*I played the game at PAX 08*  I was interested in this game when I first saw it on the internets. Showed like it had a little promise, but nothing stood out really (felt like a 'not-as-good' version of Guild Wars) when I played it at the NCSoft booth for about 10min. Then at the PC free play area, where they setup a bunch of PCs to play this game for about 2hrs or so (I only played for about an hour), you could create a new character, play through the beginning area and whatnot... and my goodness. It felt so generic, so dull, so... boring. I was very dissapointed to say the least.

I just scanned through the first 3 pages here and didn't notice any topics were people have actually played the game. So has anyone? just want to what others first impressions were and if I was the only one dissapointed when first playing it...

*this is not a troll thread, or at least not intended to be...just want to know what others thought as I was looking forward to it*

You did not research harder here about this tipe of discussion i will give a link on this forum wher this subject was hot.It seams like you r the only one that play this game at what ever was showed and not like it but i belive it is a mather of taste.So here is the link.

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http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/game/253/view/forums/thread/198093

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fixed link:  www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/game/253/view/forums/thread/198093

It might be best to find answers here:  www.aionsource.com/forum/  They have many people that played in all the CB test, and they have a few koreans that played at the site also.

aha, thanks for the link... looks like I didn't do enough searching for find it  :P

I guess it is just a matter of taste  :/

What felt generic about it?

Generic talk from a LotrO player.... :D

Not trying to bash, just pointing that out. To each their own.

Originally posted by blindside044

aha, thanks for the link... looks like I didn't do enough searching for find it  :P

I guess it is just a matter of taste  :/

Correct. It always comes down to taste. And that is the way it should be, I don't want every gamer in the world to play Aion because I would never be able to log on

Originally posted by Zayne3145

What felt generic about it?

I'm not sure how to really explain it in detail. But nothing really stood out to me to want me to come back and play it again. I have tried many MMOs, free and p2p, so I have almost tried a little of everything, and a lot of some , and nothing grabbed my attention... so take it for what you will; try it yourself and decide for yourself 

Originally posted by Cynthe

Generic talk from a LotrO player.... :D

Not trying to bash, just pointing that out. To each their own.

I'll give you that there isn't much originality in the gameplay (though it's kind of hard to be real original in that area in this day and age of MMOs). Though there are some hints of creativity in there that I enjoy, but nonetheless... not that much, and I have seen a little more creativity in other games in that sense...

But what makes me enjoy this game so much, even to the point of calling it my favorite MMO, is not only is this game better (in the areas im about list) than other MMOs, but it completely destroys and outshines them... scenery/atmoshpere/ambiance, the game is just so damn beautiful.. and can be really immserive (and I don't RP myself, but this game is RPing heaven for those that do)...storytelling of quests and missions make even the "boring" quests, like collect 10 board hides, fun to a certain extent because of the story behind it. And of course the main Books Epic storyline is truly... epic; easily the best chain of quests/missions ever, in any MMO.

But as what was said earlier, the beauty and storytelling of a game can be objective so once again it comes down to a matter of taste. (though how can you not at least be in awe of the scenery... ok, ok, I'll stop now :P ) ...or actually, one more thing that raises the game above the others for me; Best. Community. Ever. Nothing else needs to be really said about that, but easily the nicest and friendlest group of people you will ever come across in an MMO making the stay oh so much more enjoyable.

damn... that was a lot more typing then I wanted to do. Hopefully it's not too obvious I get a little over excited when talking about LOTRO 
 

Can you elaborate a bit more about what you found generic?

Landscapes, character creation, first levels? Did you had the oportunity to level up, experience more than one zone, more than 3 skills?

Did you create an Elyos or an Asmodian?

Just curious about it.

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Originally posted by Umbral

Can you elaborate a bit more about what you found generic?

Landscapes, character creation, first levels? Did you had the oportunity to level up, experience more than one zone, more than 3 skills?

Did you create an Elyos or an Asmodian?

