Wings Over Atreia: The bittersweet reality of Aion's Fast Track

 
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I called it!

Way back in the far recesses of time (also known as last summer), we learned about a major change heading to Aion with the 3.1 patch: the Fast Track server. Although I could certainly see the benefits of a PvP-free leveling zone that heaped XP upon players even more than before, I also questioned whether such a move would herald the untimely death of the corresponding areas on the main servers.

Fast forward to the pre-spring of 2013, by which time Deavas have had time to acclimate to the new feature, stretching their level-55-or-under wings on the Fast track server if they were so inclined. So what's the consensus? Is it all that and a bag of dado chips, or has the game lost a part of that special something that made Aion, Aion? In my opinion, there's enough of the latter to call the Fast Track server a mixed blessing.

First a disclaimer: As I don't have enough character slots (*hint hint NCsoft!*) or accounts to roam through every faction on every server, my observations are largely confined to the two servers I play, one as Asmodian and one as Elyos. And even between the two servers, I see a disparity in the effects of the Fast Track server, so your server may have a slightly different experience than noted here.

Looking on the bright side
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Trumpeted as a way for folks to get things done without the threat of being hounded and killed by enemy forces, the Fast Track really did meet this goal; nary an enemy interrupts your questing while over in these protected lands. But what about another hopeful result -- has it been a boon to the population, enticing and keeping new players as they navigate the wilds of Atreia?

I definitely can't give any hard numbers here, but just last week I grouped with someone who indicated that the particular dungeon we were starting was the very first he'd ever been to in Aion. I still run across players who are obviously less familiar with the game, so I know new players exist and are utilizing the Fast Track server. If group offerings are any indication, I might even venture to say that the Asmodian side is bustling with new folks, but that could also just be a flood of alts using the server as a springboard to reach max-level as fast as possible. Buy Aion Gold

There were definitely plenty of groups to be had on the Fast Track server, at least for Asmos. The Elyos side? Not so much. When searching for a group in Asmodae, I actually had to scroll to see all the available offerings! One of the greatest benefits of this server is the fact that everyone from all the different servers congregates in one, expanding the pool of available groupmates. If you can't find enough people to run Fire Temple or Nochsana Training Camp with you on your home server, just pop on over to Fast Track and chances are you will find yourself a posse. (Point of note: Even though the NTC is in the Abyss, which is not a part of the combined server, you can access this dungeon via an NPC standing in the fortress in Morheim or Eltnen)

Sadly, my experience has been that the Elyos have had much fewer offerings on the Fast Track each time I have checked. Then again, I did find groups on my regular server, so maybe the combined server is just used less frequently by the light-winged of some servers.
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Dark side of the server

So while I'll be the first to admit that the introduction of the new server has not been all bad, it hasn't been without consequences. As much as this feature has brought to Aion, it's also taken some things away, things that we can't get back now. It also heralded, in my opinion, a bit of a philosophical change for the game.

What's been lost? On at least one server, groups simply cannot be found to do any content; those NTC and FT groups that abounded on Fast Track were glaringly absent on the regular server. While searching for some folks to party with, I was advised to just switch over to the Fast Track. But the point was I didn't want to switch; I wanted to play on the regular servers. Sadly, the lower-level zones on home servers have become a bit like ghost towns.

Why would I prefer the regular servers? Because part of what I loved about Aion -- and what I feel made it special -- was that sense of danger I experienced while playing. You had to be looking over your shoulder lest an enemy sneak up on you! It's not that those pesky red dots always swarmed and crashed your hunting party, but just the chance that it could happen at any time was one of the key elements of the game. You had to pay attention or suffer the consequences. On the Fast Track, there is no such feeling. Aion Items
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The sense of accomplishment for completing tasks despite the danger and difficulties is also missing. The chance of happening upon an enemy and engaging in a good fight is stripped away, as is the chance to bump into enemies and engage in amusing pseudo-conversations. The memories of conquering despite the odds, escaping by the skin of your teeth, or even losing spectacularly are not possible. Sure, those can be had at endgame, but who the heck wants to wait until then to enjoy an integral aspect of the game? Frankly, I find the combined server dull and use it as little as possible. Unfortunately, I am forced to if I want to find groups to complete certain tasks or dungeons.

While I agree that easing a harsh level grind is certainly not a bad thing, I hate that the game seems to be ever-spiraling toward satisfying the whims of the instant gratification crowd. When will the influx of easy buttons stop? What's wrong with enjoying the game as you go; why does it have to be about getting to the end now now now before you can really start "playing"? The Fast Track server sends the message, whether intended or not, that any content below the max levels is basically just something that must be temporarily endured until you make it to the "real" game. When introducing the Fast Track server (and even before that when offering double XP before other major expansions), NCsoft noted that it wanted folks to be able to get to the new content faster so they don't miss out. Who says playing below max level is missing out?!

