Massive Gamer Magazine: Brian Knox Interview - 11/01/09

[lyankyj]

Massive Gamer Magazine

Stunningly beautiful. These two words capture the captivating world and images of one plane of Aion. Obviously, there is more to the success of a game than just the aesthetics, but man, that’s a good start.

NCsoft, the company behind such big shots as the Lineage and City of Heroes franchises, Guild Wars, and Tabula Rasa, will soon add Aion to their illustrious list of MMOGs. Developed in South Korea, Aion has a distinctly Eastern look to it, as well as lore, history, and culture, but those are also some of the things that are being tweaked in order to capture the North American audience. While the Western hemisphere is used to being first on the list for release of big named titles, this time they will have to wait, because the tweaking takes time, but if the graphics are any indication, it will be worth the wait.

Besides breathtaking scenery, Aion introduces something rarely seen in MMOGs: flying combat. A few games let people fly, but combat only gets more intense when it’s 60 feet above the ground! To soar through the skies and strike down foes is a dream come true for many fantasy gamers.

While somewhat limited in class variation and career paths, Aion attempts to offset that with extensive customization within each class at character creation. In-game items and the Stigma system further allow players to roam outside the traditional cookie cutter box of their class, and do things not customary for their chosen path.

Massive Gamer recently spoke to Producer Brian Knox about Aion.


Massive Gamer: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do for Aion?

Brian Knox: My name is Brian Knox and I am a producer for Aion. My job is to ensure that Aion is a global success by communicating the Western market’s feedback and ideas to our development team and then following up to make sure that feedback is implemented. I have been on Aion for almost three years and have seen it shape and morph itself into the exciting, unique game that it is today.

Massive Gamer: Korea is geared up for Open Beta for Aion. Can the West anticipate a release closely following the launch on the other side of the world? Will there be any beta testing for the U.S. or Europe?

Knox: Our goal has always been to be as globally-synced as possible. Aion is in the process of being localized into English, French, and German. This means millions of words are localized, which of course will take some extra time, but our goal is still a 2009 launch. As for beta testing, the market is changing and betas aren’t what they used to be. For better or worse, players judge your game based on your beta. We want to make sure that even during our internal beta testing that players are amazed by the level of polish in Aion. This high standard of quality is something we feel is very important and we intend on proving to the world when we launch our Exclusive Preview events in 2009 as a way of showcasing Aion as well as soliciting feedback.

Massive Gamer: The news section on the web site mentions that NCsoft is in the “process of localizing and culturalizing the game for the western market in order to reach the same level of quality that the game provides.” What does that entail exactly?

Knox: Although Aion’s game play mechanics and design have been tailored for global appeal, the game’s original language is Korean. By language I don’t just mean words, but also their stories, their culture, their fables, and even their inside cultural jokes. To us, localizing goes way beyond just translating text—it truly is “a culturization” process. So we spend a tremendous amount of time localizing these instances into something meaningful to Western audiences, making sure we provide a sense of familiarity to the user. It is very important to adhere to the original designer’s intent, but that doesn’t mean it has to be written poorly or be a straight translation. By adding high quality writing and culturalizing the game, we have localization that is on the same level of quality as the game containing it.

Massive Gamer: There seems to be a lot of customization for players—a lot of freedom to play how they want. But one thing that sticks out are the Stigma stones. How do they work?

Knox: You are right that Aion offers a tremendous amount of customization for players in multiple and different parts of the game. Stigma stones are particularly cool; essentially they are the captured essences of ancient Daevas who have died beyond the reach of the resurrection power of the Obelisks. By utilizing different combinations of Stigma stones, players will actually be able to enhance and change their class so that they are unique. Some stones will enhance existing skills, and some will give brand new ones. The choice is up to the player, and what fits their style of play.

Players will go on a quest at level 20 to obtain the ability to equip the stones. You can equip two Stigma stones at level 20, with a maximum of five as you increase in level. Stones can be collected from various quests or monsters from around the world. They are tradable amongst players and can be easy to find or very hard to find depending on the stone.

Massive Gamer: What is your favorite aspect of character customization? Players love the freedom to make their avatars unique. Can character creation in Aion hold a candle to the reigning king of character creation, NCsoft’s own City of Heroes?

