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[The Perfect Ten: Free-to-play holdouts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/the-perfect-ten-free-to-play-holdouts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/the-perfect-ten-free-to-play-holdouts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/the-perfect-ten-free-to-play-holdouts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Perfect Ten
In the increasingly diminishing field of subscription-only MMOs, two distinct camps have formed. There is the Old Guard that has its established playerbase and is simply not interested in jumping on board the F2P train, and then there are the New Kids on the Block (which would make an excellent band name, by the way), who argue that their premium features and AAA content warrant a subscription in the F2P age.

A few years ago, doing a list of the final few F2P holdouts would have been a ridiculous proposition, but now it's actually difficult to get to 10 of these. Each company has a different reason that it hasn't given these games more flexible payment options (FPO should replace F2P; pass it on!), and while some have addressed this publicly, others say nothing and leave us to speculate on it.

For today's Perfect Ten, we're going to look at the 10 biggest current F2P holdouts in the industry and muse about what's going on behind the scenes. Will this list be impossible to do in a few years or will subscription-only titles come back in a big way? Hey, I don't predict things; I just make lists.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Free-to-play holdouts

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Free-to-play holdouts originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acactivisionAndy-Cataldoasherons-callbiowareblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcamelotccpccp-gamesclassic-mmoconsoleconsolesdaocdark-age-of-cameloteaelectronic-artsendless-trialeveeve-onlinef2pfantasyfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivfpsfree-to-playhumorinternet-spaceshipsKai-Schoberlord-britishlucasartsmmofpsmythicmythic-entertainmentmythologyopinionp10perfect-10perfect-tenplanetsidepsps1pvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararounduprvrsandboxsci-fiscott-hartsmansoesony-online-entertainmentspreadsheets-onlinesquaresquare-enixstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republicthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tentop-10top-10-listtop-tentop-ten-listtortriontrion-worldsturbineturbine-entertainmentultimaultima onlineuowarwarcraftwarhammerwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 19 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fishing, survival, and dragons: The Trion Team talks about RIFT's 1.8 update]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/12/fishing-survival-and-dragons-the-trion-team-talks-about-rift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/12/fishing-survival-and-dragons-the-trion-team-talks-about-rift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/12/fishing-survival-and-dragons-the-trion-team-talks-about-rift/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

RIFT
As the Carnival of the Ascended draws to a close and the last of the piñatas and balloons are put away from RIFT's first birthday, Update 1.8 is just around the corner. It's full of new content, including the new raid zone Infernal Dawn, fishing and survival skills, and lots of game improvements. Massively took part in a roundtable discussion with Trion CCO and RIFT Executive Producer Scott Hartsman, Design Producer Hal Hanlin, and Producer Adam Gershowitz to get all the details on Update 1.8 and more. Read on for highlights!

Gallery: RIFT 1.8 screenshots

RIFT 1.8 screenshots

Continue reading Fishing, survival, and dragons: The Trion Team talks about RIFT's 1.8 update

MassivelyFishing, survival, and dragons: The Trion Team talks about RIFT's 1.8 update originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam-gerschotiwzfeaturedfishingguild-recruiting-toolhal-hanlininstant-adventureskaren-bryanlaethysleaderboardsriftrift-1.8rift-expansionscott-hartsmanstreaming-clientsurvivalThu, 12 Apr 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Scott Hartsman: A fully dynamic RIFT 'lacked clarity']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/scott-hartsman-a-fully-dynamic-rift-lacked-clarity/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/scott-hartsman-a-fully-dynamic-rift-lacked-clarity/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/scott-hartsman-a-fully-dynamic-rift-lacked-clarity/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Scott Hartsman
It's a well-known fact that throughout a good portion of its development process, RIFT was designed to be a completely dynamic world free from the traditional questing system. So why did Trion Worlds feel the need to shoehorn in these established MMO elements?

Scott Hartsman doesn't duck the question in a recent interview but gives an open explanation for how the process came to be. He said the team originally began with a huge concept of a world where everything could change and be transitory but discovered that it had one big flaw: Players didn't feel connected to the world they were supposed to be saving.

"A lot of it came down to a lack of clarity," Hartsman admits. "People need to feel like they have a place in the world in order to feel like it's a world they want to keep coming back to." To provide a way to anchor players in the story and place of the world, the team went back and added a static layer in addition to the dynamic one already present and created new ways for the two to interact.

Hartsman reveals that everything in RIFT is created, balanced, and scaled by designers, as the team rejects fully machine-generated content (although the devs have used programs to assist in the design). He says that the team's main focus, from before launch until now, has been to get its subscribers to play together, as those relationships help "stick" a player to a game like nothing else.

MassivelyScott Hartsman: A fully dynamic RIFT 'lacked clarity' originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dynamic-contentfantasyinstant-adventuresinterviewriftrift-literift-planes-of-telarascott-hartsmantriontrion-worldsTue, 06 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The MMO Report: Where the mobs raid you]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/01/the-mmo-report-where-the-mobs-raid-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/01/the-mmo-report-where-the-mobs-raid-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/01/the-mmo-report-where-the-mobs-raid-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The MMO Report goes to Trion
The MMO Report returns this week with a special RIFT edition in celebration of the game's first birthday. In this extra-long show, Casey visits the Trion Worlds studios in Redwood Shores, California for a beard's-eye view of the game as it turns one. He meets up with such Trion notables as Scott Hartsman, Hal Hanlin, and Russ Brown as they chat about the Carnival of the Ascended, the anniversary events, the mobile app, and the record-breaking 20,000 marriages recently performed in-game. The devs also discuss how they balance fan feedback (endgame players are apparently the loudest) and claim that the latest patch features the "greatest balloons ever put into a game."

Eavesdrop on Casey's tour in the HD video after the break!

Continue reading The MMO Report: Where the mobs raid you

MassivelyThe MMO Report: Where the mobs raid you originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybirthdaycasey-schreinerhal-hanlinhumormmo-reportnewsopinionriftroundupruss-brownscott-hartsmanthe-mmo-reporttriontrion-worldsvideovideosThu, 01 Mar 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Looking back at RIFT's first year]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/enter-at-your-own-rift-looking-back-at-rifts-first-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/enter-at-your-own-rift-looking-back-at-rifts-first-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/enter-at-your-own-rift-looking-back-at-rifts-first-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Rift carnival
As I ran around smacking loot piñatas (finally, someone acknowledges these things for what they are), I wondered how on earth RIFT's first year went by so fast. The Carnival of the Ascended is just around the corner, and on March 1st, the game officially celebrates its first birthday.

