Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[TERA's senior producer looks at the game's past, present, and future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/teras-senior-producer-looks-at-the-games-past-present-and-fu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/teras-senior-producer-looks-at-the-games-past-present-and-fu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/teras-senior-producer-looks-at-the-games-past-present-and-fu/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

TERA
Saying that it "feels as though a giant weight has been lifted off [his team's] shoulders" now that TERA has launched, En Masse Senior Producer Brian Knox has turned his attention to the immediate and far future of the game. He says that the team is hard at work ironing out "pain points" for players, but his big passion is working to make the PvP experience even better and to roll out the battlegrounds this summer.

"I want to continue to slowly iterate our PvP-server rules," Knox said in an interview published yesterday. "I think TERA's skill-based system is a natural fit for PvP players, and I want to develop a system that encourages and rewards PvP participants."

Knox addressed the pace of the leveling experience (he says it should be a "smooth and even ride" if players follow the story and do all the quests), the price of teleportation scrolls (expensive for lowbies, affordable for veterans), and what to do at the endgame (answer: a lot). As more players reach the high levels, En Masse is preparing to juice up its nexuses and political system, both of which require a decent amount of participants to work.

MassivelyTERA's senior producer looks at the game's past, present, and future originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlegroundblueholebluehole-studiosbrian-knoxen-masseen-masse-entertainmentendgamefantasyinterviewlaunchleveling-experiencenexusnexusespolitical-systempvppvp-serverpvp-serversteraWed, 09 May 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA offers answers, launching with level 60 cap]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/tera-offers-answers-launching-with-level-60-cap/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/tera-offers-answers-launching-with-level-60-cap/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/tera-offers-answers-launching-with-level-60-cap/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

TERA
Western players have two new things to look forward to when TERA launches on May 1st: level 59 and level 60. That's right, according to a forum post by Producer Brian Knox, the level cap for En Masse's launch will be bumped up by two levels.

As a result of the level cap increase, the team's had to rework the formerly max-level dungeons. "We have shuffled them around -- some up and some down," Knox writes. "We will have more detailed information on it closer to open beta but it should create a much smoother progression to 60 as well as a good amount of content at level 60."

For those with many questions about the game, En Masse has launched a new section of the official site called TERA Answers. TERA Answers is a knowledge base that allows players to submit and search for questions and answers to game issues. It's meant to supplement the official forums, as helpful answers may be buried in the latter's case.

MassivelyTERA offers answers, launching with level 60 cap originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>answer-baseanswersblueholebluehole-studiosbrian-knoxdungeonsen-masseen-masse-entertainmentfantasyknowledge-baselevel-60level-capteratera-answersTue, 06 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Let's get physical, physical: Brian Knox fields dozens of TERA questions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/lets-get-physical-physical-brian-knox-fields-dozens-of-tera-q/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/lets-get-physical-physical-brian-knox-fields-dozens-of-tera-q/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/lets-get-physical-physical-brian-knox-fields-dozens-of-tera-q/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

With that newfangled Twitter that's all the rage these days, TERA proves that developer chats can be even more accessible -- and within a 140-character limit! Recently, Senior Producer Brian Knox fielded a grab bag of questions about this upcoming action MMO, although he put a kibosh on queries related to the release date and events.

PvP, obviously, was a huge topic of discussion, with questions ranging from death penalties (same as PvE) to open world conflict (starts at level 12 and requires the purchase of special items) to guild vs. guild battles (still in the works).

TERA's famed political system was another subject for inquiry -- would it be in the game at the start or will we have to wait for it? "Day 1. It is up and working now and will be available at launch," Knox assured fans.

Raids are something else that future players has been asking for, and apparently the TERA team is at least exploring the possibility of implementing them: "We know how badly the community wants raids! We are looking very hard at this and is one of the reasons we have focused on five-man content."

You can read the full dev diary over at TERA's official site.

MassivelyLet's get physical, physical: Brian Knox fields dozens of TERA questions originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian-knoxdev-chatdeveloper-chaten-masseen-masse-entertainmentpolitical-systempvpq-and-aquestions-and-answersraidraidsteratwitterTue, 21 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA producer: Getting to endgame doesn't take a lot of time]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/tera-producer-getting-to-endgame-doesnt-take-a-lot-of-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/tera-producer-getting-to-endgame-doesnt-take-a-lot-of-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/tera-producer-getting-to-endgame-doesnt-take-a-lot-of-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Episode three of the official TERA podcast is a wrap, and community director Jason "BrotherMagneto" Mical sits down with En Masse producers Brian Knox and Chris Hager to talk voice acting, E3 2011, and the recently concluded community play event. There's also a few interesting blurbs related to TERA's endgame, both in terms of reaching it and what it entails.

