Please read before you post.  If you disagree with me that's fine, but i'd rather not have to read baseless arguements from fanbois.

Aion has gone pretty much unnoticed for the last couple of years due to the shadows that AoC and WAR have cast over it, and the general presumption that all MMOs that come out of Asia are straight-up grinds with little or no quests or end-game content.  However, since the very beginning Aion has been marketed by NCSoft as the MMO that is going to break this stereotype and appeal to gamers in all areas of the world.  These claims were met with understandable skepticism, myself included.  Though there might have been a good reason for this in the past (lack of information on the game), in the present I can't see how anybody can still think of Aion as generic Korean garbage.  Previews, hands-on experiences, and testaments from Korean beta testers have all become available, and the general consensus is that the game has by far exceeded expectations.

See for yourself:

"I didn’t go into this with very high expectations. Like a lot of people out there, I’ve tried a lot of the Korean made MMOs and just couldn’t get into them. While they’re not my cup of tea, they obviously do very well and people out there like them. Given that, I really didn’t anticipate Aion being much different, but I was wrong. The time I spent playing the game was a blast. As I’m sure most people have already seen by the various screenshots and videos around the web, the game is stunningly beautiful. Even in the short amount of time I was playing I actually felt like I was accomplishing something. I did quite a few quests, found nice gear and manastones, and explored quite a bit. Aion has definitely moved quite a bit higher on my ‘most anticipated’ list and I’ll be keeping a much closer eye on what’s happening with it."
  -MMORPG.com

"After spending some time playing the game, it's clear that the developers of NCsoft have done their research in what separates a Korean MMORPG from a Western one....... By the time Aion reaches the West, the already competitive MMORPG market will be even nastier than it is now, but regardless of how it performs, NCsoft can rest easy. They've brought their baby into the 21st century."
  -The Escapist 

"I'm not really into MMOs, though I always seem to wind up writing about them. After the first five or so, I developed the bitter attitude most post-Ultima Online elitist gamers have towards MMOs: “Psh. WoW clone.” But when I sat my skeptical self down for some hands-on time with NCsoft’s Aion: Tower of Eternity, I was surprised to find that I actually wanted to keep playing when it was time to pack up and go."
  -Kotaku

"We managed to reach level 5 before we were pried off our keyboards and other players sat down to experience the game. From what I saw and experienced, I am definitely addicted. I cannot wait for AION to come out and will be heavily looking forward to more information as we get closer to game release in 2009."
  -MMOsite

Aion also won the best MMO of the show award from MMORPG.com at PAX2008, beating out Warhammer.

I could go on and on, but I don't want to make this wall of text any larger than it needs to be.  So tell me, why do you still pass off Aion as another generic Korean MMO?  I challenge you to try and find a negative review of the game.

Personally I just don't like the style of asian mmorpgs. 

I do not like high gloss, ridiculously over the top, fairy tale, disney-esque games.

Just look at this: uk.youtube.com/watch

It makes me want to chunder.

OP, what I don't like are posts like yours.  It comes off as shilling or viral marketing to me.  It basically puts the game off my radar.

Originally posted by Blodpls

Personally I just don't like the style of asian mmorpgs. 

I do not like high gloss, ridiculously over the top, fairy tale, disney-esque games.

Just look at this: uk.youtube.com/watch

It makes me want to chunder.

go back to darckfall

lol j/k

i personally like the asian art style but thats just my taste :)

Originally posted by Blodpls

Personally I just don't like the style of asian mmorpgs. 

I do not like high gloss, ridiculously over the top, fairy tale, disney-esque games.

Just look at this: uk.youtube.com/watch

It makes me want to chunder.

I'd take L2(even its C2 version) over all these new western failures anytime.

Originally posted by N1ghtsta1ker

 Please read before you post.  If you disagree with me that's fine, but i'd rather not have to read baseless arguements from fanbois.

Aion has gone pretty much unnoticed for the last couple of years due to the shadows that AoC and WAR have cast over it, and the general presumption that all MMOs that come out of Asia are straight-up grinds with little or no quests or end-game content.  However, since the very beginning Aion has been marketed by NCSoft as the MMO that is going to break this stereotype and appeal to gamers in all areas of the world.  These claims were met with understandable skepticism, myself included.  Though there might have been a good reason for this in the past (lack of information on the game), in the present I can't see how anybody can still think of Aion as generic Korean garbage.  Previews, hands-on experiences, and testaments from Korean beta testers have all become available, and the general consensus is that the game has by far exceeded expectations.