In just one year, RIFT has seen seven game updates, a handful of world events, and all sorts of new additions and improvements to the world of Telara. Rather than being a straight-up retrospective, this week's Enter at Your Own Rift is looking back on the first year with a Justin-style list of highlights and even a glimpse of what's coming in 1.8.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Looking back at RIFT's first year

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Looking back at RIFT's first year originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>birthdaycarnival-of-the-ascendedchroniclesember-isleenter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturedinstant-adventureskaren-bryanmaster-dungeonsopinionplanar-attunementretrospectiveriftrift-1.8rift-birthdayrift-mentoringrift-one-year-oldrift-planes-of-telarascott-hartsmansoul-presetssoul-systemtelaratriontrion-worldswarfront-accoladeswarfrontsWed, 29 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT players set record for most in-game weddings in one day]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/rift-players-set-record-for-most-in-game-weddings-in-one-day/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/rift-players-set-record-for-most-in-game-weddings-in-one-day/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/rift-players-set-record-for-most-in-game-weddings-in-one-day/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- RIFT
It wasn't but yesterday that we ran our feature on the gaming achievements of the Guinness Book of World Records: Gamer's Edition 2012, but between then and now, a new MMO-related record has been set. As many of you know, RIFT recently added marriage to its plethora of features, allowing players to make the ultimate commitment in Telara. Well, the ultimate commitment besides joining a raiding guild, at any rate.

A press release today announced that RIFT players banded together with the goal of setting the record for the most in-game marriages in a 24-hour span. We're not certain what the previous record was if there was one at all, but RIFT players managed to set the bar with a staggering 21,879 marriages performed between noon on February 14th and noon on February 15th. RIFT executive producer and Trion Worlds CCO Scott Hartsman is pleased with the outcome, stating in the press release that "Ascended Weddings were a great way to lift the veil on RIFT's new 'Gatherings' feature, social experiences that bring players together in new and interesting ways." He goes on to add that "[the studio] looks forward to expanding this great new gameplay element in the always-evolving world of Telara." So congratulations to all of the lucky couples. Enjoy your new ball-and-chain!

[Source: Trion Worlds press release]

MassivelyRIFT players set record for most in-game weddings in one day originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>culturegaming-cultureguinness-book-of-world-recordsguinness-book-of-world-records-gamers-editionin-game-marriagein-game-marriagesin-game-weddingin-game-weddingsmarriagemarriagesmmo-culturerecordrecordsriftrift-planes-of-telarascott-hartsmantriontrion-worldsweddingweddingsworld-recordworld-recordsThu, 16 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA['Just getting started': Scott Hartsman rallies the RIFT faithful for 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/just-getting-started-scott-hartsman-rallies-the-rift-faithful/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/just-getting-started-scott-hartsman-rallies-the-rift-faithful/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/just-getting-started-scott-hartsman-rallies-the-rift-faithful/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

RIFT
"What an amazing year it has been," begins Scott Hartsman in his one-year state of the game report for RIFT. Citing Trion Worlds' ability to "think about MMOs a little bit differently than everyone else," Hartsman recalls the mountain of accomplishments of the previous year, including the seven major content updates leading up to the recent Update 1.7 and the RIFT Lite service.

The best part? "We're just getting started," he exults.

Hartsman identifies the "key themes" of the team's 2012 focus, including playing with other people, improving the soul system, leaping forward in PvP, coming up with new ways to interact with the game world, and expanding RIFT's endgame. The interactions theme is intriguing, especially considering his phrasing: "When we say interact, we mean both interacting with the game in non-combat ways, and interacting from out of game entirely."

The letter dives into more specifics with each of these themes before culminating in a promise of even more surprises to come later this year.

Massively'Just getting started': Scott Hartsman rallies the RIFT faithful for 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.7dev-diaryproducers-letterpvpriftrift-litescott-hartsmansoul-systemstate-of-the-gametriontrion-worldsupdate-1.7Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA['RIFT Lite' announced, makes first 20 levels free to all [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/rift-lite-announced-makes-first-20-levels-free-to-all/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/rift-lite-announced-makes-first-20-levels-free-to-all/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/rift-lite-announced-makes-first-20-levels-free-to-all/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

RIFT Lite, with less calories
Trion Worlds has just announced that its fantasy MMO RIFT, which released to wide acclaim just 11 months ago, will today launch an introductory version of the game known as RIFT Lite. Similar to Warhammer Online's Endless Trial and World of Warcraft's Starter Edition, RIFT Lite will allow "anyone with a Trion account to experience the game's first 20 levels at no cost and with no playtime restrictions." Players will be able to access the capital cities as well as Terminus, Mathosia, Freemarch, and Silverwood, all the way up to level 20 and on any server, for the low, low cost of zero dollars.

In the press release, RIFT Executive Producer Scott Hartsman, who told fans last November that Trion had "absolutely no plans whatsoever" to turn RIFT F2P, stated that his company believes "a Lite edition with no time limit is the best way for players to see what an amazing experience RIFT continues to be."

Diet RIFT launches today in conjunction with the latest patch, Carnival of the Ascended, which brings player weddings, dungeon overhauls, and PvP tweaks to Telara.

[Update: The official RIFT Lite website has now gone live.]

Massively'RIFT Lite' announced, makes first 20 levels free to all [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carnival-of-the-ascendeddiet-riftendless-trialf2pfree-to-playfree-to-trylevel-20litemini-f2ppatch-1.7riftrift-litescott-hartsmantelaratriontrion-worldsWed, 01 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Trion plans RIFT's 2012 attack strategy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/20/trion-plans-rifts-2012-attack-strategy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/20/trion-plans-rifts-2012-attack-strategy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/20/trion-plans-rifts-2012-attack-strategy/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

RIFT
With 2011 locked in as a highly profitable year for Trion Worlds, the studio is eager to prove that it didn't pull off a one-trick-pony with RIFT by leaping into 2012 with guns blazing. Scott Hartsman emphasized that the studio's emphasis on having a responsive live team that quickly and decisively acts on player feedback is a key element in what makes RIFT special. "We want to make greater strides for 2012," he said.

Hartsman also opened up about Trion's plans for 2012, starting with the Return to Telara free play weekend that's currently active. The team is preparing to unveil plans about major improvements to the PvP system, including ways to lower PvP wait time, improve the PvP soul system, increase rewards, and perhaps have a form of open-world PvP that isn't limited to factional combat.

Other areas of improvement for the year he mentioned include giving players tools for social gatherings and tweaking the crafting system.

MassivelyTrion plans RIFT's 2012 attack strategy originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.7craftingpatch-1.7pvpreturn-to-telarariftscott-hartsmansocial-gatheringstelaratriontrion-worldsweddingsFri, 20 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: The story and presents behind RIFT's Fae Yule]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/massively-exclusive-the-story-and-presents-behind-rifts-fae-yu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/massively-exclusive-the-story-and-presents-behind-rifts-fae-yu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/massively-exclusive-the-story-and-presents-behind-rifts-fae-yu/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

RIFT
All in-game holiday festivals were not born equal, but they do seem to share a family resemblance when it comes to being merry and bright. RIFT's Fae Yule is but one of many, many Christmastime MMO holidays that we're witnessing this month, but the team at Trion Worlds is looking to make it stand out from the rest of the crowd with its depth and sense of fun.