Personally, I totally disagree with this philosophy. The world of Atreia is beautiful, and the stories and quips throughout the quest lines are worth experiencing. So why rush through and lose such a huge part of the game? Daevas who barrel through really cheat themselves out of the full experience. They also have fewer ties to the game, especially those bonds forged through sharing experiences. Heck, they curtail their chances of even having experiences, period! And let's not forget that fewer ties make it easier to walk away.

At least this aspect could have been avoided had the Fast Track server just focused on its role of bringing people together for groups and left off the XP bonus. I am all for having more folks to do things with, but it didn't have to be at the expense of content. What do you think? Has the Fast Track server been a boon or bane to the game? Or has it not made a difference one way or the other? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

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Join the Premier Club – Now Available until February 4th

There’s still time to join the Premier Club to ensure you don’t miss out on any of the amazing members’ updates in 2013!

Entry to the Premier Club was originally due to end at the close of January. However, due to popular demand, this period has been extended until Monday, 4th February 2013. Epic new quests, skills and bosses are set to land in RuneScape this year and choosing one of the three Premier Club packages will ensure you don’t miss out. sell cheap runescape gold

Choose the Gold package and you’ll receive:
1.12 months RuneScape membership.
2.10% discount in Solomon’s General Store.
3.An extra daily Squeal of Fortune spin (for a total of three).
4.Paladin armour and helmet, sword and shield.
5.Priority access to all RuneScape closed betas in 2013.
6.2000 RuneCoins.
7.A range of special cosmetic items.
8.Entry into a prize draw to win a trip for two to Jagex HQ (Cambridge, UK)*.
9.Quarterly Premier Club newsletter, packed with information and offers.
10.Terms and Conditions apply. sell rs cheap powerleveling

Entry to the Premier Club is open until Monday, 4th February 2013 23:59 (GMT). To join and find full details of all three packages, click here.

Any additional questions? Be sure to check out our Premier Club FAQ.
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Aion 3.5 finally lands on EU servers today

   While North American Daevas have been enjoying all the goodies that came with Aion 3.5 since last October, folks across the pond had to continue to wait for their turn. Now, though, the wait is finally over as Gameforge has released patch 3.5 on the European servers. EU Daevas can get their PvP on in new arenas, enjoy special legion quests (along with a legion level cap increase to eight), and dive into new dungeons like Tiamat's Stronghold. Players wanting a break from the adventuring side of life can take part in the new village improvement process to get new housing designs and add NPCs to the neighborhood.

   Get a glimpse of Tiamat as she awaits you in the trailer after the break, then hop in game to face her for yourself!Cheap Aion Kina world of warcraft gold

Why RuneScape has a Future...

     

     Between all the negativity and other screams of, "See, this is why RS will be dead in a year!" I thought it was high time to take a different look and provide something of a counter-argument.

     What is one of the most common complaints? Well, besides yet another training spot being swarmed by bots, it's always been that some recent update has ruined some aspect of the game, or some evidence of Jagex being in serious trouble.

     But the same updates that ruin the lives of so many shut-ins also bring back people who quit long ago. Most people who subscribe to RuneScape (about 1.3 million now) have invested enough time in it, and made enough progress with their characters to check back with the game after a while.

    The EoC is a perfect example of this. Many people couldn't adjust to the new combat system and either quit, or stopped using combat altogether, something that is now painfully visible in the PvP clan world. But others liked it enough to return to RuneScape, sometimes helped by the fact that this combat system is more like the ones seen in similar games like World of Warcraft.

   While you can definitely point out the more destructive updates when looking back, it's hard to say if it had any significant impact on the game at all. Subscriber numbers occasionally dip but the general trend is still upwards.

   So people keep coming back to this game, but are the updates the only reason? Most games you will eventually complete. Sure, RuneScape is always changing, and there is something new to do almost every week. But is that all?

   Some people take it for granted these days, but saving your progress is done automatically. Even when X-ing out, whatever you did last (provided you're not about to be mauled to death) and wherever you did it is what you'll find next time you start playing. And you can start playing from the other side of the world without the need for an elaborate installation process.

   Yes, other games have that too, but RuneScape is a little more elaborate than Angry Birds.  sell  rs cheap powerleveling

   Sadly, RuneScape is still missing a vital element that the previously mentioned games do have. World of Warcraft and Angry Birds are mainstream enough that you can talk about it at parties without looking like a massive awkward idiot. But how many times have you gone red-faced when someone asked you what you were doing with all those hours spent online? Or did you just lie about it?

   I wonder what would happen if RuneScape was advertised during the evening news, rather than just on Cartoon Network. Or if they got someone to plug RS that HASN'T already been employed by Blizzard. Seriously, the list is endless, and it looks like they hired every single reject from the first Expendables movie.

