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One Shots: While you're waiting
With so many players stuck in queues to get onto the server or stuck at work waiting to get back to their new shiny, we thought today was a great time for a public service One Shots. Indeed! When you get frustrated that you can't get online and romp through the RIFT head-start, you can just pop back here and zen out on this placid screenshot taken by Embolism. He writes in: "I woke up to a massive blanket of snow outside and a text message from work telling me to stay home. The RIFT open beta was ending, so I decided to jump on for the last few hours. Poodoo, my cat, and I finally found a good spot to stop and relax in the sun when a rift decided to ruin the view. It's just one of those days I guess." One Shots is always on the lookout for great screenshots. If you'd like to contribute, then email your image to us here at oneshots@massively.com. Be sure to include your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. Yours could be the next one we post on Massively! %Gallery-112285%
One Shots: Antici...pation
With the RIFT preorder head-start beginning this Thursday, some people opted to back off from the beta and instead let anticipation build. There again, we've also heard of some other people who are using their time to knock out work and chores early so they can enjoy a slacktastic weekend of guilt-free gaming! Today's gorgeous One Shots comes to us from our friendly neighborhood Mr. Angry, who has also opted to step back and wait for the pre-launch. He writes in: "Mr Angry here. I figured I'd send you a screenshot from RIFT Beta 7. I made a Cleric and am having so much fun with the soul system. It is liberating to not be confined to just one role. This was the last screenshot I took before I decided to log out prior to head start. I am looking forward to playing an Elf in release as well. Trion has done a great job realizing the world so beautifully and creating a new high-water mark for game performance, artistic design, and dynamism in what would otherwise be a fairly linear MMO! High hopes for RIFT!" Would you like to share some images of your recent adventures? We're always on the hunt for more screenshots of the many different MMOs out there -- but we need your help. Email your screenshots in to us at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. We'll post it out here and give you the credit for sending it in! %Gallery-112285%
One Shots: When good fae go bad
Sure, anyone who has read anything about RIFT is aware that one of the big bad guys in the game is (surprise) the invasion force of monsters that like to pop out of rifts wherever the rifts touch down. Along the way you also get to destroy lots of other bad guys, such as the ones who reside in the hazy, overgrown forest area seen in today's One Shots. This image was sent in to us by ThorHal, who gives us a bit more background: "While traveling around Telara, you sometimes get to places where you just have to pause and enjoy what Trion accomplished: a beautiful rich world, as seen in my shot. This image shows an area of the game where fae are doing their evil things -- yes, evil fae, how great is that? While this place has the look and feel of being corrupted, it still holds some beauty." Are you in a game with an open beta? Would you like to show off your adventures in that soon-to-be released world? So long as the NDA is down, we're glad to post beta screenshots. Just email those in to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing in the image. We'll post it out here and give you the credit for sending it in. Please make sure your image is at least 1024px wide or larger and has as no visible UI elements. Yours could be next! %Gallery-112285%
The MMO Report: TERA-fying exclusive edition
Another week, another pile of news delivered to us by your snarktastic friend and ours, Casey Schreiner. So grab your boxers, Bertie, because we're going in fast and furious! First up, it's a nod to us (yay!) for our post on ArenaNet's statements in regard to Guild Wars 2 alpha and beta dates. Whether it's likely 2011 or 2012, all we have to say, in the most memetastic method we can manage, is "do want." Next it's a note on RIFT's trailer made with in-game footage and the impending release date, which are both scoring high on the "hell yes" scale this week. The StarCraft 2 MM-faux mod is also mentioned, now that Blizzard has had its chance to crack down on the author. Next, Casey and the MMO Report crew are proud to present their exclusive TERA video featuring footage of Mount Tyrannas, which you can get a taste of during Casey's newscast. Of course, if you're more in the mood to experience it without Casey's dulcet tones atop it, you can check out the video on the G4TV site as well. Finally, it's a bittersweet note on Warhammer Online servers, which are being merged in order to keep the population together. Add in a dash of crazy courtesy of Uncle Casey's Mailbag, and stir to taste. Now that we've had a merry romp through metaphor and pop-culture references alike, we'll borrow a nod from Casey and sign off. Don't forget you can catch The MMO Report every Thursday on G4TV!