So why do the inhabitants of Telara celebrate Fae Yule and take time out of their busy schedule of slaughter and soul-absorbing to decorate the town and scarf down bucketfuls of eggnog? What do they sing about when gathered around a crackling fire? What kind of present is appropriate for the fellow who already has the gift of immortality?

It's time to sit on Trion's lap and ask for your greatest wish in game while jolly St. Hartsman tells you all about the lore and in-game goodies behind RIFT's festivities. Ho-ho-hit that jump and let's get started!

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: The story and presents behind RIFT's Fae Yule

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: The story and presents behind RIFT's Fae Yule originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backgroundbackstorychristmaschristmas-eventexclusivefae-yuleholidayholiday-eventIlluminariain-game-eventloreriftscott-hartsmanstorytriontrion-worldsVaiyuuTue, 13 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Scott Hartsman: RIFT going F2P would be a 'large net negative' for the game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/16/scott-hartsman-rift-going-f2p-would-be-a-large-net-negative-f/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/16/scott-hartsman-rift-going-f2p-would-be-a-large-net-negative-f/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/16/scott-hartsman-rift-going-f2p-would-be-a-large-net-negative-f/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

RIFT
With so many former subscription-only MMOs turning to free-to-play/hybrid business models these days, one might assume that Trion Worlds feels the pressure to do the same with RIFT -- but that is far from the case. Speaking with Eurogamer, Scott Hartsman confirmed that Trion has "absolutely no plans whatsoever" to transition RIFT to a F2P model. He cited strong business and a growing game as reasons why the company is happy where it's at.

Embracing F2P, in Hartsman's opinion, would end up hurting more than helping in this situation: "One of the assumptions people make is you can just take a game and throw a switch and change the model. For starters, you'd have to decide that that would be a good thing, and I do not think it would be -- that would be a fairly large net negative for RIFT and the RIFT community."

While Hartsman confirms that F2P attracts large amounts of users, he also says that it fundamentally changes how an MMO studio approaches the game itself. "Take a free-to-play game or a social game, where the business is all about -- the social games' word for it is, 'going whaling,'" he said. "The idea is you have a paying player subsidising the play of, potentially, dozens or hundreds of other users. And so you have to be willing to create a game that has the ability to make huge sums of money from relatively small numbers of people. Once you decide that you are going to enter the whaling business, it's a different mindset and a different set of goals you're designing for entirely."

MassivelyScott Hartsman: RIFT going F2P would be a 'large net negative' for the game originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eurogamerf2pfree-to-playriftscott-hartsmansubscriptiontriontrion-worldswhalingWed, 16 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter At Your Own Rift: The big takeaways from GDC]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/26/enter-at-your-own-rift-the-big-takeaways-from-gdc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/26/enter-at-your-own-rift-the-big-takeaways-from-gdc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/26/enter-at-your-own-rift-the-big-takeaways-from-gdc/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Ember Isle
After dining on enough beef brisket to feed an army of hungry cowboys, I returned from Austin's GDC Online to chip away at the Ashes of History world event quests. RIFT had a nice showing at the GDC Online Awards ceremony, walking away with awards for Best Online Technology and Best New Online Game. In addition, Trion CCO and RIFT Executive Producer Scott Hartsman gave a talk about RIFT's pre-launch preparations and post-launch plans. GDC was dominated by a handful of common topics, like free-to-play, metrics, monetization, and technology. In this week's Enter at Your Own Rift, we'll take a look at a few of these to see how they apply to RIFT, and then we'll look at the big takeaways from GDC overall.

Continue reading Enter At Your Own Rift: The big takeaways from GDC

MassivelyEnter At Your Own Rift: The big takeaways from GDC originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Benedikt-GrindelChristopher-Schmitzenter-at-your-own-rifteqeverquestextra-life-2011f2pfeaturedfree-to-playgdcgdc-onlinegdc-online-2011georg-zoellerkaren-bryanMarkus-Perssonminecraftmojangmonitizationpanelpanelsred-doorriftscott-hartsmansettlers-onlineshadow-citiesstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortelarathe-settlers-onlinetriontrion-worldsubisoft-blue-bytewizard101Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC Online 2011: RIFT's Scott Hartsman on surviving and thriving in today's MMO climate]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/gdc-online-2011-rifts-scott-hartsman-on-surviving-and-thriving/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/gdc-online-2011-rifts-scott-hartsman-on-surviving-and-thriving/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/gdc-online-2011-rifts-scott-hartsman-on-surviving-and-thriving/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Scott Hartsman
Recently, we took time to look back on the past six months of RIFT's milestones, and this year at GDC Online, Trion CCO and RIFT Executive Producer Scott Hartsman sat down for a question-and-answer session to do the same thing. While we've seen the results of Trion's post-launch efforts, Hartsman gave a candid glimpse at what was going on behind the scenes as the team finished up beta and moved toward launch day. He took questions from N'Gai Croal, as well as from the audience, and highlights from the interview follow after the break.

Continue reading GDC Online 2011: RIFT's Scott Hartsman on surviving and thriving in today's MMO climate

MassivelyGDC Online 2011: RIFT's Scott Hartsman on surviving and thriving in today's MMO climate originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betafeaturedgdcgdc-onlinegdc-online-2011panelpost-launchriftscott-hartsmantriontrion-worldsThu, 13 Oct 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: A six-month retrospective]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-six-month-retrospective/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-six-month-retrospective/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-six-month-retrospective/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Rift invasion
About a year ago I was on a little show called The Rift Podcast with Arithion, Desi, and Trion Community Manager Cindy Bowens. It's hard to believe, but at the time, there was just a trickle of buzz surrounding RIFT and only a few details were available about the game. We're now six months into release, and it's worth taking a look back at some of the memorable moments for RIFT from beta and beyond. There have been many changes in-game, and while the ride wasn't always smooth, it's surprising how much has been added in game in such a short time.

In this week's Enter at your own Rift, we'll journey back to beta and look at some of the peaks and valleys as it reached its six-month milestone.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: A six-month retrospective

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: A six-month retrospective originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cindy-bowensenter-at-your-own-riftfeaturedhammerknellkaren-bryanplanar-attunementretrospectiveriftrift-connectrift-invasionsriver-of-soulsscott-hartsmantriontrion-worldsworld-eventsWed, 12 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Hal Hanlin and Scott Hartsman on Update 1.5]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/enter-at-your-own-rift-hal-hanlin-and-scott-hartsman-on-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/enter-at-your-own-rift-hal-hanlin-and-scott-hartsman-on-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/enter-at-your-own-rift-hal-hanlin-and-scott-hartsman-on-update/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Rift Chronicles
Chronicles, Planar Attunement, Veteran Rewards, a World Event, and a hint about a brand-new area coming soon are just the tip of the iceberg in RIFT's 1.5 update. Ashes of History is due to launch next week, and Design Producer Hal Hanlin and Executive Producer Scott Hartsman offered up lots of details during a conference call yesterday.

