So enamoured have I been from watching video's of Aion - Tower of Eternity on YouTube and tracking down information from various sources over the past week, that at the end of last week I pre-ordered the game from Amazon UK. As opposed to the multitude of other CE versions of games that get released with reckless abandon, the CE of Aion actually looks like it contains some decent out of game and in game gear. Sadly, although listing the CE edition, Amazon UK havent deigned to apply a price against it yet and so I had to resort to pressing the "Please advise me by e-mail when you've got your finger out of your arse" button.

As we probably all know, NCsoft has had the game released in Korea, China, Japan, Turkmenistan, Principality of Ug, whatever for the past hundred years. Therefore they dont really need to run the traditional beta testing events as we know them. However translation and a few things obviously need looking at and so there have been scheduled events for those who have a beta key - available when you pre-order the game - over the past few weekends. Desperate to get into an event, I had to resort to buying the standard version of the game.

With a certain degree of jizzyness I was glad to see that Amazon have sent me the beta key this morning in my e-mail. Following a link, I found a bit of info in case anyone is interested. I knew that I'd missed soem events, but had thought this was the last one coming up. Not so my young paddyman.

Planned Beta Event Dates (subject to change):
Closed Beta Event #3 - July 2nd-July 6th (Order by Sunday the 28th of June to receive a code)

Closed Beta Event #4 - July 17th-July 20th (Order by Sunday the 12th of July to receive a code)

Closed Beta Event #5 - July 31st-August 3rd (Order by Sunday the 26th of July to receive a code)

Closed Beta Event #6 - August 14th-August 17th (Order by Sunday the 9th of August to receive a code)

So another two events coming after this weekend. WOOOT

I have already joined a Legion called Absolution (aka Guild / Corp) of like minded European players of aged dispositions who couldnt give a flying fart about standings, honour, etc and just want to play for the sake of enjoyment. My chosen character is already decided - female Ranger. Hopefully my chosen name "Shrike" will be available. Its amazing how many people have read the book "Shrike - Last of the Zinja" as its quite an old one even though its truly exceptional in my list of completed books.

So tonight when I get home I can download the game ready for next weekend. My only problem is that Mrs Chunder has the weekend off work and wants to go out to a crappy craft fair on Sunday - which is also my birthday. Now looking at the quality of the graphics and the depth of the character customisation screen I'm quite likely to not actually get into the game until Sunday.

I know its only a beta, but sometimes choosing nice features is almost as important as playing. If you decide you dont like the character you have to look at all the time then Ive found you end up disliking playing. I deliberately made a character called "Frankenminer" who looked similar to Frankenstien in EvE once. I was dead chuffed at my ingenuity. After 4 months of playing him I had to delete him as he was too bloody ugly for me to look at.

So anyone interested in Aion?