Anarchy Online is one of the longest-running sci-fi MMORPGs on the Internet. There are many reasons for its ongoing success, including above average customer service and a willingness to try things that are truly innovative. Like all mature MMORPGs, AO has changed quite dramatically since its release through a constant process of bug fixes, tweaks, added features, and, of course, expansions. The first full expansion was Shadowlands, which opened up a large linear adventure for players to advance through.
By contrast, the only new area in Alien Invasion is a reworked newbie zone, which now ties the invasion into the introductory experience for new characters. The heart of the AI expansion is the ability for organizations (guilds) to build their own cities. This is done by laying claim to one of the many "controllers" now scattered throughout the land and purchasing buildings, which can then be placed and maintained through a specially designed city construction interface.
Changing the Skyline
Available buildings include everything from guard towers to swimming pools. Many of these structures are quite large and look impressive even from a distance. Each serves a specific purpose, and some have interiors which can be used for parties, crafting bonuses, player vs. player combat practice, and more. Although organizations can create their own city layouts, you will find that the limited variety of buildings does tend to result in player cities that look a lot alike.
Player cities are also the focal point for alien attacks, and once a city is built the aliens will regularly descend upon it to kick some butt. If you can afford a cloaking device for your city, you can reduce the frequency of the attacks, or instigate an attack by turning the device off. The strength of the alien forces is determined by the strength of the players that are defending the city. This makes it possible for even low-level characters to help push back the alien threat, and fits in nicely with the "content on demand" system which AO more or less invented.
It should be noted, however, that this expansion is aimed primarily at existing players with high-level characters which belong to organizations that can afford the steep cost of building and maintaining a city. While the alien spawn will scale to the group, there is no guarantee that high-level aliens won't pick on low-level players, and vis versa, so it works best when you're in a group that is roughly your level. This does encourage socializing in the game, but if you're just starting out or you want to solo, don't bother with AI; stick with the old world or get Shadowlands.
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