Whether you're an experienced veteran or a brand-new player, there's something for everyone in update 1.5. Read on for the full rundown of what's on the way, then take a look at our gallery for the newest Ashes of History screenshots.

Gallery: RIFT: Core Gallery

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Hal Hanlin and Scott Hartsman on Update 1.5

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Hal Hanlin and Scott Hartsman on Update 1.5 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ashes-of-historychroniclesenter-at-your-own-riftfeaturedgalleriesgalleryhal-hanlininterviewinterviewskaren-bryanplanar-attunementriftrift-planes-of-telarascott-hartsmantelaraTriontrion-worldsupdate-1.5veteran-rewardsWed, 21 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: How gold farming really hurts the economy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/enter-at-your-own-rift-how-gold-farming-really-hurts-the-econom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/enter-at-your-own-rift-how-gold-farming-really-hurts-the-econom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/enter-at-your-own-rift-how-gold-farming-really-hurts-the-econom/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

RIFT: Sanctum under threat
Recently, Trion Worlds CCO and RIFT Executive Producer Scott Hartsman talked to Gamasutra about how gold farming is a much bigger threat than we assume, particularly because of the large amount of credit card fraud. Those who played RIFT at launch probably recall the large wave of hacked accounts early on. According to Hartsman, the hacking attempts were so quick and so intense that the game could have been "denial-of-serviced off the internet" when it launched.

As I was browsing the Auctioneer the other day, I was reminded of Scott's statement because gold farming has sucked a lot of the fun out of in-game economies in virtual worlds. Markets early on were lively, unpredictable, exciting, and full of freedom but very vulnerable because of the growing illegal trade of in-game currency for real money. In an effort to combat the rising real-life value of gold, games like RIFT have moved away from gold toward a system of non-tradeable tokens. But while these tokens have helped to curb the value of gold and reduce the demand for third-party RMTs, they've also removed a lot of the freedom from players. After the cut, we'll take a closer look at how exactly that's happened and why it hurts the economy.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: How gold farming really hurts the economy

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: How gold farming really hurts the economy originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>currencycurrency-tradingenter-at-your-own-riftfeaturedfree-marketgoldgold-farmingmarketplaquesreal-money-tradingriftrmtRMTsscott-hartsmanthird-party-tradingtriontrion-worldsWed, 10 Aug 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Forward thinking]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/27/enter-at-your-own-rift-forward-thinking/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/27/enter-at-your-own-rift-forward-thinking/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/27/enter-at-your-own-rift-forward-thinking/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

RIFT right now feels like it's in the middle of that quiet pause right before all hell breaks loose. In game, we're in the thick of the Waves of Madness event, and good old Scotty's ammunition is working well against the doors of Hammerknell Fortress. The question is, what will happen once the doors are finally broken?

Outside the game, Trion CCO and Rift Executive Producer Scott Hartsman posted a "State of the game," which outlined what they have planned for the fantasy MMO down the road. But it actually leaves us with more questions than answers. In this week's Enter at Your Own Rift, we'll look at the world event as well as the summer update, and speculate on what's really coming to Telara.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Forward thinking

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Forward thinking originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ancient-wardstoneschronicles-of-telaraenter-at-your-own-riftinstant-adventuresriftscott-hartsmantrionwaves-of-madnessWed, 27 Jul 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: Broke and richer for it edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/24/global-chat-broke-and-richer-for-it-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/24/global-chat-broke-and-richer-for-it-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/24/global-chat-broke-and-richer-for-it-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Welcome to this week's Global Chat! We love hearing what you have to say at Massively, and we love it even more when we can share the best comments with all of our readers. Massively staffers will be contributing some of their favorite comments every week, so keep an eye out every Sunday for more Global Chat!

This week we're looking at all things money: Who has it, who doesn't, and why it makes the world go 'round. Naturally, Massively writers are richer than seven kings of Arabia combined and aren't concerned with such petty matters, but it seems to weigh heavily upon some of your heads. Hit the jump and let's see what the buzz was like in the comments section this past week!

Continue reading Global Chat: Broke and richer for it edition

MassivelyGlobal Chat: Broke and richer for it edition originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>commentscrypticglobal-chatgold-buyergold-buyersgold-buyinggold-farmergold-farmersgold-farminggold-sellergold-sellersgold-sellingmoneyopinionpre-orderrmtscott-hartsmanstar-trek-onlinestar-wars-the-old-republicstoswtorthe-old-republictorvisaSun, 24 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Scott Hartsman says gold farming hurts our games more than we know]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/scott-hartsman-says-gold-farming-hurts-our-games-more-than-we-kn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/scott-hartsman-says-gold-farming-hurts-our-games-more-than-we-kn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/scott-hartsman-says-gold-farming-hurts-our-games-more-than-we-kn/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Gold buying is one of those aspects of MMO culture that is seemingly universally denounced, yet enough people partake in the practice to keep the wheels of this grey market activity going. Scott Hartsman may be saying the obvious when he denounced gold farming and selling to Gamasutra, but apparently it is still something we need to hear.

The Trion Worlds general manager shared a glimpse of just how hard these activities hit games, and how concerned he and other studio execs are about the proliferation of credit card fraud that results: "It's those kinds of things where people laugh and go, 'Oh, that never happens.' No. It happens. It happens a s**tload. To the point where, over the last three or four years, I would dare anybody to ask an exec at a gaming company how much they've had to pay in MasterCard and Visa fines, because of fraud. It happens a lot."

According to Hartsman, the more these events take place, the more money studios spend on paying fines and dealing with them instead of reinvesting funds into the games themselves -- all because of the "jerks" perpetuating the crimes.

MassivelyScott Hartsman says gold farming hurts our games more than we know originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>credit-card-fraudgamasutragold-buyinggold-farmergold-farminggold-sellinggrey-markethackhackedhackersjerksmastercardrmtscott-hartsmantriontrion-worldsvisaThu, 21 Jul 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT's first State of the Game address floods players with news of the future [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/rifts-first-state-of-the-game-address-floods-players-with-news/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/rifts-first-state-of-the-game-address-floods-players-with-news/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/rifts-first-state-of-the-game-address-floods-players-with-news/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Trion Worlds has never been shy in talking about RIFT's upcoming content, especially considering how fast and furious said content's been flying down the pipe. However, the studio may have topped itself today as it gave its first State of the Game address, opening up about the title's history to date and both the near and far future of the team's plans.

It's difficult to try to summarize all of this news in a brief paragraph -- so we're not even going to try! Instead, Massively joined a number of other news outlets for a conference call with the RIFT team and Scott Hartsman to clarify all of the exciting content, fixes and features mentioned in this address.

So join us after the jump as we look at quality-of-life improvements, new types of rifts, vastly improved PvP experiences, solo dungeons, and something intriguing called "Instant Adventure."

