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TERA writer discusses the labor of love behind game writing
There's a conception among some gamers that working with video games for a living entails more "video games" than "working." A new development diary by TERA's writing team manager David Noonan is quick to disabuse readers of that notion. He does see the job as a labor of love, but he also freely admits that every day brings the question of how much time will be "love" and how much time will be plain old "labor." Noonan explains the way that he and his team look at bug reports relating to their department. Sometimes, the only thing that needs to be changed is a simple typo; other times, the dialogue of an entire quest chain will need to be rewritten from the start. But that doesn't negate the joy of filling in a story and creating a world, from the major quests down to the item names. If you have an interest in TERA's writing, game writing in general, or both, Noonan has some interesting insights to share. [Thanks to Mike for the tip!]
TERA hits the #1 spot for Amazon downloads
Whenever a game launches, there's always a question of whether it will sink or swim. MMOs don't necessarily live or die on the basis of their launches, but it takes a lot more effort to recover from a bad launch. TERA seems to have gotten off on the right foot, as it hit the #1 download spot for Amazon during its launch week, and all projections point to it hitting the top spot next week as well. If you're tempted to jump on the bandwagon, now is definitely the time. Through the 31st of the month, players who purchase the game will receive discounted subscription rates as well as a special Golden Dragon weapon skin. The Digital Collector's Edition from Amazon also features a special mount and two necklaces to help improve your journey through the game world. If you like little added bits of value, now might be the time to give the game a shot. [Source: Amazon press release]
TERA gives players a guide to guilds
Maybe TERA is your first MMO, maybe you want to learn about what TERA offers its guilds, or maybe you just want to see guilds defined as something other than small-scale drama generators for once. There are a lot of reasons you might want to look at TERA's new guide to guilds in the game, but whatever your motivation, the guide will provide you with all the answers you need to start guilding away with ease. The main benefit to being in a guild in TERA are the guild quests; available all across the game, each guild quest provides players with Catharnac Awards that can be used to improve the guild's level and buy special items from vendors. You also need to be part of a level 3 guild to run for public office, which is all the more reason for politically minded players to make friends. But don't take our word for it -- after all, there's a guide to tell you all of this in detail.
TERA subscription error affects thousands [Updated]
According to several tipsters and many, many pages on TERA's forums, something's gone badly wrong with En Masse's account system. The studio admits that some players have been billed immediately upon selecting a subscription plan instead of being billed after the 30 days. Other players have reported not being able to log in at all, as the game cannot find their subscriptions or free time and delivers an "expired account" error. En Masse posted that it is aware of the situation and is working to resolve it. The studio says that players who purchased a physical copy of the game and signed up for a subscription before entering their game code triggered this problem. However, we've also had reports of players who have encountered this error when dealing with digital copies. Affected players should now be able to log in to TERA while En Masse works on fixing the error. [Thanks to Andrew, Schippie, and Alex for the tip!] [Update: En Masse has contacted us to note that the 2000 players have been affected by the "insufficient remaining subscription time" issue, not the "immediate billing" error. En Masse says that these are two separate issues that the studio is actively working to resolve as fast as possible. We've updated this article accordingly.]
TERA reveals launch trailers, provides update on account errors
Today is a fateful day for Arboreans everywhere, as En Masse Entertainment's spankin'-new action-based MMO, TERA, is officially live. In celebration of the momentous occasion, the studio has released a shiny launch trailer for existing fans and potential players alike to feast their eyes upon. As one might expect from the game that coined the terms "big-ass monster" and "real action combat," the trailer is essentially a series of scenes of ass-kicking set to some suitably epic music, offering players a glimpse at the fast-paced combat they can expect from the title. In addition to the launch trailer, the studio has posted the two final race videos; we've included all three after the cut. But of course, MMO launch days are always fraught with at least a few issues, and TERA's launch is no different. Many players are experiencing errors that are keeping them from getting into and enjoying the game, but En Masse tells those players to rest assured that the team is "actively working to resolve them." Players experiencing those issues should keep an eye on the official TERA site as well as the game's Twitter and Facebook pages, as any updates to the situation will be posted as they happen.
