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Seeing what it takes to be a Defiance Ark Hunter
What does it take to be an Ark Hunter in Trion Worlds' upcoming Defiance? If the following lore video is any indication, you have to be really into puking, eating mutant lizards, and having needles shoved into the back of your neck. But then you get weapons, and these are really big weapons that you can shoot things in the face with. So it's a trade-off. Check out the latest episode of the Ark Hunter Chronicles after the jump. Then finish your lizard stew because you've got puking to do!
Defiance weapon mod trailer is infectious
This trailer for Trion Worlds' MMO Defiance shows off the weapon customization options in the game. Defiance will launch on April 2 for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC, while its counterpart TV show will air April 15 on SyFy.
Get your mod on by watching Defiance's weapons trailer
Normally the emphasis on customization in MMOs is on the characters. However, Defiance may tempt you to focus more on that high-powered weapon you're toting around. Trion Worlds has just released a new video spotlighting the weapon modification system in its upcoming MMO shooter. While the trailer is more flash than detailed substance, you can see how weapons change in both form and function with the aids of mods. Trion boasts "thousands of options" in Defiance's arsenal. Watch the video after the jump, check out our hands-on with the title, and let us know if this looks to be up your alley!
Hands-on with the pre-launch Defiance demo
Defiance: It's a game, it's an MMO, it's an FPS, it's a TV show! Before attending this past week's Defiance pre-launch event in San Francisco, I was aware of only one place on earth where all of those elements have seemingly been mashed-up before in quite this order: South Korea. And even there, the TV portion was more in a standard game show format. It's a risky combination in the West. Thus it was with trepidation and a hefty dose of skepticism that I attended the TV show pilot's screening, which itself was followed by some intense cooperative PvP gaming on the mainstream platform of my choice. The folks at Trion Worlds set up an impressive demo area, with PS3 and XBox systems trailing behind the PC platforms.%Gallery-181065%
Trion offering a Defiance season pass with DLC, new species, and more
Trion has posted details on a season pass for Defiance, its MMO-meets-a-TV-show project in conjunction with SyFy. The season pass will cost players $39.99 and enable access to the game's first five DLC packs, which will include a new playable alien species, along with lots of new weapons, vehicles, missions, and other rewards. Plus, pass buyers get two bonus items: a digital Hellbug combat cap, and an extra Lock Box (which is a sealed container in the game for a chance at another item).The $39.99 is in addition to the game's initial purchase price ($59.99, or $99.99 for the deluxe edition). Defiance won't have a subscription fee, and this price is 20 percent off what the DLC will cost in total.The Defiance game will be launched on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC on April 2, while the TV show will start on April 15.
Trion hopes you'll pre-order some Defiance DLC along with your Defiance pre-order
Trion has yet to release its sci-fi shooter TV tie-in called Defiance, but the firm is already trotting out pricing plans for season pass DLC content. A company press release mentions five DLC packs "rolling out after launch" which are now available for pre-purchase in a $39.99 bundle. Trion says that this represents a 20% savings over the suggested retail price of $9.99 per pack, which begs the question of whom exactly suggests the retail prices that generous game companies subsequently discount. In any event, Defiance is slated to launch on April 2nd. You can of course pre-order it, and if you're feeling especially impatient, you can now pre-order its DLC too. The packs will provide a new playable alien species, additional weapons, vehicles and missions, a lock box, and more. [Source: Trion press release]
Defiance shows off the 99er faction
Defiance's latest video teaser is showing off another villain group. The 99ers, despite their name, do not lure you into their lair with the promise of free popcorn and a markedly robust gluten-free menu; instead, they're crazed former miners who have augmented themselves with extensive cybernetic hardware. And continue mining. That part seems a little bit odd, since they're not willing to interact with others or sell off all the ore they're mining, but we'll go with it. 99ers are known to be extremely territorial and have physical abilities far beyond that of human beings. Players are advised to be on the lookout for unprovoked attacks by the miners, who control most of the valuable resources within their region of operation. Players should aim for exposed and unaugmented heads or visible fuel sources during a combat encounter. Or they can just shoot the crazy cyborgs until they fall apart; that would probably work as well.