   While 10 million subscribers is probably Mark Gerhard's wet dream, judging how people spend their money these days, I think that the F2P worlds would see the most traffic increase. But all it takes is for RuneScape to be mentioned once in the next viral music video of Gangnam Style proportions for the servers to be unreachable for a week.

   Speaking of reachability, isn't it annoying that you have to fire up your laptop before you can log in to spin the Squeal?

   Last we heard from MMG, he was "... happy to report that we also have a dedicated Future Tech team working on bringing the game to your favourite tablets, platforms and even smart TVs in due course..."


   Playing RS on my smartphone.
   Say what you want about the competition, but World of Warcraft, Skyrim, League of Legends, Guild Wars, you name it. None of those games are actually working on getting their stuff off of your computer, and on to your TV and hand held devices. They are investigating it, sure. But in business terms that means nothing but procrastination.  Buy Runescape Items

   In the end, none of this should come as a surprise to any of you. Anyone who's played RuneScape long enough knows that the game will always be there for them when they feel like playing it. The twist is this time is not about whether or not you are still playing "your" RuneScape, it is about HOW you will be playing RuneScape.

   Happy New Year, everyone. May 2013 guide you to calmer waters.

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Guild Wars 2's Wintersday is Here

    It's finally here! Oh joy, Wintersday is here! The snow machines have begun to cover the ground with snow, the presents are out, and the candy canes are ready for eating! ArenaNet has kicked off the huge holiday event in the world of Guild Wars 2, and it's been a blast.

    Much like the Halloween event in October, ArenaNet has changed the face of Lion's Arch to fit the holiday feel. The ground is covered with snow, and presents are laying around at every corner. Players are also sporting a nice new look, with a town outfit that would keep anyone warm in the cold. Other players are showing of their brand new Wintersday weapon skins, which can now be purchased separately. This is a very welcomed change, but I do wonder if 200 gems are a bit much for a single weapon skin. But at least you now have a chance to get exactly what you want without having to go through hundreds of random loot boxes. Some players are even finding their desired weapon skins in their gifts.（1）

    It would seem that a new jumping puzzle will indeed be introduced for each holiday. Wintersday throws players into the mystic forge, which is now a huge snow globe, for them to test their jumping abilities. Players must jump on snow flakes, candy canes, and exploding presents over a snowy forest to reach their goal. The pressure is on as the snow flakes begin to melt, and your health slowly drops.

   It seems that the puzzle would be easier than the Mad King's Clock Tower, and it is. You aren't in nearly as much of a rush, and most of the jumping surfaces are pretty big. ArenaNet also split the players up a bit, by taking a large group, and sending them on 3 separate paths. All the paths do connect at the half way point, but the first time jumpers will have fallen by then, so large groups aren't that big of a problem this time around.（2） buy or sell GW2 items

    Another welcomed change was in the waiting area itself. Piles of snowballs offered you a chance to take out your frustrations by beaming snowballs at other players. It keeps you occupied enough ‘til it’s time to start jumping again. Overall it's a vast improvement from the Clock Tower. It only took me 7 tries to conquer it. I'd say all those years of playing Mario games have paid off.

   ArenaNet threw in a really nice PVP map, and it's just what I wanted! Players are placed into two teams, and forced to fight over gifts, armed with only the snow. You can pick between a number of skill sets. I went with a support set, allowing me to construct snow wall barriers. I could also freeze the ground beneath the enemy's feet, watching them slip and fall on their butts. My favorite skill had to be the ability to turn my character into a huge snowball rolling around trampling other players, bringing chaos to their ordered tactical strikes. I wish real snowball fights were this much fun.（3） cheapest dekaron dil  cheap wow gold

    A big item on my Wintersday wish list was to play through a Wintersday themed dungeon. Tixx is an amazing toy maker, but he needs help. A large group of Skritt decided to be a bunch of Grentchs, and ruin Wintersday. Players have to help keep the Skritt threat under control. And just when you think your job is done, the toys themselves start to get a bit glitchy. The dungeon is pretty basic, taking place all in one room, giving players numerous tasks to complete in order to keep operations running smoothly.

   ArenaNet has posted a schedule for when and where Tixx will visit, and so far it seems he will be visiting a major city everyday until 20th, where he will remain at Lion's Arch until the 3rd of January. When he visits a new city it adds tasks in the dungeon. Based on the new tasks, you get rewards to build yourself a new toy. For example, let's say one day you help paint some princess dolls. After completing the dungeon, you're rewarded with parts to help you build a princess doll. What’s Wintersday without toys?  Cheap Ragnarok Online2 Zeny     Ragnarok Online 2's

   I feel like every wish on my Wintersday list has been granted. It’s only been 3 days into the event and there’s still much more fun to be had. If you haven’t yet, get your friends together, and some may be able to get family members as well, and join in on the holiday festivities. The holidays are always better with others. What do you think of Guild Wars 2's second holiday event so far? Are you enjoying the fact that it's much more available at ranging times of day? Let us know in the comments!