NCsoft Announce They Are Bringing Guild Wars 2 To Mac, Anyone Who Has Bought The Game Can Try Out Beta

NCsoft have announced they are bringing Guild Wars 2 to Macs, with support from ArenaNet and TransGaming. anyone who has already bought Guild Wars 2 is eligible to join in the Mac Beta. the Beta is live and running on liver servers. when the game goes live, updates will come to both the Mac and PC versions at the same time.

Press Release

NCsoft Reveal The Guild Wars 2 Collectors Edition, Announce Pre-Purchasers Get Beta Entries And More

NCsoft have revealed the Guild Wars 2 Collectors Edition. for €149.99/£129.99, this Collectors Edition comes with: 

• 25cm Statue of Rytlock Brimstone wielding his Flaming Sword.
• a Custom frame with 5 Guild Wars 2 art prints
• a 112 page making of Guild Wars 2 hardback book
• a Guild Wars 2 best of soundtrack CD
• 5 in-game items
• a collectable metal box
• Guild Wars 2 game

NCsoft have also detailed the pre-purchase program for Guild Wars 2. players who pre-purchase the game will get access to all Guild Wars 2 betas, a three day head start when the game is relased, and an exclusive Heroes Band.

Press Release

Gameforge Announce Aion Is Now A Free To Play MMO

Gameforge have announced their MMO, Aion, is now a free to play game. Gameforge have also announced that some changes have been made since the free to play beta:

Whisper function for “Starters “ (level 10+) is no longer restricted
Before: Whisper only possible to players on friendlist
Now: Whisper chat with players not on friendslist possible

Reason: With this change Starters are able to join groups which are recruiting via the Find Group feature. Starters however cannot place their own search query for a group. They only can join and respond to existing Recruit Group requests.

Gathering limit restriction for “Starter” has been raised 
Before: Players could gather 50 pieces /day
Now: Players can now gather 150 pieces /day

Reason: The new limit should help Starters with their crafting professions and leveling essence/aether tapping thus making it easier to finish gathering quests.

NPC sell limit restriction for “Starter” has been raised
Before: NPC sell limit was set to a low level
Now: NPC sell limit is raised and matches the needs of the players better

Reason: The NPC sell limit has been raised and balanced to match players’ needs better.

Gold Pack bonus “10 EXP amulets with 50% increase” has been removed from the Gold Pack
Before: Gold Pack included 10 EXP amulets with 50% EXP increase
Now: Gold Pack has no longer 10 EXP amulets with 50% EXP increase

Reason: The Gold pack has been adjusted and the EXP amulets have been removed. Instead we will plan several EXP events where all players can participate to have an equal game experience and leveling progress for everyone at the same time.

Gameforge  have also released 2 new trailers for Aion. there is a trailer for each of 2 nations in Aion. the first trailer is for Elyos and the second is for the Asmodians.



Watch Aion - Elyos Free To Play Launch Trailer in Tech & Gaming | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com


Watch Aion - Asmodaeis Free To Play Launch Trailer in Tech & Gaming | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com
Press Release

NCsoft Announce Gamers Have Less Than 48 Hours To Sign Up To The Guild Wars 2 Beta

NCsoft have announced gamers have less than 48 hours to sign up to the Guild Wars 2 beta. spaces are limited so head to https://beta.guildwars2.com/ and sign up for a Guild Wars 2 beta before 6PM 24th February.

Screenshots


Press Release

NCsoft Have Announced The Engineer Class For Guild Wars 2 And Released Screenshots And A Trailer

NCsoft have announced a new class for Guild Wars 2. The Engineer class has the use of turrets, for both healing and dealing damage, as well as back packs that give them different equipment like land mines. the trailer show in-game action of this class and the many ways their abilities can be used.


Watch Guild Wars 2 - Engineer Skill Gameplay Video in Tech & Gaming  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Screenshots

PopCap And NCsoft Announce PopCap World, An Online Social Game Service For Korea

PopCap and NCsoft have announced they are bringing PopCap World to South Korea. PopCap World is a multiplayer social game service that will come with 13 of PopCap's games that will be playable for free. these games will be built for Korean players and later on, additional optional paid premium services will be added. This announcement is just the beginning, with both making it clear that this is the start of something new that can grow and perhaps come to other countries. PopCap World is set to come out in 2010.

