![]() ![]() We know to expect an influx of PvE content for high-level players, such as the Darkrane Forest quest zone, which the Aika team have discussed already. The Ashes of Betrayal expansion will raise the level cap for all players. Overall, it boils down to having a well-designed game with a carefully thought-out item shop inventory that allows for convenience and customization without dominating the game itself. We have a great deal of support on all sides for Aika, and that certainly helped us ensure fair treatment for our players during the service restriction uncertainty. We've benefited enormously from HanbitSoft's accumulated experience in overseeing the item shops of the Asian Aika servers as well as the experiences of other gPotato game teams in managing their own item shops for a Western audience. You don't ever have to spend a dollar to enjoy all the fun in the game. Many players have commented that Aika is one of the most "free" free-to-play games they've seen, since it's possible for anyone to earn the in-game gold to buy from those who use the Item Shop. Part of our strategy has included, for example, making most Item Shop items tradable for in-game gold. The Aika team has worked closely with developers HanbitSoft and JoyImpact to tailor the Item Shop's inventory and prices to Western preferences. ![]() We're very fortunate to have an item shop which offers items that can enhance the experience of playing Aika without disturbing the in-game economy or gameplay balance. What sorts of things have Aika's team done differently in the design and promotion of the Aika shop, to gain the trust of the playerbase and engage a Western audience - particularly in the wake of the European service restriction issues? Yet the reaction to Aika's cash shop was nothing like the fallout generated by other games, such as Allods. Many potential players are wary of free-to-play games because of the cash shops which inevitably fund them. However, this doesn't mean that the expansion will be an afterthought to the current version of Aika or just a couple new areas for high level players - AoB will introduce content that will greatly affect the nature of Aika's PvP, PvE, and even the way new players encounter the game. Aika, with the expansion, will still be in open beta as a whole since we'll still be working to customize and polish all aspects of the game for our player base before, during, and after the AoB launch. The game is very much still evolving, and that's why we're still in open beta.Īshes of Betrayal has been live on Asian servers for a while. Naturally, some of these changes come with their quirks and require a good deal of communication with the player community to evaluate and refine. We're still introducing core game systems and concepts which have had and will continue to have a significant impact on the way the game is played by beginners and veterans alike. Aika entered OB in mid-March, which means it'll be just about three months old when AoB comes out, which is very young for a game with the depth of play and ambitious future plans that Aika has. It is a bit unconventional to launch a major expansion while in open beta, but then again free-to-play MMORPGs are not exactly your conventional games in terms of life cycle. GPotato: First, yes, we're definitely still releasing Ashes of Betrayal on June 17th - old players and new can mark their calendars in ink, because that date is not changing. What was the rationale behind that decision? Can we take that to mean that the North American version will soon be out of beta? Will the expansion also have an open beta period, or has it been live on Asian servers for some time? Can we still expect the expansion in mid-to-late June (as previously announced)? ![]() Massively: It's a bit unorthodox to launch an expansion while your base game is still labeled as an open beta. Join Massively past the cut as gPotato previews what's in store for us in Ashes of Betrayal - and beyond! The team even mentioned a few of their planned promotional contests - do you want to win an iPad for playing Aika? Yes, yes you do. We were fortunate to land an interview with the Aika team at gPotato, who tackled such topics as Aika's perpetual beta status, the cash shop, the new Ashwood zone, the recently released Aitan Arena, the upcoming mega-dungeon, and the future of the adorably creepy fairy familiar Prans. ![]() The Ashes of Betrayal expansion is due out in North America on June 17th and promises to be packed with goodies like new class evolutions, new armor, new questing zones, new level caps, and new hotspots for relic wars. We're sure we're not alone in counting the days until Aika's impending expansion is finally upon us. ![]()
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