Massively

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[Enter at Your Own Rift: Conquest PvP]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/enter-at-your-own-rift-conquest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/enter-at-your-own-rift-conquest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/enter-at-your-own-rift-conquest/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Previews, PvP, Opinion, Hands-on, Massively Hands-on, RIFT, Enter at Your Own Rift

rift conquest

RIFT fans wracked their brains trying to decipher the cryptic message on the forums a few weeks ago, and it turned out they were right: RIFT is on the verge of seeing the arrival of three faction PvP, and the game took its first step toward that with a test session on PTS last week.

If you missed it, take heart because this week's Enter at Your Own Rift gives a recap of the event and a beginning look at how Conquest plays out. Read on for handy primer on three-faction PvP in Telara!

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Conquest PvP

Enter at Your Own Rift: Conquest PvP originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conquestdominionenter-at-your-own-riftextractorsfaction-pvpfantasyfeaturedhands-onkaren-bryannightfalloathswornopinionpreviewpreviewspvpriftrift-planes-of-telararvrtelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsWed, 23 May 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Rift evolution]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/enter-at-your-own-rift-rift-evolution/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/enter-at-your-own-rift-rift-evolution/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/enter-at-your-own-rift-rift-evolution/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Game mechanics, PvE, Opinion, Enter at Your Own Rift

rift

RIFT has seen a great deal of new content and features over the past year, and each update tends to generate a lot of buzz about things like new raid zones, new warzones, world events, and yes, even fishing. But there have been quite a few subtle (and not so subtle) changes to the core of the game -- that is, the rifts themselves. Last summer, Justin wrote a great piece wondering whether rifts were in "danger of collapsing," and his point was that they were a good idea on paper but needed tweaks in order to stay relevant to the game.

It's worth looking back at the evolution of rifts over the past year to see what's changed since launch day. Read on for a look at what's new with rifts!

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Rift evolution

Enter at Your Own Rift: Rift evolution originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ember-isleenter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturedkaren-bryanopinionriftrift-planes-of-telarariftsshimmersandtelaratriontrion-worldszone-eventsWed, 09 May 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Handy tips for fishing and survival in Telara]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/enter-at-your-own-rift-handy-tips-for-fishing-and-survival-in-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/enter-at-your-own-rift-handy-tips-for-fishing-and-survival-in-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/enter-at-your-own-rift-handy-tips-for-fishing-and-survival-in-t/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Opinion, RIFT, Guides, Enter at Your Own Rift, Crafting

rift fishing

In my last column about RIFT, I looked at a few highlights that were coming with Update 1.8, but because of the buzz surrounding the two new skills of fishing and survival, I wanted to delve into both a little more closely and perhaps even give a few tips I picked up so far that might be helpful if you're thinking of giving it a try.

Whether you're an old salt or a greenhorn, and if you're curious about what exactly it takes to fish in Telara or what you need to build yourself a nice camp and a warm meal, this week's Enter at Your Own Rift might help!

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Handy tips for fishing and survival in Telara

Enter at Your Own Rift: Handy tips for fishing and survival in Telara originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cookingcraftingenter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturedfishingfishing-derbyfishing-trophyopinionriftrift-bedrollrift-derbyrift-fishing-guiderift-planes-of-telararift-survival-guiderift-tentsurvivaltelaratradeskillstriontrion-worldsWed, 25 Apr 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Fishin' and survivin']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/enter-at-your-own-rift-fishin-and-survivin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/enter-at-your-own-rift-fishin-and-survivin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/enter-at-your-own-rift-fishin-and-survivin/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Previews, Opinion, Hands-on, RIFT, Enter at Your Own Rift, Crafting

rift fishing

One of the parts of the recent RIFT producer's letter that caught my eye was the hint that there will soon be more to do in game besides "stab" stuff. Maybe I'm mellowing in my old age, or perhaps it's because of my inner Bartle explorer player-type, but I'm enjoying activities in MMOs that don't involve mass slaughter all the time. Usually, that means crafting, but the inventory management that's required often leaves me cross-eyed by the time I'm done.

