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En Masse revamps TERA website, adds dev blog and class skill videos
TERA's visual style is a big part of the forthcoming title's identity. From the high poly-count graphics to the controversial outfits and animations, En Masse Entertainment's Asian import is covered in a shiny, shimmering gloss. Earlier this week, the publisher revamped TERA's official website to match, doing away with the older Flash design for a sleeker, slicker content-focused look. The site boasts an array of new features, including a new developer blog section and a media area with several new class videos viewable among the entries. In addition to the game's trailers, check out the skill-based videos for the various classes, including Lancer, Berserker, Priest, Slayer, Archer, Mystic, Warrior, and Sorcerer (the last of which you can also view after the cut).
Bluehole Studio's TERA westernization team interviewed
Inevitably, one of two things happens when we post a story about TERA's westernization. First, folks compare it to Aion (and the general consensus is usually that it will be similarly grindy). Second, people bring up Brian Knox, currently an En Masse producer who formerly worked as an NCsoft producer responsible for bringing Aion to western audiences. Happily, TERAfans has brought us information rather than speculation about TERA's journey overseas, in the form of a lengthy interview translation with members of Bluehole Studio's Korean localization team. The article, translated from the Korean original, touches on the challenges inherent in bringing a game to the North American market that values story presentation a bit more than the game's native Asian audience. "The English version really takes priority for the game's story. NA players consider a game's story a portion of the game's content. With that in mind we are currently working on how we can best convey TERA's story. For example, the story cannot just be told through simple text, but with many background stories for the NPCs and zones," says Young-Kwang Kim. The piece also makes clear that the job of westernization is much more than simply translating quest text into the appropriate language. Whether you're talking about the German, Japanese, or American markets, Bluehole's team is especially mindful of what it terms "culturalization" as opposed to localization. "It is true that we are careful about cultural differences more than anything. TERA's localization is more than a simple translation, word for word. We want to make it easier for players around the world to understand the game without hitting cultural walls," says Hee-Soo Lee. Head over to TERAfans for the full interview.
TERA talks costume contest, shows off new screenshots
Looking forward to TERA? Like cosplay? If so, En Masse Entertainment has a Halloween costume contest just for you. Send in a picture of yourself dressed as a TERA player character, NPC, or monster, and you could snag TERA merchandise and multiple beta invites. The contest will also feature five runners-up, each of whom will take home t-shirts, posters, and lanyards as well as one beta invite. Entry requires a Twitter account, and you'll need to reply to the official TERA Twitter with a link to your costume photo and the hashtag #teracostume. Be sure and have a look at the costume contest rules on the official forums. Speaking of costumes, you can also check out the latest Screenshot of the Week featurette for a potential idea in the form of a Castanic Free Brotherhood farmer. %Gallery-96720%
Massively Exclusive: TERA lore - The Slayer's Spark
Yesterday we brought you news of En Masse Entertainment's new Race and Class series, which kicked off with a profile of castanics and slayers, as well as a collation of TERA's extensive world lore. Today, Massively is proud to bring you an exclusive look at even more of the upcoming action MMO's backstory, courtesy of En Masse scribe R.K. MacPherson. Join us after the cut for The Slayer's Spark, a master and apprentice tale featuring the no-nonsense castanic Isaura and a fresh-faced amani Vanguard recruit named Jahangir.
TERA unveils race and class series, world lore
While we've all enjoyed the steady diet of screenshots En Masse Entertainment has been feeding us over the past few months, it's been a while since the devs have deigned to deliver a dish that approximated a main course. Today, the makers of TERA have revealed a bit of filet mignon to go with all of the appetizers, in the form of the first entry in their Race and Class series. Today's profiles outline castanics and slayers as well as a new synopsis of the game's lore and world backstory. If that's not enough for you, keep an eye on Massively tomorrow for an exclusive TERA reveal. Slash past the cut for the juicy details, and don't forget the gallery of new screens below. You can also read more about the slayer class via Zam's in-depth class preview. %Gallery-105090%
TERA highlights air demons in new screenshots
Hey guess what? En Masse has released some more TERA screenshots! Shocking, we know, but it is that time of the week. The latest installment of the venerable Screenshots of the Week featurette takes us to the Celestial Hills, a place of power, divine energy, and -- apparently -- air demons known as kumas. The kumas are drawn to the raw power of the region, and their ultimate goal is to harvest as much of it as their ample bodies can sustain. While we've yet to uncover any lore or further details about the demons, you can bet we'll be carving our way through hordes of them when TERA releases. Until then, feast your eyes on the screenshots in our gallery below or on the official website. %Gallery-96720%
TERA enchantment crystals explained
While we've seen plenty of screenshots, videos, and armor renders for En Masse Entertainment's upcoming TERA MMORPG, in-depth information on game mechanics has been a bit scarce. Today, the game's official website has been updated with a lengthy article on the basics of enchantment crystals, giving TERA fans a better idea of the game's equipment customization and playstyle flexibility. In a nutshell, crystals are consumable items that players place on their weapons and armor. Unequipping them and/or dying may destroy said crystals, and this mechanic is presumably based -- at least in part -- on random number generation. Basic crystals grant increases to HP or MP, while rarer crystals only activate under certain conditions (but provide a much larger bonus). The article also mentions the three tiers of TERA bosses and how crystals affect them, as well as a few example crystals and their effects. Read all about it on the official website.