Press Release

SHANGHAI, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- PopCap Games, worldwide leader in casual games, today announced a deal with NCsoft, leading provider of online & MMO games, to bring PopCap's first online multiplayer social game service to Korea later this year.

The new platform, PopCap® World, is the first product to be developed and released by PopCap's Shanghai game studio and marks a major milestone for the company in terms of its global online and social strategies.

PopCap World, operated by NCsoft, will launch with 13 of PopCap's award-winning games such as Bejeweled®, Plants vs. Zombies™ and Zuma® as well as an all-new multiplayer game, Super Zuma™, built exclusively for Korean players. All of the games are free to play, with optional, premium paid elements to be added later.

James Gwertzman, PopCap's Vice President for Asia/Pacific, said:
"When Disneyland first opened, it revolutionized the amusement park industry and ushered in the era of the modern theme park. In the same way, we believe PopCap World has the potential to redefine casual games in Korea and beyond by offering players the most immersive PopCap experience yet.
"Our announcement today is just the beginning. We are very excited about our partnership with NCsoft – their formidable presence in the online market combined with PopCap's leadership in the casual and social spaces makes for an interesting recipe that we look forward to serving up to players in Korea – and beyond."

PopCap - and flagship franchise, Bejeweled - is widely regarded as a founding father of the casual games industry. Over the past 10 years, the company has solidified its reputation as a games pioneer by innovating new games genres exemplified in games such as the BAFTA-nominated, Plants vs. Zombies. PopCap is one of the few game developers/publishers that has successfully adapted itself to an ever-increasing variety of new gaming platforms and technologies.

Most recently, the company has gained notoriety for its success in the mobile and social spaces: its first iPhone game, Bejeweled 2, has been in the top 20 apps since its July 2008 launch; while the company's first social game, Bejeweled Blitz, launched in December 2008, is one of the top games on Facebook with over 4 million daily active users (DAU). As PopCap prepares to launch its second social game, Zuma Blitz, on Facebook later this month, there is palpable excitement surrounding projects on both sides of the world – and how these might eventually inform each other.

Mr. Whang, NCsoft's Vice President for Web Business Center, said
"We are thrilled to be collaborating with PopCap Games on this new project. PopCap is famous not only for the high quality of their games – they are a very talented developer – but also for appealing to an extremely wide audience. We look forward to a successful launch, and to opening up this new world of fun to both our existing Korean users, as well as a whole new audience for whom this may well be their first online game."

PopCap games have been downloaded over 1.5 billion times by players worldwide; its flagship title, Bejeweled, has sold more than 50 million units across all platforms.PopCap World will launch later in 2010 with all games localized in Korean.

About PopCap
PopCap Games (www.popcap.com) is the leading multi-platform provider of casual video games: fun, easy-to-learn, captivating games that appeal to everyone from age 6 to 106 and are available anytime, anywhere. Based in Seattle, Washington, PopCap was founded in 2000 and has a worldwide staff of more than 300 people in Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, Vancouver, B.C., Dublin, Seoul, and Shanghai. Its games have been downloaded over 1.5 billion times by consumers worldwide, and its flagship title, Bejeweled, has sold more than 50 million units across all platforms. Constantly acclaimed by consumers and critics, PopCap's games are played on the Web, social platforms, desktop computers, myriad mobile devices (cell phones, smartphones, PDAs, Pocket PCs, iPod, iPhone, iPad and more), popular game consoles (such as Xbox and DS), and in-flight entertainment systems. PopCap has been one of the most innovative companies in the video industry since its inception a decade ago. Pioneering new game mechanics, sales models, and platforms ranging from mobile devices to online and location-based games of chance, PopCap is the only video game provider in the world with leading market share across the entire spectrum.

The PopCap logo and all other trademarks used herein that are listed atwww.popcap.com/trademarks are owned by PopCap Games, Inc. or its licensors and may be registered in some countries. Other company and product names used herein may be trademarks of their respective owners and are used for the benefit of those owners.

