MOGS

Aion 2.0: Assault on Balaura Release Announced

Aion’s first expansion, Assault on Balaura was first hinted at back in May and fans of the game have been digging through the patch notes ¹ ever since, but one big question has remained unanswered until now: When?

Well, my feather-winged friends, it looks like the drop date for North American and European players will be released both digitally and boxed on September 7th, 2010. European players will see their full game boxed copies (along with the exclusive in-game pet found in the North American release) hitting store shelves on September 10th. The in-game pet found in the boxed retail version of the game will be something of a newer variety than we have seen with pet’s in the past, considering now there are “functional characteristics” added into the game, although it’s still unannounced what the exclusive pet’s functionality will actually be at this time. However, all pets will now have a unique function added, and more new pets are being added into the game.

• Decorative: Unique appearance, no game play value. Standard non-combat pets for looks (ala Warcraft)
• Alertive: Warns its master when an opposing race character approaches within a certain range.
• Productive: When you feed it, you may receive an enchantment stone, manastone, Aether, Balaur materal, ore, jewel, dye or hairpin.
• Warehouse: Owners can use a warehouse-type storage space while it is the active pet (6 slot/12 slot/18 slot/25 slot)
• Multi-type: A pet with more function.

In Aion: Assault on Balaurea, the exciting new chapter of Aion, characters have the ability to align together to launch massive counter assaults against the invading Balaur on their homeland while experiencing new and updated instances and zones, an increased level cap, new weapons and items, new skills and added flight mechanics. Characters will not be alone as they explore the new areas, as Aion introduces functional pets equipped with in-game benefits.

Unlike any MMO before it, Aion is a uniquely crafted online gaming experience where flight offers much more than just a way to gracefully explore the landscape – it is a strategic and integral part of combat, quests, and exploration. Players will use flight to dive into battle and plunge through thousands of unique, story-driven quests, all while trying to save and control a world literally shattered in half from centuries of brutal conflict. ² For more information about Aion and Aion: Assault on Balaurea go to http://www.aiononline.com.

Jason@MOGS

1. Korean PTS Initial 2.0 Patch Notes: http://powerwiki.na.aiononline.com/ ↩
2. source: http://na.aiononline.com/board/notices/view?articleID=330 ↩