MMO publisher NCsoft has banished the memories of a financially challenging 2008 with an impressive start to 2009 – net income for the quarter ending March 31st was up 315 per cent year-on-year, reaching $27m.

Operating income jumped 128 per cent at $34.3m, whilst sales hit $107.7 per cent – an increase of 51 per cent. Of that number, new MMO Aion: Tower of Eternity accounted for $34.57m.

NCsoft’s home market of Korea claimed the lion’s share of sales with a total value of $72m. Japan was next ($14.6m), followed by North America ($8.7m) and Europe ($3.2m).

“Aion has solidified its position as a new growth force without encroaching sales of the Lineage series,” CFO Jaeho Lee told Gamasutra.

“Starting with its service in China in Q2, we are ready for a successful launch of this triple-A franchise in Japan, Taiwan, North America and Europe within the second half of the year.”

NCsoft hopes to roll out Aion to other territories later this year.