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Free TERA server transfers through June 11
TERA players, be sure you're on your favorite server by June 11th, elsewise you'll have to pay for the privilege of relocating. En Masse has posted a heads-up that its free server transfer promotion is ending at 3:00 p.m. EDT on the 11th, after which time fees of 2,750 EMP (standard players) or 1,650 EMP (elite players) will apply. The company has also opened up the Lake of Tears and Ascension Valley shards as part of its current transfer offer. More info on all of the rules and restrictions can be found on TERA's website.
Rumor: Bluehole is recruiting for TERA sequel
According to respected Korean news source ThisIsGame, Bluehole Studio is looking to add more people to its team for either a sequel to TERA or a whole new MMO entirely. Some are saying that this will, indeed, be a sequel to TERA, but this has yet to be confirmed by Bluehole, hence the rumor tag. The studio is currently hiring for several positions, including server programmers, UI designers, artists, and more. [Thanks to everyone who tipped us on this!]
One Shots: A light in the dark
Reader Andrew is quite impressed with the look of Neverwinter, saying that it is visually "amazing!" Without descending into hyperbole, I have to agree. It's a good-looking title with plenty of interesting details if you take the time to stop and smell the corpses. Corpses? Well, Andrew is standing in the middle of a whole bunch of dead folks here with his spectral flashlight (AA batteries not included). I wouldn't touch that treasure chest if I were you, Andrew. I'm guessing it might be a mimic. Oh no! As we stumble through the dark, what other visions might we encounter in this week's One Shots?
One Shots: The dark night dashes
Just because you have passing familiarity with Superman and Batman doesn't mean you know jack about the real superheroes who do all of the dirty work while the headliners steal the signal light. For instance, have you met this guy? If you haven't, let reader Russell make your acquaintance. "This is my Brawling Juggernaut in DC Universe Online, known by many as Orange Crush," Russell begins with aplomb. "Here he is in pursuit of justice, on the way to laying some Crush down on the villains of our great and beloved Gotham City!" Will Orange Crush arrive in time? Tune in to the rest of this column after the break!
TERA celebrates first anniversary, teases future content
Fantasy action MMO TERA turns one year old today, and En Masse is celebrating by throwing a month-long party through the end of May. The firm is awarding players with in-game raffle items, mystery boxes "filled with rare and valuable prizes," and a new 10- and 20-person Kelsaik raid. TERA's future looks bright, too, as En Masse has a 20v20 battleground update complete with strongholds, tanks, cannons, and airships waiting in the wings. The devs also have a new player-driven alliance system scheduled for the very near future. Finally, En Masse has put together an anniversary infographic filled with esoterica like the number of accounts created (over 1.5 million), the ratio of male to female avatars (44.18 percent to 55.82 percent), and more. View the full graphic after the cut. [Source: En Masse press release]
TERA NA surpasses 1.4 million accounts, celebrates with in-game event
The North American version of TERA has surpassed 1.4 million player accounts according to En Masse. TERA made the free-to-play switch in February and has since added additional servers, a new dungeon, and a PvP battle arena. En Masse is celebrating its uptick with an in-game event called Dracoloths Rising. From March 20th through March 24th, even bigger big-ass-monsters are roaming the wilds of Arborea and serving as loot pinatas for opportunistic adventurers. [Source: En Masse press release, also, thanks Ken!]
F2P doubles TERA playerbase
While some like to say that switching to free-to-play is the death knell for a game, the opposite sure looks to be true for TERA. Whether it is because of the lure of the action combat model, the graphics, the fact that no content is locked behind a payment gate, or something else entirely, folks have flocked to the fantasy game since it went F2P a month ago. In fact, TERA's playerbase has swelled by over 500,000, doubling the number of registered users to over one million and causing Gameforge to open up six new servers in order to meet the demand. Will the momentum hold? Only time will tell. But for now, F2P is definitely suiting TERA. For more on the free-to-play conversion, read Massively's exclusive interview with Associate Producer Patrick Sun.
