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TERA teases its political system overhaul in both the US and EU [Updated]
Gameforge has issued a press release detailing an alliance update for TERA Europe scheduled for later this month. There's a new political system in the works along with a "continent-comprehensive" PvP mode that awards winners with priority access to instanced dungeons. Players will be able to ally themselves with the Velika, the Allemantheia, or the Kaiator (and their faction-specific bonuses), as well as join in the battle for the mysterious mineral Noctenium. Gameforge has released an update-specific teaser trailer that you can view after the break. [Update: En Masse has just sent out a press release noting that the American version of the Alliance update will go live on August 13th. We've also included two exclusive screenies along with the Web Comic!]%Gallery-195706%
Blood, guild emblems and more returning to EU TERA next week
European TERA players, it's time to get your violence on. Frogster has announced that a patch coming to the game next week will herald the return of the blood detail slider, so you sadistic freaks can finally revel in the spilled blood of your enemies. In addition, the patch is bringing back the guild emblem feature, which will allow players to once again upload their own unique icons to represent their guilds. The game's chat filter is also going to see some changes, which will hopefully stop the unnecessary censorship of certain words and phrases (and in some cases, linked item names) while ensuring that inappropriate language is properly censored. Eurogamer has further information, including a few words with Frogster's community manager Lucile Le Merle, so click on through to the full story for the full details.
TERA Europe offers bonus items and skins to prepurchase customers
What with all the hullabaloo about TERA Europe's sex-and-violence-reducing changes to the game, some European players have professed to having second thoughts about whether or not to actually purchase the action-focused title. Frogster, the game's European publisher, announced today a new promotion for players who have purchased (or plan to purchase prior to launch) the European version of TERA. To get in on the promotion, players must have purchased the full version of TERA (not the mini pre-order version, which can be upgraded to the full or collector's edition) prior to the game's May 2nd launch. Any players who fall into that category will be rewarded with the Legendary Legacy item package, which includes an exclusive weapon skin for each class, plus three accessories: a pirate eye-patch, a pirate face-mask, and... a pair of horn-rimmed glasses? What is this, sexy pirate librarian cosplay? At any rate, for the full details, head on over and check out the official post at the TERA EU official site.
Frogster responds to community uproar over European TERA changes
European TERA fans have been up in arms lately due to decisions on behalf of the game's European publisher, Frogster, to remove a notable amount of the game's mature content in hopes of receiving a PEGI 12 rating. Today, the game's lead community manager, Raven, took to the forums to explain the logic behind some of these decisions and to elaborate on what players can expect moving forward. The post begins with an apology for the lack of transparency in the matter of removing the blood effect slider from the game without mention; it goes on to promise that "the gore slider will be back with the original three different graduations and blood will still be spread on the ground during combat," though it's important to note that the feature will be patched back in shortly after launch. Raven also clarifies the reasons behind some of the changes made to the childlike Elin, stating that the changes were made "not to comply with a demand from any official board, but because those characters in particular could have attracted to the game a population of unsavoury users, and it is part of [Frogster's] responsibility to protect [TERA's] younger audiences from them." As far as the changes made to other character models (such as the reduction of female breast size and some changes that made certain pieces of armor less revealing) are concerned, Raven points out that those changes are present in all versions of the game, including the Korean version, so it's not a case of the game's being censored purely for Western audiences. To get the full details and put forth your tuppence on the matter, just head on over to the official TERA EU forums.
TERA Europe closed beta weekend starts today
We've talked a lot about the American version of TERA's closed beta, but today the European client has taken center stage as Frogster kicked off its first closed beta weekend at 9:00 a.m. EST (3:00 p.m. CET) today. Testers will receive two character slots, and they'll have the opportunity to explore content up to and including level 22. Frogster is also enabling guild PvP and a new outlaw mission in the town of Velika. This weekend's test marks the start of five closed beta events leading up to TERA Europe's May 3rd release date. [Source: Frogster press release]
Frogster planning TERA Europe stress test today
Ready for another TERA Europe beta test? You're in luck because Frogster is hosting one later today (at 2:00 p.m. EST, to be exact). The Velika server is being stress-tested, and Frogster is raising the player cap in order to see what happens when large numbers of people attempt to log in at once. TERA Europe community manager Raven says that "you might experience lag or other issues" and that "this test is not intended to offer you a normal gameplay experience." If you're OK with that -- and you feel like volunteering your time -- head to the official forums to learn more (and set your alarms accordingly). If you're wondering about TERA's American client, En Masse Entertainment sent word that last night's pre-test dress rehearsal "went swimmingly."