Continue reading RIFT's first State of the Game address floods players with news of the future [Updated]

MassivelyRIFT's first State of the Game address floods players with news of the future [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternate-advancementchronicles-of-telaraescalationhigh-adventureinstant-adventurelfglfg-systemlfg-toolpatch-1.4planar-attunementplanar-attunement-treesplanesport-scionpreviewpvppvp-riftpvp-riftsriftriftsscarwood-reachscott-hartsmansolo-dungeonsstate-of-the-gamethe-chronicles-of-telaratriontrion-worldsupdateworld-pvpxpThu, 14 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Talking 1.3 with Hal Hanlin]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/enter-at-your-own-rift-talking-1-3-with-hal-hanlin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/enter-at-your-own-rift-talking-1-3-with-hal-hanlin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/enter-at-your-own-rift-talking-1-3-with-hal-hanlin/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Today we're on the verge of RIFT's third major update's going live. It's a doozy of a patch, too, with a little something for everyone: a raid for endgame players, guild banks for... well, guilds, character transfers for the antsy, and RIFT's second world event for one and all.

With Patch 1.3, Trion Worlds puts its money where its mouth is by continuing with its streak of sizable, regular updates. It's a critical patch for some, as it seeks to answer the growing call for more endgame content while an increasing number of players hit 50. Fans of RIFT will most likely welcome the spread of the patch, but detractors will undoubtedly criticize why X was done instead of Y (and don't even get into Z; that letter is nothing but trouble). And above the noise, Trion sails on with apparent confidence and dedication.

Even though we got to speak with Trion at E3, I got the opportunity for another pre-1.3 interview with Design Producer Hal Hanlin (which, by the way, is a superhero fake identity if I ever heard one). In this no-holds-barred discussion, we covered the selling points of 1.3, the accusation that RIFT is "dying," and the philosophy behind Trion's rapid stream of content.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Talking 1.3 with Hal Hanlin

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Talking 1.3 with Hal Hanlin originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20-man-raid20-person-raidbalancebind-to-accountcharacter-transferscollectionscontentdesign-teamdesignerse3e3-2011enter-at-your-own-riftfeaturedguild-bankhal-hanlinhammerknelllfg-systemMurdantixMurdantix-mountpatch-1.3patch-1.4pvppvp-daily-questsraidred-sliversriftrift-planes-of-telarariver-of-soulsscott-hartsmantriontrion-worldswaves-of-madnessworld-eventWed, 22 Jun 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Scott Hartsman: 'Happy customers stick around longer']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/scott-hartsman-happy-customers-stick-around-longer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/scott-hartsman-happy-customers-stick-around-longer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/scott-hartsman-happy-customers-stick-around-longer/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

"Here's the overall philosophy behind all this: Happy customers stick around longer," Scott Hartsman said in an interview with Gamefront. "That's what we think. That's the beginning and end of it." It may seem like common sense, but for Hartsman and the team at Trion Worlds, it's a lesson they feel is easy to forget.

He cites this as the driving force behind one of the game's major upcoming changes: the ability to transfer characters between servers for free. Trion hopes that the character transfers will help friends connect without the obstacle of separate servers getting in their way. Hartsman said that the tech behind the transfer is impressive -- not to mention "instantaneous" from a customer standpoint.

Hartsman says that the team places a premium on talking frankly and frequently with players. If Trion doesn't always come across as perfect, he hopes that the company makes up for it with communication and sincerity: "We don't want to hide behind a big wall, and we don't want everything to come through a formal mouthpiece. I'd rather have us all out conversing with people and occasionally making a mistake here or there on the assumption that because we are talking to people more means that overall, things are going to be better."

The lengthy interview covers a wide range of pressing topics, from the "bumpy" River of Souls event to the LFG system and the free trial program.

MassivelyScott Hartsman: 'Happy customers stick around longer' originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>character-transfercharacter-transferscustomer-servicegamefronthappinesshappy-customersinterviewlfglfg-systemlfg-toolriftrift-planes-of-telarariver-of-soulsscott-hartsmanserver-transfertrialtriontrion-worldsTue, 07 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT offering free character transfers with patch 1.3 [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/rift-offering-free-character-transfers-with-patch-1-3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/rift-offering-free-character-transfers-with-patch-1-3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/rift-offering-free-character-transfers-with-patch-1-3/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's always tough when you roll a character on a server but find out that your good friends are on another. The question of "Do I reroll or stay put?" is an agonizing one, fortunately one that RIFT players will not have to struggle with too much longer.

Trion Worlds has announced that with the advent of patch 1.3, RIFT will allow players to move to select servers once per week -- for free. These free character transfers include a wholesale move of all of the character's items, achievements and titles. Also, Trion has stated that initially there will be no limit to the number of times your character can hop to a different server.

Scott Hartsman thinks this will strengthen the game's community: "MMOs are all about playing with your friends no matter which server they're on, and that's why we're offering this as a free service to our subscribers. RIFT is both a game and a service, and adding free server transfers is just one more way we can make this the best possible MMO experience available."

Patch 1.3 will also allow guild leaders to transfer over their guilds' details, including levels and experience. The patch is scheduled for "early summer."

[Update: Trion has posted a Free Character Transfer FAQ on the forums with specifics as to this service. Check it out!]

MassivelyRIFT offering free character transfers with patch 1.3 [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 May 2011 12:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>character-transfercharacter-transfersfreefree-character-transferguild-transferguild-transferspatchpatch-1.3riftrift-planes-of-telarascott-hartsmantriontrion-worldsupdateMon, 23 May 2011 12:21:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT podcast celebrates the end with Scott Hartsman]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/rift-podcast-celebrates-the-end-with-scott-hartsman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/rift-podcast-celebrates-the-end-with-scott-hartsman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/rift-podcast-celebrates-the-end-with-scott-hartsman/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It's a sad day for The RIFT podcast, as its latest episode, 42, will also be its last. It's not due to a lack of interest in the game, however, but rather to real-life health concerns. One of the hosts, Arithion, is extremely ill and apparently can't look at moving pictures on a screen for more than 10 minutes, making gaming impossible.

So the podcast creators decided to end the show on a high note, inviting Scott Hartsman and Cindy "Abigale" Bowens to join them for a candid interview about RIFT's future. Hartsman indicated that news about guild banks and character transfers is coming very soon, saying, "We have a slick little answer" for the latter. He also revealed that RIFT's Weather Cast summer ad campaign actually used real weatherpeople, and the fact that the company is continuing with television ads is a good indicator of how well the game is going.

The LFG tool has had a huge impact on the game, as Hartsman's seen "multiples" of increments of players diving into dungeons since it went into place. The team is hard at work tweaking the system to make it work perfectly.

While The RIFT Podcast is riding into the sunset, there's always hope. "Forty-two doesn't have to be the end," host Desikis said. "Who knows, there might be a comeback!"