'Shadow War' PvP is the star of new Defiance gameplay trailer
Come April, players won't just be facing the likes of giant mutated bugs and partially sentient robots in Defiance, they will also have the chance to face off against each other. Dubbed Shadow War, the open world competitive multiplayer combat system is the star of the show in the latest gameplay video from Trion. The PvP-focused Shadow War is fully integrated into the game's co-op experience, "giving players a choice to participate on their own terms, and allowing progression between co-op and competitive gameplay to be the same." Check out some of the alien technology-infused vehicle and infantry battles in the clip after the cut. [Source: Trion press release]
Hell bug highlighted in new Defiance enemy intel video
As any soldier, spy, or gun-for-hire knows, gathering intel is an important aspect of assessing risk and making a plan of action to get a job done. Luckily for future Defiance players, Trion is helping the process out by offering a series of enemy intel videos. Now showing: hell bugs. A result of the terraforming disaster, hell bugs are a very aggressive and territorial subterranean species capable of quickly excavating solid stone. With a hard exoskeleton, razor-sharp appendages, toxic secretions, and a speed that belies their size, these giant bugs are not so easily squashed. For a closer look at the hell bugs, check out the clip after the cut. [Thanks to SixShot for the tip!]
Defiance teases players with a video for Ark Hunter Chronicles
Defiance is certainly giving potential players lots of videos to watch. That's not entirely surprising considering the game's whole cross-media synergy angle, but it's exciting for anyone who prefers a moving picture to straight text. The latest video from Trion Worlds is showing off a teaser for Ark Hunter Chronicles, which are promised to be coming soon. What's not promised just yet is a reveal of what to expect beyond the title. What are Ark Hunter Chronicles? Some sort of chronicle related to ark hunters, probably. That's pretty straightforward. But are they preview episodes of the upcoming show? Preview videos for the game? Trading cards that tell a story? Commemorative plates? We don't know, as the video doesn't say, although the plate thing seems a little bit unlikely. All we know is that they're coming soon, and you can watch a teaser trailer for them just after the break. Eagle-eyed viewers may spot something extra toward the end, as well...
New Defiance enemy intel video highlights the Scrappers
Ready for another Defiance enemy intel video? Last time Trion filled us in on the game's interspecies horde of scavengers known as the Raiders. This time, the narrative is all about the Scrappers, which are hostile robots constructed of scrap metal and salvaged tech. The Scrappers are partially sentient, and prone to patrolling an area for salvage and collecting components. There are also hints about a higher-level AI directing Scrapper behavior from afar. Trion advises players to deal with Scrappers by targeting their patchwork weapon systems first. Click past the cut for the preview clip.
Defiance teaches players how to deal with raiders
Raiders. They're an ever-present threat, always asking you to fill out the last healing slot or asking if you'll pass on a needed gear upgrade so... wait, that's not what we're talking about here. Defiance raiders aren't all about getting epic loot and counting DKP, they're about bursting onto the scene in a spray of automatic weapon fire while tripping on a variety of drugs. And the newest video for the game shows the raiders off in all their glory. As the video explains, raiders are an ever-present threat due to their sheer inability to be wiped out -- they have no centralized structure, just a large number of members who enjoy violence and follow whoever wants to lead. Players are advised to either use explosives on groups or snipe individuals at a distance. For more details on this group of enemies, take a look at the full video just past the break, and possibly apply more DOTs.
Enter at Your Own Rift: Goodbye Scott, hello 2.2
If I was to make a list of the top, oh, five or 10 MMO developers whom I admire, Scott Hartsman would be on there. It's not just that I appreciate that he's one of the few human beings who is shorter than I am, but that he's had a remarkable career full of accomplishments that I respect. EverQuest II and RIFT both owe a great debt to the leadership of Hartsman, which is why it was a sad shock to hear that he was leaving Trion Worlds for unknown pastures. And thus we begin a new year of RIFT, teetering between uncertainty and promise. For as severe as Hartsman's departure will be felt in the development of the game and in its community, we're also looking ahead to the title's third year of operation and a new update that looks to add even more delectable treats on top of this fantasy buffet. So today we're going to say goodbye to Scott and hello to Update 2.2 as we look at the recent state of the game post.