See for yourself:

"I didn’t go into this with very high expectations. Like a lot of people out there, I’ve tried a lot of the Korean made MMOs and just couldn’t get into them. While they’re not my cup of tea, they obviously do very well and people out there like them. Given that, I really didn’t anticipate Aion being much different, but I was wrong. The time I spent playing the game was a blast. As I’m sure most people have already seen by the various screenshots and videos around the web, the game is stunningly beautiful. Even in the short amount of time I was playing I actually felt like I was accomplishing something. I did quite a few quests, found nice gear and manastones, and explored quite a bit. Aion has definitely moved quite a bit higher on my ‘most anticipated’ list and I’ll be keeping a much closer eye on what’s happening with it."
  -MMORPG.com

"After spending some time playing the game, it's clear that the developers of NCsoft have done their research in what separates a Korean MMORPG from a Western one....... By the time Aion reaches the West, the already competitive MMORPG market will be even nastier than it is now, but regardless of how it performs, NCsoft can rest easy. They've brought their baby into the 21st century."
  -The Escapist 

"I'm not really into MMOs, though I always seem to wind up writing about them. After the first five or so, I developed the bitter attitude most post-Ultima Online elitist gamers have towards MMOs: “Psh. WoW clone.” But when I sat my skeptical self down for some hands-on time with NCsoft’s Aion: Tower of Eternity, I was surprised to find that I actually wanted to keep playing when it was time to pack up and go."
  -Kotaku

"We managed to reach level 5 before we were pried off our keyboards and other players sat down to experience the game. From what I saw and experienced, I am definitely addicted. I cannot wait for AION to come out and will be heavily looking forward to more information as we get closer to game release in 2009."
  -MMOsite

Aion also won the best MMO of the show award from MMORPG.com at PAX2008, beating out Warhammer.

I could go on and on, but I don't want to make this wall of text any larger than it needs to be.  So tell me, why do you still pass off Aion as another generic Korean MMO?  I challenge you to try and find a negative review of the game.

Looks like a viral marketer to me. Not everyone cares about graphics... its content.. usually hyping these games like WAR ,AOC, WOW, just reminds me that it will probably be another WOW clone with the Korean grinder aspect and oh flying.. I'll pass on this game thank you very much...

That was a cool video.  Thanks.

To be honest I look forward to seeing some new games coming out. I got WoW this summer and am already sick of it. WAR felt too much like everything else. AoC just flat out blew.

Can't wait to see this release.

I expected to see some reasons as to why I shouldn't see it as a grind or just another Korean game upon coming into this post, but there weren't any.  I don't think this game will be a grind like other Korean games, but it still doesn't look new to me...maybe I'm picky because I've refused to play another MMO until a game that breaks away from the mold.  I haven't played an MMO fully in about 4 years...I stop about a fourth into the games because I'm incredibly bored.  Of all the info I've seen and heard on this game there is still nothing that seems different to me...besides flight...woohoo...

Give me some facts about it that are different and I'll listen and maybe change my mind.

Sorry if this post came off a little attacking...didn't really mean it that way.

Originally posted by Blodpls

Personally I just don't like the style of asian mmorpgs. 

I do not like high gloss, ridiculously over the top, fairy tale, disney-esque games.

Just look at this: uk.youtube.com/watch

It makes me want to chunder.

Ah yes, because the western games like WOW or WAR are less "ridiculously over the top, fairy tale, disney-esque"    

/ sarcasm off.

Aion looks awesome, very much looking forward to it.

Originally posted by Blodpls

Personally I just don't like the style of asian mmorpgs. 

I do not like high gloss, ridiculously over the top, fairy tale, disney-esque games.

Just look at this: uk.youtube.com/watch

It makes me want to chunder.

This is a good video, it shows an unique soundtrack and very nice landscapes.

Some western productions started to explore more the uniqueness of an expressive artstyle these days too, Age of Conan and Warhammer both look/sound good in different ways...It is pretty clear Aion will be very expressive and impressive in these areas aswell.