MassivelyRIFT podcast celebrates the end with Scott Hartsman originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 May 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abigalecharacter-transferscindy-bowensdungeonsguild-bankshealth-concernsinterviewlfglfg-systemlfg-toolpodcastriftrift-podcastscott-hartsmanthe-rift-podcasttriontrion-worldsweather-castMon, 23 May 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT team updates RP server naming policy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/08/rift-team-updates-rp-server-naming-policy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/08/rift-team-updates-rp-server-naming-policy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/08/rift-team-updates-rp-server-naming-policy/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The fine folks at Trion Worlds have finally answered a pressing question that's been on the tongues of RIFT roleplayers since launch: What are the roleplaying server naming rules, and how are they being enforced? Scott Hartsman stepped into the forums recently to offer clarification on the topic, something for which RIFT roleplayers are certainly grateful.

Hartsman says that the team's goal with naming rules is to "apply sanity and reason, as best as we can, to this inherently subjective topic that's as much about opinions as it is about facts." In light of this, the rules that will be imposed are fairly standard for the genre -- no partial or complete sentences (sorry, Ipwnyouhard!), no pop-culture references, no leetspeak, and no titles that are "obviously out of place in Telara" -- but even so, it's great to see them explicitly spelled out so players know what to expect. Hopefully this will lead to a more enjoyable roleplaying experience for anyone on RIFT's RP servers. For the full post, which also includes some tidbits on customer service feedback, skip on over to the official forum post.

MassivelyRIFT team updates RP server naming policy originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 May 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hartsmannamingnaming-policyriftrift-planes-of-telararole-playingroleplayingrprp-naming-policyrp-server-rulesscott-hartsmantriontrion-worldsSun, 08 May 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WonderCon MMORPG industry panel explores key topics of the day]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/02/wondercon-mmorpg-industry-panel-explores-key-topics-of-the-day/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/02/wondercon-mmorpg-industry-panel-explores-key-topics-of-the-day/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/02/wondercon-mmorpg-industry-panel-explores-key-topics-of-the-day/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

At last month's WonderCon in San Francisco, three MMO industry experts sat down to do a panel on many of the pressing questions and issues that players have these days. The lively panel, moderated by PC Gamer's Josh Augustine, consisted of Dirk Metzger (Zentia), Scott Hartsman (RIFT) and Nick Huggett (Runes of Magic), each taking turns to address some of the questions that are commonly asked about these games and the industry at large.

These topics included player retention, free-to-play vs. subscription business models, the endless comparisons to World of Warcraft, why MMOs tend to be fantasy-based, some of the biggest mistakes in the genre, how to appeal to both hardcore and casual players, the differences between the Asian and North American market, and the struggle to provide player-created content.

The rise of social media also has a significant effect on MMO development, according to Hartsman. "What that kind of forces us to do, bluntly, is make better games right off the bat, because people will tell you if your game sucks."

You can watch the video highlights of the panel after the jump.

Continue reading WonderCon MMORPG industry panel explores key topics of the day

MassivelyWonderCon MMORPG industry panel explores key topics of the day originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 May 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asianbusiness-modelcasualDirk-Metzgerf2pfree-to-playhardcoreindustry-panelNick-Huggettnorth-americanpanelplayer-retentionriftromrunes-of-magicscott-hartsmansocial-mediasubscriptionvideowonderconworld-of-warcraftzentiaMon, 02 May 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT's patch 1.2 moved to May 10th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/rifts-patch-1-2-moved-to-may-10th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/rifts-patch-1-2-moved-to-may-10th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/rifts-patch-1-2-moved-to-may-10th/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Don't break out the updater just yet, RIFT fans -- we've learned that you are going to have to wait a little bit longer to get your hands on the game's second big update. Patch 1.2, which was tentatively scheduled for a May 4th release, has been moved back to the 10th.

Trion Worlds let us know that the patch is still being "polished, tweaked and perfected," and as such the team needs additional time to get it ready.

When we talked with Scott Hartsman a week ago about the update, he made sure to mention that all of the details about RIFT's content patch, including the date, weren't set in stone. Patch 1.2 will contain additional endgame content, the wardrobe system, and a new Looking for Group tool.

MassivelyRIFT's patch 1.2 moved to May 10th originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.2content-patchcontent-updateendgamelfglooking-for-grouppatchpatch-1.2riftrift-planes-of-telarascott-hartsmantriontrion-worldsupdateupdate-1.2wardrobeThu, 28 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Trion's dynamic duo talks dynamic content on the RIFT podcast]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/25/trions-dynamic-duo-talk-dynamic-content-on-the-rift-podcast/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/25/trions-dynamic-duo-talk-dynamic-content-on-the-rift-podcast/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/25/trions-dynamic-duo-talk-dynamic-content-on-the-rift-podcast/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The river of RIFT news and discussion seems to be swelling to flood stage these days, especially surrounding the recent world event and the upcoming 1.2 update. If your appetite for all things RIFT wasn't satiated by our recent talk with Scott Hartsman, then you'll definitely want to tune in to the latest RIFT Podcast.

During the podcast, the hosts talk with Trion World's Will Cook and Cindy Bowens about dynamic content, the world event, authenticators, the wardrobe, and -- of course -- RIFT's Update 1.2. They even touch upon the controversial continued lack of guild banks and the fact that daily quests are no longer stackable.

Head on over to The RIFT to glean nuggets of pure interviewee gold out of this chat!

MassivelyTrion's dynamic duo talks dynamic content on the RIFT podcast originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>authenticatorcindy-bowensguild-bankspodcastriftrift-planes-of-telararift-podcastscott-hartsmanupdate-1.2wardrobewill-cookworld-eventMon, 25 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[An exclusive look at RIFT's Update 1.2 and beyond with Scott Hartsman [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/22/an-exclusive-look-at-rifts-update-1-2-and-beyond-with-scott-har/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/22/an-exclusive-look-at-rifts-update-1-2-and-beyond-with-scott-har/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/22/an-exclusive-look-at-rifts-update-1-2-and-beyond-with-scott-har/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

With almost two months on the post-launch clock at Trion Worlds, RIFT appears to be holding its own in the wild and woolly field of MMORPGs. With a major update and the first world event under its belt, RIFT is sailing into the future with the wind at its back and a hull full of subscribers below.

We got Trion's Scott Hartsman on the phone to discuss RIFT's second big patch, Update 1.2, as well as to see how the game's progressed thus far and where the team is trying to take it into the future. And of course we couldn't let this opportunity pass by without a candid dissection of the uneven world event and how Trion plans to learn from its mistakes.

So hit the jump and witness Scott Hartsman giving us a Care Bear Stare full of info and exclusive tidbits about the inner workings of RIFT!

