This comes hot on the heels of RIFT's launch date announcement and signifies the next step up for Trion Worlds' marketing department. You can watch the new TV spot after the jump!
Them's fightin' words: RIFT commercial takes on WoW
by Justin Olivetti 
on Jan 4th 2011 7:00PM
Fantasy, Video, MMO Industry, RIFT, Trailers
130
This comes hot on the heels of RIFT's launch date announcement and signifies the next step up for Trion Worlds' marketing department. You can watch the new TV spot after the jump!
Reader Comments (130)
Posted: Jan 5th 2011 5:41PM mmogaddict said
@Fabius Bile
I unfortunately think your right, RIFT isn't a WoW killer it's a WAR killer, which considering that WAR is pretty much dead isn't really anything to be happy about.
Reply
I unfortunately think your right, RIFT isn't a WoW killer it's a WAR killer, which considering that WAR is pretty much dead isn't really anything to be happy about.
Posted: Jan 5th 2011 9:22AM SwagAvid said
That sounds about right. The goal of the commercial wasn't to announce to the world that they're gonna overtake WoW, but to generate free press. If they had said "We're not in Telon anymore" few people who have any clue wtf they were talking about. WoW has enough influence that even gamers who don't play will understand the Azeroth reference, which is the entire point.
From what I've seen in the beta (which, remember, is only 20 quick levels and half a day of playing) your assessment of the level of polish is spot on. I've also spent a little time in the Alpha (which is the full game and is still running) and am confident that there will be more than enough endgame content (PvP, PvE, and non-combat) to keep a good number of players around after leveling up (unlike FFVIX, AoC, etc etc etc).
To me it'll be a nice way to waste some time. I don't care if it gets millions of subs—though frankly I'd perfer that it didn't—because it'll be good enough for me.
From what I've seen in the beta (which, remember, is only 20 quick levels and half a day of playing) your assessment of the level of polish is spot on. I've also spent a little time in the Alpha (which is the full game and is still running) and am confident that there will be more than enough endgame content (PvP, PvE, and non-combat) to keep a good number of players around after leveling up (unlike FFVIX, AoC, etc etc etc).
To me it'll be a nice way to waste some time. I don't care if it gets millions of subs—though frankly I'd perfer that it didn't—because it'll be good enough for me.
Posted: Jan 5th 2011 9:34AM Fabius Bile said
@SwagAvid no wonder its polished, they had the game complety done in 2008. It was called WAR.
Rift is a TOTAL clone of WAR , WAR being a failed attempt at a WoW clone with RvR.
double fail for Rift, cloning a failed clone...what the hel are they expecting, seriously. crashing and burning is their ONLY future, thats clearer than daylight.
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Rift is a TOTAL clone of WAR , WAR being a failed attempt at a WoW clone with RvR.
double fail for Rift, cloning a failed clone...what the hel are they expecting, seriously. crashing and burning is their ONLY future, thats clearer than daylight.
Posted: Jan 5th 2011 11:02AM Thasri said
@Fabius Bile
Did Trion pee in your Rice Krispies to? Awwwww, I'm sry now move along, move along.
You know what I did last night, I created a WoW trail account just to go see what the world changes looked like cuz you know it was all suppose to be destroyed and stuff, when I logged in and saw my lv1 toon I was like, OMG these is horrible looking, the graphics were terrible, now wonder I left for better games. Wow hasn't aged well to me, as for as I'm concerned they might as well have paper 2d cut outs of landscape and character models. It's like playing on the Xbox360 and playing COD BlackOps and then going back to play Donkey Hong on an NES. But whatever, to each he's own, WoW fan boys would say it's the greatest game ever, well of course they would, they are fan boys so there you go.
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Did Trion pee in your Rice Krispies to? Awwwww, I'm sry now move along, move along.
You know what I did last night, I created a WoW trail account just to go see what the world changes looked like cuz you know it was all suppose to be destroyed and stuff, when I logged in and saw my lv1 toon I was like, OMG these is horrible looking, the graphics were terrible, now wonder I left for better games. Wow hasn't aged well to me, as for as I'm concerned they might as well have paper 2d cut outs of landscape and character models. It's like playing on the Xbox360 and playing COD BlackOps and then going back to play Donkey Hong on an NES. But whatever, to each he's own, WoW fan boys would say it's the greatest game ever, well of course they would, they are fan boys so there you go.
