Aion LOOKS very interesting, and claims to have a good storyline and gameplay.  My question however, is whether or not this Asian-designed game is going to fit with the needs/wants of Western gamers.

Most Asian games I've experienced have been letdowns in terms of gameplay, and repetition of content as well.  It often seems a theme in those games that you aimlessly grind red floating eyeballs in a field, them move on to a different field with yellow floating eyeballs.   There is often little incentive to progress in the game aside from the achievement of getting a new level number next to your name.  There's not very much immersion, and I have yet to see an Asian game with good roleplay or a good community.

HOWEVER, from what I have read of Aion so far, it was designed to fit more of the Western style of gameplay and mechanics.  The Overview on this site doesn't offer much insight about what exactly it offers, so I'm very curious about some more of the details.  If anyone has knowledge about the game they could share on a few subjects, I would really appreciate it...

1.  Is there crafting in the game?  How in-depth is the system and the economy that supports it?

2.  Is the PvP open?  Are there separate PvP servers, or PvP zones?  Are there rewards to PvP aside from the "I can kill a player" mindset?

3.  Does the game feel immersive like you're actually participating in something?

4.  Is the combat entertaining or "fun", or is it a click-and-wait style where you sit there and hit skill buttons in the same order over and over again?  I for one don't enjoy combat where all I do is successively press F1-F2-F3-F4, rinse, repeat...

So, is this game another in a long line that only appeals to those who get wrapped up in Asian games, or does it truly appeal to Western MMO entusiasts?

As I have said previously, Aion is one of the best MMOs as IT IS NOW on chinese/korean retail. But im pretty sure stupid americans who cry all the time about PVE being too hard will persuade NcSoft to ruin the game. Easy mode careboars, jesus.

Originally posted by brihtwulf

 Aion LOOKS very interesting, and claims to have a good storyline and gameplay.  My question however, is whether or not this Asian-designed game is going to fit with the needs/wants of Western gamers.

Most Asian games I've experienced have been letdowns in terms of gameplay, and repetition of content as well.  It often seems a theme in those games that you aimlessly grind red floating eyeballs in a field, them move on to a different field with yellow floating eyeballs.   There is often little incentive to progress in the game aside from the achievement of getting a new level number next to your name.  There's not very much immersion, and I have yet to see an Asian game with good roleplay or a good community.

HOWEVER, from what I have read of Aion so far, it was designed to fit more of the Western style of gameplay and mechanics.  The Overview on this site doesn't offer much insight about what exactly it offers, so I'm very curious about some more of the details.  If anyone has knowledge about the game they could share on a few subjects, I would really appreciate it...

1.  Is there crafting in the game?  How in-depth is the system and the economy that supports it?

Yes, and I'd dare to say crafting is deeper than most of the current popular MMOs in the west. Anyone who's played and crafted can confirm this.

2.  Is the PvP open?  Are there separate PvP servers, or PvP zones?  Are there rewards to PvP aside from the "I can kill a player" mindset?

It's RvR, but the PvP takes place in the open world, no instances nor battlegrounds to PvP. There are rewards to PvP.

3.  Does the game feel immersive like you're actually participating in something?

Most of the people who have played it felt it as a really immersive game, I honestly cant tell because I'm not into immersion.

4.  Is the combat entertaining or "fun", or is it a click-and-wait style where you sit there and hit skill buttons in the same order over and over again?  I for one don't enjoy combat where all I do is successively press F1-F2-F3-F4, rinse, repeat...

You don't click on the same order unless you are sorcerer, and even being sorcerer, you have to change your skill setup every single level to optimize mana. That's because of reactive skills and chance combo finishers. The combat isn't a massive change to what we are used to, but it appears to be a small change that improves things, movement is also encouraged for melee players.

So, is this game another in a long line that only appeals to those who get wrapped up in Asian games, or does it truly appeal to Western MMO entusiasts?

 I'm a western player, but I tend to enjoy the MMO part more than the RPG, therefore, I've enjoyed certain Asian games, Aion is a good mix of both worlds, it has enough tools to make it feel like a MMO and makes you participate in collaborative efforts, and, at the same time, focuses on a strong storyline and takes the "western" new way of leveling.