But some western games still have the goofy aspect, just check the new Darkfall videos, the goofyness of animation, music and combat is so intense and the artstyle so cheap that it is almost like a low budge, goofy comedy in ancient/medievel fantasy setting full of shaders.

Good and unique artstyle is needed in MMOs, it is good to see Age of Conan with a realistic/darker art, Warhammer with an expressive, ornated and caricature like artstyle, Aion with a fairy tale dream like art... oh and the influence of Soul Reaver among the asmodians is nice too. Beside these I think only Mortal, Blade and Soul and TCoS are the new upcoming MMOs with expressive artstyle.

...

Originally posted by Leoj

I expected to see some reasons as to why I shouldn't see it as a grind or just another Korean game upon coming into this post, but there weren't any.  I don't think this game will be a grind like other Korean games, but it still doesn't look new to me...maybe I'm picky because I've refused to play another MMO until a game that breaks away from the mold.  I haven't played an MMO fully in about 4 years...I stop about a fourth into the games because I'm incredibly bored.  Of all the info I've seen and heard on this game there is still nothing that seems different to me...besides flight...woohoo...

Give me some facts about it that are different and I'll listen and maybe change my mind.

Sorry if this post came off a little attacking...didn't really mean it that way.

I agree with that in whole but I might as well give them a try and not base it off of what people say. I mean what do you lose besides easily regained HDD space and maybe an hour or two of your time. It took me only about a month to get sick of WoW for being repetative in a sense (yes there is raiding [which after a while is the same] and what not but it takes repetative questing and other stuff to get to that point).

Sorry if this came off as attacking also. Just putting my opinion out there.

There is not need to bash the poor guy and act like your going to banish him just because he enjoys a game. Damn I mean if it worked like that around here Amazing Avery would have been gone years ago!

Originally posted by Leoj

I expected to see some reasons as to why I shouldn't see it as a grind or just another Korean game upon coming into this post, but there weren't any.  I don't think this game will be a grind like other Korean games, but it still doesn't look new to me...maybe I'm picky because I've refused to play another MMO until a game that breaks away from the mold.  I haven't played an MMO fully in about 4 years...I stop about a fourth into the games because I'm incredibly bored.  Of all the info I've seen and heard on this game there is still nothing that seems different to me...besides flight...woohoo...

Give me some facts about it that are different and I'll listen and maybe change my mind.

Sorry if this post came off a little attacking...didn't really mean it that way.

You can look at the features one by one, compare them with your previous experiences and idealize the upcoming game, or you can take a look at all of them, trying to look for videos and detailed information about how they've done those features, and then imagine how your day would be if you were playing that upcoming game.

What Im trying to say is that games are about how they are played, not about a list of features. Innovation is there, but you won't see it in the form of "uber new feature no game had before" but in the form of your daily experience.

I like the video posted it shows, animations and fmvs wow. It doesn't show how combat will operate or any game system.

That being said who knows if it will be grindy or not.

Originally posted by Jetrpg

I like the video posted it shows, animations and fmvs wow. It doesn't show how combat will operate or any game system.

That being said who knows if it will be grindy or not.

aion.plaync.co.kr/aioninfo/

Has a demo of the combat system (Third button - right sub menu button) and many videos about its features, hoping that site gets translated.

Warning, use chrome or IE, firefox won't open it :<

he should say please play the game first then post. <<<<<words mean nothing>>>>>

I guess Aion will hit hard in the market.

I don't care about people saying "this is again a Korean grinding feast" they are or just trolling or may be too lazy to get informed. I'm not going to loose my time to do their homework. If someone it's interested on it there are plenty of information, videos, reviews and so around.

Just wait to they launching the game next year in NA/Europe and, may be i'm wrong, you will see a lot of players coming there

Aion is not a sanbox its not going to satisfy sandbox fans but is not WoW style in its core definition. Faction PvP in the Abyss will make it closer to DAOC model.

I will give it a try of course.

Originally posted by Trissa

Aion is not a sanbox its not going to satisfy sandbox fans but is not WoW style in its core definition. Faction PvP in the Abyss will make it closer to DAOC model.

I will give it a try of course.

