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Defiance team plans five DLC releases, first adds the Castithan race and more
Now that the MMO-slash-TV show Defiance has been launched, says executive producer Nathan Richardsson, things are about to really get good, in the form of five DLC releases later this year. He admits that fan response to the game has it pegged as "about as deep as a bag of chips but great fun," but adds that he'd "like to get to the two-bag of chip depth category or at least, add some salsas for various textures." Most of those spices will come in the form of DLC, and Richardsson has outlined what the game's first addon, tentatively titled "Enter the Castithan," will look like. There will be three elements to it: Those who buy the downloadable content for $10 will get access to the Castithan playable race, along with a new outfit and vehicle, and a new story mission line and game mode. There will also be free content, including new weapons, a new PvP map called Military Academy, and some other game improvements. And then there will be new items in the store, including weapon mods, more vehicle versions, and the ability to change your character's customizations. Richardsson says all future add-ons will have these paid, free, and store components, and the team's goal is to keep the updates and content flowing and focused on what players want. The first DLC release is expected to hit the game after a patch later on this month.
Get some Defiance DLC with a side of free updates
Now that Defiance is live and has gone through the usual slew of launch-day messes, it's time for the developers to start thinking about the future. That means DLC. The latest development blog explains both what the team is doing to address the game's issues and how DLC will be released in a tiered system, with every major DLC update containing upgrades to the cash shop, a paid DLC component, and a free update for everyone. The first DLC is already en route, and its $10 paid component allows players to make a Castithan character, access a unique storyline, and gain some special vehicles and outfits. Even if you don't pay for the DLC, you'll have access to new Castithan Blades, and a new open world game mode called Siege, and can earn new Charge Weapons. The game's store, meanwhile, will allow you to tint your Castithan Blades, buy new lockboxes or vehicles, and re-customize your character. There's a little something for everyone playing the game, and that's the ultimate goal.
Defiance recruits over one million Ark Hunters
Trion Worlds' persistent-word shooter Defiance has surpassed a million registered users in its first month, the developer announced today. Players have collectively murdered over 500,000,000 hellbugs to date in Defiance, while the number of slaughtered heavenbugs is currently unknown. Trion also boasts one million triggered instances in the press release past the break. Defiance is a trans-media project from Trion Worlds and the SyFy network – Trion Worlds launched the video game side of Defiance in early April, while SyFy's television series is currently ongoing. A "Most Wanted" contest was just announced, where players who average the most Ark Salvage per hour are eligible to win a spot on an upcoming episode of the Defiance TV show. The contest ends on May 12.
Defiance passes 1,000,000 registered accounts
Defiance, the game half of the TV/MMO entertainment hybrid, has surpassed one million registered user accounts. The game launched a month ago today, and Trion Worlds seems pleased to announce this milestone. How about some nifty statistics to commemorate the joyous occasion? Players have collectively killed more than 500,000,000 hellbugs so far. They've driven their ATVs for more than 50,000,000 miles and triggered 1,000,000 Arkfalls. Mazel tov, Ark Hunters. [Source: Trion Worlds press release]
Defiance bugs invade RIFT
Adventurers of Telara, you've kind of got a good news/bad news situation taking place here. The bad news is that RIFT is getting invaded, which was already the case. The worse news is that it's now being invaded by the Hellbugs from Defiance, which usually require a great deal of automatic weapons fire to be put down. The good news is that if you can somehow manage to overcome the distinct lack of any firearms and put down the invasion, you can keep a Hellbug around to ride! Wait, that might still be bad news. Yes, Trion Worlds is kicking off a cross-promotional event with new fire rifts that give players a chance at Defiance-related rewards, most notably the chance to pick up a Hellbug mount. The event is open to all players, even if you're just trying out the game's Lite version. No word on how long the event will last, but it's probably best to assume that it won't be forever -- which is also sort of a good news/bad news situation, unless you wanted to see the game overrun by Hellbugs.
