NCsoft has just held a press conference to reveal upcoming updates for Aion version 2.5, which will add much new content to the game. Please note that the below content is translated using my freaking lousy Korean language + Google Translate via Game Chosun. While I am sure Aion fansites like Aion Source shall soon translate the details, here is some brief information from the press conference and what players in Aion can expect to see. By the way, the update’s title seems to be called “Call of the God”. The update will hit around late January in the Korean server, with no specific date yet.
According to the press conference video, the game will be patched throughout 2011 until version 3.0 hit in October. Version 3.0 will apparently bring in the new housing system into Aion, as well as new mounts such as the magic carpet and… dragon O_O
1. Expanded Character Customization
There will now be much more customization options for players when creating new characters. With the current options, there are already over 100million possibilities of unique characters, but this update will boost that number even higher.
2. Every action to be customizable
Players can now customize their own actions, including jumping, swimming, gliding and even running. These moves can be custmized by the new “motion cards”. Not much details on this feature was introduced and no details of how to obtain these cards were mentioned.
3. Stylish new fashion
Erm… Yeah, as you can see below, there will be more fashion costumes added to the game to bing out the vain pot in every Aion players. They can be purchased from NPCs.
4. Enhance graphics
With Aion being developed using the CryEngine 1, it is apparently getting old with CryEngine 3 games out soon. Never fear, as NCsoft has upgraded the game’s graphics. The change will not significantly bump up the game’s system requirements as it is just a optimization of the game’s graphics. Nvidia 9800 and Radeon 3850 is still the minimal card recommended.
5. New city, maps and dungeons
It will be weird for me to translate directly from Korean… So yeah, just be known that there will be new maps and areas for players to explore. By dungeons, I meant new instance 🙂
6. New helper system
A new assistant system to aid new players who just started Aion.
7. Improved map UI
Aion 2.5 will also bring in an improved UI for the map feature. Players will now be able to search for NPCs etc more conveniently!
8. Smarter pets
Pets will now have more functions to aid players, and forgive me if I am wrong, I quitted Aion some time back. Pets will be able to loot items for players, be used as an in-game alarm, aid players in production and more. Interaction features between players and their pets is also enhanced.
9. Other updates
There will be new capes, new skills, new changes to skill cooldowns, revised drop rates, new quests, changes to exsisting quests, epic Abyss equipments, new equipments, new item strengthening features and more! I am too lazy to translate every single word, so forgive me 😀
In a nutshell, there will be many more smaller content updates coming in Aion, with 2.5 a start, leading up till version 3.0 later in the year. According to a post-conference interview with NCsoft, server Vs server is still being looked at and reviewed, as it is not their top priority now. PvP imbalances are also being looked at and hopefully be patched gradually. ENough reasons to go back to the North American server? Hmn…