Posted: Jan 5th 2011 9:58AM Felnor said
I don't think they're taking a big swipe at WoW. I think they just want to point out it's a different game and want to invite people to play.
Posted: Jan 5th 2011 12:11PM Warumono said
@Felnor yah agree. but the point is that it's not so difference, they didn't created nothing net, and all the rift changing the environment is pretty much like any game when mobs do attack cities on in game pre selected events, the only point is that it's more polished.
well, what i say is: It's nothing new, with graphics pretty much aged. so, a wow clone with less content and more problems. so, i do think they were better not creating any kind of relation with WOW. You know, the new ppl can go check azeroth out on wikipedia and end up playing wow instead.
ps. i don't play wow, and i'm not a wow fangirl, i'm just surprised how a tittle so average as rift got so much attention. So.. let's go back to checking out TERA or B&S news.
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well, what i say is: It's nothing new, with graphics pretty much aged. so, a wow clone with less content and more problems. so, i do think they were better not creating any kind of relation with WOW. You know, the new ppl can go check azeroth out on wikipedia and end up playing wow instead.
ps. i don't play wow, and i'm not a wow fangirl, i'm just surprised how a tittle so average as rift got so much attention. So.. let's go back to checking out TERA or B&S news.
Posted: Jan 5th 2011 9:58AM JustPlainJim said
It bothers me when a game starts bad-mouthing another game. To me, it feels like when they start insulting someone else, it means they've run out of good things to say about themselves.
I wish them luck, but hope they can stand on their own.
I wish them luck, but hope they can stand on their own.
Posted: Jan 5th 2011 11:11AM real65rcncom said
Although it wasn't this blatant, this is exactly the corporate attitude that Warhammer Online had towards Blizzard. They did everything BUT make a vid like this to directly poke WoW.
They built up their game's image and expectations SO high that when they launched Bughammer Online, people ran from it as fast as they could uninstall it. Warhammer never recovered (prob 50k subs now) and because the biggest joke in the industry all because they compared themselves to WoW.
This is a BAD idea and whoever thought up the idea for this needs to be fired or demoted as soon as possible, because he just shorted the game's life by a few months and several million dollars due to the people who won't sub or will leave when they find out they don't like it as much as WoW and then spread bad publicity.
Dumb PR move. Very dumb.
They built up their game's image and expectations SO high that when they launched Bughammer Online, people ran from it as fast as they could uninstall it. Warhammer never recovered (prob 50k subs now) and because the biggest joke in the industry all because they compared themselves to WoW.
This is a BAD idea and whoever thought up the idea for this needs to be fired or demoted as soon as possible, because he just shorted the game's life by a few months and several million dollars due to the people who won't sub or will leave when they find out they don't like it as much as WoW and then spread bad publicity.
Dumb PR move. Very dumb.
Posted: Jan 5th 2011 1:23PM Valdamar said
Nothing gets a product noticed, by people who wouldn't normally take notice, than stirring up some controversy. Just look at all the discussion it has stirred up here.
Clever PR move. Very clever.
Clever PR move. Very clever.
Posted: Jan 5th 2011 1:49PM jmerriex said
Hmm... it is probably a bad idea to throw down a gauntlet if your CG isn't up to par with your comparison. I like Rift a LOT and will probably play it, however going toe-to-toe with Blizzard on CG trailers just isn't going to work unless you're willing to put in the time.
Posted: Jan 5th 2011 2:07PM doublerainbow said
I think for a company that is new to making MMO's they sure did a really good job. I've been watching gameplay, and though some of it looks like it copied other games quest system, it does actually look doable. The game play doesn't look broken and cheesey at all.
The release date for Rift was released and is March 1, 2011. Something to definitely look forward to.
Posted: Jan 5th 2011 5:46PM mmogaddict said
@doublerainbow
For all RIFTs failings, and it certainly fails in some regards, it is VERY VERY polished and Trion should certainly be congradulated on that. They could just about release it now. For what it does it does well and it certainly is a better product that WoW was at launch.
The extra time they are using now prior to launch should hopefully fix some of the balance issues and some of the other minor issues around gameplay. Unfortunately it's too late to fix up the most prominent flaw - that of unoriginality.
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For all RIFTs failings, and it certainly fails in some regards, it is VERY VERY polished and Trion should certainly be congradulated on that. They could just about release it now. For what it does it does well and it certainly is a better product that WoW was at launch.
