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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!]
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]
The Daily Grind: Will you play TERA when it's free?
TERA and I have a strange relationship. During the buildup to En Masse's fantasy game I wrote dozens of articles about it, spent considerable amounts of time studying up on it via fansites and foreign news reports, and generally got pretty excited by it all the way around. At launch, I enjoyed it to a degree, but for whatever reason it didn't sustain my interest past the free month that came with my collector's edition. I'm tempted to pick it up again now, though, but my flirtation has less to do with the business model and more to do with being re-exposed to the game's gorgeous visuals via the new trailer. What about you, Massively readers? Will you play TERA next month after the F2P conversion, and if so, is the business model the main reason why? 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!
TERA going free-to-play in February
TERA is officially going free-to-play this February. The exact date has yet to be released, but En Masse Entertainment has collected all of the other pertinent details in a lengthy F2P FAQ that you can find on the official website. The new game service will feature three tiers: Founder, Elite, and Standard. Standard is TERA's free offering, while Elite is the usual $14.99 per month subscription option. Founder status is acquired by purchasing and redeeming a copy of the game and is good for life. Some of the free-to-play limitations include character slots (two per server with the option to purchase more), bank slots (72 with the option to purchase more), and various brokerage fees and taxes. There are no race, class, or content limitations, although Elite players do get dungeon cooldown bonuses. A full list of account tier differences may be found in the official FAQ. You can also check out the F2P announcement trailer after the cut.
Big TERA content update in the works, game going F2P in Korea and Japan
NHN is reportedly taking steps to convert the Korean and Japanese versions of TERA to a free-to-play business model. MMO Culture says that TERA Korea will be F2P as of January 10th, while TERA Japan will finish its changeover in mid-February. Free accounts will be restricted to three or four character slots depending on the region as well as longer dungeon cool-down times. Characters will be allowed 72 storage slots. TERA is also getting a major content update in the near future. The patch includes a revamped political system, "content centered around guilds and the community," large-scale PvP events, sieges and airships, and new dungeons. NHN has released a story-focused teaser video for the update which you can view after the cut (there are no subtitles). Thus far En Masse has not commented on any business model changes for the American client. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
