Open Beta Announcement

[Gisli]

Press Release:

Players are now one step closer to the release of the year's biggest massively multiplayer online (MMO) game, Aion.

Within the next four weeks, NCsoft will treat North American and European gamers to two opportunities to jump into the world of Aion and explore Atreia as Asmodian or Elyos characters ahead of its release in North America on September 22 and Europe September 25. Aion's Open Beta Test featuring version 1.5 will take place September 6 - 13 and will include numerous Western enhancements, including improvements to Aion's innovative character customization with a host of Western styles, as well as new zones, instances, skills, quests and continued game balancing and improvements. Open Beta will retain a level cap for both Elyos and Asmodians characters at 30 allowing players to focus on getting to the same level so they can explore the lands of Atreia together, as well as the Abyss.

Players who have preordered Aion will be treated to a Pre-Select and a two-day Headstart period giving them the opportunity to explore, organize and progress through the game prior to the official launch. Pre-Select will take place on September 18, while Aion's Headstart will begin September 20. Players can still participate in the Aion's Pre-Select and Headstart programs by preordering (https://secure.ncsoft.com/cgi-bin/Store.pl?dnv=9027436344&action=toggleCategory&mode=&category=14&language=en) the game through several participating online and brick-and-mortar retailers, including Aiononline.com, Amazon, Best Buy, EB Games Canada, Fry's Electronics, GameStop, Steam and Target.

Unlike any MMO before it, Aion is a uniquely crafted online experience where flight offers much more than just a way to explore the landscape - it is a strategic and integral part of combat, quests, and exploration. Players will dive into battle and plunge through thousands of unique, story-driven quests, all while trying to save a world literally shattered in half from centuries of brutal conflict. Using one of the most flexible and in-depth character customization systems ever featured in an MMO, players will be able to create genuinely distinct characters and explore a visually stunning world of ethereal beauty brimming with otherworldly inhabitants, mysterious enemies, and ancient secrets.

For more information about Aion go to http://www.aiononline.com (http://www.aiononline.com/).

[Gisli]

Good, this is a step. But it leaves me with a lot of questions.

1) Who, exactly, gets to participate in Open Beta?

2) When, exactly, will the servers open up on the 6th?

3) How/when do we get the 1.5 patch?

4) What servers will be available for OB? [That could be the most important question for us, since it could influence where we finally end up.]

Will try to collect answers to these questions as I can.

[Gisli]

Brian Knox twittered about the client:

We are working on getting the client up today/tomorrow. Hopefully more news on that soon. (http://twitter.com/aion_xaen)

[Drakhon]

1) Who, exactly, gets to participate in Open Beta?

2) When, exactly, will the servers open up on the 6th?

3) How/when do we get the 1.5 patch?

4) What servers will be available for OB? [That could be the most important question for us, since it could influence where we finally end up.]

Will try to collect answers to these questions as I can.

Complete Answer
1) This is the only one I can answer in full - anybody who has pre-ordered, otherwise gained entry to at least one CBT or who acquires an OB code from whatever websites they decide to distribute them through this time.

Partial Answer
3) 1.5 will be distributed via BitTorrent, but whether it'll be something built into the patcher or if you'll have to use your own client is unknown. It's supposed to be 4-5 GB for people who have the CBT client. I suppose we'll find out today or tomorrow.

Speculative
2) Unknown, but they don't usually say until a few days before hand. Of course, the CBTs all opened at noon, so it wasn't hard to guess. OB starts on a Sunday rather than a Friday, though, so that may not be the best indicator.

4) Given that OB will have the largest pool of potential players to date, I don't see why they would have fewer servers than they did in CBT6. It's reasonable to assume they would use the same names with the potential for additions.

[Gisli]

Complete Answer
1) This is the only one I can answer in full - anybody who has pre-ordered, otherwise gained entry to at least one CBT or who acquires an OB code from whatever websites they decide to distribute them through this time.

Yes, but the $64K question is: How does someone not in CB and not preordered actually get an OB key? Lots of questions about that on the fansites right now.



2) Unknown, but they don't usually say until a few days before hand. Of course, the CBTs all opened at noon, so it wasn't hard to guess. OB starts on a Sunday rather than a Friday, though, so that may not be the best indicator.

Whatever the answer, we can speculate that it will be the same at launch.