Originally posted by brihtwulf

1.  Is there crafting in the game?  How in-depth is the system and the economy that supports it?
Yes, there is crafting in the game, and quite a bit of it and honestly, a lot of the crafted items are better than a lot of the drops and quest rewards, at least early on in the game. Crafting is going to be a decent factor in this game, and worth investing time and money into. The crafing is pretty deep as well, a fail and success factor. One of the first games I actually sat and raised crafting @ the start.

Also in crafting, you get work orders. These are quests from your crafting trainer that last you 10 skill point levels through, then you get a new one. They are quests requesting you to craft items, and the majority of the supplies are given to you, making the cost of raising your crafting MUCH lower than crafting your own items.

Work orders to raise, spend the good mats and such on yourself. Great system.

2.  Is the PvP open?  Are there separate PvP servers, or PvP zones?  Are there rewards to PvP aside from the "I can kill a player" mindset?
The PVP happens in the Abyss, more of an RVR type thing, with a new twist, PvPvE -- visit the sticky @ top of the forums to read about the system, interesting stuff.

3.  Does the game feel immersive like you're actually participating in something?
One of the more immersive virtual worlds around.

4.  Is the combat entertaining or "fun", or is it a click-and-wait style where you sit there and hit skill buttons in the same order over and over again?  I for one don't enjoy combat where all I do is successively press F1-F2-F3-F4, rinse, repeat...
Combat is what you make it. It plays really similar to WOW in terms of movement and such, but, there are nice additions; you have directional arrows on your toon -- if you move forward, increase attack, backwards increases parry/block, side to side increase dodge or parry, something along those lines. Really nice, tho, if you make use of it.

So, is this game another in a long line that only appeals to those who get wrapped up in Asian games, or does it truly appeal to Western MMO entusiasts?
The looks will appeal to people who like Asian styled MMOs, the character models, while they don't look as hardcore Asian as some games, do have the influence. But the game is beautiful, it's a nice HYBRID mix. That's the thing about this game, it's the best of both worlds.

 

And honestly, if you read the FAQ stickied @ the top, it answers most of your questions way more in depth than your typical response from a poster is going to be.

The bottom line is, this was intended as an MMO that played like a western MMO and had the flavor of the asian MMOs. If you're worried about it not feeling as streamlined as your typical commercial western MMO, I can assure you, this game feels like a western MMO in the way it plays. But it is a polished, quality title. There's no "korean-grindfest" or borked enconomy like people seem to think.

And some of us english speaking folk aren't American, just saying. :P

Originally posted by aZzAY

As I have said previously, Aion is one of the best MMOs as IT IS NOW on chinese/korean retail. But im pretty sure stupid americans who cry all the time about PVE being too hard will persuade NcSoft to ruin the game. Easy mode careboars, jesus.

Aion might be good, glad its being released in another country first so they can polish out all the bugs.  also glad I don't live in Greece cause I heard the careboars even run loose and wild in athens.

As already said, this was designed to be a more Westernerized MMO. Only the look is Asian but it's not a "korean grindfeast" ect Obviously there is grind like in most MMOs but again this has in fact specificlly been more westernized. Lots of quests, main story with cut scenes, ect. Enjoy :) 

Originally posted by natuxatu

As already said, this was designed to be a more Westernerized MMO. Only the look is Asian but it's not a "korean grindfeast" ect Obviously there is grind like in most MMOs but again this has in fact specificlly been more westernized. Lots of quests, main story with cut scenes, ect. Enjoy :) 

Exactly in the interviews that are hosted on MMORPG.com they state that the game is a Fusion of western and eastern MMO philosophy.

Which makes me think they want a game that the entire world can play.

Short answer: Yes

Long answer : Hell yes

Originally posted by Cynthe

And some of us english speaking folk aren't American, just saying. :P

Oh come now; Americans speak English, Europeans speak British, and Canadians speak Canadian. 

Originally posted by Locklain

Originally posted by Cynthe

And some of us english speaking folk aren't American, just saying. :P

Oh come now; Americans speak English, Europeans speak British, and Canadians speak Canadian. 

There's truth in those words :D

Originally posted by aZzAY

As I have said previously, Aion is one of the best MMOs as IT IS NOW on chinese/korean retail. But im pretty sure stupid americans who cry all the time about PVE being too hard will persuade NcSoft to ruin the game. Easy mode careboars, jesus.

