Just got word from NCsoft that the Assault on Balaurea free expansion for Aion has just been released for Aion players in the US. The expansion includes new instances, pets, zones, an increased level cap, enhanced flight mechanics and more. Here's the scoop on the expansion:
BRIGHTON, UK – 7 September, 2010 -- Weeks away from the one-year anniversary of the Western release of Aion, the entertainment phenomenon that has captured millions of players globally, NCsoft® today released Aion: Assault on Balaurea, a free and feature-rich expansion in which players can enjoy new levels, pets, weapons, items and skills within engaging solo and multiplayer zones and instances. To celebrate Aion: Assault on Balaurea’s release, NCsoft is offering exclusive pets for a limited-time through select retailers.
Assault on Balaurea introduces the game’s passionate fans to the next exciting chapter of Aion in which characters align together to launch a massive counter assault against the invading Balaur in their homeland. Along with the ability to explore new and updated zones and instances, the expansion provides players with an increased level cap, new weapons, items and skills as well as enhanced flight mechanics. Because exploring is never fun alone, Aion introduces completely unique, functional pets equipped with in-game benefits to keep characters company along the way.
“Assault on Balaurea is more than a free expansion consisting of new and exciting game experiences for our players, but a sign of our commitment to providing players hours of fun and excitement they can’t experience anywhere else,” said Jaeho Lee, CEO NCsoft West. “With this expansion, we continue to make Aion a truly global franchise by offering customised features catering to Western audience gameplay styles, something we’ve been looking forward to bringing our players since launch.”
Consumer excitement for Aion has never been stronger as the free expansion provides Western players with an unmatched regionalised gameplay experience featuring several in-game functions that utilise the breathtaking graphics, innovative gameplay and engrossing story Aion is known for. With a massive global audience that has wowed millions of gamers in the East and West, Assault on Balaurea extends the experience with several key features, including:
New Instances: Aion hosts eight new instances each filled with fantastic challenges and enticing rewards. These new instances experienced at both lower and higher levels offer a range of challenges for all varieties of players ranging from solo adventures to full-on Legion raids.
Pets: Pets are no longer only decorative. Aion redefines how MMORPGs approach pets, creating an entire new subsystem for players to explore as they acquire functional pets capable of storing goods, assisting with crafting or acting as guardians by alerting their masters to nearby enemies. Pets are acquired through in-game purchases, quest rewards, item drops, NCsoft Store, and special promotional events.
New Zones: Players will explore the vast lands of Balaurea, the home of the Balaur, ruled by the Dragon Lord Tiamat. The Asmodians and Elyos have established fortresses in the two new zones: Gelkmaros and Inggison, each area featuring completely new environments, powerful monsters and unique flight mechanics for players to enjoy.
Increased Level Cap: Five additional levels can be achieved. With an increased level cap of 55, characters will discover new weapons, earn new items and learn new skills as they explore the dangerous lands of Balaurea.
Enhanced Flight Mechanics: Brand new flight options in the form of Windstreams allow characters to traverse the vast new zones of Gelkmaros and Inggison with increased speed and unlimited flight time. Windstreams have varying strengths and effects, adding a further layer of depth and strategy to Aion’s highly-acclaimed flight mechanics.
Twitter Integration: Aion’s new Twitter feed functionality makes player bragging rights easy with its fluid integration into the game. Players can capture and Twitpic up to ten of their favorite screen shots using the updated in-game UI.
Aion: Assault on Balaurea is available today in North America, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, and launches at retail this Friday, 10th September in Europe (SRP €29.99). The retail version features the exclusive premium Speckled Ailu (Panda) Pack pet along with a limited-time retailer specific pet exclusive from NCsoft Store, Amazon (France/Germany), GameStop (Germany), 4u2play (Germany), Fnac (France), Gamemania (Benelux), Game (UK), BT Games (South Africa), Steam and DL Gamer (Europe). In addition to the exclusive pets, the retail version comes with the full game client, expansion content and 30 days of game time.
For players looking to quickly increase their pet companions beyond in-game purchases, quest rewards and item drops, the NCsoft Store will feature an additional seven pets starting tomorrow.
For more information about Aion and Assault on Balaurea, go to www.aiononline.com.
Wow, well this is a new concept. There's a new MMO coming out that features characters from the Bible such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and most importantly, Asser, some 9th-10th Century Welsh monk that wrote the Life of Alfred. You know Alfred the Great, that Anglo-Saxon King that beat back the Viking hordes for the last time in Anglo-Saxon history. Yeah, that one. Keturah, Abraham's post-Sarah squeeze also plays a role in the game, although what that is remains to be seen. Sadly, I can't play the game myself on my open port college internet connection, but you can play the TBO Beta and check out the press release for more information.
