Alright folks, we've finally got YouTube video linking working in HD/HQ here at AionSource.com, but there's a very specific way to do it. If you don't do it this way...your vid won't work like it's supposed to (or look like it's supposed to).

Any questions? Here's an example of me doin' it right:


Coming up next: how the bot report forums will work, how you can make the best use of them, and an open moderator position specifically for them. Hold your breath!

EDIT: Oh yeah, we're updating to vBulletin 3.8.0 Stable (not RC, not Beta) on January the 8th. Expect a little downtime. ;)

Just a quick heads-up to all you dudes using mobile devices to check these here forums: your mobile device should be autodetected by the forums and forced to use a special skin specifically designed for cellphones, smartphones, etc.. The special skin is really pared down, but it doesn't look too bad on my ancient LG CU500. Not sure how it looks on iPhones and Blackberries or whatever, let me know! This should make it much easier for you addicts to check in and post on the go.

First person to get into a car accident while surfing AionSource.com, and survives to tell the tale, gets free stuff! Go, go, go!

First off, I've activated the hidden European and North American server forums for your perusal. There's nothing in them, just a basic structure. Tell me what you think of their organization and suggest other server-specific subforums. I was thinking about adding a "Trade" subforum for each server, but then I realized there was a much better way of setting up such a feature. What I've got planned is a secret, but since Aion has an AH it may not get used very much at all. Oh well.

Second, if the current server forum structure proves stable and useful, the current "Legion Discussion" and "Recruitment" forums will be closed and archived. Please take this into consideration, all you legionmasters.

Third, I've added a "Bugs, Complaints, and Suggestions" forum to the "Aion" category. It's closed for new posts at the moment, but once Aion goes live in North America and Europe it'll be opened. As stated in its' description, I plan on heavily moderating that particular forum. If the threads created therein are blatantly unhelpful (not a bug report, not a well-described complaint, or not a sincere suggestion, etc.) then infractions and eventually bans will be handed out freely.

Fourth...hmm, I was planning on typing something up about "spotlighting" or "showcasing" one Aion fansite a week (or maybe month would be a better idea) until Aion's release, regardless of the fansite's language or function. If you're a webmaster of an Aion fansite and feel like this is a good idea, that you'd want to participate, drop me a line in this thread's comments.

I think that's it for now! :)

If all goes according to plan, 2009 will be remembered as the year Aion and a few other inventive MMOs (Jumpgate looks good to me, a Descent: Freespace fan) were released to widspread accliam and success in Europe and America. Good luck, NCsoft! You're hopefully going to need it when the servers go live, to keep the datacenters from spontaneously combusting. And good luck to you too, Aion fans! We're probably going to need all the luck we can get just to keep these forums from imploding and from any of us going into diabetic shock or having seizures when first holding the retail game box in our hands and realizing the wait is finally over, the game is about to begin. ;)

Enough about the future, though. Let's look at the past. What did we accomplish this year? AionSource.com broke 10,000 members, for starters. NCsoft went to PAX08 and GC08 and showed off Aion to thousands of people. Aion's name is better known thoughout the MMO fandom. AionSource.com now runs on Curse's servers, running/loading superfast (compared to running on shared hosting, haha). Aion survived three closed betas and one open beta and is now live, in full retail mode, in S. Korea. Of course, more than this has happened, but my memory isn't perfect. Enlighten me with you recollections of the past year!

Finally, do you have any resolutions you'd like to share with us all? Go ahead, don't be shy, say it right here in this thread! I'll start: I plan on losing ten pounds of fat and gaining five pounds of muscle. Currently I weigh between 145 lbs and 150 lbs. I also resolve to spend more time outside bikeriding like I used to and less time inside moderating your little tails. :p I also want to finish my college degree and get a real freakin' job. Alright, your turn! Past, present, future, what have you got to say for yourself?

Not coming up with anything? Here, let me help you:

How's that for divine inspiration? The three goddesses of time itself. Now go!