Hager discusses the challenges of recording "greet and goodbye" dialogue snippets for quest-givers as well as more involved cinematic presentations that will occur throughout the TERA progression experience.

Knox jumps right to fan concerns about TERA's leveling curve, saying that it doesn't have much in common with your typical grindfest. "We're putting a lot of focus on adding more content to the endgame and making sure there's lots to do at max level. Getting to max level in TERA, it doesn't take a lot of time. We've made sure that progress is fast and efficient," Knox explains. So what is there to do at endgame? Knox says that dungeons and boss fights will play a significant role, and En Masse will be tweaking the difficulty levels to continually challenge players.

MassivelyTERA producer: Getting to endgame doesn't take a lot of time originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoblueholebluehole-studiobrian-knoxbrother-magnetobrothermagnetochris-hagere3e3-2011en-masseen-masse-entertainmentfantasyjason-micalteravoice-actingThu, 05 May 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX East 2011: The future of MMOs from the mouths of the developers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/17/pax-east-2011-the-future-of-mmos-from-the-mouths-of-the-develop/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/17/pax-east-2011-the-future-of-mmos-from-the-mouths-of-the-develop/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/17/pax-east-2011-the-future-of-mmos-from-the-mouths-of-the-develop/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

The PAX East panel that almost made me late for the Star Wars: The Old Republic Meet 'n' Greet was a panel hosted by MMORPG.com and featuring some of the heavy hitters in MMO development for this year. I am certainly glad I did not skip this one. This was the chance for the fans to hear what the future of MMOs will bring from the people who are making them.

Let me give you a rundown of the panel members -- and tell me you don't just stand in awe of these guys: (from left to right) Curt Schilling, the founder of 38 Studios; Craig Alexander, the VP of Product Development for Turbine; Jeremy Gaffney, Executive Producer at Carbine Studios; Scott Hartsman, Executive Producer for Trion Worlds; Brian Knox, Senior Producer for En Masse Entertainment; James Ohlen, Creative Director for BioWare; and Colin Johanson, Lead Content Designer for ArenaNet.

The opening question really set the stage for the panel. It let us know where the minds of these producers and executives are. The question was simple: Where do you see online games going in the next 10 years? Follow after the cut to find out their thought provoking answers.

Continue reading PAX East 2011: The future of MMOs from the mouths of the developers

MassivelyPAX East 2011: The future of MMOs from the mouths of the developers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-StudiosArenaNetBioWareBrian-KnoxCarbine-StudiosColin-JohansonCraig-AlexanderCurt-Schillingdungeons-and-dragons-onlineEn-Masse-Entertainmentfeaturedfuture-of-mmosGuild-Wars-2James-OhlenJeremy-Gaffneylord-of-the-rings-onlinePaxpax-2011pax-eastpax-east-2011RIFTScott-Hartsmanstar-wars-the-old-republicTERATrion-WorldsTurbineThu, 17 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[En Masse talks more about TERA's BAMs and achievements]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/15/en-masse-talks-more-about-teras-bams-and-achievements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/15/en-masse-talks-more-about-teras-bams-and-achievements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/15/en-masse-talks-more-about-teras-bams-and-achievements/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

This year's GDC didn't bring us any revelations when it comes to TERA. Even though we got to roll through the Smuggler's Hideout and chat with producer Brian Knox, most of what we saw were refinements for the forthcoming fantasy MMO. We did learn that the devs at En Masse Entertainment are a fun bunch, though, and this sense of humor was on display as the team regaled us with footage of various BAMs -- company shorthand for Big Ass Monsters.

Today En Masse has released a bit more information on these big bads, which it describes as "bigger than a house, tougher than an armored car, and meaner than a dentist with a grudge." You see, TERA's AI is smarter than that of your average MMO, and the game's BAMs will circle around players as well as recognize attacks and avoid them. Additionally, TERA's mobs bring their own unique and situational attacks to each battle. As players begin to wear down a BAM, the creatures will go through various phases that add further challenge and necessitate strategy adjustments.

En Masse also offered a brief nugget pertaining to TERA's achievement system in a press release sent out this morning. "You'll earn achievements no matter which parts of the game you prefer. Story, monsters, player-vs-player combat, economics, and politics all earn you achievements to help you keep track of the great deeds you've done -- and to give you something to shoot for," says En Masse.