TERA EU gearing up for second system test
TERA's European client will undergo another round of testing today at 2:00 p.m. Central Europe time. According to a post on the official boards, this is another "special functional test of [TERA's] systems," much like the one that went awry over the weekend. The testing period will run for approximately four hours, and it is open to everyone who has redeemed a sneak peek or pre-order key for the European client. TERA EU community manager Raven says that this test is actually a test, unlike the marketing beta events we've grown accustomed to in recent years. "Remember this is not a test to enjoy the game, but rather to test our server infrastructure," she writes.
Frogster releases TERA Europe pre-order and beta info, new video
Yesterday we told you about TERA's North American pre-order program and the associated closed beta dates. Today Frogster has released similar info for the European version of Arborea. Various Euro media outlets will be distributing beta keys over the next couple of days, and lucky fans will get a sneak peek at the game between 3:00 p.m. CET and midnight this Saturday and Sunday. Euro closed beta tests begin on February 17th, and you can either take your chances by registering on the game's official website, or pre-order and get guaranteed access to all five events. Pre-ordering also gives you head-start access on May 3rd, name reservation privileges, and various special items depending on your retailer of choice. The retail collector's edition features the game soundtrack, a world map, an art book, and more, and you can learn all about it at TERA's European website. Note that En Masse and Frogster are redirecting traffic based on your IP address, so if you're in America and you click on the links below, you'll be taken to the En Masse site. Before you go, click past the cut and have a look at the spiffy new pre-order trailer.
TERA producer confident that game offers something new
"If we had simply cloned a successful MMO, I think we'd have a battle on our hands, but we didn't," says TERA Europe producer Stephan Krippendorf. He's talking, of course, about the inevitable World of Warcraft comparisons that dog every new fantasy MMO (comparisons that seem particularly irrelevant given TERA's impressive visuals and divergent combat). "When you dive into the game for the first time, swing a sword, cast a spell, dodge and weave in combat, you'll be hooked," Krippendorf explains in an interview at Videogamer.com. The sit-down covers a bit about the game's action combat mechanics as well as the story elements and the endgame political system, but most of the juicy tidbits center around the title's potential success in a crowded MMO market. "I think TERA has what it takes to be a huge success though, regardless of WoW numbers," Krippendorf concludes.
TERA-Europe unveils archer and sorcerer gameplay videos
TERA's action combat system has gotten a lot of press over the months since the game's announcement, and rightly so as it looks to differentiate itself from traditional tab-target-spam-special MMO mechanics. While it sounds great on paper, particularly for melee and heavily armored types, ranged classes are a different animal. Happily, Frogster and TERA-Europe have just released a pair of new gameplay videos that show the PvE experience from the perspective of both an archer and a sorcerer. The trailers give would-be players a first-hand look at ranged DPS in the world of TERA, and highlight the fact that both classes will require a certain amount of active participation and, dare we say it, player skill. Check out both videos after the break.
TERA-Europe introduces new site with screenshots and trailer
Frogster announced last week that the company has secured publishing rights for TERA in Europe, and the Frogster team has progressed since then by getting the new TERA-Europe site up and running. It's primarily a placeholder at this point, carrying a "full website coming soon!" message, but it does bring some new goodies for fans. There are 16 screenshots that offer a nice overview of the world and of combat. The video, which is well over three minutes long, offers front-row seats to a battle with a bit of a surprise ending. Check out the newest trailer and gallery of screenshots below. %Gallery-97826%