Siegburg, Germany – September 6, 2010
Online game publisher FiAA GmbH announces the beta release of their new browser based online game, ‘The Bible Online’ or TBO. This is the first browser game based on the world view and scenarios from the Bible.
The Bible Online: Chapter 1 – The Heroes is a browser game with mixed elements of RTS and MMORPG. As the leader of their tribe, players have to construct their villages, manage resources and the budget. At the same time, players must protect their tribe from the pagans and also from other tribes. The game provides an alliance system, through which players can establish alliance for their common interest to protect themselves. Playing the role of Abraham his descendants, players also lead their tribe and raise heroes through hunting and gathering experiences.
In this first chapter, Heroes, players have the opportunity to reenact and witness the incidents of the Book of Genesis. “The Bible Online” does not only use the Bible as the timely background, but focuses to integrate the stories of the Bible as much as possible. The quests are designed for players to follow the historical events of the Bible. In the temple, the players get the chance to actually read and type the passages of the Book of Genesis, which leads to increase of their ‘faith,’ which is one of the attributes of the players.
According to the Book of Genesis, Abraham is the founding patriarch of the Israelites, Ishmaelites, Edomites, and the Midianites and kindred peoples. In the Christianity, Abraham is considered as the ancestor of faith, the spiritual hero. There are 3 quests prepared for the players to play the hero.
First the Quest Ur is designed for the players learn how to build buildings, go hunting, gather resources and lead the tribe. In the next quest, Haran, the players will be focused on engaging in military activities. The final Quest Canaan will allow the users to experience actual stories of the Bible by fulfilling exciting quests. For example, there is a quest for Abraham to lead 318 men to rescue his nephew Lot. Through these quests from Ur to Haran to Canaan, the users will be naturally invited to the world of the Bible.
Dr. Alan Kim, president of FiAA GmbH says, “The Bible Online is developed for players of all ages to easily get closer to the Bible, while enjoying the game. The Beta starts on September 6th and the official service will start during September. Initially, we will provide the service in English and German and we plan to service the game in most of the European languages by the end of the year. We will also develop following chapters to cover all the stories of the Bible.”
Key features of - Browser Game (MMORTS/ MMORPG) - RTS: build villages and develop tribes, raise military - RPG: raise character - Quests according to the stories of the Genesis - Chat system - Birth Right system: Abraham to Isaac to Jacob - Compatible to all browsers: Firefox, Internet Explorer 8, Google Chrome, Safari
Square-Enix has released a trailer from their upcoming Wakfu MMORPG developed by Ankama Games.
The story of Wakfu takes place a long time after that of DOFUS. An ogre named Ogrest gathered all the six Dofus and gained boundless powers. The ogre offered his beloved the dragon eggs. But she turned down the present though worthy of the gods themselves, and Ogrest started shedding tears of rage and pique. The tears of the ogre made the ocean level increase so much that parts of the World are now submerged to the inhabitants' great displeasure. Now gods and heroes of the World are starting a new adventure before reaching Ogrest and confront him in an ultimate fight!
Pixelpickle Games is currently developing Lylian a 2D side scrolling action game where you control Lylian's imagination which can change the world and it's inhabitants. With unique attack abilities, humorous enemies and original bosses, the game is a mix of fast action set by a storyline with great pacing in stylised rendered environments - It brings something fresh to the genre. Lylian will feature a 4 player co-cop mode as well in later episodes. willPixelPickle Games has recently released a teaser trailer for Episode One which you can view below.
Lylian looks like one of those "WTF" games, like LIMBO, which is definitely not a bad thing and Lylian has called my name, (Creepy), So I will defintely be keeping my eyes on this one. You can also follow Lylian via facebook.
Everyone one under the age of 100 loves LEGOs. Throughout the years we have seen tons of LEGO games, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Batman, and Indiana Jones to name a few. Today, The LEGO Group announced that LEGO Universe has gone gold, means that is has surpassed quality standards and is being prepped for mass production.
LEGO Universe is the first MMOG to be based on the LEGO play experience. Check out the two videos below, one is the LEGO Universe trailer and the bottom one is of the LEGO Universe Mini games.
In the upcoming MMOG, the chaotic Maelstrom threatens to destroy all Imagination in the Universe! Only a courageous team of heroes, the Nexus Force, stands in its way, but they desperately need your help. Brand-new screenshots released this week at PAX take you even further into the game’s backstory – the Maelstrom’s darkness is spreading across LEGO Universe as enemy Stromlings battle the Nexus Force in the deepest corners of Forbidden Valley and beyond.
LEGO Universe is set to be released in the US on October 26th, 2010 and will be available for PC and Mac. LEGO Universe is rated E10+.