Gallery: TERA screenshots

MassivelyEn Masse talks more about TERA's BAMs and achievements originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-combatbamBAMsbig-ass-monstersbluehole-studiosbrian-knoxen-masseen-masse-entertainmentfantasygallerypress-releasepvescreenshotsteratera-onlineTue, 15 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 2011: Massively takes on TERA's Smuggler Hideout, and Brian Knox teases the political system]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/gdc-2011-massively-takes-on-teras-smuggler-hideout-and-brian/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/gdc-2011-massively-takes-on-teras-smuggler-hideout-and-brian/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/gdc-2011-massively-takes-on-teras-smuggler-hideout-and-brian/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Ah TERA, you're such a tease.

And we're not just talking about your skimpy outfits, oh no. Your political system, your endgame, your Westernized (whatever that means) makeover... all of these have conspired to leave us breathless with anticipation.

Fortunately, we were able to take TERA for a spin at this week's GDC 2011. Along with help from a PUG comprised of En Masse Entertainment staffers, we ventured deep inside the game's Smuggler's Hideout, battling BAMS (En Masse shorthand for big-ass monsters) and checking out the title's streamlined UI and spiffy combat mechanics. Join us after the cut for a brief recap of the demo as well as an interview with producer Brian Knox during which we (politely) demanded a definition for the much-discussed concept of Westernization.

Continue reading GDC 2011: Massively takes on TERA's Smuggler Hideout, and Brian Knox teases the political system

MassivelyGDC 2011: Massively takes on TERA's Smuggler Hideout, and Brian Knox teases the political system originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-combatblueholebluehole-studiobrian-knoxdemoen-masseen-masse-entertainmentfantasygame-developers-conferencegdcgdc-2011grindinterviewpolitical-systemsmugglers-hideoutteratera-onlinetrailersvideowesternizationThu, 03 Mar 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA interview attempts to decipher "westernization"]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/28/tera-interview-attempts-to-decipher-westernization/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/28/tera-interview-attempts-to-decipher-westernization/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/28/tera-interview-attempts-to-decipher-westernization/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Uh oh, it's time for the W-word again. Last week's entry in the TERA Race and Class series purported to explain En Masse Entertainment's definition of westernization. The vaguely worded nature of the press release raised more questions than answers, though, and the folks over at ZAM recently caught up with En Masse producer Brian Knox in an attempt to put some meat on the westernization bones. Knox's insights steered clear of specifics, instead focusing on a general definition as En Masse sees it.

"Westernization refers to our process of adapting a game to fit the Western market. In some cases, text localization and new marketing assets are all that are needed. Other times, specific game mechanics and features require tweaking for the market," he says.

So what exactly does that mean for TERA? It's anyone's guess at this point, and it could be as simple as text translations or as complex as class differences or a softened XP grind. We'll keep our eyes peeled for more details.

MassivelyTERA interview attempts to decipher "westernization" originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoBlueHolebluehole-studiobrian-knoxen-masseen-masse-entertainmentevasivefantasykorean-mmoprteratera-onlinethe-w-wordtranslationw-wordwesternizationFri, 28 Jan 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA Korean beta news rolls in, Knox talks translation and marketing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/02/tera-korean-beta-news-rolls-in-knox-talks-translation-and-marke/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/02/tera-korean-beta-news-rolls-in-knox-talks-translation-and-marke/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/02/tera-korean-beta-news-rolls-in-knox-talks-translation-and-marke/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Yes, TERA news is coming in from overseas, lots of it in fact. That said, En Masse Entertainment's Brian Knox cautions us to take the translations and suppositions with a grain of salt.

First up is TERAfans checking in with another translation of an article by Bluehole Studio's community manager Mr. Blue. This time around, Blue details TERA's advanced skill system and discusses item stats, the newly added glyph system, racial abilities, and PvP skills. There's a ton of info to sort through, including nifty screenshots direct from the Korean client.

The only problem is that some of this stuff might not make it into the western client (or might look very different) according to Knox. In a blog post on the official TERA website, he warns against taking all of the translation news from the recent G-Star gaming convention at face value. "Our fans do a great job of translating articles very quickly but the fact is there will be differences -- in terminology, game play mechanics, and services provided by the publisher -- between the western release and NHN's release of TERA. With these translations there will certainly be some misinterpretation, and we will do our best to react and clarify to the community," he writes.

Why all the secrecy? Knox chalks it up to the challenges of releasing a global product, and the need for local distributors to get their share of timed exclusive marketing information.

