To the Business Team of NCwest

[Khallarion]

On 6/30/2021 at 6:09 PM, Khallarion said:

Greetings,

I would like to express my opinion and feelings towards  Aion business approach.

Keep in my this is my opinion, based on my own experience, so I would love your understanding.

 

When I first started playing Aion, around what, 12 years ago? I might say it was my first and serious mmo.

At that time, my understanding towards the mmo marketing, also my general understanding about different business approach wasn't clear.

I played Aion both in private servers, also in retail, being able to experience different methods; subscription, free to play, and now subscription again.

 

I remember focusing on the retail server after the game going free to play, and stayed from Aion 3.0 to 4.7.

Managed to do pretty much everything in the game, bought pretty much everything I liked, mastered different professions, crafted my own eternal set etc.

For me, Aion was always a matter of dedication, playing at least 6h a day was just normal, specially for a teenager.

 

When I started noticing no matter what, my ping wouldn't allow me to play properly, specially as a glass cannon, and after so many years, I decided to quit.

As stated, I kept following the different content, acquiring different sets of gear, as sorcerer, enchanting it to 10+ and so on, but no matter what, I had an horrible delay.

I couldn't properly cast my skills, neither I could compete against someone who would hit me with their 30ms, against my 250- 300ms.

 

Then moved on, playing different mmos, like Tera, Blade & Soul, Guild Wars 2, Final Fantasy and Elder Scrolls.

My understanding about mmo market started to increase, also my experience in general, which allowed me to feel Aion as one of the hardest mmos I was able to play.

Even Blade & Soul was somehow easier in comparison to the amount of grind and dedication required in Aion.

 

After moving and experiencing pay to play mmos, and comparing the subscription based mmos to Aion, I could notice Aion was abusive.

When I say abusive, I mean the game was built in order to make you waste time, so you would keep subscribing in order to achieve your goals.

While in other games, they had a different approach, in other words, they wouldn't delay your progress.

 

Not only that, but Aion, with its enchantment system also keep the player wasting their time and in-game money.

Other games have easier ways to acquire gear, focusing more on the player development rather gear improvement.

Those games allow a faster progress, without being too time-consuming.

 

Another aspect were the expansions and upgrades, since while other games had entire new zones, stories, dialogues and so on, Aion somehow had a simpler expansion.

Even though there were new systems, those systems were built for the player waste more and more resources, or invest more in their gear.

I can't even say what happened when Aion 5.0 was release, and the Archdaeva gear.

 

I could notice then Aion was a good game, but aged poorly. In other words, NCSoft seems to invest just too little in the game, expecting to exploit it at its max.

Or better, expecting to exploit their player base, with maneuvers that aren't as honest I would personally like.

In other others, the game turned into a big casino, a gacha, with dubious practices that exploit their player base.

 

Now, returning to Classic, the feeling I had was as if NCSoft was trying to make more profit with the skeleton of a 12 years old game.

Releasing content as if it was something new, with dated graphics, mechanics and still an abusive system.

Comparing to other mmos, honestly 15$ is just too expensive, for the little amount of content.

 

Not only that, but when comparing to other games, and as stated, the expansions are just to poor, with map & items re-shade.

An increasing in the gear cap in order to keep players busy grinding, because without the grind, the game wouldn't have much to offer.

But grind doesn't mean quality, it indicates lack of effort in order to bring new content, keeping people busy while exploiting their efforts.

 

In my understanding, the game would age much better if they kept this subscription base, if NSCoft wasn't so greedy and respected their player base.

In other words, you don't need gamble, you don't need tricks, or delay someone's progress in order to make the game fun and profitable.

It just shows, as stated, lack of competence in matters of not only administrating the game, but also following the new technologies and market.

 

I'm sorry, it's not my intention to offend NCSoft workers, since like me, they're dedicated people doing their job.

My intention is to criticize the abusive marketing approach NCSoft has as a company.

That's the main point here.

 

So, from what I could notice, if you aren't in a rush, Aion is very nice, very interesting and challenging.
The subscription model should have always been their main market approach, since the game was designed for that.

Daeva Pass is just optional, and not that game breaking, unless they sell pay to win stuff based on the different seasons, and accordingly player's pace/development.

 

Quna, well if you only charge for skins or things that wouldn't affect the in-game economy and character progress/development, it's fine, optional.

So, if they refine some aspects, such as selling items that would allow players to have advantage, shop items, then I might say the game has a future.

But NCSoft laziness must stop, and they should invest in the game's engine and graphics improvement, UI and so on.

 

It was really nice being able to live Aion again, and remember all my endeavors.

Not happy with 15$ for a dated game, but I can deal with that, it's just a burger I skip.

Some Quna here and there for skins it's alright, and Daeva Pass, just no, not paying for that.

 

I hope this review was able to express all my thoughts and feelings.

Again, it's not my intention to offend anyone, just make a constructive criticism.

May Aion's Light shine upon you all.

I would like to edit this topic, correct and add new stuff, but it's better to just quote it.

There're some important things I would like to add, since it might help out Aion in the future.

I do that due my love to the game, not because I like or trust NCSoft as a company.

I deeply believe NCSoft must follow more strict rules and values, respeting their player base and their own products.

This gacha and bamgling system just stain a company's image, not mentioning it's an offense to its colaborators.

A company should share elevated values and inspire people, not exploit them, abusing their trust.

But well, we don't live in a perfect world, and those practices are normal nowadays.

Companies are always seeking profit above all; values, integrity, people etc.

Even so, you don't need to follow this path in order to make money.

 

When we see why Aion isn't as popular as before, or if you compare to other mmos,

you clearly notice that NCSoft, at least in the West, isn't investing on interacting with its player base.

