Yes, it’s a big thing, to answer that nagging question, “What’s the big deal with Aion coming out on top?”, doing the rounds of your noggin. Well, if the news means nothing to you, it simply means you don’t know about the friendly competition between online games developers in China and those in Asian MMORPG capital South Korea.
I remember publishing an article on MMOtaku that detailed an escalating industry “war” between massively multiplayer online games developers in the two countries.
Here’s an excerpt from that story:
Here’s old news that’s still relevant today: Korean MMOs are losing out in China. According to …read more

Pardon me for posting this video if you’ve already seen it. I haven’t been keeping tabs on Aion: The Tower of Eternity since its teaser website made my computer crash a several months ago. So you can just imagine the wonder in my eyes when I saw this video:

The graphics of Aion looks great and the sound effects seem crisp, but I just have to go hands on to pass judgment. Knowing NCsoft, however, I’m sure disappointment will be far from my thoughts.
Now, the only hindrances are Aion’s actual release date in North America (yes, I’ll be playing on the …read more

My God! USD 14,000 for a single closed beta activation key to the world of Aion? Well, not really. The kingly sum is actually from dozens of CBT keys. How did a single player get so many Aion CBT activation keys?
Let me direct your attention to China-based online games portal 17173 for the answer:
A scandal has recently popped up in the official forum of Aion. A guild leader has revealed in a post how he managed to get over 200 closed beta activation keys and gained over RMB 100,000 (around USD 14,500) by selling them. He allegedly conned members of …read more

It’s patching time for Lineage II in Southeast Asia, and it looks like players are in for a real treat. Check out Asian Media Development Group’s official announcement on the launch of its latest patch for Lineage II Southeast Asia:
With Gracia’s arrival, it seems Lineage II has been born again. For the old timers, a whole new improved gaming vibe has been (sic) expected. As for the new bloods, the smoothness of its game play makes them hooked from start to end.
Thus, its coming swept the old face of Lineage II—whether it’s an easier way of leveling up, or getting …read more

I know I’m taking a big risk by making such a sweeping statement based on a trailer, but if EYEDENTITY Games can pull off what they’re showing in Dragon Nest previews in the actual game, then they’ve got it made.
Again, based on the trailer, Dragon Nest combines two of the most important elements of an MMORPG in today’s world: fast-paced action and stunning graphics. I better just shut up and let you watch the trailer that inspired my statement:

Now tell me that Dragon Nest isn’t set to take the throne. It really isn’t a surprise why Dragon Nest looks so …read more

If my interest in Perfect World wanes any time soon, and if the online gaming gods in my country decide to bring in another Asian-made MMORPG, I’d probably go for Aion, the latest baby of NCsoft, developer of Lineage I and Lineage II, and City of Heroes.
I kid you not when I say that I’m keeping my eye on Aion. It’s one Korean-developed game that you will continue to whet the appetite of Asia’s hundreds of thousands of MMORPG players.
Enter Atreia, the name of the game’s world, populated by humans and human-born demigods called Daevas, who are, as the fate’s …read more