MassivelyTERA Korean beta news rolls in, Knox talks translation and marketing originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabrian-knoxclosed-betaen-masseen-masse-entertainmentenhanced-skillsfantasyg-starglyphskorean-betaskillsteratera-onlinewesternizationTue, 02 Nov 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[En Masse's Brian Knox details the Slayer's evolution]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/15/en-masses-brian-knox-details-the-slayers-evolution/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/15/en-masses-brian-knox-details-the-slayers-evolution/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/15/en-masses-brian-knox-details-the-slayers-evolution/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Is he a Rogue? Is he a Warrior? Is he an '80s thrash metal band? Whatever TERA's Slayer may be, En Masse hopes that you will find him bad to the bone.

En Masse's Brian Knox sat down for an interview with ZAM about how the class was evolving and changing during development. Originally, this Rogue/Warrior hybrid had heavy armor, but due to his extreme DPS output, the devs decided to concentrate more on movement and dexterity instead of damage absorption, and they downgraded his armor to reflect this.

When asked about the class' defining traits, Knox listed a combination of two skills -- Knockdown and Leaping Strike -- which, when used together, would both throw a foe off his balance and deal him significant damage. Knox spent time also talking up the Slayer's roguish abilities, such as being able to speedily dash up behind an enemy and backstab for big numbers.

Unlike most MMO rogues, TERA's Slayer is limited to using one (1) big honking sword, but En Masse doesn't think this will hurt the class' appeal in the slightest. You can read the full interview at ZAM, and don't miss our exclusive Slayer lore piece!

MassivelyEn Masse's Brian Knox details the Slayer's evolution originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big-honking-swordbrian-knoxen-masseen-masse-entertainmenthybridinterviewknockdownleaping-strikeloreread-this-article-backwards-for-a-subliminal-messagerogueterawarriorzamFri, 15 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[En Masse's response to microtransaction speculation: TERA is not a microtransaction game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/13/en-masses-response-to-microtransaction-speculation-tera-is-not/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/13/en-masses-response-to-microtransaction-speculation-tera-is-not/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/13/en-masses-response-to-microtransaction-speculation-tera-is-not/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In one of our recent TERA articles, we speculated that TERA may be going towards a microtransaction/subscription model thanks to the wording in a press release sent out by Digital River, TERA's online shop service. However, senior producer Brian Knox has sent us a statement that sets the facts straight: TERA is not a microtransaction game.
"After a press release by Digital River announcing our e-commerce partnership a few players expressed concerns that TERA would be a micro-transaction game in addition to requiring a subscription fee; that is not the case," said Knox.

"TERA is not a micro-transaction or cash-shop item game. The game is built and designed to function as a subscription-based game. We would have to make dramatic changes to the game's design to support micro-transactions and there is no intention of doing so."

Continue reading En Masse's response to microtransaction speculation: TERA is not a microtransaction game

MassivelyEn Masse's response to microtransaction speculation: TERA is not a microtransaction game originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingbrian-knoxcash-shopcharacter-servicesdigital-riveren-masseen-masse-entertainmentitem-mallitem-shopmicrotransactionsservicesstatementterathe-exiled-realm-of-arboreaFri, 13 Aug 2010 18:45:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA's Brian Knox dismisses console plans]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/13/teras-brian-knox-dismisses-console-plans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/13/teras-brian-knox-dismisses-console-plans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/13/teras-brian-knox-dismisses-console-plans/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

There's been no shortage of TERA news since the game turned a lot of heads at this year's E3, and the latest comes to us courtesy of Caelixian and the TERAcast podcast. Episode number ten features discussion of En Masse Entertainment's showing at last month's trade event, and concludes with an interview with TERA senior producer Brian Knox. Knox talks about everything from the challenges inherent in Westernization, to international communication, to the possibility of TERA appearing on consoles.

"[We have] a singular focus that allows us to be concentrated on one product, one release. A lot of people ask "it's such an action game, have you thought about the console"... for us we want to have that single focus, we want to make an action MMO on the PC and we don't want to stray too many different ways because that's when you get caught up and everything gets half done instead of one thing being done really well," Knox says.

Download the tenth episode of TERAcast to hear the full interview.