Continue reading An exclusive look at RIFT's Update 1.2 and beyond with Scott Hartsman [Updated]

MassivelyAn exclusive look at RIFT's Update 1.2 and beyond with Scott Hartsman [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10-man-raidappearancebuildscharacter-transferscosmeticcosmetic-outfitsdynamic-eventfacebookfeaturedgilded-prophecyguild-bankslooking-for-groupoutfitsraidrecruit-a-friendriftrift-planes-of-telarariver-of-soulsrolesscott-hartsmansliversthis-is-an-easter-egg-tagtriontrion-worldstwitterwardrobeworld-eventworld-pvpFri, 22 Apr 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Cry me a river]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/20/enter-at-your-own-rift-cry-me-a-river/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/20/enter-at-your-own-rift-cry-me-a-river/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/20/enter-at-your-own-rift-cry-me-a-river/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Yep. That was the sum of my experience with Phase 2 and 3 of RIFT's world event this past weekend. I was unable to log in early to stake my place for the fireworks (I was over in Lexington watching the Red Coats and the Minute Men putting on their own fireworks show). As I learned later from guildmates, it wouldn't have helped even if I were on early, since Trion Worlds took down the servers just before the event, causing a mess of sharpened elbows and broken keyboards as people frantically tried to log back in.

It was a white hot mess, and no one will argue that fact. But there are a few interesting observations that can be made from this rather bleak moment. Read on for a look at what Alsbeth's finale can tell us.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Cry me a river

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Cry me a river originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alsbethelrarenter-at-your-own-rifteqeq-iieq2eventeverquestEverQuest-2everquest-iifeaturedriftrift-planes-of-telarariver-of-soulsscott-hartsmantriontrion-worldsvanguardVanguard-Saga-of-Heroesworld-eventworld-eventsworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 20 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT world event fizzles, Trion reevaluates approach [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/16/rift-world-event-fizzles-trion-reevaluates-approach/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/16/rift-world-event-fizzles-trion-reevaluates-approach/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/16/rift-world-event-fizzles-trion-reevaluates-approach/#commentsFiled under: , ,

What could have gone out with a bang turned out to be a mild whimper. RIFT's first world event, River of Souls, moved into its final phases today but experienced several difficulties. Players in both Europe and North America reported lengthy queue times to access the game. These queues were possibly exacerbated by the additional trial players joining for the weekend, although Trion Worlds claimed that subscribers had priority access. On top of that, some servers saw the second and third phases pass by so quickly that many players simply were not there to see it, while other servers experienced unexpected intermittent outages.

As you may expect, player discussion about RIFT's world event has heated up in the forums, blogosphere (NSFW), and elsewhere. In the middle of the event rollout, Scott Hartsman wrote a forum post in which he addressed some of these issues. Hartsman promises that those who missed out on the final portion of the event would be compensated: "Since we are very likely to end up in a situation where we have people queued who could not participate, and people who could not make the finale at all, we're already making sure we have a way to reward people appropriately after the fact."

Trion assured players that it is using the lessons from this world event to shape upcoming ones. "We're already taking what we've learned over the last week and today into account as we work on the next set of world events, and will be designing them such that full-server-population flashmobs aren't quite as likely to occur -- both for fun factor and performance," Hartsman said. "Equally importantly for the future, we'll be ensuring there are more phases that each last longer, and a more clear progression, to maximize everyone's chance of participating."

Let us know your own experience with this event in the comments below!

[Update: Scott Hartsman posted a follow-up to the event as well as a list of compensation rewards for those unable to participate.]

MassivelyRIFT world event fizzles, Trion reevaluates approach [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Apr 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alsbethalsbeth-the-discordantblogosphereforumsqueuequeuesriftrift-planes-of-telarariver-of-soulsscott-hartsmantriontrion-worldsSat, 16 Apr 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CNN looks at RIFT's server technology]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/10/cnn-looks-at-rifts-server-technology/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/10/cnn-looks-at-rifts-server-technology/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/10/cnn-looks-at-rifts-server-technology/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

MMORPGs don't get much virtual ink on the world's top news sites, and when they do, it's usually because someone's died during a grind session. RIFT recently bucked that trend with a lengthy spread on CNN.com, and somewhat predictably, the initial focus is on the "battle" between Trion's upstart and Blizzard's World of Warcraft behemoth.

While the first half of the article is devoted to describing RIFT in layman's terms, there are a few interesting snippets focusing on Trion's technology (specifically the fact that RIFT's servers are organized by function rather than by location as per usual with other games in the genre).

Producer Scott Hartsman tells CNN that developing the new tech was a challenge that will prove worthwhile in the long run. "Yeah, it was hard, but it was well worth it. We're really just now at the point [where] we're about 25% into all of the things we can do with our technology and we're looking to add more," he explained.

MassivelyCNN looks at RIFT's server technology originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cnnculturefantasymmo-industryriftrift-planes-of-telarascott-hartsmansoulstelaratriontrion-worldtrion-world-networkWorld-of-WarcraftwowSun, 10 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA["Solid one-two punch": Trion responds to account hacks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/19/solid-one-two-punch-trion-responds-to-account-hacks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/19/solid-one-two-punch-trion-responds-to-account-hacks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/19/solid-one-two-punch-trion-responds-to-account-hacks/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The saga of RIFT's account security woes continues, as Trion World's Scott Hartsman responded to the hacker attempts, reassuring fans curious about what steps were being taken to secure their accounts.

Citing "constant attacks" since the launch of RIFT that have impacted 1% of accounts, Hartsman said that the team is blocking hackers and botnets as quickly as they are identified, but that this will also be an ongoing process.

"Both the login fix and the Coin Lock addition have been doing their part in signficantly reducing overall incidents over the last 18 hours," Hartsman wrote. "Neither one is a silver bullet, but so far it is looking to be a solid one-two punch for the weekend."

According to his post, Trion will be hiring additional staff to tackle the problem, and is working on a "two-factor authentication" process for the future.

Hartsman also praised the efforts of the player who brought a serious log-in vulnerability to the team's attention. ZAM tracked down the player for an interview, who himself had his account hacked in early March. The player is an "ethical hacker" who owns a security software company and realized that these hacks were not the fault of the player, but an exploit that had been discovered.

Massively"Solid one-two punch": Trion responds to account hacks originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 Mar 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>account-securityauthenticatorbotnetscoin-lockcompromised-accountsethical-hackerhackerhackingmanwitdaplanriftrift-planes-of-telarascott-hartsmansecuritytriontrion-worldstwo-factor-authenticationzamSat, 19 Mar 2011 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX East 2011: One Massive roundup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/pax-east-2011-one-massive-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/pax-east-2011-one-massive-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/pax-east-2011-one-massive-roundup/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

PAX East has already begun fading into memory, but there was a lot to see and do over the three days of the convention. Even if we disregard the numerous fan gatherings and community events taking place, there were an awful lot of games on the floor, with showings from MMOs that dwarfed last year's offerings. If you were lucky enough to be there, we can only hope that you had fun and got to see all of the impressive displays.