TERA polling community for development ideas
En Masse Entertainment's Evan "Scapes" Berman has checked in on the official TERA forums with a brief note that details a new community outreach program for the fantasy MMORPG. Velika's Voice will attempt to glean the collective community feeling for a particular in-game subject via a poll question and the resulting forum back-and-forth. "We will use the results and subsequent discussion harvested from these polls [...] to assist in the development of the game," Berman writes. While the skeptic in us feels like this might simply be a pro marketing move designed to keep TERA in the public eye, it will nonetheless be interesting to see some of the community responses and note whether the feedback does in fact influence the final product. Be sure to read the announcement and take part in the initial poll offering.
TERA shows off scary vampires
While it can be said that TERA's female avatars are occasionally guilty of vamping it up, particularly when strutting around the high-fantasy world in their stiletto heels and supervixen armor, actual bloodsucking immortals weren't something we initially pictured in Bluehole Studio's upcoming title. That said, fantasy MMOs have featured them before, notably in EverQuest II's Bloodline Chronicles adventure pack, and TERA looks to continue the tradition of undead MMO mobs as evidenced by the latest Screenshot of the Week featurette. The folks at Bluehole and En Masse Entertainment are putting a unique spin on the usual creature-of-the-night motif, as the official website says the vampirs were "once peaceful residents of Popolion and [its] environs, [but have since] gone insane and resumed their former blood-sucking ways." Check out the news blurb on the TERA website and the new images in our gallery below. %Gallery-96720%
TERA-Europe unveils archer and sorcerer gameplay videos
TERA's action combat system has gotten a lot of press over the months since the game's announcement, and rightly so as it looks to differentiate itself from traditional tab-target-spam-special MMO mechanics. While it sounds great on paper, particularly for melee and heavily armored types, ranged classes are a different animal. Happily, Frogster and TERA-Europe have just released a pair of new gameplay videos that show the PvE experience from the perspective of both an archer and a sorcerer. The trailers give would-be players a first-hand look at ranged DPS in the world of TERA, and highlight the fact that both classes will require a certain amount of active participation and, dare we say it, player skill. Check out both videos after the break.
En Masse shows off PAX TERA demo video
En Masse Entertainment has taken the wraps off a lengthy video edit of their PAX Prime 2010 TERA press demonstration. If you missed the game convention, as well as our coverage of the cultist refuge, you can sample scenes from the demo that have been cut together and made available on YouTube. The video, featuring a look at several boss fights as well as the interior and exterior of the cultist's refuge, runs right at six minutes in length and is underscored by some cheeky narration courtesy of producers Sam Kim and Stefan Ramirez. "TERA is deep, it doesn't just have a story, it is a story. Progression isn't just about levels, items, or skills but about moving the story forward and finding out more about the world and your role in it as a player," Kim notes. In addition to the usual footage of TERA's combat, there are also some interesting shots of the environments and what looks to be harvesting mechanics in the form of butterfly gathering.
TERA's Cultist Refuge screens revealed
Those of us cooling our heels at home during PAX Prime 2010 missed out on En Masse Entertainment's extensive demo for its highly-anticipated TERA MMORPG. Luckily, En Masse rides to the rescue with the latest Screenshots of the Week featurette. The 18th installment takes us to the Cultist's Refuge, discussed at length by lead writer David Noonan in our PAX demo article. The gothic fortress shelters forbidden magic and dark forces bent on resurrecting the demon god Lok, so adventurers are advised to tread lightly. Players will enter the area around level 35, and may also encounter a nefarious Argon as they advance their storyline and character in and around the refuge. Be sure to check out the screens in our gallery below and on the official TERA website. %Gallery-96720%
TERA weekly screens show more of Castanica [Updated]
En Masse Entertainment is back with the 17th installment of its TERA Screenshots of the Week featurette, and the series returns to the well-documented city of Castanica. Otherwise known as the Shrouded Rose, Castanica features flying buttresses and gothic-inspired architecture, in addition to the scantily clad female castanics that some gamers love to hate. "The center of castanic life and culture is at once earthy and mysterious, with secrets seeming to wait around every corner, while the iron and the rose aptly symbolize the contradictions inherent in the castanic spirit," says the teaser of the official TERA website. Check out the new shots in our gallery below, as well as on the official site. Editor's Note: We just got the trailer for Castanica! We've embedded it after the break, so check it out! %Gallery-96720%
PAX 2010: TERA's David Noonan talks story, endgame
You might think that BioWare has the market cornered when it comes to story in upcoming MMORPGs. As we found out at PAX Prime 2010, however, TERA is also focusing on delivering an interactive narrative experience to complement its action combat gameplay. Our own Rubi Bayer managed to corner En Masse Entertainment lead writer David Noonan for a little one-on-one time regarding TERA's extensive storyline. Noonan also dropped an interesting nugget or two regarding the state of the title's endgame. Read the full interview after the cut and be sure to check out our gallery below. %Gallery-101708%