MassivelyTERA's Brian Knox dismisses console plans originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bluehole-studiobrian-knoxconsoleen-masseen-masse-entertainmentinterviewteratera-onlineteracastterafansTue, 13 Jul 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA devblog discusses race and class combos]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/21/tera-devblog-discusses-race-and-class-combos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/21/tera-devblog-discusses-race-and-class-combos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/21/tera-devblog-discusses-race-and-class-combos/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Not content with his various blogosphere interviews and E3 hob-knobbing, En Masse Entertainment Senior Producer Brian Knox continues his prolific PR assault with a devblog on the official TERA website. The topic, race and class combinations, is sure to pique the interest of even the most casual TERA fan, as Knox discusses everything from game balance, to race differentiation, to aesthetics.

"We want to give players as many options as possible, but there are story and lore reasons why a certain race may not be appropriate for a particular class. This is partially based on our continuing development of TERA's rich narrative backstory, partially because some combinations simply don't make sense, and partially because the actual combinations (such as weapons and armor for some races) are very technically challenging to pull off in a convincing way," Knox writes.

You can view the full blog on the official website.

MassivelyTERA devblog discusses race and class combos originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian-knoxclassesdevblogen-masseen-masse-entertainmentrace-class-comboracesteratera-onlineMon, 21 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TERAs Brian Knox interviewed at E3]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/20/teras-brian-knox-interviewed-at-e3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/20/teras-brian-knox-interviewed-at-e3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/20/teras-brian-knox-interviewed-at-e3/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Amira over at TERAfans managed to corner En Masse Entertainment Senior Producer Brian Knox at last week's E3 convention in Los Angeles. The highly visible TERA producer was quizzed on a variety of game-related topics submitted by TERAfans forum-goers including bits on the character talent system, battlegrounds, and a few hints on the game's political system.

"We're not talking a lot about it [the political system], but, there'll be different ways to be elected, be it through PvP, wealth, as well as voting. We're just trying to find the right balance so that different players can participate in different ways and have a choice about how they want to be a part of it all. Once you're elected to office, there'll be some cool features available as well," Knox said.

You can view the full transcript over at TERAfans.

MassivelyTERAs Brian Knox interviewed at E3 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoamirabrian-knoxe3e3-2010en-masseen-masse-entertainmentinterviewteratera-onlineterafansSun, 20 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA's Brian Knox talks hit boxes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/14/teras-brian-knox-talks-hit-boxes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/14/teras-brian-knox-talks-hit-boxes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/14/teras-brian-knox-talks-hit-boxes/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


En Masse Entertainment's Brian Knox continues his assault on the PR circuit, this time checking in on the official TERA forums to chat about the game's hit box mechanics. The forthcoming action MMORPG from En Masse and Bluehole Studio has generated a lot of interest due to its new take on combat, and we're always glad to see further details emerge.

"Hitbox size is one way we can make classes feel unique but still offer a balanced gameplay experience. We spoke to the Bluehole developers in Korea, and they shared their philosophy on hitbox sizes and game balance," Knox writes.

In a nutshell, the developers have adjusted the hit boxes ever so slightly based on the model sizes for each race. How this plays out when the game goes live is anyone's guess, but to read about the theory behind it all, check out the original post over on the TERA boards.

MassivelyTERA's Brian Knox talks hit boxes originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bluehole-studiobrian-knoxcombaten-masseen-masse-entertainmenthit-boxespvpteratera-onlineMon, 14 Jun 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA berserker interview, part two]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/10/tera-berserker-interview-part-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/10/tera-berserker-interview-part-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/10/tera-berserker-interview-part-two/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


TERA, the upcoming action fantasy MMORPG from En Masse Entertainment and Bluehole Studio, is looking to put a fresh spin on both genre combat and the traditional healer/tank/damage dynamic. One way the designers are attempting to do this is through individual classes that play a bit differently from what you might expect. Take the berserker for instance. Rather than opting for your standard meat shield, Bluehole has given the class significant DPS capabilities as well.

En Masse's Brian Knox and and Scott James Magner recently chatted about the berserker's unique features in part two of a lengthy interview with ZAM.com. "You want to be a target as a Berserker, but you also want to be targeting. And that's not a word we use a lot for this game. We talk about action and the way we play, but you are a destination for damage, just as you are an output of damage going the other direction," Magner says.

Check out the new interview segment, as well as the previous installment, at ZAM.com.

MassivelyTERA berserker interview, part two originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionberserkerBlueHolebluehole-studiobrian-knoxdamagedpsen-masseen-masse-entertainmentinterviewscott-james-magnertankteratera-onlinezamThu, 10 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Knox details TERA's archer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/08/knox-details-teras-archer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/08/knox-details-teras-archer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/08/knox-details-teras-archer/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Alexan over at TERAbow has posted an interesting Q&A with En Masse Entertainment's senior producer Brian Knox. The interview features TERA's archer class, no great surprise given TERAbow's focus, and highlights a few worthwhile nuggets of information for those looking to pew pew their way through the upcoming action fantasy MMORPG.