Trion to launch Defiance on April 2, full live-action trailer revealed
Trion has announced that the MMO third-person shooter half of its two-headed Defiance monster is set to be released on April 2nd. The other half is of course the upcoming television show which ties in to the game via some sort of mysterious transmedia secret sauce. The company has also released a full five-minute live action trailer, the teaser for which debuted last week alongside a meaty pre-order FAQ. Defiance players take on the role of Ark Hunters adventuring through the alien-infested ruins of a post-apocalyptic San Francisco and surrounding environments. Defiance features co-op PvE and PvP, and it's coming to PC, PlayStation 3, and XBox 360 platforms. Trion has been working on the game and the IP for over five years. The Syfy television series is set to debut on April 15th. Click past the cut for a look at the live-action preview. [Source: Trion press release]
Defiance Advanced Mission Beta set for February 8
Defiance's second beta weekend is set to begin on February 8th at 8:00 a.m. PST and run until 9:00 p.m. PST on February 10th. This Advanced Mission Beta will take players to a futuristic San Francisco playing the role of Ark Hunter. No, this doesn't mean you'll be riding mine carts and eating chilled monkey brains; it means that you'll be set to decipher various six-digit alpha numeric codes scattered throughout the game that can be collected to unlocked 15 different levels of rewards. Sound like fun, Dr. Jones? Then head on over to the Defiance official site and sign up. [Source: Trion Worlds press release]
Trion tabs Namco Bandai for Defiance EU distribution
With the release of Defiance inching closer and closer, Trion is getting all its EGO-enhanced ducks in a row. As such, it has signed an agreement with Namco Bandai to distribute the open-world shooter in the European market. Namco Bandai will handle both online and retail distributions for all three gaming platforms -- PC, PS3, and XBox 360 -- in Europe, South Africa, Middle-East, Australia, and New Zealand. The game is due out in April. Trion Worlds Europe SVP John Burns stated, "We're delighted to be working with Namco Bandai, a great company with a proven track record in bringing big games successfully to the market thanks to their great distribution network and excellent relationship with both high-street and online retailers."
Trion compiles pre-order FAQ for Defiance
Still scratching your head over the options available for Trion Worlds' newest sci-fi MMO, Defiance? With the blast of info coming out for the game lately, it's easy to get a bit lost, but Community Manager Lance James was kind enough to compile everything you need to know about pre-order into one simple FAQ on the forums. Check out the thread and be sure to check back often (or ask a question yourself) as it will be continuously updated with new info as it becomes available. [Thanks to Levi for the tip!]
Defiance video spotlights mutants
Those planning on picking up Defiance and spending some time in this war-torn world come spring should be prepared for the horrors that they'll face. This is why Trion Worlds has delivered a new video highlighting one of the enemy races of the game, the mutants. The mutants used to be human soldiers, but have since been transformed into raging, muscular monstrosities. These creatures retain their former training and -- more importantly -- their weapons. While powerful, the mutants aren't invincible and can be taken down with a little aggressive persuasion. Check out the short mutant spotlight video after the jump!
Trion SVP explains Defiance's 'transmedia synergy' secret sauce
If you're still wondering about this "transmedia synergy" thing that's supposedly going on between Defiance the MMO shooter and Defiance the television show, you might want to check out a new interview with Trion SVP Nick Beliaeff. Events taking place in the two properties are "synchronized within an inch of their life," Beliaeff says. "That's the whole goal. That's some of the secret sauce that we think we have, just making sure that whenever an episode of the show is on air there's a big beat happening in the game. Our real goal is whether it's from game to show or show to game, that those big beats are happening whenever there's an episode on." As you might imagine, this is incredibly difficult, and it's one reason that Trion and Syfy have been working on the IP for five years now. In terms of specific crossover, Beliaeff cites an example where a doctor in the TV show discovers a nanite contagion. She reaches out to one of her NPC colleagues in the game, who in turn provides players with a series of missions that they'll need to complete before the next episode of the show.
Defiance pre-order includes early beta access, XP boosts
Defiance, the ambitious online open-world shooter companion to SyFy's upcoming television series of the same name, is offering a melange of murderous in-game items to all who sign up early. Publisher Trion Worlds reveals that plunking down $5 for a pre-order at a participating retailer grants early beta access, a special in-game title and outfit, plus a three-day XP boost and whichever items that particular retailer is offering.Available in the standard $60 package, a $100 Collector's edition and limited, GameStop-exclusive Ultimate edition, Defiance is currently slated to launch sometime in April for the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. The television side of this transmedia twofer will premiere in April with a two-hour episode. For a full list of what's in each package, head past the break.
