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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.
New Defiance developer diary explains what makes an MMO shooter
If you like playing an MMO but also like shooting things, you may enjoy the gameplay underpinning Defiance quite a bit. The latest developer diary for the game might be answering questions you hadn't asked, however, as it's focused on explaining how the game blends the MMO and shooter genres together into a cohesive whole. But there are still interesting tidbits about the game, including a look at vehicles and character advancement. Characters advance partly through the acquisition of powerful new weapons, which is almost a given based on the nature of the game. Weapons are also heavily customizable, with visible differences between stock weapons and customized versions. Players will also be able to acquire points to spend on special abilities of varying types, although points can be swapped into different abilities later on. If you want a more in-depth look at the game, click on past the break to view the full development diary. [Source: Trion Worlds press release]
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]
Trion PR executive talks Defiance, Syfy synergy
You probably know by know that Trion is working on a massive open-world shooter called Defiance. If you've been paying attention, you also know that it ties in with a Syfy Channel television show of the same name. A new PR video featuring Trion Global Brand Director Alex Rodberg sheds a little more light on the "transmedia synergy" between the two products. No, we're not sure what that means either, but it kinda rolls off the tongue, wouldn't you agree? See, say it with us again: transmedia synergy. OK, you're right, it's a buzz phrase. Whew, we almost bought into the hype there for a second! Anyhow, click past the cut to watch Rodberg explain how players of the game don't have to watch the show to enjoy the former (and vice versa) as well as how Trion is working together with Syfy personnel to craft what both firms hope is a unique entertainment experience.
Defiance TV show begins production today
The television half of the TV show/MMO hybrid being developed collaboratively by Syfy and Trion Worlds starts production today in Toronto, Ontario. Defiance -- set in a futuristic, apocalyptic Earth -- picks up after the end of the war sparked by tensions from the immigration of seven alien races to the planet. Although both the show and the game will launch in April 2013, the game will kick things off in San Francisco, where players will meet the main characters of the show, Nolan and Arissa. Then the show will start after the two characters travel to St. Louis, Missouri. There, the series will unfold in the boom-town of Defiance while the game narrative continues in the Bay Area. Both the show and the game will influence each other and evolve together. For more information on Defiance, check out its spotlight in The Firing Line and watch the Comic-Con videos. [Source: Trion Worlds press release]
Two Defiance videos emerge from SDCC
Two new videos about Defiance, the upcoming third-person shooter coupled with a television show, have emerged from San Diego Comic-Con 2012. While sometimes only snippets of videos highlighting key things get released, the first video actually serves folks who couldn't attend to the entire Defiance panel. During the 54-minute video, developers and actors of the Syfy and Trion collaboration discuss the game/television show combination and field questions from the audience. In the second video (which is much smaller by comparison at 13 minutes), Rob Hill, senior producer, and Grant Bowler, the actor who stars as the lead in both the game and the show, discuss the project further. They touch on the background of the post-apocalyptic world setting and discuss how the game and show will influence each other and evolve together. This video also shows game footage of vehicles and combat. The game, which begins before the show, will launch simultaneously on all three platforms: PC, XBox 360, and PS3. You can check out both videos after the break.
Syfy photo contest to award trip to Defiance premier party
Folks attending Comic-Con 2012 in San Diego or even just generally in the convention area have most likely seen some form of promotion for Syfy and Trion's transmedia project, the upcoming MMO shooter Defiance. If you have, a picture could be worth more than 1,000 words -- it could be worth a trip to the Defiance premier party in April 2013! To enter the contest, fans need to take a picture of any Defiance promotion at Comic-Con and either upload it to the official entry form, email an entry, or tweet a link of the picture to @DefianceWorld #DiscoverDefiance. The contest is open to US residents 18 years and older and will end on July 16th, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. EDT. Full contest rules are available on the official entry form.
The Firing Line: Defiance, Arctic Combat, and other E3 leftovers
Ah, home. A full-screen monitor, a fridge stocked with Diet Sunkist, plenty of columns to be written, and my own vehicle! Public transportation doesn't agree with me, folks, as I learned last week at E3 in Los Angeles. I also learned a lot about PlanetSide 2, a little about DUST 514, and tidbits about Defiance and something called Arctic Combat. For this week's Firing Line, I figured I should pay a little lip service to those last two. And we'll also recap some of this week's crucial online shooter news. To the cut!