"The archer is a very action-oriented class. It requires a player to aim attacks (place the crosshairs where you want the arrows to go), and also to evaluate the situation and think ahead. Higher level archers can leap backwards to create distance between themselves and a target, as well as lay traps for incoming foes," Knox says.

He goes on to chat about a multitude of archer-related topics including hit-box sizes, arrows vs. mana pools, and mobile fighting styles. Check out the full interview over at TERAbow.

MassivelyKnox details TERA's archer originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Jun 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archersbrian-knoxen-masseen-masse-entertainmentfantasyinterviewteratera-onlineterabowTue, 08 Jun 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA invites the Berserker to visit for tea]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/07/tera-invites-the-berserker-to-visit-for-tea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/07/tera-invites-the-berserker-to-visit-for-tea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/07/tera-invites-the-berserker-to-visit-for-tea/#commentsFiled under: , ,

When you heard that one of TERA's classes was to be called the "Berserker" and you either thought of either the 80's arcade cabinet classic or an obscure song from the movie Clerks, then we could be fast friends. In any case, TERA's Brian Knox and Scott James Magner sat down with ZAM to talk about this brutal class and why it might appeal to the barbarian in all of us.

TERA's Berserker is a two-handed axe wielder who has his weapon constantly in motion. The relatively short range of the class means that Berserkers have to get up close and personal with any foe they're fighting, but the increased risk of such moves are paid off with some of the highest DPS of the game. Because TERA uses both collision and positioning in its combat system, it's essential for the Berserker to hit with the blade and then duck away before getting slammed in return. Get too close, and you'll end up hitting with the hilt and wondering why the monster is laughing at you.

You can read the full interview at ZAM and check out a series of screenshots detailing one of the Berserker's key moves. The official TERA site also has an outline of the class, along with a video for your eyes only (it will self-destruct after viewing).

MassivelyTERA invites the Berserker to visit for tea originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>axeberserkberserkerbrian-knoxclassesclerkscollisionevil-otto-pwns-your-soulmeleepositioningscott-james-magnerteravideozamMon, 07 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ZAM interviews TERA's Brian Knox]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/02/zam-interviews-teras-brian-knox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/02/zam-interviews-teras-brian-knox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/02/zam-interviews-teras-brian-knox/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


En Masse Entertainment's Brian Knox answers some moderately tough questions about the studio's upcoming TERA action MMORPG. The interview, courtesy of ZAM.com, touches on a little bit of everything including what makes TERA a next-generation title, enemy challenge levels, and the difficulties in appealing to both hardcore and casual gamers.

"The good thing about action combat is that it lets the player's skill determine the complexity. We worked very hard to make the game intuitive for any gamer, and we believe players will really be able to stretch the system. For example, one person playing as a sorcerer might be more inclined to use area-of-effect skills and dodging, whereas another may choose to use direct damage skills and focus on healing. Each class has a lot of variables, and gamers are going to be able to play the game the way they want," Knox says.

You can check out the full interview at ZAM.com.

MassivelyZAM interviews TERA's Brian Knox originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-combatbrian-knoxcasualcombaten-masseen-masse-entertainmenthardcoreteratera-onlinezamWed, 02 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA devs talk grind, player choice]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/20/tera-devs-talk-grind-player-choice/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/20/tera-devs-talk-grind-player-choice/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/20/tera-devs-talk-grind-player-choice/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


TERA devs and community staff have been out in force as of late, making the rounds with interviews, podcast appearances, and forum posts at fan sites around the world. Roger over at For the Lore writes in to let us know about his podcast interview with En Masse producer Brian Knox and creative writer Robin MacPherson, which you can check out here.

Also, En Masse community director Jason "BrotherMagneto" Mical stopped by Russian fan site GoHa.ru to answer a lengthy series of questions including bits on the PvP flagging system, grind, and player choice.

"Our goal is to make multiple ways to reach any goal with no one way 'better' or more 'profitable' than others, and to give players the choice of achieving mastery based on their specific style of gameplay," Mical says. "This is another example of the range of choices players have in TERA - you can play either way. There's a rich story-driven experience in TERA, and our intent is to create questlines that will take you from the first to the final level without having to repeat a single one or grind for experience in the interim," he continues.

