Aion ready for takeoff

NCsoft launched its massively multiplayer online role-playing game Aion: Tower of Eternity in Asia last year, and the title paid immediate dividends, leading to consecutive quarterly revenue spikes of 51 percent and 70 percent. The South Korean publisher will soon find out if the game's appeal spans the world, as today NCsoft announced that Aion has gone gold in preparation for its September North American and European launches.

A story-driven MMORPG, Aion presents a conflict between two ancient races who have only recently reestablished contact with one another. One of the game's distinguishing characteristics is the importance of flight, which NCsoft promises will impact combat and quests as much as exploration.

The game will launch in North America on September 22, while Europeans can get their hands on it starting September 25. NCsoft claims the game's closed beta testing--which was tied into a preorder promotion--has already seen users collectively log 3 million hours of play time.

For more information, check out GameSpot's previous coverage of Aion: Tower of Eternity.