Defiance contest lets you(r character) be on the show [Updated]
The crossover potential of the Defiance MMO and television series has only really been felt with a few main characters so far, but Trion Worlds wants to take that one step further by giving you a chance to be on the show. How does that work? Simply register yourself at the official contest page and head into the game to earn the most ark salvage per hour during the contest period from 12:00 a.m. PDT April 30 to 11:59 p.m May 12 in the Most Wanted: Competitor and Most Wanted: Rogue's Gallery in-game pursuits. Of course, this is you, not your character's likeness, that we're talking about here, but it won't just be a simple screenshot pushed in the background. Artists from the series will render the winning player into an upcoming episode of the show. [Update 4:15 p.m. EDT: The press release says that "the winner will have artists from the Defiance series render their character's likeness into a special place in an upcoming episode," but Trion's PR team has separately confirmed to Massively that it will in fact be you, not your character, whose likeness will be imported into the show.] [Source: Trion Worlds press release]
Defiance dev blog covers common issues and cheater voyeurism
Defiance executive producer Nathan Richardsson is getting serious today in a very serious blog post uploaded very seriously to the official site, a post that discusses fixes already made and promises even more fixes for some of the problems that have plagued the game since launch. MMO launches typically go about as smooth as a rhino's hindquarters, but it's always good to hear official word that the team is aware and working on the problems. According to the post, the "big team" is working overtime addressing issues like PC server woes, general game server crashes, Xbox problems, and PlayStation 3 client patches. In happier news, the team promises that hackers and cheaters are being taken very, you know, seriously. The blog even admits that some cheaters are allowed to linger in the game for a while so the team can "enjoy" watching the scum. The team is also looking into the Case of the Disappearing Items, although it is admittedly a tough nut to crack. Future blog posts, Richardsson says, will cover player feedback on many of the issues since launch.
Trion responds to Defiance cheating reports
Trion has responded to reports of cheating in its new Defiance MMO shooter. Community manager Mathew "Sledgehammer70" Everett says that the firm's "anti-cheat measures are both client-side and server-side" and that Trion is "beefing up on all aspects around this." He goes on to explain how the community cheat-reporting has been helpful to the developers, and that "in most cases these players are truly cheating." You can contact Trion's customer support if you want to report suspicious in-game activity, and be sure to check Sledgehammer's full post on Reddit. [Thanks Robert!]
Choose My Adventure: Extreme DIY makeover edition
Life may be like a box of chocolates, but gaming is like a Do-It-Yourself project. It may not be as mouth-watering an analogy, but it is certainly fitting: MMOs are a giant construction zone where players build their own experiences in a virtual world using tools from the game and their own imagination. Each project is a unique undertaking, bearing the personal touches of the builder, whether the builder is an individual or a group like a guild. Some players prefer to build a single residence and settle in, while others enjoy moving from project to project, exploring new territory and testing new tools. Me? I tend toward the former; I'm the kind who tinkers around in one place over a long period of time. But all that's about to change. Again. That's right, folks; it's my turn to break ground on yet another Choose My Adventure! For the next six weeks I am leaving the comfy confines of my familiar surroundings and allowing you to direct my next MMO project. Yes, my dear Massively friends, you will be the foreman of this endeavor, determining every step of the construction, from where I'll build my newest experience to what tools I'll get to use.
Four minutes of this week's episode of Defiance
Did you enjoy the first episode of Defiance last Monday? We thought so. If you can't wait to see what's happening in the first four minutes of the next episode, then we have you covered. Tensions are rising as central characters Nolan and Irisa come head-to-head with ancient laws and religions within the city of Defiance, and we're sure that what happens next is going to impact the ragtag community for many episodes after. Nolan has donned the star of the local lawman and stepped right into the middle of a Castithan ceremony, something that does not sit well with Datak Tarr, the local crime boss. Even after they fought in battle together, is it be possible for these two headstrong characters to bury the hatchet for good? Can't they all just get along? It's TV, so no, no they cannot. Click past the cut to watch the video!