4) Given that OB will have the largest pool of potential players to date, I don't see why they would have fewer servers than they did in CBT6. It's reasonable to assume they would use the same names with the potential for additions.

Yes. What will be interesting to know is if they add servers beyond the current announced six.

[Scarr]

I bet it will be all pre-orders will have open beta access, along with some exclusive subscriber deals like game mags and fileplanet.

[Drakhon]

Yes, but the $64K question is: How does someone not in CB and not preordered actually get an OB key? Lots of questions about that on the fansites right now.


The only real questions is "what sites will have the codes this time?". It should work just like the CB codes but in greater quantities.

[Drakhon]

Fileplanet
These require you to be a member, but not a subscriber, thus they don't require money.

CBT to OBT Update (http://www.fileplanet.com/204241/200000/fileinfo/Aion-CBT-to-OBT-Client-Patch) [~3 GB].

1.5 Full Client (http://www.fileplanet.com/201991/200000/fileinfo/Aion-Game-Client) [~9 GB].


Torrents

CBT to OBT Update (http://twitter.com/aion_ayase/status/3591198714) posted by Ayase [~3 GB].

1.5 Full Client (http://twitter.com/aion_ayase/status/3591175152) posted by Ayase [~9 GB].

[Gisli]

Any recommendations on a torrent program to use?

[Drakhon]

µTorrent (http://www.utorrent.com/)

The Beginner's Guide (http://www.utorrent.com/documentation/beginners-guide) might be helpful if you've never done this before.

[Gisli]

The problem that I keep running into is forwarding the port. But when I read the guides, it starts talking about setting a static IP address, which I'm not sure I should need to be doing. Isn't there a direct way to tell the router (I have a linksys) to let that port through?

[Fhuul]

http://portforward.com/english/routers/port_forwarding/Linksys/WRT54G/default.htm

Should be pretty much the same regardless of the version of the router you have.

-edit- Thought you were talking mumble, I missed two posts.

I've got a Linksys router and haven't had to do much to get Utorrent running. The static IP thing just makes it simpler down the road - especially if you frequently turn machines on and off, there's a chance the IPs internally get reassigned, negating any port forwarding you might have setup.

[Drakhon]

As added extra spice, FilePlanet will--in addition to distributing the client--be giving away a load of open beta keys starting on Tuesday, September 1, 2009. Get on the starting line if you do not have an eligible Aion account already! Eligible accounts include any previous closed beta participants and those who have preordered or prepurchased Aion.


Source (http://na.aiononline.com/en/news/open-beta-client-now-available-for-download.html)

Could be others too, but that's all that's official so far.

[Vasan]

So if you want in open beta and don't have an eligible account go to file planet and sign up for an free account. Sept 1st return to file planet and attempt to get a code for Aion beta. Open Beta is from the Septh 6th to 13th. Leave yourself plenty of time to download the client once you get an open beta code.

[Gisli]

I downloaded the patch overnight from File Planet, and "installed" it. When I run Aion, it says something like "You have successfully completed the patch. The patch will be applied on August 31."

So we will see what it does on Monday. :)

[Warseth]

Wow I need to get off my butt and get downloading Sept 6th-13th I can roll several classes to check them out... so that is like a pre-open beta thing?

Then sept 22nd is the actual open beta ?

Things are rolling along here I almost missed the train it seems.

[Gisli]

Sept 6-13 is open beta.

Sept 20 is head start, for all with preorders.

Sept 22 is official launch in NA.

[Haelle]

I'm downloading the 1.5 now. <does a happy dance>

[Warseth]

I'm downloading the 1.5 now. <does a happy dance>

Pounding on work desk cubicle with face.. :wallbash:
Wishing i was home DLing so I can dance to!

[Drakhon]

Sept 6-13 is open beta.

Sept 20 is head start, for all with preorders.

Sept 22 is official launch in NA.

And Sept 18 is "pre-selection" where preorders get to create their characters on their server(s) of choice, but not actually play yet.

[Gisli]

Warseth -- You only need to have everything downloaded by September 6. Anything sooner won't get you in game faster.

[Haelle]

I downloaded the patch overnight from File Planet, and "installed" it. When I run Aion, it says something like "You have successfully completed the patch. The patch will be applied on August 31."