RIFT podcast features Trion dev roundtable and fansite questions
The RIFT podcast is back with its 31st episode, and the latest show features a panel of distinguished developer guests from Trion Worlds as well as a smattering of questions from various fan website representatives. The guests include producer Scott Hartsman, vice president of development Russ Brown, and design producer Hal Hanlin, and the trio chats about a wide range of topics including botting, pet classes, and balancing game design with player demands. Also on the docket are tidbits concerning a RIFT random dungeon finder, target autofacing, and Trion's ultimate goals for RIFT (as well as a few thoughts on exceeding them). Head over to The Rift for all the audio antics.
New RIFT trailer shows off dynamic invasions
Ho hum, another day, another RIFT reveal. Trion is carpet-bombing the MMORPG battlefield with an all out marketing assault as the March 1st launch date for its fantasy opus draws near. Today brings us a new trailer titled Cry Havoc, and in it we are witnesses to an interesting time-lapse presentation that shows off various in-game battles featuring large contingents of players on screen. Unlike the previous CGI extravaganza, this trailer is composed entirely of in-game footage. The highlights were captured in the game's latest beta event, and the clip illustrates the zone-wide invasions made possible by the RIFT's dynamic content system. The next beta event starts tomorrow, and you can get in on the action by heading to the signup portion of the game's official website. Before you do, be sure and check out the Cry Havoc trailer after the cut.
One Shots: Home sweet home
The new shininess of RIFT is pulling all manner of new players into the beta tests. With the ability to invite a huge bunch of people on one friend key, gamers have been taking chunks of their guilds with them and forming up in the lands of Telara to battle together against the invading evils. Today's picturesque RIFT screenshot comes to us from Tzvalka, who is part of the Seraphim guild on the Faeblight beta server and who writes in: "Just a majestic shot of the Guardian city of Sanctum taken upon my first arrival to the city." Have you captured a picturesque image on your recent travels? If so, we'd love to see it. Email yours in to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. Please make sure your image is at least 1024 pixels wide and has no visible UI elements. Also, please make sure the image is attached properly, as we're getting a large number of emails with no images at all, or images that have been force-resized by mail clients due to being embedded and not attached. Thanks! %Gallery-112285%
Trion releases new RIFT Orphiel Farwind lore
With all the attention paid to RIFT's classes, souls, and game mechanics in general, it's easy to forget that the world of Telara has a fairly deep backstory. Whether or not most players will digest or appreciate the title's lore while grinding towards the level cap is anyone's guess, but Trion has nonetheless injected some interesting flavor into its upcoming fantasy MMO. The latest example of Telarian lore is an account of Orphiel Farwind, a controversial and somewhat mysterious figure who plays a notable role in the Defiant mission to create an army of Ascended heroes. Join us after the cut for a bit of backstory and some art assets relating to the fabled character. %Gallery-101448%
The Daily Grind: Do betas affect your enjoyment at launch?
MMO betas get a lot of press these days, and whether you feel they've devolved into pre-release marketing campaigns or are serving their original testing purposes, one thing almost everyone can agree on is that open betas (and even some late-stage closed betas) offer a pretty accurate representation of the game you'll be playing at release. This can lead to premature burnout (or at the very least, a bit of boredom once the game goes live), and this phenomenon is particularly noticeable if you play a lot of themepark games where there's a very definite character progression path and an optimum route from zone to zone. Titles like RIFT can build a lot of positive buzz by inviting tire-kickers in to "test" early and often, but the strategy could conceivably backfire if folks feel they've played their fill prior to release. What about you Massively folk? Do you scale back your beta activities so as not to spoil a game's launch, or do you go all out and play a beta as you would a live game? 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!