Just curious about it.

...

PAX was a while ago, or at least long enough ago for me not to remember exact details. So I can't really elaborate more, sorry... I just have an overall first impression and generalizations from an hour of playing.The link provided by someone earlier in this thread to the beta forums is probably were you want to go for more information.

I did level up to somewhere between level 5-10, got an extra skill or two. I played in one big area, not a huge world, so I can't comment entirely on the full world. But the areas I was in looked pretty bland, not creative at all. It felt like (in the early stages) and looked (with better gfx) like a beginning of just another asian grinder... but remember, that's just after an hour of playing.

argh! I don't like badmouthing games so please dont take as trolling. Just expressing dissapointment in a game I was looking forward too. Though I will actually say one thing I did somewhat enjoy... when I tried the game at the NCSoft booth for about 10min, the combat while flying was pretty interesting and was pretty unique to other games I have played so far. So maybe this game picks up once you get further into, only time will tell.

I check out a pre-formed Aion guild's website every now and then.

Some of the member thats have played the game were expecting a lineage 3 type of game.

They said it is much closer to an angel/devil themed WoW.

Plus you can fly.

Well, obviously, as an experienced gamer the 1-10 levels are nothing new for you, those levels are basic tutorials in every single game. Less experienced players might enjoy them obviously, as they haven't gone through that same "kill 4 boars to learn how combat works" path 20 times already.

I suggested in some post at Aionsource that I would have loved if they had the same demo koreans had at GStar, pvp intensive with rifts opened the whole time and level 17ish content, they went for a wider market with the demos though, which made me a bit sad, but still understandable.

The real thing starts around level 10, when you complete the daeva quest. You're thrown into the capital city of your race, with a lot of new things to do, crafting spots, guild creation, inner city arenas, flight and flying duels, etc...at 17ish there's another feature introduction, rifts, more also at level 20 with group based content/quests and stigmas, and then level 25 with the abyss.

Reminder here: On that demo you appear on a level 12ish city, with no ability to go back to Sanctum/Pandemonium and see the content. Most of the content in that zone is quest based and raid based.

Level 17 can be acquired after 2 days of intensive gaming if they keep the rates like they were in CBT3.

User friendliness plays against us in most of the games, but that lasts only a pair of days in Aion luckily ^^.

That being said, I already commented what I saw in the other thread, considering that the difficulty of the demos wasn't on par with my actual level (dont mind this arrogance here :)) I saw a quite polished game and a promising combat system.

Originally posted by blindside044

damn... that was a lot more typing then I wanted to do. Hopefully it's not too obvious I get a little over excited when talking about LOTRO 
 

Actually everything you described about LotrO is exactly why I'm looking forwards to Aion. I played LotrO for about a year and may get back into it some day, and I think it's a very fun and great looking game. But it is the same as Aion, and as many other mmo's out there. There are both quite generic and I'd argue that LotrO is even more so in that they don't even try to innovate. Except with monster play.

But see, that doesn't actually matter. It's the fun you have in game that matters, whether it grabs you or not. I don't expect Aion to grab everyone and actually I hope it doesn't. I stopped playing LotrO for very simple reasons, lack of atmosphere. I have HUGE issues with how the NPCs look compared to PCs and the lack of children NPCs bugs me. That is not Middle Earth it's a game that looks like it. The forested areas of the game are fantastic though and I always enjoy those areas.

Atmosphere is pretty much everything to me in an MMO I've come to realize, I guess to some people it's a stupid reason to play a game, but it's my game. And I can play it like I want.