Defiance producer addresses issues in recent patch
No launch period is without its stresses, bugs, and crises. Defiance Executive Producer Nathan Richardsson took some time to address some of the recent drama brought on by patching in new content and fixes. He called on the old adage that "the road to hell is paved with good intentions," explaining that some of the problems in the most recent patch were due to the team wanting to get content out too quickly. "I could have pushed less and said 'no' and had it longer in testing and prepared better," Richardsson explained. He also stated that some of the problems couldn't have been caught with more thorough testing because of the differences between the live and test environments. He concluded that the team is determined to do its best by Defiance, as "she deserves it." It's quite the delicate balance, we're sure, to deal with the fact that your game is out and being adored and also that it's got some vital issues. Richardsson summed up those feelings with, "I can go from sad to twerk in a heartbeat." You can check out an ever-updating list of known issues here. Until the next patch, keep on twerkin' on.
Syfy touts Defiance premiere numbers
Syfy is patting itself on the back for what was apparently a very successful Defiance series premiere. The new drama debuted last night with a feature-length pilot that set the stage for the series' regular Monday night time slot in the U.S. Syfy says the premiere was its most-watched scripted show among adults aged 18 to 49 since the 2006 premiere of Eureka. Defiance also drew 2.7 million total viewers, which was good enough for first place over 2009's Warehouse 13. Trion's Defiance shooter MMO has seen players rack up more than 6 million hours of gameplay since its April 2nd debut. [Source: Syfy press release]
Defiance gameplay trailer highlights the Ark Hunter story
Last night, the TV half of the multimedia Defiance experience launched, drawing players into the story of the town by the same name. Today, Trion Worlds expanded the narrative of this new world, releasing a new trailer highlighting the life of the Ark Hunters and delving into the events that led to the current state of the world. As Ark Hunters, players of the shooter comb the world to collect valuable Ark technology while facing danger in the partially terraformed lands. Did you catch the premiere episode of Defiance on TV last night? If so, tell us what you thought in the comments below. And watch the Ark Hunter action in the video after the break. [Source: Trion Press release]
Must See HDTV (April 15th - 21st)
There aren't many premieres this week, but Syfy's new show Defiance is bringing a new approach, and our old favorite Awkward has returned. Look below for the highlights this week, followed after the break by our weekly listing of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and videogames. Defiance Syfy's TV show / game hybrid makes its broadcast debut tonight. The multiplayer game had experienced some server issues after its debut a couple of weeks ago, but those are apparently being addressed via patches. Now we'll see if the TV show's narrative can hold up its end, or even get more viewers interested in its unique approach. Taking place in a future St. Louis after years of human vs. alien warfare, a small town sheriff and his adopted alien daughter try to keep all sides at peace. If you're into second screen apps, the Syfy Sync iPad app is also promising a few new features for the show. Check out a trailer for the TV show after the break. (April 15th, Syfy, 9PM) Django Unchained The latest flick from Quentin Tarantino comes home this week, starring Jamie Foxx and Oscar winner Christoph Waltz. Set in the Antebellum South, this revenge fantasy is as violent and shocking as you may have heard, but should align well with what QT fans have come to expect. ($22.99 on Amazon) Hemlock Grove Netflix's next big dive into original content debuts later this week, as the world is introduced to Eli Roth's Hemlock Grove. A horror series focusing on an outbreak of werewolf attacks in a small town, it may not appeal to all the high-minded fans of House of Cards, but could be a nice True Blood (or at least Vampire Diaries?) alternative. Check out the trailer after the break -- but note the incredibly specific content warning first. (April 19th, Netflix Streaming)
First major bug-smashing update to be released for Defiance
After the successful release of the MMO-half of Defiance, Trion Worlds has announced that it will soon release the first major update to the game. Patch 1.010 is a laundry list of fixes for everything from NPC AI problems to mission text typos to animation flubs to increased rewards, but the most important one is right at the top: "Improved server and client stability." If you've had issues with the game since launch, you might want to check out these fixes and see how much they will improve the game for you. Update: The original version of this article implied the patch has already launched; this is not the case, so the post has been updated accordingly. Thank you to everyone who sent in the correction!