Check out the full interview over at GoHa.ru. Please note that the forum post is in Russian. To view the interview in English, scroll to the bottom of the first post and click the green plus icon.

MassivelyTERA devs talk grind, player choice originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 May 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bluehole-studiobrian-knoxbrothermagnetocommunity-directoren-masse-entertainmentflagging-systemfor-the-loregrindinterviewsjason-micalplayer-choicepvprobin-macphersonteratera-onlineThu, 20 May 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[En Masse answers twenty TERA questions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/25/twenty-tera-questions-answered/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/25/twenty-tera-questions-answered/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/25/twenty-tera-questions-answered/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Amira over at TERAfans.com has published a lengthy question and answer session with En Masse Entertainment's Brian Knox. En Masse, North American publishers for the forthcoming BlueHole Studios MMORPG, was formed by veterans of both Blizzard and NCSoft and their first project is localizing and distributing TERA to the western market.

Knox drops a few interesting tidbits, including a brief mention of TERA's political system. "TERA's endgame will involve the full spectrum of things you expect from an MMO, including battling in dungeons with PvE instances, taking to the battlegrounds to fight for honor, working the economy with crafting, enchanting, and playing the market. In addition, players will be able to influence the history of each server by participating in the in-game political system," he said.

Check out the full interview and stay with Massively for more TERA coverage in the coming weeks.

MassivelyEn Masse answers twenty TERA questions originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bluehole-studiobrian-knoxdeveloper-questionsen-masse-entertainmentinterviewteraThu, 25 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Exclusive interview with Aion Producer Brian Knox]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/08/exclusive-interview-with-aion-producer-brian-knox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/08/exclusive-interview-with-aion-producer-brian-knox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/08/exclusive-interview-with-aion-producer-brian-knox/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We submitted a few questions to NCsoft back when players were taking their first baby steps into the strange and lush world of Atreia. Things have obviously been a bit hectic these past couple weeks but Aion Producer Brian Knox took some time out today to answer them for us. Thanks Brian!

We've heard a lot about "westernizing" or "culturalizing" Aion for North American and European audiences. Can you please explain the full breadth of this term? Are we talking about language translation, story rewrites, and lowered experience curves here?

Westernizing Aion is about making the game culturally relevant to our market. This includes going above and beyond basic translation and delving into the story behind the text and making sure that it is presented in a way our players will understand. For us it isn't so much about changing things with Aion but shining the spotlight on the area that is most appealing to our audience. Aion is a huge game with a ton choices and features for users all over the world to enjoy; making sure we point those parts out is a huge part of the culturalization

Continue reading Exclusive interview with Aion Producer Brian Knox

MassivelyExclusive interview with Aion Producer Brian Knox originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionbalaurbrian-knoxfeaturedinterviewnc-westncsoftnew-releasespvpvethe-abyssThu, 08 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft announces its PAX plans]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/26/ncsoft-announces-its-pax-plans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/26/ncsoft-announces-its-pax-plans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/26/ncsoft-announces-its-pax-plans/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

It's nearly September which means the Penny Arcade Expo is swiftly approaching. Taking place between September 4th-6th in Seattle, PAX is fast becoming the new must-attend convention for all sections of the industry, from developers to publishers and gamers. NCsoft has just announced their plans for this year's convention and this focuses on their three big IPs: Aion, Guild Wars 2 and City of Heroes.

NCsoft will once again have booths at the event, one per game. On the Aion front, they will be showing the latest build of the game, which includes patch 1.5 (aka The Shadow of the Balaur). Producer Brian Knox and Associate Producer Lani Blazier will also be on hand at booth #642. At the Guild Wars 2 booth (#842), there will be Q and As with the Live Team, a talk on the upcoming novel The Fall of Ascalon and the chance to win a 128 page Art of Guild Wars 2 artbook. Finally at the City of Heroes booth (#542) you can take a peek at the new update ("Power Spectrum") and nab a special PAX Costume Power code. There will also be a player meet up on the Saturday night (September 5th) hosted by the Online Community Relations team, for more information on that click here.