NCsoft Announce The Assault on Balaurea Expansion For Aion Is Out Now For Free

NCsoft have announced that the Assault on Balaurea expansion for Aion is out now for free. NCsoft have released a trailer detailing many of the new features in the Expansion. They have also released a list of the new features the expansion brings, Including:

• New Instances: Aion hosts eight new instances each filled with fantastic challenges and enticing rewards. These new instances experienced at both lower and higher levels offer a range of challenges for all varieties of players ranging from solo adventures to full-on Legion raids.
• Pets: Pets are no longer only decorative. Aion redefines how MMORPGs approach pets, creating an entire new subsystem for players to explore as they acquire functional pets capable of storing goods, assisting with crafting or acting as guardians by alerting their masters to nearby enemies. Pets are acquired through in-game purchases, quest rewards, item drops, NCsoft Store, and special promotional events.
• New Zones: Players will explore the vast lands of Balaurea, the home of the Balaur, ruled by the Dragon Lord Tiamat. The Asmodians and Elyos have established fortresses in the two new zones: Gelkmaros and Inggison, each area featuring completely new environments, powerful monsters and unique flight mechanics for players to enjoy.
• Increased Level Cap: Five additional levels can be achieved. With an increased level cap of 55, characters will discover new weapons, earn new items and learn new skills as they explore the dangerous lands of Balaurea.
• Enhanced Flight Mechanics: Brand new flight options in the form of Windstreams allow characters to traverse the vast new zones of Gelkmaros and Inggison with increased speed and unlimited flight time. Windstreams have varying strengths and effects, adding a further layer of depth and strategy to Aion’s highly-acclaimed flight mechanics.
• Twitter Integration: Aion’s new Twitter feed functionality makes player bragging rights easy with its fluid integration into the game. Players can capture and Twitpic up to ten of their favorite screen shots using the updated in-game UI.

For those who don't already own the Aion game, you can purchase Aion with the Assault on Balaurea expansion digitally and at retail. Its already out in the USA, Australia, New Zealand for a MSRP of $39.99. Aion: Assault on Balaurea is set to come out in Europe on 10th September.

Press Release

SEATTLE, Washington – September 7, 2010 – Weeks away from the one-year anniversary of the Western release of Aion, the entertainment phenomenon that has captured millions of players globally, NCsoft® today released Aion: Assault on Balaurea, a free and feature-rich expansion in which players can enjoy new levels, pets, weapons, items and skills within engaging solo and multiplayer zones and instances. To celebrate Aion: Assault on Balaurea’s release, NCsoft is offering exclusive pets for a limited-time through select retailers.

Assault on Balaurea introduces the game’s passionate fans to the next exciting chapter of Aion in which characters align together to launch a massive counter assault against the invading Balaur in their homeland. Along with the ability to explore new and updated zones and instances, the expansion provides players with an increased level cap, new weapons, items and skills as well as enhanced flight mechanics. Because exploring is never fun alone, Aion introduces completely unique, functional pets equipped with in-game benefits to keep characters company along the way.

“Assault on Balaurea is more than a free expansion consisting of new and exciting game experiences for our players, but a sign of our commitment to providing players hours of fun and excitement they can’t experience anywhere else,” said Jaeho Lee, CEO NCsoft West. “With this expansion, we continue to make Aion a truly global franchise by offering customized features catering to Western audience gameplay styles, something we’ve been looking forward to bringing our players since launch.”

Consumer excitement for Aion has never been stronger as the free expansion provides Western players with an unmatched regionalized gameplay experience featuring several in-game functions that utilize the breathtaking graphics, innovative gameplay and engrossing story Aion is known for. With a massive global audience that has wowed millions of gamers in the East and West, Assault on Balaurea extends the experience with several key features, including:
• New Instances: Aion hosts eight new instances each filled with fantastic challenges and enticing rewards. These new instances experienced at both lower and higher levels offer a range of challenges for all varieties of players ranging from solo adventures to full-on Legion raids.
Pets: Pets are no longer only decorative. Aion redefines how MMORPGs approach pets, creating an entire new subsystem for players to explore as they acquire functional pets capable of storing goods, assisting with crafting or acting as guardians by alerting their masters to nearby enemies. Pets are acquired through in-game purchases, quest rewards, item drops, NCsoft Store, and special promotional events.
New Zones: Players will explore the vast lands of Balaurea, the home of the Balaur, ruled by the Dragon Lord Tiamat. The Asmodians and Elyos have established fortresses in the two new zones: Gelkmaros and Inggison, each area featuring completely new environments, powerful monsters and unique flight mechanics for players to enjoy.
Increased Level Cap: Five additional levels can be achieved. With an increased level cap of 55, characters will discover new weapons, earn new items and learn new skills as they explore the dangerous lands of Balaurea.
Enhanced Flight Mechanics: Brand new flight options in the form of Windstreams allow characters to traverse the vast new zones of Gelkmaros and Inggison with increased speed and unlimited flight time. Windstreams have varying strengths and effects, adding a further layer of depth and strategy to Aion’s highly-acclaimed flight mechanics.
Twitter Integration: Aion’s new Twitter feed functionality makes player bragging rights easy with its fluid integration into the game. Players can capture and Twitpic up to ten of their favorite screen shots using the updated in-game UI.


