There will be no normal closed beta for NA\EU?

[Fleiva]

Triple A titles are those with a huge budget and a good ammounts of developers behind them.

[dalin]

apologies... its basically a classification of quality.. here's how

Wikipedia

AAA

phrases it...

AAA or Triple-A may just mean something that is high quality, premier, or excellent...

[Calindor]

Well the thing is, this is NCSoft, they do stupid things to (what could be) good games.

Korea is testing and playing the game, so its not like its going to be an untested/unpolished product...its just that, we get nothing but their old leftovers.

[dalin]

Originally Posted by Calindor

Well the thing is, this is NCSoft, they do stupid things to (what could be) good games.

Korea is testing and playing the game, so its not like its going to be an untested/unpolished product...its just that, we get nothing but their old leftovers.

its being developed by NCSoft Korea...

so, if the game were in development by NCSoft Canada, and the Canadian market was the first to be exposed to the client, that would be ok?

[Calindor]

Have you ever heard of Lineage 2?

If you are just considering NCSoft Seoul's developed games, it makes it look worse, its a step in the wrong direction from the start of L2. The number one problem with L2 is that Asia's launch started before NA. Everyone who played NA L2 already knew what was coming in the new expansions, because they had been released 3-4 months ago in Korea. That which goes along with NCSoft Seoul not caring about L2 anywhere else but Korea/Asia is the reason L2 had such a decline.

Or we could consider all of NCSoft's funded games which include all the massive failures. Tabula Rasa was an "AAA" game that costed over 100 million to develop, and its yet to break 100k subscribers (although its now a sick game).

[Knite]

Originally Posted by Calindor

Have you ever heard of Lineage 2?

If you are just considering NCSoft Seoul's developed games, it makes it look worse, its a step in the wrong direction from the start of L2. The number one problem with L2 is that Asia's launch started before NA. Everyone who played NA L2 already knew what was coming in the new expansions, because they had been released 3-4 months ago in Korea. That which goes along with NCSoft Seoul not caring about L2 anywhere else but Korea/Asia is the reason L2 had such a decline.

Or we could consider all of NCSoft's funded games which include all the massive failures. Tabula Rasa was an "AAA" game that costed over 100 million to develop, and its yet to break 100k subscribers (although its now a sick game).

From a business stand point, it makes very little sense for a MMO company to hold off releasing a game for a worldwide launch. In fact, I'm not sure ANY MMO has released Eastern and Western on the same date, ever. There's too much extra work that one side has to do and it needs a finished game to finish their work. Now tell me why a company would want to sit on a finished product when it could be earning some revenue back on it to pay for its development costs AND for the localization costs of its subordinates?

Here's a simple solution if you don't want to know what's coming: DON'T READ IT. Do you read the last chapter of a book before you read the first? Do you want your friend whose seen the movie you're about to see to tell you the ending? Why then would you want to look up spoilers for your game? Sit, wait, be patient, and then experience them for yourself.


Also, everything you're speculating is only that, speculation. You're ranting about unconfirmed, unannounced things such as F2P/B2P, Cash Shops, AND Release and all its doing is making other people read between the lines and post things like OMGWTF AION IS F2P?! Rest assured, it's not in NC Soft's business plan to **** you off.


And in reference to your slams on NC's mistakes, there are good things about them. People learn. The Aion Western teams have been hard at work translating the client even though its just finished closed beta testing. That alone should tell you they want to release it as close to Korea as possible.

[Calindor]

Originally Posted by knite16

From a business stand point, it makes very little sense for a MMO company to hold off releasing a game for a worldwide launch. In fact, I'm not sure ANY MMO has released Eastern and Western on the same date, ever. There's too much extra work that one side has to do and it needs a finished game to finish their work. Now tell me why a company would want to sit on a finished product when it could be earning some revenue back on it to pay for its development costs AND for the localization costs of its subordinates?

Here's a simple solution if you don't want to know what's coming: DON'T READ IT. Do you read the last chapter of a book before you read the first? Do you want your friend whose seen the movie you're about to see to tell you the ending? Why then would you want to look up spoilers for your game? Sit, wait, be patient, and then experience them for yourself.

Its not so much the separate release thats the problem, its how the game is treated afterwards. Do we get any say on the game when everything and all the testing has already been done prior in Korea? If we have a problem with the game will it change? Most likely not...How is NCSoft Austin going to change something in the game when the developing is being done in Korea, and they are stages/months ahead in development/new content?

Originally Posted by knite16

Also, everything you're speculating is only that, speculation. You're ranting about unconfirmed, unannounced things such as F2P/B2P, Cash Shops, AND Release and all its doing is making other people read between the lines and post things like OMGWTF AION IS F2P?! Rest assured, it's not in NC Soft's business plan to **** you off.