MassivelyNCsoft announces its PAX plans originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-patch-1.5aion-the-shadow-of-the-balauraion-the-tower-of-eternityaion-tower-of-eternitybrian-knoxcity-of-heroesguild-wars-2lani-blazierncsoftncsoft-north-americapaxpax-2009penny-arcade-expopenny-arcade-expo-2009power-spectrumWed, 26 Aug 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Second Aion vidcast now available]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/05/second-aion-vidcast-now-available/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/05/second-aion-vidcast-now-available/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/05/second-aion-vidcast-now-available/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

As we inch closer to the Aion launch on 22nd and 25th September (NA and EU, respectively), the excitement about NCsoft's latest MMO is reaching fever pitch. Yesterday, G4TV released the second Aion vidcast (the first one was hosted by IGN). Featuring devs including Associate Producer Lani Blazier and Producer Brian Knox, this one is all about character customisation. The interviews are also interspersed with some impressive in-game footage and rather arty shots of their Seattle offices.

The vidcast begins by going through the differences between PvP, PvE and PvPvE. Indeed the highlight has to be seeing Lani try to figure out the best pronunciation of PvPvE. There's also a rundown of the main classess and the sub-class choices you can pick upon Ascending. If you're looking for one word that sums up both the game and this vidcast, it would have to be 'uniqueness'. While none of the information will be new to people playing the beta or who have been following the game, it's great to see more of the people behind the game and their genuine passion for Atreia.

Hit the jump to check out the video.

Continue reading Second Aion vidcast now available

MassivelySecond Aion vidcast now available originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-betaaion-classesaion-the-tower-of-eternityaion-tower-of-eternityaion-videoaion-video-tourbrian-knoxlani-blazierncsoftncsoft-north-americancsoft-westWed, 05 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft aims to bridge the East-West divide with Aion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/18/ncsoft-aims-to-bridge-the-east-west-divide-with-aion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/18/ncsoft-aims-to-bridge-the-east-west-divide-with-aion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/18/ncsoft-aims-to-bridge-the-east-west-divide-with-aion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Stereotypes and ingrained perceptions can be frustrating to deal with, but let's face it -- some stereotypes do exist for a reason, and this can certainly apply to games as much as to anything else. There have been no small amount of Asian import MMOs that have been localized poorly for the western market, and this has certainly left a bad taste in gamers' mouths. Localization is a major challenge for any developer, and there's a rather wide chasm between what makes a game popular in an Asian market like Korea and what players embrace in the west. The westward-bound MMO that many people are focusing on right now is Aion, from NCsoft.

The westernization of Aion is the subject of another solid interview at The MMO Gamer by Steven Crews, who sat down with Aion producer Brian "Xaen" Knox, the person largely responsible for NC West's localization of this title. Knox talks about what he sees as being the best aspects of both East and West in terms of game development, and how some western influences on Aion's design have actually proven to be successful in Korea. It's a fairly in-depth interview and hits on a number of Knox's ideas about how a game can begin to bridge the game culture divide between East and West, seen in the context of Aion. Check it out over at The MMO Gamer.

Continue reading NCsoft aims to bridge the East-West divide with Aion

MassivelyNCsoft aims to bridge the East-West divide with Aion originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionasiabrian-knoxeastfantasygame-designgame-mechanicsinterviewskorealocalizationnc-westncsoftsteven-crewsthe-mmo-gamerwestxaenThu, 18 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion producer Brian Knox interviewed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/aion-producer-brian-knox-interviewed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/aion-producer-brian-knox-interviewed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/aion-producer-brian-knox-interviewed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Aion: The Tower of Eternity has been kicking ass over in its local territory of Korea, and we're sure that there's a growing throng of folks out in the rest of the world that are dying to try it out. Massive Gamer Magazine recently had an interview with Brian Knox, a producer for the game, and what he said didn't give us much hope for betas outside of Korea -- at least not in any meaningful form. He says (correctly) that gamers are quick to judge a title on its beta, and that they would prefer to have "exclusive preview events" to show off the game at its best instead. Having said that, Korea did have a beta before launch, and hopefully we will too.

A lot of the interview is spent discussing Aion's high level of customization. Knox claims that the character creation system is so robust that it would be possible to "literally create your own race within a race" by tweaking the sliders. As players level up, they will have the chance to equip stones that will change existing skills or grant new ones, further adding to character uniqueness. The other aspect of the game that Knox seemed very keen to talk about is the flying mechanic. Far from being tacked on, flight is intended to be integral to the gameplay in Aion, and its strategic use will be of the utmost importance in combat. To find out more, check out the full interview, which is now available online.

MassivelyAion producer Brian Knox interviewed originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-the-tower-of-eternitybetabrian-knoxcharacter-creationcharacter-customizationcustomizationflightkoreancsoftopen-betaproducerWed, 14 Jan 2009 15:30:00 EST