So in conclusion if the only bad thing you had to say about trying the demo of Aion is that it's generic and it didn't grab you, then I'm a very happy woman. The F2P style of games I love, but I don't love the grind nor the lack of a coherent story. :)

One npc in aion.    de.youtube.com/watch

Aion is much more than the lower level PvE experience, which I incidentally think is really well made. Just past level 10 begins the post-learning gameplay, when you get your wings and start to learn more about the world outside the protected valley you start out in.  I dare to say that the gameplay is very solid, polished and enjoyable all the way through, but Aion truly shines when flying comes into the picture, when you begin to pursue crafting, when you enter The Abyss... These key elements happen after what Ephimero above described as the tutorial (I would call it a hybrid introduction/immersion area) and I think it's a shame that you didn't get to try them out at our hands-on in PAX -- well, all in due time,  right?

We will be launching Preview Events next year and will try to display as many aspects of the game as we can at that time. If you give it another chance then hopefully Aion will change your mind. :)

Any idea of what month the pre events may start? I heard that you will only do pre events and no beta for the US so I am very anxious for these pre events.

No final decision has been made in regards to the structure of the events yet, but we'll an announcement when we know. :)

I played @ PAX as well.  I also got in on the free play and found it enjoyable.  Tbh, Aion is just going to be an MMO to hold my interest until the Rapture comes out but I think I'll have fun in the interim.

I have a question.

With wich game can you compar aion gameplay exluding flying fighting systeme?

I heard you said Guild wars. Many players dont like GW specialy those from wow. If it really like you said it is, an other asian grind with some GW in it, i dont think wow players will play Aion. So wo will play it? final fantazy 11 players?

I dont want to troll here, but i just want to know wich gamers aion could atract. Drop some game names when you reply.

Originally posted by Realbigdeal

I have a question.

With wich game can you compar aion gameplay exluding flying fighting systeme?

I heard you said Guild wars. Many players dont like GW specialy those from wow. If it really like you said it is, an other asian grind with some GW in it, i dont think wow players will play Aion. So wo will play it? final fantazy 11 players?

I dont want to troll here, but i just want to know wich gamers aion could atract. Drop some game names when you reply.

This is actually something ive been pondering on as well..

My guess would be the people who are just floating in limbo (like myself) waiting for something to come along and perhaps some guild wars players who've never played a P2P.

Most of the ppl i have come across following this title are infact Final fantasy fans, which besides LoTRO had the best community to come by in my opinion, so i think you will fins a lot of FF fans L2 fans and you will get WoW fans as it will be similar gameplay but will be polished beyond belief with Aeriel Combat, Mass PVP, Sieges JUST  about anything you can name that is in Current and past MMO's. Aion will be the First to implement all of the best features from the past and future and implement them right, not get a portion of them right they will nail everything on the head,and will be there from launch not some patched in after thought.

I know i cant guarantee this but i have Faith in NcSoft to deliver and i am confident they will it is a time in the MMO market where if these game company's dont get it right then it will mean a big kcik in the teeth for them, and besides after the TR disaster they would not want to hurt there rep by doing so.

I am Certain 100% Guarantee that this game is going to kick ass, and don't ask me to explain why or tell you what makes it so different, use that little tool called Google and find info for yourself as most of the rest of us have.

It may not beat WoW nor do i care if it does but it will give it a good run for it's money, not like some other titles of late.

Agreed, but TR was not NCsoft's fault. The mess falls on Mr. Garretts shoulders. NC are doing there best to fix the mess left from that marrage made in hell.

Originally posted by stayontarget

Agreed, but TR was not NCsoft's fault. The mess falls on Mr. Garretts shoulders. NC are doing there best to fix the mess left from that marrage made in hell.

I agree, what i meant was that because TR is a part of NcSoft this reflects on them, so if they went in Half baked with Aion it would look like a trend for there games to not do so well (some would say Fail) even Tho it Was Garretts mess.

NCSoft was leaking money like a boat with half a dozen holes in the hull. Garrett had them over a barrel so to speak and was able to mandate terms which lead to him being the 'sole' shot caller for TR. Regretful. I haven't looked at the NCSoft numbers lately but I would suspect they  shook out some of the deadwood while AION was up and coming..let's hope so or I would think NCSoft is going to have very real troubles very quickly.