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End of Nations development halted
Development on End of Nations has officially stopped. Trion Worlds first halted the game in late 2013, recently telling Video Gamer it is "currently focusing the company's energy and creativity on Rift, Defiance, Trove, ArcheAge, and some new projects that we will be revealing soon." The game's website no longer resolves to any landing page and the last posts on its Facebook and Twitter pages were from August 2013, right around the time Trion Worlds shuttered its San Diego studio. At the time, the publisher opted to move development of End of Nations, along with that of Defiance and ArcheAge, to its Redwood City studio. It also named Scott Hartsman CEO of the company, who left his former role as COO of Trion Worlds in January 2013 before the appointment in August. [Image: Trion Worlds]
Trion Worlds confirms that End of Nations is on hold in favor of MMO titles
Trion Worlds has today confirmed that its MMORTS-turned-MOBA End of Nations is officially on hold. A spokesperson for the studio sent the following statement to Polygon: As we informed EON's community last fall, internal development on End of Nations was put on hold in late 2013 while we evaluated potential paths forward for the title. We're currently focusing the company's energy and creativity on Rift, Defiance, Trove, ArcheAge and some new projects that we will be revealing soon. Last summer, Trion reclaimed the game from developer Petroglyph with the intent to retool it as a MOBA. After Trion's layoffs and restructuring in August, CEO Scott Hartsman told Massively that the team was still working on and evaluating the title. The official website is no longer functioning.
Perfect Ten: Biggest MMO news stories of 2013
As the light slowly fades from 2013, we spend our final moments quaffing eggnog, putting up President's Day decorations, and reminiscing about the year that was. We stare at the past and realize that it's a mirror reflecting our own journeys through the past 12 months. We contemplate the impact of one small decision that ripples out and touches souls everywhere. And then we stop getting so maudlin and start getting excited for what 2014 has to offer. For me, I live for end-of-the-year lists. Man, I love 'em. I will devour them, drinking up everyone's opinions about what what the best what, what movies or songs I should check out, and what idiocy drives some people to write top 10 lists. Seriously, am I right? Learn to use a paragraph format, people! Well, here's my top 10 list covering the year's top stories in the MMO industry. Some are pretty obvious, some will be up for debate, and all will be in the past soon enough. So what will historians say about 2013 and online games?
Scott Hartsman on leading Trion Worlds out of the woods
It's been a rocky return for Scott Hartsman, who has rejoined the Trion Worlds fold as CEO. With End of Nations going through development hell in its final stretch, studios being shuttered left and right, employees being laid off, and a mess of unknown questions, Trion's been put through the ringer this past year and come out looking bruised. But that's the moment in the movie when the crafty manager inspires his boxer to get back in there and fight for the win -- and there are few devs more inspirational and passionate than Hartsman. The way he sees it, Trion is due for a rally. We spoke to Hartsman as he was in the second week of a two-month period of evaluation, meetings, and decision-making. Instead of sounding tired or stressed, Hartsman came across as upbeat, enthusiastic, and brimming with good things to say about his team and the studio's future. So why did Hartsman return to the Trion fold now, and what does it portend for the studio and its many titles? The full story is more interesting than you might think.
Trion Worlds: End of Nations 'not drastically changed'
The rebranding and reworking of End of Nations from an MMORTS to a MOBA was cause for concern to some players who are worried that Trion Worlds has taken a hatchet to the grand concept of the game. Executive Producer Scot Lane says that the move is for the best, as the change doesn't present a radical shift in focus. "The game hasn't changed as much as it sounds like," Lane said in an interview with RTS Guru. "We've made the game more hero-focused, and the biggest change would be tactical leveling. The addition of tactical leveling opens up lots of different strategies throughout a battle. Combat is very similar but faster, and we've made a lot of changes to the UI. We don't feel we drastically changed the game at its core[;] we brought what we felt were the best parts up to the surface and removed some stuff that wasn't working." Lane also explained why the team took out elite companies, the importance behind mods, and the increased importance of hero units.