And in reference to your slams on NC's mistakes, there are good things about them. People learn. The Aion Western teams have been hard at work translating the client even though its just finished closed beta testing. That alone should tell you they want to release it as close to Korea as possible.

You are being naive. Another company...maybe. NCSoft, no....It seems like their business plans before were to not care about the western world. For a while I believed differently, but as of late with Aion development, I've seen no changes in the right direction. L2 is finally becoming decent again after 5 years....We still have no assurances that Aion will be bot/ebay free other than "a dedicated staff for finding and banning botters/exploiters"...yeah well L2 had that aswell. Or maybe the features where mobs get harder as you farm them, sucks for people who like grinding...doesnt suck for a bot script you can tell to run to a new area every 5 minutes.

After playing NCSoft games for the past 4-5 years, I'm inclined to believe NCSoft Seoul must get no benefits/money based on how their games are doing elsewhere in the world. Most companies who release games in different parts of the world, are still **1 company**. Blizzard for example. Are there many differences between WoW in NA, EU or Asia? When people talk about Blizzard do they mention "Blizzard USA, Blizzard EU, Blizzard Asia? L2 in Asia is practically a different game compared to NA/EU and there needs to be just 1 NCSoft.

[Kaycy]

Originally Posted by Ayase

Hello Aragros,

I think it's quite straight-foward. What it means is that we will be having Aion playable on conventions/media events/stuff like that, but there will also be opportunities to sign up and play from the comfort of your home and your own PC. You will not have to go to a media event/convention in order to try Aion before launch.

Straightforward means plain and simple, it doesn't mean elusive. "Stuff like that" and "opportunities" is not straightforward.

This is what I gather:

Are there going to be open beta: "we don't know".
How many people are going to be able to preview this?: "we don't know".
Are these places randomed or tied to a competition or..?: "we don't know".
What countries or language are these 'opportunities' in? "we don't know".
Is there going to be a trial version? "we don't know"
If there is no beta and a different release date how is the NA/EU going to have any input in the game? "we don't know"
Is it going to be P2P? "we don't know"
Will there be cash shops? "we don't know"

What do you know for a game is supposidly scheduled to be released very soon every time and makes people hold of on other purchases? You can't use a community like puppets.

Releasing no info > We don't know but lift people up into the clouds and let them smack freely into the pavement.

NCsoft projected beta dates only to afterwards tell the public there weren't going to be any. You shouldn't project things you can't substantiate. SoE can give you a crash course in that. No beta in the west and support trailing that of Korea means you create a secondary market for your product, that's fine, but you shouldn't pretend it's a primary market if you can't do a global release and global support though.

[Calindor]

Is Aion going to be P2P? "we don't know"
Is Aion going to have micro transactions? "we don't know"

Those 2 are the best, lolNCSoft.

Originally Posted by Kaycy

NCsoft projected beta dates only to afterwards tell the public there weren't going to be any. You shouldn't project things you can't substantiate. SoE can give you a crash course in that. No beta in the west and support trailing that of Korea means you create a secondary market for your product, that's fine, but you shouldn't pretend it's a primary market if you can't do a global release and global support though.

QFT

And the problem that some people might not be understanding with a non-global release, is the way they treat it, is tha Korea has the actual game, they do the testing, the feedback and are in charge of everything to do with the game. NA and the rest of the world are basically stuck with a poorly run, translated version of that game. Albeit if they can run it properly (no bots, boxing, exploits, ebaying, etc...), then it will still be worthwhile, because they actually do make good games, just dont run/model them properly. If its anything like another L2 experience (where they basically dont care what goes on here, they let people bot freely, ebay without consequence, etc...) then its going to be failsoft.

[Fleiva]

They could tell you nothing, if that makes you happier. It was your choice to follow this game at an early stage. You could have banwagoned once those questions were answered.

About the stuff you're bringing up lately, Calindor, about how NCsoft managed L2, you knew that before being interested about this game, why are you bringing it up now in a let's panic attitude? If I had those feelings I wouldn't have ever logged in on this site.

[lyankyj]

I agree with Calindor and Kaycy on that one, last week or so I posted the same thoughts.

This is crucial time for us, fans, since the game is quite close to release -in Korea- and the truth of Kaycy's "we don't know" list is just worsening our situation. Not telling us things and even complicate them is not the best way to keep gamers interested in the game. Yes, our choice whether we follow the game or not at this early stage, but their duty, their job is to keep these ppl and don't let them leave the game...well, they're not really doin a great job, eh.

These quick changes in plans are small but obvious signs that smg is not right.
Now the time for the truth is right at our doorstep, now we will see how things really are.