The extra time they are using now prior to launch should hopefully fix some of the balance issues and some of the other minor issues around gameplay. Unfortunately it's too late to fix up the most prominent flaw - that of unoriginality.
Posted: Jan 5th 2011 2:51PM tenfootgoatman said
I know a lot of people that are fed up to the eye teeth with WoW but continue playing it because they think its the only mmo worth playing even though they are unhappy with the easy game play . It wont take a lot to pursuade them to leave . The thing is to date theres been so many let downs people believe that nothing can challenge WoW . Which is a totally foolish way to think because Warcraft wont remain as popular as it is now forever its a decent game but its ageing and Blizzard have made major mistakes in recent years . I think Rift will appeal to those that enjoyed vanilla Wow or want something that needs a bit more skill to play .
Posted: Jan 5th 2011 5:37PM mmogaddict said
@tenfootgoatman If you think RIFT is any harder than WoW your seriously mistaken. Both are dead easy. RIFT is kinda on par with WAR.
If you're looking for a game that's more challenging I can't really see anything recent or in the future. Unfortunately or fortunately (depending on your preferences) developers have seen that appealing to the masses by making easy content is the way to maximize profits. I doubt you'll see anything different for a very long time.
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If you're looking for a game that's more challenging I can't really see anything recent or in the future. Unfortunately or fortunately (depending on your preferences) developers have seen that appealing to the masses by making easy content is the way to maximize profits. I doubt you'll see anything different for a very long time.
Posted: Jan 5th 2011 10:51PM AeSix Reficul said
I'm surprised anyone listens to WoW fans. They're all unintelligent, under educated, anti social, pre-pubescent adolescents whom are more than spoiled.
I think it's about time someone publicly made fun of World of Warcrack.
I think it's about time someone publicly made fun of World of Warcrack.
Posted: Jan 5th 2011 10:56PM AeSix Reficul said
*looking for edit button*
Well that's two things I don't care for about this forum...
the WoW logo is default, and there's no edit button.
LAME
Reply
Well that's two things I don't care for about this forum...
the WoW logo is default, and there's no edit button.
LAME
Posted: Jan 6th 2011 12:39AM Lockisezmode said
@AeSix Reficul
Your post which contained more generalizations than Kanye West award show interruptions. Judging solely only on your own criteria and I would be willing to wager you would fit in well within the very community you are attempting to describe.
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Your post which contained more generalizations than Kanye West award show interruptions. Judging solely only on your own criteria and I would be willing to wager you would fit in well within the very community you are attempting to describe.
Posted: Jan 6th 2011 3:26AM Hypter said
It's a great marketing ploy. You know it got the attention of the WoW fanboys and they're spreading the word of this game. I think it quite funny and a good idea.
Posted: Jan 6th 2011 7:36AM Aelon said
My biggest disappointment so far is that there's no innovation in questing/leveling. It's all Kill 10/Collect 10/Use Bauble on 10.
The rifts sound neat but atm it looks like a token grind. So I guess we will all be riding around from rift to rift grinding tokens at endgame?
But regardless of all, they better have some compelling group content and a sufficient quantity of it if they are going to satisfy me.
The game DID seem very polished, but it's also kind of a performance hog. And the UI is just soooo far behind what you can do with WoW, but of course WoW (and its addon authors) have had 7 years to make a thing of beauty.
It's an alternative to WoW, but I haven't seen anything that would make me say with conviction that it's any *better*, so it's likely to be all uphill-climb to eat into the WoW userbase.
The rifts sound neat but atm it looks like a token grind. So I guess we will all be riding around from rift to rift grinding tokens at endgame?
But regardless of all, they better have some compelling group content and a sufficient quantity of it if they are going to satisfy me.
The game DID seem very polished, but it's also kind of a performance hog. And the UI is just soooo far behind what you can do with WoW, but of course WoW (and its addon authors) have had 7 years to make a thing of beauty.
It's an alternative to WoW, but I haven't seen anything that would make me say with conviction that it's any *better*, so it's likely to be all uphill-climb to eat into the WoW userbase.
Posted: Jan 6th 2011 2:28PM Arkanaloth said
brave trailer there Trion, but as FF14 has shown yet again.. graphics do not a good game make. I haven't played WoW in about a year and feel no desire to go back even for Cata, but I won't deny what the game does well... it'll be interesting to see if Trion can back up this CG video challenge with solid fun gameplay.