This is precisely why I want to give it a shot. If it can forge its own identity, and not end up like the half a million other MMOs that have released after WoW that play almost exactly like WoW to keep up market share, then I might finally have a game to stick with for a decent period of time. Honestly, I don't care if it becomes a hit or not as long as it gets a decent population. Personally, I'd prefer it not get too much attention. Most of the people passing it off as a korean grindfest and bashing the game without researching it are not exactly the personalities that are going to improve the community of the game. 

I wasn't trying to "market" the game, I just find it hard to believe that so few people take the game seriously after seeing all of the amazing beta footage that has come out recently.

I didn't list reasons why it won't be a grinder, because we all know how devs can lie and game footage can be rigged to prove a point.  The websites I listed have actually played the game through a few levels, which is the best way to verify what the developers have been marketing.  Obviously they've been keeping their promises.

I have no problem with people that don't like the artstlye or the combat animations etc., that's fine.  I'm just curious how people can still drag the game through the dirt when everyone who's played it loved it.

Once again, sorry if the post came off as "viral marketing".

I dont care if it was VIRAL MARKETING.

I was already interested in the game before this post. I for one can afford to miss out on 50 bucks if I dont like it. I did it with WAR and I did it with AoC...maybe this one will hit the nail on the head and will be a blast to play.

My only REAL criticism for the game is all the ghey HEE YAW CHEEZY karate sound affects. Help make it a western market...take the lame KungFu sound affects out. Its AION not Street Fighter.

Originally posted by Umbral

Originally posted by Blodpls

Personally I just don't like the style of asian mmorpgs. 

I do not like high gloss, ridiculously over the top, fairy tale, disney-esque games.

Just look at this: uk.youtube.com/watch

It makes me want to chunder.

 

This is a good video, it shows an unique soundtrack and very nice landscapes.

Some western productions started to explore more the uniqueness of an expressive artstyle these days too, Age of Conan and Warhammer both look/sound good in different ways...It is pretty clear Aion will be very expressive and impressive in these areas aswell.

But some western games still have the goofy aspect, just check the new Darkfall videos, the goofyness of animation, music and combat is so intense and the artstyle so cheap that it is almost like a low budge, goofy comedy in ancient/medievel fantasy setting full of shaders.

Good and unique artstyle is needed in MMOs, it is good to see Age of Conan with a realistic/darker art, Warhammer with an expressive, ornated and caricature like artstyle, Aion with a fairy tale dream like art... oh and the influence of Soul Reaver among the asmodians is nice too. Beside these I think only Mortal, Blade and Soul and TCoS are the new upcoming MMOs with expressive artstyle.

...

Very well written and thought out post, Umbral.   I am very much looking forward to how future MMO's handle their chosen art style.

Originally posted by Leoj

I expected to see some reasons as to why I shouldn't see it as a grind or just another Korean game upon coming into this post, but there weren't any.  I don't think this game will be a grind like other Korean games, but it still doesn't look new to me...maybe I'm picky because I've refused to play another MMO until a game that breaks away from the mold.  I haven't played an MMO fully in about 4 years...I stop about a fourth into the games because I'm incredibly bored.  Of all the info I've seen and heard on this game there is still nothing that seems different to me...besides flight...woohoo...

Give me some facts about it that are different and I'll listen and maybe change my mind.

Sorry if this post came off a little attacking...didn't really mean it that way.

Its kinda hard to show its not a grinder just by a few videos, better for you to just wait until after release and hear what the western gamers say about the grinding. This game will NOT break the mold as you say, so if your bored of mmo's in general its best for you to get your gaming fix somewhere other than an mmo.

You think it wont be a "grinder" based on impressions up to level 5? Level 5?! Are you kidding?

In most Korean grinders I have played you will get to level 10 in about an hour, a few more hours to get to level 20 and then the bait and switch happens. After level 20 it will take hours and hours to get one level.

NCSoft can claim this wont be a standard grinder all they want but I wont actually believe them until I play it for myself.

Yeah, the graphics are really good but so what. If the gameplay is crap or it takes weeks for me to get from level 31 to level 32 then Im not going to keep playing because it has good graphics.

Game dev's just have to find some kind of middle ground. I for one will not play a grind fest game ever again. Grinding for 1-2 years just to make lvl cap is crazy but then again I don't really care for a game where you make cap in 3 weeks by just playing 2 hours a day.