One Shots: Trouble comes in threes
When it comes to hotly anticipated games for 2011, RIFT is one of the top games readers seem to be interested in. With inky black skies opening up overhead and the threat of doom headed for the lands of Telara, many players are eating this fantasy title up. One such person is today's One Shots contributor, Steven L., who sent in this screenshot from a recent RIFT beta and writes: "Coming over a bridge during a zone event in Scarlet Gorge, I managed to catch the screenshot of three death rifts in close proximity to one another. The game continues to impress me even though we're only in beta five!" If you're in a beta with an open NDA, we'd be glad to show off your screenshots. All you have to do to participate is snap a picture, write a quick note about it, and email it to us here at oneshots@massively.com. Be sure to include your name and the name of the game as well. It could be one of the next ones we feature out here on Massively. %Gallery-112285%
Trion releases new RIFT CG cinematic
If it wasn't already apparent that Trion Worlds is spending a lot of money on its new RIFT MMORPG, one look at the game's newest trailer should erase all doubts. Up to now, the title's teaser videos have featured in-game footage which, while undeniably pretty, frankly pale in comparison to the CG trailer Trion has just released. The clip features a tense chase and eventual standoff between a pair of Defiants and a Guardian, followed by the activation of an awe-inspiring rift and the arrival of its nasty denizens. As per MMO custom these days, the entire production is liberally laced with over-the-top violence, and serves to amp up the excitement level for fans of fantasy-related combat. Check out all the details after the break and let us know what you think in the comments.
RIFT reveals a new dungeon with The Fall of Lantern Hook
The ooohs and ahhhs continue courtesy of Trion's RIFT, and the fantasy MMO is ramping up for its fifth beta event this week. Along with the recently announced public grouping feature, Trion is also spilling the beans regarding a new dungeon called Lantern Hook. In a new lore piece released today, we get a taste of how dire the situation on Telara truly is and how the fate of the realm hinges on the actions of the few Ascended brave enough to challenge the fiery depths of the dungeon. Lantern Hook is located in the Droughtlands, and swimming to the bottom of an enchanted well there will transport players to "a nightmare world of endless flame," complete with kobolds and yes, a dragon. This particular dragon is known as Maelforge, and you can read more about his dark designs for Telara's future after the cut.
Plan your perfect character with the RIFT soul calculator
One of the greatest strengths of any MMORPG is its community. Regardless of the size of a title's playerbase, it's practically a given that the demographics will include folks with the skills (and the goodwill) to make the experience better for everyone. Usually this happens free of charge in the form of web-based tools and analysis, and the latest case in point comes to us courtesy of ZAM and its new RIFT soul calculator. The tool allows rifters to experiment with builds all the way up to the game's level 50 cap (even though RIFT's current beta phase doesn't allow for endgame play). ZAM's announcement post carries a beta qualifier of its own, as the soul calculator is still under development and may feature a lingering bug or two. RIFT is a subscription-based fantasy MMO developed by Trion Worlds which launches on March 1st. You can learn more about the game and sign up for beta via the official website.
RIFT reveals Warrior build-your-class video
The video hits keep on coming for Trion Worlds' RIFT, though this time the video in question is aimed at stat geeks and mechanics aficionados intrigued by the game's build-a-class-for-any-situation marketing angle. The two-minute clip breaks down the game's four base archetypes (Warrior, Cleric, Mage, and Rogue) and lays out the dozens of possible souls and skill trees for the Warrior via some flashy animation. There's a bit of gameplay footage thrown in for good measure, and you'll glimpse what looks to be some open world combat as well as a good old-fashioned dungeon crawl. The clip also boasts a few of the graphical ooohs and ahhhs we've come to expect from Trion's forthcoming fantasy MMO. Check it out after the break, and hit up the official RIFT website for more info.
Next RIFT beta event begins January 25th
The dust is still settling from last week's "Warfronts" beta event, but Trion Worlds is already gearing up for the next RIFT-related shindig. The latest round of testing will commence on Tuesday, January 25th at 10:00 a.m. PST, with a wrap date of Friday, January 28th (also at 10:00 a.m. PST). For those keeping score, this marks the fifth RIFT beta preview to date, and the new event (titled "Battle of the Ascended") brings several additional features to the world of Telara. Among them will be a raised level cap (30), the Scarlet Gorge zone, and a new dungeon called Foul Cascade. Trion is also trumpeting the fact that beta players logged over a million hours of playtime during last week's "Warfronts" event, and today's press release also mentions that the Codex PvP warfronts will continue to be available in the next round.