Ten ways En Masse changed TERA for the west
TERA's launch day is upon us at last, and in between bouts of action combat we're scouring the web to gauge everyone's reaction to the game. One of the more interesting pieces we've run across thus far outlines all the changes made to the TERA client to accommodate western audiences. Gameranx.com has a list of 10 things En Masse did differently when it appropriated the Korean version of the game, including controller support, quest rewrites, reputation, and daily quests. The firm also made extensive changes to the game's leveling curve to avoid the dreaded "Korean grind-fest" syndrome that supposedly prevents Asian MMOs from finding success in the States. En Masse also borrowed EVE Online's anti-gold farming PLEX idea, renaming it Chronoscrolls for the world of Arborea. There's more too, but you'll have to click the source link below to read it.
TERA launch-day roundup
We've devoted a ton of virtual ink to TERA over the last couple of years. Since the game's long-awaited North American launch day is finally here, we figured it was high time to collect our best coverage in one handy post. Click past the cut to find a little bit of everything to help you start your Arborean journey off on the right foot. We've got detailed gameplay impressions, video, exclusive lore, and plenty of information about everything from crafting to the endgame political system. If you're playing TERA on launch day, join the discussion in the comments and tell us what you think of the game!
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.
One Shots: Warped
Massively reader Johanis delivered today's One Shots image, which features one of TERA's pegasi in flight. He tells us, Here is a shot of Honeynut, my TERA Archer, who was exploring during last weekend's open beta. While flying from one destination to another, she suddenly warped through one of many travel gates, and it was gorgeous. She emerged into a beautiful land just waiting to be explored. Enjoy Johanis' entry alongside a few others past the break!
TERA collector's edition gets unboxed
If you're a big enough fan of TERA to pre-order the collector's edition, you probably can't wait to get your hands on it and look at what's inside. But maybe you can't wait on a very literal level -- you have to see what's in that box right now. You're in luck, as the collector's edition has been unboxed by the fine folks at Curse, giving you a chance to see (if not handle) the bonus additions before the game's full launch. So what's contained therein? You probably know already if you pre-ordered: a map, a handsome box, a compass, and of course, the game itself. But there are lots of specifics to cover, like the quality of the extra little collectibles. So if you're in the literally-cannot-wait crowd, click on past the break to see what it's like to open up a new copy of the game before you can do so in real life.
TERA EU head start begins today, US to follow tomorrow [Updated]
It's head start weekend for western TERA fans, and it's been a long time coming. The game, which originally launched in Korea in January of 2011, is finally coming to North America and Europe (on May 1st and May 3rd, respectively). Beginning today, European pre-order players can jump into the game's head start period and enjoy all of TERA's content through level 38. The North American head start kicks off tomorrow, April 28th, and it also features a level 38 cap. Players can create a maximum of eight characters per server, while any characters made during last week's early character creation and open beta events will carry over to the head start period. [Source: Frogster press release] [Update: According to an official post on En Masse's website, the North American head start has been moved four hours earlier and will now begin at 11 a.m. EDT (8 a.m. PDT) on April 28th.]
TERA ramps up for launch with a video, an offer, and an address
TERA's launch is just around the corner, and if you're not excited yet, En Masse Entertainment is going to throw as much new stuff at you as possible to get you psyched up. That starts with a developer journal by Senior Producer Brian Knox, who talks about the road to launch and the growth of the studio. As you'd expect of a producer bringing a game to market, he's quite excited to see what players will do with the game once it's live. Not interested? Perhaps you'll be more interested to know that the studio has extended the inaugural subscription rate deal; have an active subscription to the game by May 31st and you'll wind up with long-term discounts on the subscription price. Or perhaps you'd rather kick back and watch the final installment of the race videos, this one highlighting the familiar human race. It's a variety of updates to keep your energy up for the launch next Tuesday, assuming it wasn't up already.
The Daily Grind: Would you petition the makers of your favorite game?
Earlier this week we told you about some nerd rage over the censoring of TERA EU's blood effects. The cuts have angered a sizable portion of the fantasy title's fans (if our tip line and the Frogster forums are an accurate barometer). Some TERA players even went so far as to draft an online petition in an attempt to get Frogster to reverse its decision. My first reaction to this news was the old "first-world problems" meme, but if you've been waiting for a game as long as some fans have been waiting for TERA, last-minute changes can be aggravating. What say you, readers? Have you ever signed (or drafted) a petition to protest a change in your favorite game, and if not, would you? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
Get lost in TERA's Labyrinth of Terror
TERA is now less than a week away from launch, and fans of the action-flavored MMO are anxiously waiting to set foot in Arborea. Today, En Masse Entertainment has decided to give us a sneak-peek at one of the high-level dungeons those players can expect in their distant futures: the incredibly foreboding Labyrinth of Terror. Insert your own mad-scientist cackling here. The Labyrinth of Terror is the dominion of one of the game's big-bads, Killian, and he apparently has a bit of a thing for homicidal entertainers. Twisted jesters and maniacal musicians are just a preview of the fare you'll sample on your way to the main course of Killian's clown-in-command, who also happens to be responsible for the murder of a prominent Amani commander. Go check out the full features to get a leg-up on Killian's circus of crazy.