E3 2012: The world of Defiance
Can Defiance work? The cross-media venture between Trion Worlds and Syfy is one of the most interesting projects in the industry right now, if for no other reason than that a TV/MMO crossover has never been done before. At least, not like this. We hunted down the Trion crew at E3 this week to play the Xbox version of the title and chat with the devs about the setting and specifics of this game. While Jef will have his hands-on impressions of Defiance in the next The Firing Line column, we wanted to share some of the lore and setting that the devs talked about at the expo. Join us after the jump for a look at the world of Defiance!
Defiance to launch April 2013, shows off E3 trailer
It's just a few days until this year's E3, and one of the titles we're definitely going to be scoping out is Trion Worlds' "transmedia" MMO, Defiance. However, if you're willing to spoil your trade show appetite for a small advance reveal, we've got a treat for you: the Defiance E3 trailer. The trailer shows more of Defiance's gameplay, including an arkfall event that will be one of the cornerstone of the game's experience. The narration in the trailer is performed by the show's star, Grant Bowler. We also learned that both Defiance the TV show and Defiance the MMO will simultaneously launch in April 2013. Check out the trailer after the jump, and stay tuned as we get our hands on the first-ever public demo of this game at E3 next week. [Source: Trion Worlds press release]
Defiance could link up an Xbox 360 with a PS3 -- but can't
In this slowly unifying world of technology and gameplay that we live in, it seems weird how we still have the segregation between consoles in the online space. Trion Worlds put on a private demonstration on development hardware to show just how that barrier can be easily knocked down. Unfortunately, the console companies involved will never let it happen. The game in question is Trion Worlds' upcoming Defiance, an MMOFPS that will interact with the Syfy television series of the same name. Trion showed a crowd how it's entirely possible for one player on an Xbox 360 to fight against or with another player on a PlayStation 3. Trion Global Brand Director Alex Rodberg said that while this cross-platform mingling can be done, it's extremely unlikely that such a thing would ever reach live servers: "Microsoft won't let Sony players play against them." A Microsoft spokesperson agreed with that sentiment: "We have a high level of expectation for our game developers to ensure that all Live experiences remain top notch. Because we can't guarantee this level of quality, or control the player experience on other consoles or gaming networks, we currently do not open our network to games that allow this cross-over capability."
The MMO Report: Pre-E3 edition
Heads up, ladies and gents; it's time for a special pre-E3 edition of The MMO Report. That's right, the biggest event in the industry is rolling out the proverbial red carpet next week, and MMOs have plenty on the slate for the big event. G4's fabulous Casey Schreiner has a look at some of the big pre-E3 MMO news as well as a taste of what players can expect from the convention. For your appetizer, we have a look at the three factions of ZeniMax's upcoming title, The Elder Scrolls Online. You can wash that down with a tall glass of Trion Worlds' MMO-television crossover game, Defiance. That should be sufficient to prepare you for the main course of PlanetSide 2's delicious MAX suit reveal as well as a few more post-meal treats. So what are you waiting for? Pull up a seat and check out the full video below.
Trion releases Defiance feature video, details 'transmedia' synergy
Trion has released a new making-of featurette for Defiance, its "transmedia" property that includes a sci-fi shooter MMO and a Syfy television series. Defiance the game takes place in the bombed out ruins of a post-alien-invasion San Francisco, while Defiance the TV show is set in and around St. Louis, Missouri. Despite the location differences, Trion says that the events of the virtual world will affect those of the show and vice versa. How so (and how much)? That remains to be seen, but Shacknews has a game preview that sheds a little light on the subject. In a nutshell, characters on the show might namedrop a gamer avatar who completes a particular mission or makes an impact on the game world in some way. Syfy president Dave Howe also told the website that he's hopeful that gameplay events will have a more significant impact on season two of the television series. Head past the break to view the full video feature. [Source: Trion press release]
Syfy begins production on TV side of transmedia 'Defiance'
Science fiction TV channel Syfy (Really? Still calling it that?) has reportedly begun production on the pilot of Defiance, that previously announced huge transmedia property in conjunction with Trion Worlds. The idea is that there will be both a TV show and an MMO, and that narratives and actions from each one will intersect in some way with the other. The pilot will star Dexter's Julie Benz, 24's Mia Kirshner, and True Blood's Grant Bowler, and feature writing by David Weddle and Bradley Thompson, and music by Bear McCreary, who all worked together on the popular Battlestar Galactica series.The show will take place on a destroyed future earth, where "human and alien survivors of a universal war" have to work together to build a new society. Trion Worlds (creators of Rift and End of Nations) is putting the MMO together, and both the game and the TV series are expected out in Spring 2013.
