion - which of the factions will rise up and cause a world changing event – is it the ancient Draken coming back, or maybe the religious Lepharist zealots on a crusade? Read on to find out some of Medeor’s thoughts and prognostications.

Aion had a very smooth launch in terms of overall gameplay. The server queues have lightened if not all but disappeared. Players are well into their 20s and 30s as they march toward the Abyss and the end game that awaits. Will it all be enough to maintain the momentum and keep Aion populated with enthusiastic players? The quest is on (pun intended) to see if Aion can overcome the hurdle of re-subscription rates.

NCsoft launched Aion in Asia over a year ago and then spent considerable time westernizing the game for the North American and European markets. Through all of this testing a well made game has emerged. As we all know though, there is always room for improvements. Some of the areas lacking in the game are just housekeeping , while others are oddities and some were just plain missed by the development team. Read Medeor’s desires and demands in Aion: Adds and Changes.

Aion does not revolutionize the way we play MMOGs, but in its own way Aion smoothes some of the rough edges of a stodgy market recipe. Learning from predecessors and contemporaries alike, Aion adds in some much needed components to set itself apart. Today we review some of those “Aha,” game mechanics that bring a little something different to the players of Aion.

There are many different theories floating around as to what really happened on that fateful day in Aion lore when the world was quite literally ripped apart. Sepharious takes a closer look at a few of the possibilities, shedding some new insights into the cleverly crafted lore of the Elyos and Asmodians along the way.

Near what was to be the end of the 1000 year war, Israphel proposed a peace with the Balaur feeling the war would never end and that perhaps making peace was the right way to bring stability to a people living in constant fear of annihilation. This idea was clearly rejected by Azphel and various other members of the 12. Israphel was finally joined by his counterpart and equal leader Siel, both guardians of the tower. This finalized the arrangement so the peace talks could begin. Much to Azphel and a few other Empyrean Lords dismay, however, the Aetheric Field was lowered and the Dragon Lord Fregion together with others entered the Tower of Eternity.

What matters most- what faction system games use for PvP or how it is done? Aion’s player versus player combat uses the same old two faction system making use of a tried and true method, but in this day of gaming couldn’t PvP stand a bit more sophistication? In this editorial, Savanja discusses PvP factions and why sometimes just sticking with what you know is better.

In early MMOGs, PvP imbalance was just a way of life. You either accepted your odds or re-rolled a character on the favored side of the fence. It wasn’t just a numbers game either, if there were also class restrictions on factions then you have to deal with the fact that some classes were simply better at PvP than others. It was these very issues that drove many players away from PvP and why those who adore it are demanding a higher quality experience making flaws of the past completely unacceptable in today’s games.

Read the full editorial here and be sure to chime in! What faction systems have you enjoyed and is sticking with good versus evil PvP taking the easy way out?

Aion launches this week and hordes of hyped fans are waiting to attack servers with the hope that this game will be the one that they have been waiting for. So then what if it's not? Learn the pit-falls of following the hype and find out how to avoid that often inevitable post-launch let down in this Ten Ton Hammer editorial.

By now I’m sure everyone has heard of Aion, and some of you may be asking yourself that same old question…so why pick it up? Here’s are a few good reasons to head on over to your local retailer of choice, or pick it up through digital order before launch day on the 22nd.

In-Game Item Customization: If you’ve ever wanted that cool looking helm to look like your current one, but only if it had those stats…look no further. Within Aion you’re able to make your gear look however you want it to, and keep the stats you love. Along with this nice feature, you’re free to do your own weapon and gear enchanting by way of manastones and godstones, item enchantment stones and power shards. In other words, you can make your weapons look amazing, and buff your abilities pretty nicely too.

As MMO gaming grows throughout the world, gaming companies are utilizing the tools available to them and setting out to create games globally. No more "All your base are belong to us" translations and half attempts at localization, NCsoft is going above and beyond with a neat and tidy westernization of Aion. Find out what it takes to take a game across seas in this editorial!