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.
EU TERA fans petition to bring the blood back
Controversy, thy name is TERA. The latest brouhaha around En Masse and Frogster's soon-to-be-released action MMO has to do with some good old-fashioned censorship. In a nutshell, Frogster is removing blood effects from the Euro version of the game. As a result, peeved players have taken to the forums, venting their frustration in a 2300-post threadnaught and threatening to take their business to the North American version of TERA (which En Masse has said it will not be censoring). A few disgruntled players have even started an online petition to save TERA's European ultra-violence. There's also an open letter to Frogster on the official EU boards. [Thanks to everyone who tipped us!]
Latest TERA trailer takes players to the shores of the new Island of Dawn prologue
TERA's open beta test kicked off in earnest today, opening the floodgates for waves of excited players to enter the realm of Arborea. To commemorate the occasion, En Masse Entertainment has released a new trailer that shows off the game's newly crafted prologue area, which gives players a taste of high level play before they enter the game proper. For those not yet in the beta, here's the down-low: Players begin their journey aboard a ship bound for the Island of Dawn, and as anyone familiar with fantasy tropes knows, getting on a ship bound for an unknown land is often just a prelude to a terrible shipwreck. TERA's prologue is no different, and players soon find themselves stranded in exceedingly hostile territory with a rather nasty demon infestation. Naturally, it falls to players to play demon exterminators and get the shipwrecked crew to safety because everyone else is too busy standing around telling the players what to do. Lazy chumps. At any rate, to get a first-hand look at the new prologue zone and all of the demon-ass-kicking it entails, just go watch the official trailer for yourself.
En Masse addresses TERA lawsuit speculation
En Masse Entertainment has issued a response to yesterday's developments in the long-running NCsoft vs. Bluehole Studio legal drama. A posting on the official TERA blog says that the upcoming action MMO will launch as scheduled on May 1st despite "baseless accusations" and "unfounded rumors" regarding the theft of Lineage III assets by former Bluehole employees in Korea. The piece states that "after extensive Korean proceedings, Bluehole Studio was not found to have made any use of any NCsoft trade secrets in the form of source code or game design." It also notes that NCsoft product performance has suffered since TERA's Korean launch more than a year ago.
TERA open beta begins this weekend
Hey look, it's more TERA news! Happily, this tidbit has to do with your ability to get your hands on En Masse's new action MMO sooner rather than later. This weekend marks the beginning of the game's open beta period; the initial test period runs from Friday through Monday. It also marks the first time that players will be able to try out the new prologue experience that we told you about earlier today. The action starts right away as you're shipwrecked on the Island of Dawn and immediately set upon by hordes of hungry demons. You'll jump into TERA's action combat from the get-go, as opposed to the traditional tutorial experiences in many other MMOs. Signing up for the beta is pretty straight-forward. All you need is an En Masse account and the ability to remember the TERABETA promo code. Step-by-step signup instructions are available after the cut. [Source: En Masse press release]
TERA ramping up the early-level challenges
We all know that TERA's combat does things a little differently from the MMORPG norm. According to a new update, though, that's not all there is to the game's unorthodox approach. En Masse Entertainment is highlighting something it calls improved early play, which in a nutshell means that fresh-face Arborean avatars won't be killing 10 rats or delivering 10 rat tails while serving time on the TERA equivalent of a newbie island. Instead, the game's playable prologue "starts you right in the middle of the action: a beachhead under assault by demonic forces. It's not just a cutscene," En Masse says. "You'll be fighting big-ass monsters within minutes, learning the controls as you go." The piece goes on to talk about how challenge in TERA is actually challenging thanks to new tactics and deadlier attacks from low-level critters. Read all about it on TERA's official site.