So we will see what it does on Monday. :)

Interesting message. Mine said "cannot connect to authentication server." I'm not too worried;will check Monday or Tuesday and make sure my noobcake arse didn't forget something :p

[Athelstaine]

I am all patched and ready to go.

[craemma]

I have been getting an automatic patch, is that 1.5? Also do I need the patch from file planet to play open Beta?

[Gisli]

You can patch from the patcher, OR copy the file from FilePlanet, OR use a torrent. Its all the same patch, just use whatever is fastest or easiest for you.

[Orged]

Downloading off Fileplanet now. Two more hours to go.

[Cali]

All downloaded and ready to play

[Llyweln]

Interesting message. Mine said "cannot connect to authentication server." I'm not too worried;will check Monday or Tuesday and make sure my noobcake arse didn't forget something :p

<snicker> yes you are a noobcake.........and server is down kinda till monday so youre all set lis :P

[Orged]

I did a complete install, not having played the beta at all. After the Gameguard client installed I made it right to the login screen. Took just under 5 hours through Fileplanet.

[craemma]

I am on hour 28 thru the auto patcher!

[Fhuul]

I am on hour 28 thru the auto patcher!

Ugh... just do the fileplanet or the torrent, and let'er run!

[craemma]

Meh, then I have to go thru the trouble of signing up. Not like I can play Aion at the moment.

[Drakhon]

Don't have to sign up for the torrent. Hell, I downloaded both the update and the full client (not at the same time) and still managed to beat you patching it like that :P

[Knight_Marshal]

I have downloaded the torrent patch twice now and can't get it to do anything. It keeps saying it is either corrupt or part of another file.

[Drakhon]

Did you try a "Force Re-check" (or whatever your torrent client's equivalent is) on it?

[Drakhon]

The current state of OB Key information is that they will start handing them out on Sept 1. The only confirmed supplier is Fileplanet (and according to their site, you need a subscription which requires money), but there are supposed to be more to be announced on the 1st.

[Vasan]

The current state of OB Key information is that they will start handing them out on Sept 1. The only confirmed supplier is Fileplanet (and according to their site, you need a subscription which requires money), but there are supposed to be more to be announced on the 1st.

That would be a change then, since file planet used to just require just an account for any key based beta access.

[Drakhon]

The higher profile ones have been subscription-only, at least within the past ~5 years. I had to get one for the WoW open beta (for example), but at the time they had a $3 for the first month deal, so I didn't mind too much. Most recently, Champions was sub-only for the first couple of days.

[Knight_Marshal]

This thing must be beyond me. I just DL'd the beta patch from file planet and can't get it to open. It gives me the same error. Did anyone else use WinRar to open the files?

[Isak]

I used WinRar and didn't have any issue with the download.

[Orged]

IF you don't have Game Guard installed you will get an error. I got one but noticed a small window had opened at the top left of my screen that had Game guard downloading so I left things alone and a few minutes later I was booted to a Game Guard web page and behind that was the install for Aion itself.

Might not be the same thing happening to you.

[craemma]

I kept getting an error message and was directed to a website telling me to uninstall and reinstall. I uninstalled and I am attempting to DL from fileplanet...

[Drakhon]

Knight_Marshal: Have you tried using the zip handler built into Windows or another like 7-Zip (which everybody should have, really)?

Others: Don't worry about the GameGuard web page that pops up. It's not a problem as long as you can get through to the login screen and should be cleared up later.

[craemma]

Great, so I uninstalled for nothing!!!!!

I blame Vasan

[Gisli]

Craemma, that was GameGuard. Needless to say, never take any advice from GameGuard. They are just looking to shift the blame somewhere else, so they have this blanket directive to go reinstall whatever game GameGuard broke.

[craemma]

Same as my blanket directive to blame Vasan :D

[Trul]

I just tried to install the CB to OB patch and it said it cannot be applied until the open beta event starts, so I just cancelled the install. Has anyone been able to install the patch?

[Cali]

I went to fileplant and downloaded the whole thing in 2 hours....I also read there is a problem with the patch

[Knight_Marshal]

I got it to unpack using the windows built in extractor, though it threw me for a loop. It would show no progress and if I looked at it in task manager, it would should that it was not responding.

I finally left it going when I went to bed and it was unpacked this morning. I just finished patching.

[Trul]

If you downloaded the update to 1.5 via the NCSoft downloader it will now let you install it. 2 more days!