End of Nations resumes alpha testing, boasts new MOBA features
We reported last week about End of Nations' transformation from sci-fi MMORTS to sci-fi MOBA. Now, Trion is making it official via a press release that touts a "re-engineered build" and "enhanced tactical gameplay." As of today, EoN's alpha server is back in business, with the invite-only testing build boasting "noticeably quicker and more dynamic MOBA gameplay, streamlined UI, cleaner graphics, smaller teams, and more powerful heroes," Trion says. Teams now feature two to four players, the objectives are more focused, and there's more of an emphasis on commander abilities plus four new classes. Finally, Trion has added something called "streamlined tactical leveling" that allows players to advance on the fly. You can register for an alpha or summer 2013 beta invitation via the official site link below. [Source: Trion press release] %Gallery-194008%
End of Nations rebranded as a MOBA
Trion's End of Nations, which started its life as an MMORTS, is now being called a MOBA, according to the game's website and discovered by Eurogamer. The game suffered through some layoffs late last year as developer Petroglyph handed the game over to its publisher, Trion Worlds. All's been quiet on the EoN front since then, but the changes from the original game to a MOBA seem to already be underway as shown off by five hero vehicle images on the website. If you'd like to find out more about what Trion is calling "The first MOBA RTS," head on over to the game's official site and sign up for the beta.
Enter at Your Own Rift: Goodbye Scott, hello 2.2
If I was to make a list of the top, oh, five or 10 MMO developers whom I admire, Scott Hartsman would be on there. It's not just that I appreciate that he's one of the few human beings who is shorter than I am, but that he's had a remarkable career full of accomplishments that I respect. EverQuest II and RIFT both owe a great debt to the leadership of Hartsman, which is why it was a sad shock to hear that he was leaving Trion Worlds for unknown pastures. And thus we begin a new year of RIFT, teetering between uncertainty and promise. For as severe as Hartsman's departure will be felt in the development of the game and in its community, we're also looking ahead to the title's third year of operation and a new update that looks to add even more delectable treats on top of this fantasy buffet. So today we're going to say goodbye to Scott and hello to Update 2.2 as we look at the recent state of the game post.
Enter at Your Own Rift: What the Trion layoffs mean for RIFT
It's been almost a week since we first heard about the layoffs at Trion, yet there are still more questions than answers about the depth and scope of them. How many people were let go? Were they all from the RIFT team? And why was it timed just a few months after the expansion launched? It's hard to read about the layoffs and not see it as a bad sign for the game, but there may be other factors to consider. So what does this mean for RIFT? Let's consider that question in this week's Enter at your own Rift.
Trion Worlds goes through 'workforce reduction'
It's a gloomy day for Trion Worlds, as word has come down that the independent developer is handing out pink slips to some of its staff. The studio confirmed the layoffs in an official statement: As a response to market conditions, product timelines and the natural evolution of our company, we have made some organizational changes, which include a workforce reduction. This was a difficult decision and we wish the best for those affected by these changes. At Trion, we remain focused on delivering top quality online game experiences, and are committed to supporting RIFT and launching our highly anticipated new titles Defiance, Warface, and End of Nations in 2013. Twitter was ablaze over the subject, saying that as many as 30 people were let go. One staff member wrote, "I managed to survive this time. Lots of REALLY good people got let go though." Another indicated which jobs were lost: "Not a good day. If anyone has a lead for a Sr. EQ or Assistant Lead QA job, please let me know." Trion recently brought End of Nations in-house after Petroglyph suffered its own round of layoffs. [Source: Trion Worlds press statement]
Trion Worlds taking over End of Nations development
With End of Nations' development in trouble due to mass layoffs at Petroglyph Studios, Trion Worlds has decided to step in to save the day -- or at least finish the game. The End of Nations team announced last night that the game's being brought in-house to its publisher for the final stretch of development prior to launch. "We are committed to delivering the top-notch product we know this game can be," the team wrote, "and we are looking forward to welcoming you back into the testing phase of the game to help get it there." Trion promised that it was making changes due to player feedback from the beta and has plans to make the learning curve more friendly, update the user interface, and put a nice coat of polish over the entire game.
Petroglyph lays off End of Nations developers
Petroglyph Games has laid off 30 staffers from its Las Vegas-based studio. "Well, it appears this winter break will be extended indefinitely," tweeted End of Nations designer Adam Stevens. "Layoffs at Petroglyph. Looking like I'll be leaving Las Vegas." Last week we reported on End of Nations' open beta postponement, and publisher Trion Worlds also began refunding purchases made by the MMORTS title's closed beta participants. According to Gamasutra, Petroglyph stated that it had "identified several key areas of the game which need polish and improvement," and even went so far as to remove a link to End of Nations from the company's official forums. Late last month, community manager Myell Erik noted that "End of Nations has not been cancelled," but the game's latest delay means that sci-fi real-time strategy aficionados won't see it until 2013 at the earliest.