TERA screens showcase the city of Kaiator
Another week, another set of TERA screens to whet our appetites for En Masse Entertainment's forthcoming action MMORPG. The Screenshots of the Week featurette turns sweet sixteen today, and while the shots are devoid of the eternally conversational skimpy armor, they nonetheless bear examining. This week's subject is the iron city of Kaiator, located in northern Shara and home to the honorable and ferocious Aman. Kaiator, like its builders, is all but impregnable, and a forthcoming lore update on the official TERA website will fill in even more details about the city known as the Unbreakable Iron Jewel. Check out the screens in our gallery below or on the official site. %Gallery-96720%
TERA's Patrick Wyatt talks lag, security, and an M-rating
TERA is shaping up to be a huge hit with international audiences, and nowhere is this more evident than in En Masse Entertainment's willingness to reach out to fan communities outside the U.S. The latest example comes courtesy of TERAHispano, as they recently sat down with En Masse COO Patrick Wyatt for a round of questions regarding everything from microtransactions, to account security, to lag. Wyatt has lots to say in the lengthy interview, and among the more interesting nuggets is the fact that En Masse expects TERA to ship with an M-rating. He also touches on performance issues, pointing to the Focus Group Tests as evidence that lag won't be an issue for the game's action combat system. "When we built the first Western servers for TERA, we selected a QA datacenter just a few miles from our offices in Seattle, which meant that European players who joined our Focus Group Tests were playing on servers over 5000 miles away. Based on the forum posts, polls, and informal surveys from those events, we didn't see lag problems," Wyatt says. Finally, he reiterates that TERA will not be a microtransaction-based title, and also discusses GameGuard and alternatives to the intrusive anti-cheat software.
TERA reveals high elf city of Allemantheia
Normally at this time every week we bring you some new TERA screenshots, and while we're happy to report that is still the case, we're also excited to point out a meaty new lore entry on the official TERA website. Both content updates center around the city of Allemantheia, otherwise known as The Desert Jewel. The majestic home of the high elves is located in the barren wastes of the Southern Shara desert and features soaring spires, water sculptures, and austere stonework that reflects the logic and sensibilities of its makers. You can read more about Allemantheia's history, as well as interesting blurbs about The Mysterium, at the official website. Also, don't forget to check out the new screenshots in our gallery below. %Gallery-96720%
TERA fan video uncovers political system info
TERA's political system has been shrouded in mystery for some time now, despite allusions to it in various producer and community manager interviews that En Masse Entertainment has given out over the past few months. Thanks to a video interview captured at Gamescom by a member of the Glimpse Dog fan website, we now have a bit more of an idea as to how the feature will play out. The video is part four of a five-part series, and features live TERA gameplay interspersed with commentary by the reporter and an unnamed TERA employee who drops several nuggets of information about the political system. Among them are the fact that the system currently features lordships and kingships. TERA's world is divided into regions that will be able to elect a lord via citizen vote and also via an unspecified PvP mechanic. Details on citizenship and voting privileges were sketchy, and it seems the system is still under heavy development. Once a lordship is obtained, players may then apply for kingship, which also features an election mechanic and grants sovereignty over a particular city. Kings also control taxes and have an unspecified level of control over how monsters spawn in their part of the world. Check out the video after the cut or the full series at Glimpse Dog.
See TERA's scenic Ascension Valley
Welcome to the fourteenth installment of TERA's Screenshots of the Week featurette. Today, En Masse Entertainment takes us south of the previously visited city of Castanica to Ascension Valley, a lush locale situated near Ostgarath and a place where you can meet interesting and stimulating mobs of an ancient culture... and kill them. Alternatively, you can explore Azrael's Labyrinth, an ancient dungeon that holds multiple levels and multiple secrets, each of them poised to destroy (or at least severely maim) the heartiest of adventurers. View the new shots in our comprehensive Screenshot of the Week gallery below or at the official TERA website. %Gallery-96720%
Gamescom 2010: En Masse releases new TERA cinematic
Ready for two minutes of new TERA-related goodness? Look no further than the latest trailer from En Masse Entertainment, released today at Gamescom 2010. The video features a fair helping of combat gameplay, as well as a plethora of stylized action setups that are obvious homages to the trailers of big-budget action films. The trailer also highlights TERA's emphasis on fine combat control, concluding with the words "take aim, take control, and take action." We'll be more than happy to take a longer look at the game, and you can too via the video found just behind the cut. Alternatively, check it out over at IGN.