Trion Worlds explains how Defiance will 'co-evolve' in two mediums
Wondering whether -- or if -- the joint venture of Syfy and Trion Worlds will work in tandem with Defiance? Then you may want to put aside a few minutes to watch the following video that attempts to explain how a TV show and an MMO will work together to create a blended experience for fans. "In the past it's always been very difficult to connect television shows, which are always evolving, with video games, which are static," Trion Worlds CEO Lars Buttler states, going on to say that Trion has cracked that code. "In our unique setup, we can do things other people have never dared to try before." Defiance the TV show and Defiance the MMO will, according to Buttler, "literally depend on each other and co-evolve." It may not be heavy on specifics, but it's a fascinating watch nonetheless. Check it out after the jump!
The Firing Line: Firefall, Defiance, John Romero, and more
Dude, there was a ton of big shooter news this week! I mean, this isn't terribly unusual, particularly since the genre is expanding at a rapid rate, but when I've got to cut interesting items out of this column for length reasons, you know it's been an eventful few days. Join me after the break for a recap on everything from Firefall to Defiance to John Romero and beyond.
The MMO Report: Big news edition
The MMO Report has some big news this week, and no, it's not about the fact that it's secretly carrying your baby. Nor is it even tied to all of the various big news that the show has this week, and there is quite a bit of that. Obviously, there's the new patch for Star Wars: The Old Republic, and there's also the first in-game footage of both World of Darkness and Defiance, but those aren't the big reveal in the news. So what is it? Well, while we'd normally promise that there's going to be a new episode next week from G4 and Massively, this week it's not quite so clear-cut. The show is going on a brief hiatus for reasons that we'll allow the show itself to explain. So hop on past the break for more MMO news, and tune in when the hiatus ends for another episode. You can keep checking back here forlornly, however. We won't hold it against you.
Defiance dares to dish out new gameplay video, screens
In the future, the Earth is in trouble -- humanity is at war with a species of invading alien bug things. Defiance, from Trion Worlds, brings MMO third-person shooting to consoles and the PC; events in both the game and show will play off each other.You know what we always say: the only good alien bug thing is a dead alien bug thing.%Gallery-152577%
PAX East 2012: Defiance's first-ever combat trailer
PAX East is kicking into high-gear today. Studios are all over the floor showing off their latest trailers and demos, and Trion Worlds is no exception. The studio has just released a shiny new trailer focusing on the upcoming Syfy-Trion collaboration known as Defiance. For the first time since the title's announcement, players get to take a look at the game's frantic FPS combat. The trailer takes players into the land of the United States' Bay Area, which is in the process of being terraformed by alien invaders, and it's up to humankind to stop them before it's too late. The video gives fans a glimpse of large-scale combat as dozens of characters storm a stronghold by foot, ATV, and humvee to bring the fight to the alien scum, guns blazing. Oh, and the aliens look like the kind of fellows you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley... or in a well-lit one, for that matter. Just check out those teeth! Load your weapons and get in the fight past the cut. Massively's on the ground in Boston during the weekend of April 6-8, bringing you all the best news from PAX East 2012. Whether you're dying to know more about TERA or PlanetSide 2 or any MMO in between, we aim to have it covered!
The Firing Line: Blacklight release, Defiance, and (hopefully) a DUST livestream
Welcome back to The Firing Line, shooter fans. I'm still recovering from Sony Online Entertainment's PlanetSide 2 demo last week (as well as CCP's reveals regarding DUST 514 gameplay footage and impending beta dates). Life goes on, though, and there are plenty of interesting tidbits to talk about with regard to our favorite genre. Won't you join me after the break for a recap?