TERA invites new players to power level
Have you been waiting for a good reason to check TERA out for the first time? If free-to-play isn't enough incentive, En Masse has created a "No Sleep 'Til 60!" promotion that rewards brand-new players who log in and power-level to the endgame. The promotion begins tomorrow and is open only to players who do not have a TERA account. By hitting certain milestones, players will accumulate rewards that increase the higher they get. The first tier of prizes begins at level 30 with the best being reserved for those who get to level 60 by March 26th. The prizes include strongbox keys, XP boosts, reputation boosts, mirrored shades, mounts, and an extra character slot.
One Shots: Standing room only
I love Bards and Bard-type classes. Always have, always will. There's something wonderfully against-the-typical-fantasy-grain about them in how they prefer a good solo on a harp to cleaving things in two with axes. Reader Rebecca sent us in her Bard doing an impromptu woodland concert: "Here my Bard Rozily is strumming a tune in Northern Highlands as the snow begins to drift down. Sometimes in Vanguard you have to stop and enjoy the scenery." Absolutely! Also, you may want to look into the fact that the lute seems to have severed your forearm. Check out the full picture and so much more after the jump!
One Shots: Middle-earth cowboys
The recent Riders of Rohan expansion in Lord of the Rings Online has brought out the cowboy and cowgirl in a lot of us. Must be the emphasis on horseback riding over scenic plains while savage attacks are waged on settlements. It's here that we begin our journey through snapshots in MMO life this week. Reader Binklewyst sets the scene for our first One Shots: "Riding over a low hill on the plains of Rohan, I stopped my warhorse to admire a view of the Faldham fortification. In the distance to the right is the evil Nink-hai warcamp." Saddle up, pard'ners. The frontier awaits us after the jump!
Massively Interview: TERA's Patrick Sun on free-to-play
Action-MMO TERA officially went free-to-play last week, and with the transition came a number of questions regarding payment tiers, transition plans, and En Masse's vision for the future of the game. Will TERA turn into a "pay-to-win" graveyard, or will it be another shining example of how to do free-to-play just right? We sat down with associate producer Patrick Sun to find out.
TERA doubling its dungeon drop rate through Monday
If you're still on the fence about checking out TERA's new free-to-play flavor, maybe this will change your mind: double loot drops! En Masse is running a bonus event that begins at noon Friday and continues through noon on Monday. All TERA dungeons will feature double the normal drop rate, which means "more weapons, more gear, more cash -- more everything," according to the announcement on the game's official website.
TERA free-to-play launches today
It's launch day for TERA: Rising, the free-to-play evolution of En Masse Entertainment's fantasy action MMO. The company is releasing new content, new servers, and a new cinematic trailer to celebrate. The Crucible of Flame dungeon heads up the in-game goodies alongside a three-on-three PvP battleground map. Players now have the option of joining an existing TERA server or starting fresh on either the new PvE or new PvP shard. TERA's F2P model features no content restrictions for free players, and previous account holders are automatically granted Founder status. Head past the break for the launch-day cinematic. [Source: En Masse press release]
TERA: Rising's cash shop will be delayed
You may have heard a bit about TERA transforming into TERA: Rising and going free-to-play on February 5th (or, as we like to call it, tomorrow). That's still happening: You'll get to log in for free and play for free and do things for free and it'll be just wonderful. However, if you were hoping to drop some dough to pick up things like a mount, costumes, or elite status, you'll be out of luck for a few days. Valkyon Outfitters, the place where meatspace money turns into cyberspace loot and 1337ness, will take a few extra days to be ready for business. You'll have to make do with checking out all the awesome new content without the benefit of a brand-new costume until the shop is ready to open its doors. We know it'll be tough, but you can do this. Just wait a few more days to start flinging your money at the game.
En Masse Entertainment unveils TERA: Rising patch notes
On February 5th, En Masse Entertainment will be bringing TERA to the masses with TERA: Rising, which will see the game transition to a free-to-play business model. To help give players a leg-up on the competition, En Masse has released the patch notes for the upcoming update, and the list of changes is rather extensive. Some highlights include the introduction of the three-on-three Champions' Skyring battleground, the new competitive dungeon Crucible of Flame, a number of tweaks to many of the game's classes, and of course the much-needed crafting overhaul. The notes state that the game's crafting system "has been overhauled to streamline the process and simplify the amount of additional materials needed." But because of the game's change to F2P, one of the biggest chunks of the upcoming patch is the addition of various account tiers. Accounts are divided into Elite Status, Standard, and Founder. The Founder account type will be granted to players who purchased TERA prior to the F2P conversion, Standard accounts will be given to new F2P players, and Elite Status is available via a $14.99 US per month subscription. For the full patch notes and all the juicy details on the switch to F2P, head on to TERA's official site to sate your curiosity.