Trion postpones End of Nations open beta 'until further notice'
This morning we received a reader tip alerting us to the fact that Trion has put the brakes on its End of Nations MMORTS. Our tipster reported that the game's open beta is on hold indefinitely and that Trion has notified closed beta customers that they'll be getting refunds. We contacted Trion to confirm, and the studio noted that it posted a blurb on Facebook last Wednesday (i.e., the day before Thanksgiving; we see what you did there!). Trion offered no further comment, but we'll keep you informed about End of Nations' fate as we learn more. [Thanks to Grim for the tip.]
Fourth and final End of Nations closed beta event starts October 4th
Trion's fourth and final End of Nations closed beta event kicks off Thursday, October 4th, at 11:00 a.m. EDT. The festivities run through Sunday, October 9th, and an NDA drop is in the cards as well. New features for the fourth beta weekend include the Full Boar map, the Panzer Hulk unit, and the 56-player Deep Freeze map. A new tutorial mode is on tap as well for those of you who might new to testing the forthcoming MMORTS. If you haven't received a beta invite yet, be sure to sign up on the game's official website. [Source: Trion press release]
Third End of Nations closed beta event starts September 7th
What's that? You were wondering when Trion was going to host its third End of Nations closed beta event? Well, wonder no more, MMORTS fans. Mark Friday, September 7th on your calendar because that's when participants can log back in and try out new features like elite companies. These are basically private armies that may be purchased and deployed for a specific purpose, according to Trion's latest press blurb. The beta event runs through Sunday, September 9th at 11:59 p.m. EDT, so you've got a full three days to kick the tires and light the fires when it comes to large-scale MMORTS action. If you don't have a beta key yet, check the Trion Facebook page and Twitter account, or purchase the Founder's Edition. [Source: Trion press release]
Gamescom 2012: Behind closed doors with Trion Worlds
Germany is crazy about MMOs. Proof of this was the Gamescom attendance of almost all major players in the genre, showing off what they had in store. Trion Worlds -- known well to fans of RIFT, Defiance, and End of Nations -- was no exception. The studio gave us a closer look at some of what it's got in store for us: RIFT's first real expansion, Storm Legion, and brand-new third-person sci-fi shooter Defiance. Jump past the break to read all about them.
Trion to stream RIFT, Defiance, and End of Nations live from PAX
If you're a RIFT fan who can't make it to PAX next weekend, we've got some good news. Trion is going to be streaming live from the show floor beginning on Friday, August 31st. The RIFT website says that "the latest in Storm Legion with interviews, playtests, and more" will be available for viewing via Trion's Twitch TV channel. Trion devs will also be accepting questions via the Twitch page, and the company will be showing its Defiance MMOFPS and its End of Nations MMORTS throughout the show.
Gamescom 2012: End of Nations trailer spotlights customization
Whether they're sporting traditional or tie-dye or polka-dots, players meeting on the battlefield in End of Nations won't have to worry about blending in with the crowd thanks to the variety of customization options available in the Armory. Trion Worlds released a trailer at Gamescom 2012 showcasing some of these available customizations in the upcoming free-to-play MMORTS. The customization in the Armory, however, goes beyond just a colorful outer shell; players also use this feature to set load outs, design and create companies, and modify units. Want different armaments? The Armory is where you get them. Check out the variety of options as well as some in-game footage in the trailer after the break. And players interested in experiencing the feature for themselves can sign up for the beta on the official site.
Trion showing off RIFT expansion, Defiance PvP at Gamescom
Gamescom is coming next week, and most major publishers are gearing up to make the trip. The latest announcement comes to us from Trion, which is showing its stable of games including RIFT, End of Nations, Defiance, and Warface. Next week's convention will mark the "consumer debut" of RIFT's Storm Legion expansion, and MMORTS End of Nations will be playable on a massive 24-PC setup. Defiance is bringing "previously unseen PvP gameplay" to the table, while Warface will be presented inside a giant helicopter-themed display arena. [Source: Trion press release]
Heroes and mercenaries do battle in End of Nations
End of Nations, the free-to-play MMORTS from Panzer General developer Petroglyph Games, is nearing launch, and the team is eager to talk about some of the special features found within. Case in point: the above dev diary outlining special hero and mercenary units. The F2P game hits later this year, but you can get a head start with a few premium content bundles that are already available.