For me, their next two steps are critical, if they don't treat fans as they should be... if they somehow manage to destroy these two years of mine, beware the wraith of my anger and rage...or dare I say Ours..

This is not (necessarily) the Community Guys' fault, more like the groups' who is responsible for the western regions.

[Cynthe]

Originally Posted by dalin

its being developed by NCSoft Korea...

so, if the game were in development by NCSoft Canada, and the Canadian market was the first to be exposed to the client, that would be ok?

You know we should totally get an NCsoft Canada! I suggest Montreal as I'm sure you'll find some scary talented people there, or Vancouver maybe. ^_^

Yes totally off topic, but it's so gloomy here.*throws sparkles*

[Calindor]

Originally Posted by Fleiva

They could tell you nothing, if that makes you happier. It was your choice to follow this game at an early stage. You could have banwagoned once those questions were answered.

About the stuff you're bringing up lately, Calindor, about how NCsoft managed L2, you knew that before being interested about this game, why are you bringing it up now in a let's panic attitude? If I had those feelings I wouldn't have ever logged in on this site.

I've been posting those thoughts for months...Its just these recent things NCSoft has done with Aion has brough them more to life, when I had actually started to think they were going to do it right.

[Rio]

NCsoft isn't blowing us off, it seems some of you will complain no matter what news came out. If people think NCsoft is doing such a horrible job, the door has always been open for you to leave. CBT wasn't introduced in the west because it wasn't needed.

[Ayase]

Originally Posted by lyankyj

I agree with Calindor and Kaycy on that one, last week I posted the same thoughts.

This is crucial time for us, fans, since the game is quite close to release -in Korea- and the truth of Kaycy's "we don't know" list is just worsening our situation. Not telling us things and even complicate them is not the best way to keep gamers interested in the game. Yes, our choice whether we follow the game or not at this early stage, but their duty, their job is to keep these ppl and don't let them leave the game...well, they're not really doin a great job, eh.

These quick changes in plans are small but obvious signs that smg is not right.
Now the time for the truth is right at our doorstep, now we will see how things really are.

For me, their next two steps are critical, if they don't treat fans as they should be... if they somehow manage to destroy these two years of mine, beware the wraith of my anger and rage...or dare I say Ours..

This is not (necessarily) the Community Guys' fault, more like the groups' who 'work' on the western version of the game.

Well, let's see here. This is just a quick reply before I head to bed, just to clear a few things up!

There hasn't exactly been a quick 'change in plans'. We have for some time been working on a model that works for us in terms of showing the game before launch as well as gathering feedback. The Preview Events were the end result of that. Bear with us now, because we're still shaping them.

I can't give you an answer for all the things that seem to be unclear, simply because it's partly true - we don't know everything yet. It's too early to say whether we will have trial versions at launch and if so, how they would look. We are still working on the Business model and can't therefore possibly announce anything definite on that matter. I can however give you answers on some of your questions.

Is there going to be an "Open Beta"?
We won't have anything that goes by the specific name 'Open Beta' in the EU/US, but the Preview Events we are to hold next year will allow you to play the game (from home) and help us prepare for launch as well as give feedback. The game has been going through a good amount of testing already, and that in combination with the Preview Events and other future tests will ensure that Aion is a good and solid product by launch.

How will we select participants for the Preview Events?
We will be selecting players in several different ways. This is something we're looking into right now. GC2008 and PAX will be the first chances to secure slots. But there will be plenty of other ways yet to be announced. Once we are ready to expand on our plans we may also be able to give you more information on the scale of the events.

What countries or languages are the Preview Events going to be in?
The Preview Events will be available to players from the territories we support at NCE and NCA. English will definitely be supported, but I can't say yet whether French and German will also be in there.

If there is no beta, how will NA/EU players be able to have any input in the game?
As is the nature of most MMO's, development is perpetual, meaning that the importance of feedback does not stand or fall with the limited time period of 'beta testing' - a facility used to discover glitches and bugs in preparation for release. Development is ongoing and feedback will accordingly be required on an ongoing basis. The Preview Events are an excellent opportunity for us to ask for this community feedback on parts of the game and major issues, and they will also help us to stress test the servers and otherwise prepare for release day.

We know what the game is good for and can't wait to show it off to a broader audience with the help of the Preview Events. We're working frenetically to get the game entirely ready for this and as I've said before - it's a bumpy road we're travelling. It takes some time to get there. Just as Rome wasn't built over a night, neither are the preparations we are going through right now. What you can count on for sure, however, is that we will keep informing you whenever we have new things to report or if something for some reason would take a turn. That's why we're here and that's why we'll remain here.