Funny.. theres 2x your kind in WoW and we saw how that PvE turned very easy. Hmmm... last I checked, Blizzard and the majority of moderately organized companies will persaude the larger audience to continue playing. Wow, didn't expect that fact did ya? Idiot..

Originally posted by ryman

Originally posted by aZzAY

As I have said previously, Aion is one of the best MMOs as IT IS NOW on chinese/korean retail. But im pretty sure stupid americans who cry all the time about PVE being too hard will persuade NcSoft to ruin the game. Easy mode careboars, jesus.

 

Funny.. theres 2x your kind in WoW and we saw how that PvE turned very easy. Hmmm... last I checked, Blizzard and the majority of moderately organized companies will persaude the larger audience to continue playing. Wow, didn't expect that fact did ya? Idiot..

You can hardly call him an idiot and using the word "will" set your statement in the future tense meaning it cannot possibly be a fact.

Originally posted by Locklain

Originally posted by Cynthe

And some of us english speaking folk aren't American, just saying. :P

Oh come now; Americans speak English, Europeans speak British, and Canadians speak Canadian. 

Lawl, you nut ^_^ Actually I've heard Americans say: " You should speak American" So really English is a figment of our imagination and not a real language.

**nods sagely**

Originally posted by Cynthe

Originally posted by Locklain

Originally posted by Cynthe

And some of us english speaking folk aren't American, just saying. :P

Oh come now; Americans speak English, Europeans speak British, and Canadians speak Canadian. 

 

Lawl, you nut ^_^ Actually I've heard Americans say: " You should speak American" So really English is a figment of our imagination and not a real language.

**nods sagely**

Well since I am American I try not to bash my own too much but trust me what you hear about Americans is all true. 

Originally posted by aZzAY

As I have said previously, Aion is one of the best MMOs as IT IS NOW on chinese/korean retail. But im pretty sure stupid americans who cry all the time about PVE being too hard will persuade NcSoft to ruin the game. Easy mode careboars, jesus.

You could always stick with the chinese/korean version and not even worry about what they do to the western version.  Wouldn't it make sense to adjust the western version to suit westerners?  Just because Americans don't enjoy killing 3 billion of the EXACT SAME lizard men just to get 10% of their level doesn't mean they're carebears.

Originally posted by Sixpax

Originally posted by aZzAY

As I have said previously, Aion is one of the best MMOs as IT IS NOW on chinese/korean retail. But im pretty sure stupid americans who cry all the time about PVE being too hard will persuade NcSoft to ruin the game. Easy mode careboars, jesus.

 

You could always stick with the chinese/korean version and not even worry about what they do to the western version.  Wouldn't it make sense to adjust the western version to suit westerners?  Just because Americans don't enjoy killing 3 billion of the EXACT SAME lizard men just to get 10% of their level doesn't mean they're carebears.

I serverly doubt that ANYONE enjoys killing 3 billion of the EXACT SAME Lizard men.

From my time playing Aion I've never really felt like I was "Grinding" where as in WoW I felt that way at level 6 when I got to Brill, but I kept with it anyway.

My point is that not only Eastern MMO's give you the feeling of grinding, Western ones can too. 

Consider this, how much of localization is changing quests to be diferent and not just changing the text of what NPCs say?

My Guess: None of it.

EXAMPLE:

Quest in wow has you gather 60 tusks off Quillboars in the Barrens at level 15 around.   THATS not grindy AT ALL is it?

    History tends to repeat itself...

    NC Soft's History says NO

Originally posted by Scorchien

    History tends to repeat itself...

    NC Soft's History says NO

Well since so many of us have already experienced Aion we don't have to rely on history to give us an answer.  Those of us that have tried the game have given our opinions on how the game plays, but for some reason there are a lot of people out there who's skull couldn’t be penetrated by a jackhammer and refuse to accept our opinion.

    And some of us can look into NCSofts backyard and see all the piles of Dogpies they have layed and know not to walk in it...

                                  Some people need to step in it and smell it 1st...

                                                            Enjoy

Originally posted by Scorchien

 

 

    And some of us can look into NCSofts backyard and see all the piles of Dogpies they have layed and know not to walk in it...

 

                                  Some people need to step in it and smell it 1st...

 

                                                            Enjoy

 . . . others know where the yard is at and should just avoid it all together if they don't like their chances.