Aion: Assault on Balaurea is available today digitally and at retail in North America, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore (MSRP $39.99), and launches at retail this Friday, September 10th in Europe. The retail version features the exclusive premium Speckled Ailu (Panda) Pack pet along with a limited-time retailer specific pet exclusive from NCsoft Store, Amazon, Best Buy/Best Buy Canada, GameStop, QVS, Steam and Wal-Mart. In addition to the exclusive pets, the retail version comes with the full game client, expansion content and 30 days of game time.

For players looking to quickly increase their pet companions beyond in-game purchases, quest rewards and item drops, the NCsoft Store will feature an additional pets starting tomorrow.

NC Soft And ArenaNet Have Released A New Trailer For Guild Wars 2

NC Soft and ArenaNet have released a new trailer for Guild Wars 2. this trailer features alot of in-game action and artwork from Guild Wars 2. there are people narrating the trailer, describing all the new features of the game and what sets it apart from other MMO's. the main feature that is discussed is how the Guild Wars 2 world has moved away from bosses that re-spawn to a world that's persistent, where if something happens in Guild Wars 2, its effect on the landscape and towns stays. this has also been used with Characters, if you do something for a village or person, they will remember you and the way they treat you will change.

NC Soft - USA Pre-Order Of Aion Detailed, Beta Events and early Access + Limited Collectors Edition - Press Release

NC Soft have announced the pre-order bonus for Aion, their new MMO. Every Pre-order gets entry to the games Beta Events as well as early access to the servers. they also announced a special limited edition, which will feature a variety of items, of only 50,000 copies world wide.
They also announce a competition to Win a Alienware notebook and other prizes. to be entered you have to pre-order the game and take part in beta events.

Press Release

SEATTLE --(Business Wire)-- Jun 17, 2009 NCsoft®, the world's premier publisher and developer of massively multiplayer online games (MMOs), today announced the start of its preorder program and availability for the highly anticipated Western launch of Aion™, its new visually stunning fantasy MMORPG scheduled for release this fall. Players can now secure their copy by preordering the Aion Limited Collector’s Edition (only 50,000 being produced worldwide), which features a variety of exclusive items, or the standard edition featuring an exclusive SteelBook case limited to the first production run. Aion’s Western availability comes on the coattails of its phenomenal launch and success winning the Grand Awards of 2008 in Korea and setting launch participation records in China.

Players who preorder Aion receive guaranteed entry to all scheduled Aion beta events, early access to the servers at launch, exclusive in-game digital items, and special game benefits including character and server preselection privileges. Featured in-game digital items for Aion preorders include an exclusive Black Cloud Hat and Lodas' Amulet, as well as one of five different Ancient Rings of Power dependent on retail purchase location.

As a special promotion in North America, Aion preorder participants will have a chance to win an Alienware Area-51® m15x gaming notebook (US$2,324), and other great prizes such as HIS Hightech ATI Radeon™ HD video cards (US$164.99 and US$79.99) and one of ten yearly subscriptions to Aion. In order to qualify to win, players must preorder and participate in the beta events. For complete terms and conditions go to http://www.aiononline.com/preorder.
To take advantage of the special preorder promotion and secure their copy of Aion, players may visit one of several participating retailers, including GameStop, Amazon and Best Buy. For complete Aion preorder program details, visithttp://www.aiononline.com/preorder.
For more information about Aion go to http://www.aiononline.com. For more news about NCsoft, go tohttp://us.ncsoft.com/en/news/.

About NCsoft
NCsoft, headquartered in Seoul, Korea, is the world's premier publisher and developer of massively multiplayer online games, including the critically acclaimed Lineage®, Guild Wars®, and City of Heroes® franchises. NCsoft West is a division of NCsoft that holds operating responsibilities for North America, Europe, South America, and Australia/New Zealand. More information can be found at http://us.ncsoft.com.

NCsoft, the interlocking NC logo, Lineage, Guild Wars, City of Heroes, Aion, and all associated logos and designs are trademarks or registered trademarks of NCsoft Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.