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Trion hires executives for overseas operations
Many RIFT and Trion-related comment threads (likely to include this one) are filled with speculation about how the company will fail if it doesn't take its fantasy MMORPG down the free-to-play path trod by many of its competitors. Meanwhile, the company keeps expanding, with the latest batch of good news centering on new hirings for Trion's overseas operations. According to Gamasutra, the firm recently signed Johnathan Goddard as its new head of European PR. Also joining the team is Jeff Pabst as the new European commerce director. Rounding out the trio is new End of Nations brand director Simon Bull. The company recently announced that it had raised a truckload of venture capital and that it may file for an IPO.
Trion unveils new RIFT Rogue trailer
It's been a while since we've seen a class video from Trion, but today the drought is over thanks to the spiffy new RIFT Rogue trailer. The two-minute clip mixes in-game footage with title screens showing the various permutations of the Rogue's soul system, giving would-be rascals a cursory glance at RIFT's take on one of the fantasy genre's most beloved archetypes. Because of RIFT's build-your-own-class mechanics, Rogues in the world of Telara stand out from their contemporaries due to a good bit of versatility. The trailer shows us three incarnations of the class: a death-dealer, a sniper, and a support specialist. In addition to those roles, you may even see a RIFT Rogue playing a lute, teleporting, or possibly tanking a mob. Check out the clip after the cut for more details.
CNN looks at RIFT's server technology
MMORPGs don't get much virtual ink on the world's top news sites, and when they do, it's usually because someone's died during a grind session. RIFT recently bucked that trend with a lengthy spread on CNN.com, and somewhat predictably, the initial focus is on the "battle" between Trion's upstart and Blizzard's World of Warcraft behemoth. While the first half of the article is devoted to describing RIFT in layman's terms, there are a few interesting snippets focusing on Trion's technology (specifically the fact that RIFT's servers are organized by function rather than by location as per usual with other games in the genre). Producer Scott Hartsman tells CNN that developing the new tech was a challenge that will prove worthwhile in the long run. "Yeah, it was hard, but it was well worth it. We're really just now at the point [where] we're about 25% into all of the things we can do with our technology and we're looking to add more," he explained.
New RIFT lore highlights the fearsome Frederic Kain
These RIFT lore reveals are getting to be old hat by now, what with Trion releasing one every week and all of them boasting both interesting prose and scrumptious screenshots. This week's entry is no exception, and it tells a grim tale from the adventures of one Frederic Kain, an uncompromising Guardian commander who leads a fearsome band of warriors known as the 12th. Whether due to Kain's eerie silence in the heat of pitched battle, or his penchant for using captured Defiant prisoners as makeshift catapult ammunition, Ascended on both sides of RIFT's eternal struggle would do well to tread a wide path around any territory occupied by Kain and his men. Check out all the gory details after the cut.
Trion Worlds reveals the Plane of Water
What are the rifts? It's one of those burning questions, maybe not quite on the level of what is the Matrix or who is John Galt, but it's up there nonetheless. In an attempt to answer it -- or if you prefer, get people talking -- Trion Worlds has just released a bit of information on the Plane of Water in its upcoming Rift: Planes of Telara MMORPG. Telara is a world being ripped asunder by various and sundry dimensional corridors called rifts, each of them bringing new challenges, trials, and tribulations to adventurers throughout the realm. "A water rift can take hold even in the driest desert. Salt water rushes from nowhere and spreads into a reeking lake, from which tentacles rise and quiver in frantic rhythm. Toothed tendrils writhe from a rent in the sky, living creatures drown on land, and monsters spill from the rift like rotten fish from a net," Trion says. Check out the full description as well as a video of a water rift in action after the jump.
Rift: Planes of Telara announces Sentinel Soul
Information on Trion Worlds' upcoming Rift: Planes of Telara is starting to flow fast and furious, and we couldn't be happier with that fact. In addition to what looks to be a novel take on dynamic gameworld events, the title features unique class elements in the form of Souls. Souls are, in lore terms, the actual souls of dead heroes that the player uses to realize his full potential. In game terms, they fill a role similar to that of the traditional talent tree, albeit with a few twists. Today, the fans at TelaraCentral.com have unearthed some tasty information on the Sentinel Soul. The Sentinel Soul enables players to be defensive clerics, focusing on group support and boasting a strong defense and comparatively weak offense. Head over to TelaraCentral.com for more lore-centric details.