TERA F2P starts February 5
En Masse has set a date for TERA's free-to-play conversion, and that date is February 5th. The company will also add new content to the fantasy title including a three-on-three PvP battleground and the Crucible of Flame dungeon. TERA's F2P offerings include three player tiers (standard, founder, and elite), all of which feature full access to the game's content. Founders receive additional character slots, bank tabs, and a special mount, while elite players get dungeon bonuses, additional quests, daily items, mounts, and store discounts. [Source: En Masse press release]
One Shots: Slumbering death
Reader John's going to get me to actually say something nice about TERA. Are you ready for it? Because this doesn't happen often. Here's my compliment: It's a beautiful-looking game. Really. I can't deny that there's a special level of polish and eye when it comes to its visuals. Anyway, John sent us in this captivating picture of a place that might look pretty in the daylight, but you probably don't want to be loitering after nightfall. "I just started playing TERA upon hearing about the F2P conversion. This is my Amani Berserker traveling through the low-level Valley of Titans and stopping behind a pair of rock giants. These rock giants are all over the place here -- I wonder what will happen if they ever wake up?" Dance party? That's my guess. See John's full-color photo in all its glory after the break in addition to other terrifying vistas.
TERA outlines free-to-play restrictions in a new chart
By this point, we're all familiar with how transitions happen from subscription games to subscription-optional games. There are usually three tiers of membership; subscribers get the most stuff, and former subscribers get a few extra perks. In TERA's case, however, the restrictions outlined in a handy new chart suggest that it's not just subscribers getting a lot of extra benefit out of the change, as anyone who purchased the game in the past will get hefty rewards. Founders (that is, players who had purchased a boxed or digital copy of the game) will have access to eight character slots, a special title, and a special mount. Subscribers who had not previously purchased the game will be limited to two slots with more purchasable. Of course, subscribers also get shortened dungeon cooldowns, more auction house listings, and several bonus daily items. Looking to get in on the Founder benefits? You'll have to move quickly; digital sales of the game will be discontinued upon free-to-play launch, and no further boxes will be produced, so you'll want to buy soon to secure your benefits. [Thanks to Justin for the tip!]
Second Wind: Taking another look at TERA
I am beautiful. Seriously, I'm the best-looking game character that has ever pretended to live. Not only am I gorgeous, I'm lethal. With my massive lance, heavy shield, and ridiculously tight dress, I can make short work of pretty much any foe with the stones to come at me. I am as dangerous as I am attractive, and that is saying quite a bit. This is TERA. Launched in the west by En Masse Entertainment back in May, the fantasy MMO promised gorgeous graphics, fast-paced action combat and a different way to experience a now-familiar formula. Lured in by pretty trailers and compelling class descriptions, I picked up the collector's edition of the game just before release. I played for a few weeks, streamed it a couple of times, and promptly forgot it existed. When my initial 30 days expired, I never subscribed for more. But now TERA is going free-to-play. And since En Masse was kind enough to give me (and everyone else) a couple of free weeks of playtime before the F2P transition, I figured now was as good a time as any to revisit the title and see if removing my wallet from the equation would be enough to keep me engaged. The answer? Perhaps.%Gallery-152724%
The Perfect Ten: Memorable marketing campaigns
I took only a single marketing class in college, so by no means am I an instant expert in anything but being on the receiving end of marketers' nefarious experiments to manipulate me so that I buy their stuff. I did take away the lesson that all marketers are professional liars who have no shame or dignity. Pretty much the same as a blogger, so I guess I have a backup career. Believe it or not, MMOs get off easy when it comes to notorious marketing campaigns. Anything on the following list, good or bad, is a pale shadow of what we've seen in the larger video game industry. Still, there have been plenty of attempts to promote MMOs in ways that make us either applaud or laugh at the studio (and sometimes both at once, which takes coordination). After doing some staff polling and internal polling, here are 10 memorable marketing campaigns from the era of MMORPGs. Maybe they're all winners in that they got noticed by at least one person, even if they're the most foolish notions in history. Here we go!