Knox: If you’ve seen Aion’s character creator, you know just how powerful the system is, with over 35 different sliders for every feature of your face and body. My favorite aspect of character creation is that the system is so flexible that you can literally create your own race within a race. For example, if a group of friends wanted to create a Legion where everyone was short, stout, bearded, and old they could not only do this but each and every one of them could still have unique facial features, hairstyles, and tones. The combinations in Aion are near limitless; the system takes character customization to a new level—one that our friends at City of Heroes would be very proud of.

Massive Gamer: Is Aion level-based or skill-based? What is the time investment you anticipate for a player to get to the top of the food chain?

Knox: Aion is level-based advancement, but the main focus is on character development. We want provide players multiple ways of growing their character such as crafting, item collection, Stigma collection, vanity items, title collection, and PvPvE rankings. The curve for getting to the max level is on par with most Western MMOGs.

Massive Gamer: Something a little bit unique is Aion’s PvPvE feature. Do you anticipate it entertaining both the hardcore PvPers and the ones who typically shy away from PvP, or is it focused more on one play style more than the other?

Knox: PvPvE is a reward-based system, not a punishment-based system. Players have the choice to enter into the Abyss and take part in PvPvE for the chance at huge rewards and great challenges. Since it is a reward-based system, I believe that Aion players will find PvPvE very engaging and not what they would normally expect when you hear the word PvP. Grizzled veterans will love it for its unique challenges, and those testing the waters will find it accessible to participate on many different levels. Part of the design goal of PvPvE is to make the PvP parts of the game more accessible and less intimidating.

Massive Gamer: Flight is something new and innovative with Aion. A handful of games have attempted it, but most seem to fall flat. What makes Aion different?

Knox: Our development team knew that incorporating flight would be a huge challenge in an MMOG, but if done right, could be something very special and unique for the genre. Our answer was to make flight into a strategic and integral element of game play, and take it beyond just another way to travel or another direction of movement. Here is how it works. At level 10, all players go through the ascension ritual, where they get their wings. But you can’t just fly all the time; each character has a flight bar that displays the amount of time you can fly and you can run out of flight time. Of course, you get more flight time as you level up, and you can buff it with potions or items, but you always need to be very strategic about how you use your flight. Flying in combat is obviously a big deal, and it’s lots of fun, but you need to think about it. Do you want to use it to fly in and attack from above? Or do you want to save it in case you need to flee quickly? Aerial combat is tons of fun, and you need to be cognizant of that flight bar because if it runs out, you will fall. Fall far enough and you will die. Also, flight opens up a whole new 3D element to the game. You need to be thinking about what’s above you—often there are quests or items that are only in places you must fly to. There is mid-air harvesting as well. So as you get more flight time, more of the game opens up to you. Overall, flight is a big part of Aion’s core game play.

Massive Gamer: Will there be any mounts on ground? Or will flight be the primary travel mode?

Knox: The team is evaluating the idea of ground mounts for future updates but we haven’t announced anything yet. Personal flight can be used for short-range travel but that’s not the primary purpose of flight—flight is used as a strategic element to all aspects of game play and is not just for transportation. There will be teleporters to different parts of the world for travel, along with flight paths to speed up travel within the zone.


Keep watch in the coming issues of Massive Gamer, and on the web at MassiveGamer.com for updates about Aion. For even more information, check out their official website at AionOnline.com

[Eruadan]

First!

It looks like the western division of NCSoft is really starting to publicize Aion. Both an Interview with Massive Gamer, and the PC Gamer Magazine Advertorial. Looks like Aion will be marketed in the US/Europe after all...

[Feii]

well nothing new... same blabla

lol@ "Stigma stones, players will actually be able to enhance and change their class so that they are unique"

WRONG since all player do the same build of Stigma for each class, if you want to be unique you have to put the useless Stigma... woot !

[Felluah]

Originally Posted by Feii

well nothing new... same blabla

lol@ "Stigma stones, players will actually be able to enhance and change their class so that they are unique"

WRONG since all player do the same build of Stigma for each class, if you want to be unique you have to put the useless Stigma... woot !

So WAA WAA WAA yes? perhaps you could take note of:

Brian Knox: My name is Brian Knox and I am a producer for Aion. My job is to ensure that Aion is a global success by communicating the Western market’s feedback and ideas to our development team and then following up to make sure that feedback is implemented.