It through the responsibility on content creators, thus saving their time and money.

 

Our world is more connected nowadays, people want interacting with companies and content creators.
People want to know who's behind a game, and they want to share ideas, talk, discuss and so on.

If you notice, all mmos that still make success follow this approach.

 

Now talking about Aion's system, I consider it as a meditative game.

In other words, you must be almost a buddhist monk, practicing different levels of concentration in order to play Aion.

It could be so boring, that if you aren't enlightened, you would feel alone, bored, reviewing where you failed in your life.

 

Sometimes, I personally open two games, and while doing the boring stuff in Aion, I'm just having fun in other games.

Then, I forget Aion open, and it just shut down automatically, and guess what, I couldn't even notice, because I was happy playing another game.

Not only that, but I was happy sharing experiences, talking, helping others and doing lots of stuff while my character in Aion was just crafting.

 

NCSoft must seriously review and reconsider their business model, and upgrade their game system.

At least consider it based on the different public and market they have.

I can't understand why, with so many employees, nobody notice or understand that.

 

Do people who develop the game in NCSoft really plays and enjoying games?

Are they really gamers, into this world, or they're just trying to make a living?

Or worse, they're just frustrated as myself, working instead of getting aether? At least while I get aether I consider where I falied.

 

I'm sorry guys, we're all humans, but as stated, Aion make me think and review lots of things that went wrong in different aspects.

If I had the rights of the game, I'm sure I would be able to make wonders, but unfortunately, I'm just a poor guy that barely might pay 15$ a month.

Thus why, due all these misery, I just seek games that makes me happy.

 

I really hope that NCSoft consider being a better company, offering good games again.

I really hope it review its values, its proposals and so on.

Then we all might happily pay for its services.

[Guest Welfare]

16 minutes ago, Khallarion said:

I really hope that NCSoft consider being a better company, offering good games again.

I really hope it review its values, its proposals and so on.

Then we all might happily pay for its services.

For me, it's the McChicken. The best fast food sandwich. I even ask for extra McChicken sauce packets and the staff is so friendly and more than willing to oblige.

One time I asked for McChicken sauce packets and they gave me three. I said, "Wow, three for free!" and the nice friendly McDonald's worker laughed and said, "I'm going to call you 3-for-free!".

Now the staff greets me with "hey it's 3-for-free!" and ALWAYS give me three packets. It's such a fun and cool atmosphere at my local McDonald's restaurant, I go there at least 3 times a week for lunch and a large iced coffee with milk instead of cream, 1-2 times for breakfast on the weekend, and maybe once for dinner when I'm in a rush but want a great meal that is affordable, fast, and can match my daily nutritional needs.

I even dip my fries in McChicken sauce, it's delicious! What a great restaurant.

[Guest oracle]

You can discuss all you want, NC won't take any action.

It was clear they didn't see any long-term potential in Aion Classic even before it launched ( 0 advertising basically ) and the whole candy/pass stuff from day 1 minute 1 of launch.

Sad to see, but NC just proved once again they just prefer to look for the short-term cashout than actually investing into something and turning it into a long-term profit.

[Ashlayna-DN]

On 6/29/2021 at 12:10 PM, Pipum-EK said:

I believe I've outlined the main problem regarding this matter "the injection of artificial kinah", we can expect to see the same concept we see in real life when money is being generated from nothing (economic inflation).

Regarding my suggestions: I'd recommend either removing the candies/making them untradeable.

You are, of course, aware that all currency generated in a game comes "from nothing", right?  I ask this with no real opinion either way, because it doesn't matter what MMO it is, I'm always broke in 'em.  It's not like there's a solid item backing the currency, like the "gold standard".  You kill a mob, it drops stuff out of "thin air", that is either already currency, or readily convertible to currency.  The proper procedure includes ways to get that currency back out of the game, also known as sinks.  Things like Broker taxes, requiring players to purchase skill books, etc.

[Guest Steaklover27]

On 6/30/2021 at 8:31 AM, Nalariel-KT said:

I suggest we should locked out those peasants from playing the game we don't need them those poor filthy peasants in our games. We should rise basic package to 200$ each month so only noble elites can enjoying pure Aion as original developers envisioned. Those sweating labour don't need to play games they should go eat bread if they can not then let them eat cake.

Sorry but I can't really resist.

Peasants are revolting but they do have their user, we can keep them playing AS LONG THEY ARE WILLING TO BECOME VASSALS to the premium Players and do their jobs.

[Khallarion]

On 7/2/2021 at 8:34 AM, Guest oracle said:

You can discuss all you want, NC won't take any action.

It was clear they didn't see any long-term potential in Aion Classic even before it launched ( 0 advertising basically ) and the whole candy/pass stuff from day 1 minute 1 of launch.

Sad to see, but NC just proved once again they just prefer to look for the short-term cashout than actually investing into something and turning it into a long-term profit.

As stated previously, when I was a kid and started playing this game, I was an ignorant.
Then, after years playing, getting into the University, talking to other people, getting a job and so on,
I just notice Aion is a game for people to play while working.

I say that since you can pretty much automatize every action.
You might afk crafting, farming, leveling and so on, specially nowadays with so many macro keyboard/mouse.
I have those peripherals, but I honestly believe that if you need a bot in order to play the game, then it doesn't worth.

Most people I know just set up their macro, in a two monitor setup and keep doing their stuff while their game play itself.
If you remove all the grind, which is already mindless, then what the game might offer?
It's clearly a system developed to grab your money, nothing more.

NC might not, and won't change, probably, but the market will obligate then to change and adapt.
That, if they want to keep making money through games of quality.
Unfortunately, there're many ignorant people, as I was before, that waste their time, or develop a tendinitis playing games like that.