Of course, you may very well have missed one or two things, what with all of the sound and lines and people walking around with a pixel costume. Even if you were sitting at home, you might have missed some of our coverage of this event. Just jump on past the break for a full recap of Massively's coverage of the con, covering everything from the venerable City of Heroes to the highly anticipated Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Continue reading PAX East 2011: One Massive roundup

MassivelyPAX East 2011: One Massive roundup originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxddodragons-nestdungeons-and-dragons-onlineeventsfeaturedhi-rez-studiosinterviewslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotropanelspaxpax-2011pax-eastpax-east-2011real-world-eventriftscott-hartsmanstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortribesvindictusw101wizard101Fri, 18 Mar 2011 13:00:00 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[PAX East 2011: Massively interviews RIFT's Scott Hartsman]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/15/pax-east-2011-massively-interviews-rifts-scott-hartsman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/15/pax-east-2011-massively-interviews-rifts-scott-hartsman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/15/pax-east-2011-massively-interviews-rifts-scott-hartsman/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

With the launch of RIFT still fresh, members of the Trion team packed their bags and flew to Boston to attend PAX East. Even though they didn't have a booth, their "We're not in Azeroth anymore" banner made their presence known. In addition, Community Manager Cindy "Abigale" Bowens hosted a party in Boston to celebrate the launch with players and fans. Massively had a chance to sit down and talk with Trion CCO and RIFT Executive Producer Scott Hartsman about launch day, security, plans for the future, and a whole lot more. Read on for the full interview!

Continue reading PAX East 2011: Massively interviews RIFT's Scott Hartsman

MassivelyPAX East 2011: Massively interviews RIFT's Scott Hartsman originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abigaleadd-onsaddonsappappscindy-bowensdungeon-finderfeaturedguild-warsinterviewinterviewslaunchlaunch-daypaxpax-2011pax-eastpax-east-2011riftrift-planes-of-telarascott-hartsmanserver-populationserver-populationsserver-queuesshardssocial-gaming-nightsuccesstriontrion-worldsTue, 15 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Getting a head start]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/02/enter-at-your-own-rift-getting-a-head-start/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/02/enter-at-your-own-rift-getting-a-head-start/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/02/enter-at-your-own-rift-getting-a-head-start/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Dateline: Thursday, February 24th, 12:55 p.m. EST. After having rushed home from work (huzzah for a half-day), I was frantically putting the kids to bed for an afternoon nap and patching up my RIFT client. Twitter was abuzz with gamers sitting at the starting gate and revving their mice. It was here. After seven betas, it was here, and we would be the first in the door.

12:59 p.m. EST. Began checking the server status list, trying to will the dull grey names to light up as they signified activity.

1:00 p.m. EST. Scott Hartsman posts a short message on Twitter: "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to RIFT."

Right on cue, the servers came up, and what felt like the entire population of Oregon tried to cram into the game all at once. By 1:01 p.m., when I logged in, my chosen server of Faeblight was already full and had 461 people in the queue. I was 462. It would be another 45 minutes until I was able to play the game proper.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Getting a head start

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Getting a head start originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abigalebasketballfeaturedfootballhead-startholy-graillars-buttlerlaunchpick-up-gamesrealmsriftrift-planes-of-telarascott-hartsmanserversshardssoccersocialsocial-experiencesocial-gamesocial-gamingtriontrion-worldsturtleturtle-mountturtle-powertwitterworld-of-warcraftWed, 02 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT opened!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/01/rift-opened/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/01/rift-opened/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/01/rift-opened/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

"So when you take all these new types of things to do and you put them all together, that's when you know -- this is RIFT," Scott Hartsman proclaims in a launch day video for Trion Worlds' MMO.

Although you either already know or are more into macrame than MMORPGs, today is RIFT's official release in North America following last Thursday's head start program for pre-orders. RIFT will be rolling out across the globe in the next few days, with Australia slated for Wednesday, March 2nd, pan-European countries March 3rd, and in the UK March 4th.

To celebrate the launch, the overworked Trion crew put together a special video titled "This is RIFT" that highlights the strong selling points of the game, such as the wardstone system, the dynamic rifts, and the high-level raid content. Check it out after the jump, and if you're stuck at work, we have a terrific launch day roundup to feed the info beast lurking in your belly.

Continue reading RIFT opened!

MassivelyRIFT opened! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiaeuropehead-startlaunchofficial-launchraidreleaseriftrift-planes-of-telarascott-hartsmanthis-is-rifttriontrion-worldsukvideowardstoneTue, 01 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter At Your Own Rift: The first day FAQ]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/23/enter-at-your-own-rift-the-first-day-faq/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/23/enter-at-your-own-rift-the-first-day-faq/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/23/enter-at-your-own-rift-the-first-day-faq/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

You've watched the trailers, downloaded the podcasts, scoured the forums, and sold your soul for a VIP key. Tomorrow, your patient wait is over, and the RIFT head-start officially begins. As you stock up on Red Bull and Mountain Dew and fight off the shakes during your server queue wait, you might have a few questions about what your first moments in RIFT will be like.

For this week's Enter At Your Own Rift, we'll take a look at a few common questions that players might have. Are you wondering about how to form a guild? Have you already made a soul build that you regret and want to reset? Are you lost trying to find an auctioneer or a mount merchant? Read on for some answers!

Continue reading Enter At Your Own Rift: The first day FAQ

MassivelyEnter At Your Own Rift: The first day FAQ originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaenter-at-your-own-riftfeaturedguild-formationlaunchlaunch-dayplanar-focusplanariteRIFTrift-betarift-invastionsrift-planes-of-telaraScott-hartsmansoul-systemtriontrion-worldsWed, 23 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Scott Hartsman answers RIFT player questions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/17/scott-hartsman-answers-rift-player-questions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/17/scott-hartsman-answers-rift-player-questions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/17/scott-hartsman-answers-rift-player-questions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

RIFT's launch is getting ever closer, and that means more and more questions for players to start wondering about. Scott Hartsman recently took part in an interview responding to several player questions, ranging from guilds and dungeon grouping to the disruption the eponymous rifts can wreak upon a questing environment. As Hartsman puts it, the large-scale changes that can happen as a result of the dynamic spawns can shut down questing, but that's part of the goal, and it's tuned so that an empty zone will never be subjected to a cascading series of unbeatable enemy invasions.

While the game isn't set to have any sort of group-finding system in place on launch, Hartsman is of the mind that it's better to wait and launch an excellent tool than to simply put in a half-hearted attempt. He also expands on the varied high-end content available to players beyond simply raids as well as what players can expect for content releases down the line. While RIFT still has about half a month until release, the information already available is painting a fairly cohesive picture.

MassivelyScott Hartsman answers RIFT player questions originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Auto-groupingBalanceBetaBetasDynamic-contentDynamic-encountersDynamic-systemsEndgameEndgame-optionsGame-balanceGrouping-mechanicsInterviewOpen-betaQ-and-aQuestion-and-answerRiftRift-planes-of-telaraScott-hartsmanTrionTrion-worldsThu, 17 Feb 2011 19:00:00 EST