All MMOs 20% off at Direct2Drive
Looking to pick up some MMORPGs on the cheap? You could go for one of the hundreds of free-to-play titles crowding the market, or if you're looking for something a bit more traditional, Direct2Drive's latest sale might interest you. From now through January 10th (at 10:00 a.m. PST to be exact), you'll enjoy 20% discounts on what D2D deems "top tier MMOs." Titles include (but aren't limited to) the Guild Wars trilogy, World of Warcraft, City of Heroes: Going Rogue, and Champions Online. The discount also applies to MMO pre-orders, so if you're looking for that extra nudge needed to push you towards an early purchase of RIFT or DC Universe Online, look no further.
RIFT set to release on March 1st
Get ready rifters, as Trion Worlds has dropped a definitive release date for its forthcoming fantasy MMORPG. That's right, RIFT will be firing on all cylinders round about March 1st in the States (March 4th in Europe). Today's announcement also brings further word on the pre-order program and collector's edition items that we mentioned last week. Pre-order customers can choose one of three in-game pets and are eligible to jump in and play RIFT a week before the official launch date. The head start period begins February 24th, and all pre-order customers are automatically invited to participate in the remaining beta events (the details of which are available on the official site). Finally, Trion is also discounting multi-month subscriptions to the tune of $9.99 US with a time-limited Founder's Pricing program. "We've been able to create an exceptionally polished and immersive online world filled with adventure, surprise, and beauty. We can't wait to share RIFT with players around the world," said Trion CEO Lars Buttler.
Trion details RIFT collector's edition
Start salivating, RIFT fans, as Trion has taken the wraps off its collector's edition plans for the upcoming fantasy MMORPG. The limited packaging will feature the requisite in-game items including a level 20 turtle mount, a satchel that boosts inventory space, and a Bogling Wastrel pet. If you opt to purchase the retail box version of the collector's edition, you'll get the aforementioned items plus the Telara Chronicles graphic novel hardcover, a RIFT-emblazoned gaming mouse, the official game soundtrack, and an 8GB USB drive featuring the RIFT logo. Pre-order customers will be able to select one of three unique pets, and depending on their pre-order retailer of choice, they'll also receive exclusive weapon enhancements. Full details are available via the official RIFT website.
The Daily Grind: Does RIFT give you MMO deja vu?
The RIFT hype-o-meter is exploding, and of course Massively's got you covered with first impressions, level guides, news, and everything else Trion-centric. As we look around the MMOsphere, one thing we've noticed is that a lot of the press reviews and forum posts share a feeling of deja vu. For good or ill, RIFT seems to remind many of us of earlier games, or at the very least, pieces of them. We've heard sentiments ranging from "WoW and WAR had a baby," to "EQ2.5," to "it's like Vanguard." Vanguard? Really? In any event, we're curious to know your take, Massively readers. With the recent NDA drop, we're even more curious since we won't get scolded for soliciting your opinions. So let's have them. What game does RIFT remind you of? Is that a good or a bad thing? 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!
One Shots: Awaiting the next invasion
With the RIFT beta NDA down today, I couldn't resist sharing this panoramic shot from my own personal experience in the game. (As a bonus, it's also available full-size, since the gallery doesn't like panoramic images.) In this screenshot, my character had stopped to survey a collection of shacks and lean-tos huddling on the shore. The haze hinted that something wasn't quite right with the otherwise-peaceful scene. Sure enough, within a few minutes, a rift popped up between the fishing village and a nearby graveyard, at which point everyone headed toward the rift to defend the village from attack. Thinking we'd beaten them back, I was surprised to find another rift materializing just behind the shadowy castle and graveyard outlined atop the ridge in this screenshot. It certainly proved to be an exciting day in game! If you were part of the RIFT beta and would like to share your own screenshot, pick an awesome one and email it in to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name and a description of what we're seeing. Please make sure it's at least 1024px wide and has no visible UI elements. If it's picked, we'll post it out here and give you the credit for sending it in! %Gallery-85937%