You have a problem with stigma, this is the guy who will get your ideas into the game.

I for one, am glad to see more information coming out about how things will be run in NA/EU, as well as the start of the advertising campaigns here.

[t0yo]

SOunds good even though it doesn't imply much to people in the Aion scene. I like how he described the translation process as a more culture transition process although usually when it comes to companies mentioning that they usually exagerate a lot and just mean traditional translations.

Although those games were f2p I'll give Aion the benefit of the doubt

[Feii]

Originally Posted by Felluah

You have a problem with stigma, this is the guy who will get your ideas into the game.

No problem with Stigma system but he's just saying ********, the Stigma sytem has been totaly changed since CBT3 so...
Seem's i have some more knowedge about Aion than the Producer, that sux

And really...I dont believe this guy will change many things in our Aion version than KR one, only for the translate location maybe...
But who know i could be wrong and ill be really happy.

[t0yo]

Originally Posted by Feii

No problem with Stigma system but he's just saying ********, the Stigma sytem has been totaly changed since CBT3 so...
Seem's i have some more knowedge about Aion than the Producer, that sux

And really...I dont believe this guy will change many things in our Aion version than KR one, only for the translate location maybe...
But who know i could be wrong and ill be really happy.

Every PR person embellishes stuff. If gameplay issues are worked out we'll eventually get the stigma system we were promised

[Feii]

Originally Posted by t0yo

Every PR person embellishes stuff. If gameplay issues are worked out we'll eventually get the stigma system we were promised

Nah, listen its not the problem :/
The Stigma system who were promised ruined all the gameplay class and their role, the PvP was totaly unbalanced.( you remember assassin with Hast ? )
Ncsoft already got headache to correctly balance 8 class with the new simple Stigma system.
The problem is this guy give false information and its not the only one...

[t0yo]

Originally Posted by Feii

Nah, listen its not the problem :/
The Stigma system who were promised ruined all the gameplay class and their role, the PvP was totaly unbalanced.( you remember assassin with Hast ? )
Ncsoft already got headache to correctly balance 8 class with the new simple Stigma system.
The problem is this guy give false information and its not the only one...

Well even though it is kinda false they're still going to sell it that way, ever mmo company does that. Thats why I argued heavily with other people about the negative issues on Aion. If you've been gaming for a while you'd know that you can't take PR responses or interviews as fact. If aion does go well though I'm sure the stigma system will be thoroughly furthered to what we were promised, it won't be as diverse as before allowing everyone to do what they want, but it will further on the notion of each class of each person being more unique

[Feii]

Well i can understand what ya think cuz you are not playing Aion ATM and it seem's you never played a NCsoft game
Im more pesimist cuz im playing Aion right now and i already played NCsoft game's before...

[t0yo]

Originally Posted by Feii

Well i can understand what ya think cuz you are not playing Aion ATM and it seem's you never played a NCsoft game
Im more pesimist cuz im playing Aion right now and i already played NCsoft game's before...

Lineage 2, Tabula Rasa and CoH

I know very well about NcSoft's past and its true looking from its history Aion might have some major **** ups. Although you have to realise after the great flop Tabula rasa was NcSoft is probably going to be doing the best it can in the west to recover from its shattered image.

At the end of the day neither me or you know whats really going to happen

[Glacius]

Fei, I think what he is trying to portray is that the Stigma systems you are using now may not be the same you use 6 months from now. Their ultimate goal is to provide a more unique approach to character development. Obviously right now cookie cutter builds still exist. You have to remember that he is primarily target the NA/EU audience with his article. The Stigma system we get might be different then the one you are using now based on players like you who give feedback.

[PSeven]

Good they are in magazine ... Congrats ... to the Koreans

[Otrera]

It remind me Lineage2 dye system to change your stats, str, dex, con, wit, int, men: "become unique bla bla bla", but it ended with all using same dyes, cuz certain set of dyes is just the best.

[Ravrohan]

I think its also important to note, that the info in this article isn't so much for the people of this site, that is the choir, but those who might not have even heard about the game yet. Yeah this is all info that has been known of for awhile to those following the game but to those who don't know if it, its just whats needed to grab some attention.