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 European and North American gamers to two opportunities to jump into the world of Aion and explore Atreia as Asmodian or Elyos characters ahead of its release in Europe on 25nd September and North America 22th September. Aion’s Open Beta Test featuring version 1.5 will take place 6-13th September and will include numerous Western enhancements, including improvements to Aion’s innovative character customisation 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 pre-ordered Aion will be treated to a Pre-Select and a two-day Headstart period giving them the opportunity to explore, organise and progress through the game prior to the official launch. Pre-Select will take place on 18th September, while Aion’s Headstart will begin 20th September. Players can still participate in the Aion’s Pre-Select and Headstart programs by pre-ordering the game through several participating online and brick-and-mortar retailers. For a complete list please go to www.aiononline.com.

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 customisation 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 www.aiononline.com.

NCsoft fans are in for a treat at this year’s Penny Arcade Expo. A wide variety of treats are in store for fans of NCsoft’s Aion, Guild Wars 2, and City of Heroes. Check out all of the juicy details below!

Playable builds, art books, developer chats, exclusive codes, artist signings and giveaways are a few of the activities taking place in the NCsoft booth

With Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) 2009 now in NCsoft West’s backyard following our recent Western headquarter relocation to Seattle, attendees will quickly realize we’re holding nothing back. Making quite the splash, NCsoft will host three distinct booths featuring playable content from the launch update of the most anticipated MMO of the year, Aion – recently awarded “Best Online Game” at gamescom last weekend; various activities surrounding the recent reveal of the Guild Wars 2 teaser trailer, including a Guild Wars 2 art book giveaway; and the playable City of Heroes Issue 16 “Power Spectrum” and Mission Architect build, featuring powers customization and Mission Architect enhancements on the show floor.

We invite you to come visit us at our Aion, Guild Wars 2 and City of Heroes booths to see what we have going on. Below you will find additional information regarding NCsoft PAX activities:

Come experience what all the buzz is about! The Aion booth will feature 20 gaming stations complete with the new playable content from the update 1.5, playable for the first time in North America. The launch update introduces numerous enhancements, including continued improvements to Aion’s innovative character customization now featuring a host of Western styles, as well as new zones, instances, skills, quests and continued game balancing and improvements. We will also have Aion spokespeople, including Brian Knox and Lani “Liv” Blazier, available for one-on-one interviews in the booth (#642). Additional information on Aion can be found the Aion Web site.

Hot off the world premiere of the teaser trailer in Cologne, Guild Wars 2 will be attending PAX in force. An exciting draw at the booth will be the giveaway of The Art of Guild Wars 2 – a hardbound book packed with 128 pages of eye candy by Guild War 2’s award-winning artists providing fans with a glimpse into the world of Guild Wars 2. Artists will be on site signing the book throughout the show. In addition, we’re hosting talks covering the upcoming novel The Fall of Ascalon and Q&A sessions with the Guild Wars Live Team in the booth (#842). Visit the Guild Wars Web site for additional information.

Visit the City of Heroes booth (#542) for the opportunity to get your hands on the long awaited powers customization update featured in the game’s 16th free expansion, “Power Spectrum,” before its public release. City of Heroes’ developers will be available to give hands-on tips for using the game’s Mission Architect user-generated content system, answer questions and discuss the future of the super hero MMO genre. In addition to booth activities which include giveaways and a PAX exclusive Costume Power code, the City of Heroes team invites you to their panel discussion entitled “Mission Architect: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Story,” and will host a player Meet and Greet on Saturday evening. More information on City of Heroes can be found on the City of Heroes Web site.

We have some new screenshots from NCsoft of some new content in the 1.5 patch and also a collection of cleric screenshots. If you want to see more, you can check out all of our available screenshots here!

[View with PicLens]

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