Defiance hands out compensation package to players
Defiance players are in for a little treat for their patience during a tumultuous opening week. Trion Worlds acknowledged the various issues that the game and its community have gone through, and thus the studio has put together a gift package as a way to thank customers for their patronage. Current players have received several bonuses in their account, including a "Daredevil" exclusive title and one-week boosts to weapons skill, scrip, loot, and XP. "We hope this shows you that we do appreciate you on this journey of Defiance, trying out something new, trying something different," wrote Executive Producer Nathan Richardsson. [Thanks to Balance for the tip!]
Defiance unveils the Ark Hunter Chronicles Director's Cut
Ah, the life of an Ark Hunter. Fresh air, flexible hours, and huge amounts of gunplay in a hunt for valuable technology. There's even a nice benefits package. It's all made totally clear in the Ark Hunter Chronicles Director's Cut from Defiance, a motion comic showing off what it means to go from being some random guy with a gun and flexible morals to being a genuine Ark Hunter. The full cut does feature a fair amount of blood, swearing, and violence, so it's probably not safe for your workplace or any younger children watching over your shoulder. But it's quite effective at conveying some of the atmosphere of Defiance if you haven't yet jumped into the game or you're waiting to see if the show is any good. So jump on past the break to check out the video in its entirety; although we should warn you it doesn't contain instructions for submitting your own Ark Hunter resume.
McCreary creates 'vast musical history' for Defiance
Bear McCreary has posted a Defiance-related update on his official website. The composer, known for scoring Syfy's reimagined Battlestar Galactica television series as well as video games including Dark Void, says that Defiance was one of the biggest challenges of his career. "I was tasked with writing a daunting amount of music, including two hours of energetic music for the videogame, and nearly eight hours of score for the thirteen-episode season," McCreary explains. "During all this, I constantly juggled a dozen or so character themes and followed intricately crafted story arcs." McCreary also contributed to Defiance world-building over the course of the project's five-year development history. His duties included designing distinct musical styles for each of the Votan races, producing "detailed treatises on the design, construction, and functionality of Votan instruments," and ultimately creating a "vast musical history" for the world of Defiance. Finally, McCreary hints at more Defiance-related details to come via his ongoing blog. You can preview the Defiance soundtrack by clicking past the cut and watching the Theme from Defiance video.
Defiance's Richardsson on dev priorities, DLC, and more
Nathan Richardsson is back with another dev diary status update for Trion's newly launched Defiance shooter. The long and short of it is that yes, the team is aware of and working on issues like items disappearing in the salvage matrix, chat issues, and server crashes. Richardsson also says that the DLC he mentioned in the previous dev diary has now been pushed back to allow more time for bug fixes and post-launch polish. He also lists a loose outline of Trion's dev team priorities. Full cluster crashes get top priority, followed by game server crashes, live gameplay issues, upcoming patches, and DLC. You can read the full diary at the official Defiance website.
Trion apologizes for Defiance issues, outlines contract system
Ready for some more Defiance updates? Good, because Trion and Syfy are obliging with a couple of news blurbs and another TV spot. First up is executive producer Nathan Richardsson's day four game diary, in which he mentions that the dev team is hard at work addressing connectivity and patching issues, server crashes, chat and VOIP problems, and the problematic U.S. Xbox server cluster. "After five years of creating this, it saddens us and frustrates us that you aren't getting the great experience we strove to create. The upside is that it makes us quite determined to get you there," Richardsson writes. On a happier note, the Defiance blog updated on Friday with a look at the game's contract system. Contracts are basically missions that offer extra rewards, and you can find them under the goals section of your EGO menu. They refresh on a daily and weekly basis and offer scaling rewards. Finally, Syfy has released a new 30-second teaser for the television show which you'll find after the break.