With Update 1.8, RIFT will add two new skills to the game: fishing and survival. Non-combat activities have already been introduced in past updates, like the wedding instance, but these two new skills look to be fun games within the game, so I was eager to check things out. Join me as I don some hip-waders, pack up some flint, and head to PTS for a peek at fishing, survival, and a quick peek at the looking-for-guild tool.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Fishin' and survivin'

Enter at Your Own Rift: Fishin' and survivin' originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>craftingenter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturedfishingkaren-bryanlfglooking-for-guildopinionpatchpatchespreviewpreviewsriftrift-fishingrift-looking-for-guild-windowrift-planes-of-telararift-survivalsurvivaltelaratriontrion-worldsWed, 11 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: A carnival recap and a war on the horizon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-carnival-recap-and-a-war-on-the-horizo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-carnival-recap-and-a-war-on-the-horizo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-carnival-recap-and-a-war-on-the-horizo/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, RIFT, Enter at Your Own Rift, Anniversary

Rift Carnival

Over the past few weeks, RIFT has been celebrating its first birthday with the Carnival of the Ascended. It started off pleasantly enough, with games, prizes, turducken, and fireworks. But recently, some of the revelers got a little too rowdy, and players had to help subdue drunk and disorderly guests. Now, the event has entered its fourth phase, and the two sides have begun to attack rival outposts that have been set up along parade routes. If you haven't had a chance to check out the Carnival of the Ascended, now is a perfect time. In this week's Enter at Your Own Rift, I'll highlight the carnival as it prepares to pack up and leave and peek at what's in store for Telara as this world event wraps up.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: A carnival recap and a war on the horizon

Enter at Your Own Rift: A carnival recap and a war on the horizon originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carnival-of-the-ascendeddeep-fried-butterenter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturedfishingmaelforgeopinionphase-4riftrift-carnivalrift-planes-of-telaratelaratriontrion-worldsupdate-1.8war-of-the-wantonWed, 28 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Trion launches RIFT's Carnival of the Ascended anniversary events]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/01/trion-launches-rifts-carnival-of-the-ascended-anniversary-event/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/01/trion-launches-rifts-carnival-of-the-ascended-anniversary-event/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/01/trion-launches-rifts-carnival-of-the-ascended-anniversary-event/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, MMO industry, News items, RIFT

RIFT - Where is Viceroy Gunray?

It's hard to believe that RIFT is a year old, but it is, and Trion has taken the wraps off a substantial world event to celebrate. The Carnival of the Ascended kicked off yesterday, with festivities that include four weeks of bonus XP, various minigames and rare reward opportunities, and "hours of new solo, group, raid, PvP, crafting gameplay, and more event quests than ever before," according to Trion.

RIFT is a high fantasy MMORPG that features two opposing factions, dynamic quest content, and a customizable class system. More info on the one-year anniversary event, including images of many of the reward items, can be found at the official RIFT website.

Trion launches RIFT's Carnival of the Ascended anniversary events originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1-year-anniversaryanniversarybonus-xpcarnival-of-the-ascendedeventsfantasyin-game-eventsone-year-anniversaryrifttelaratriontrion-worldsxp-bonusThu, 01 Mar 2012 13:00:00 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: Fantasy, Events, real-world, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Endgame, Opinion, RIFT, Enter at Your Own Rift, Dungeons

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

Enter 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[Trion signs another RIFT publishing deal, brings game to southeast Asia]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/trion-signs-another-rift-publishing-deal-brings-game-to-southea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/trion-signs-another-rift-publishing-deal-brings-game-to-southea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/trion-signs-another-rift-publishing-deal-brings-game-to-southea/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Business models, MMO industry, News items, RIFT

RIFT - ascended wedding ceremony

Trion has announced the latest step in its plans for global domination, and it takes the form of a publishing agreement for the southeast Asian market. It was only a couple of weeks ago that RIFT landed the biggest MMO deal ever for a western title in the Chinese market, and now Trion's online fantasy brand will be available in Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand as well.

The company is partnering with Asiasoft to make it happen, and CEO Lars Buttler says it's another example of what sets his firm apart from the competition. "Trion has a global view when it comes to delivering premium games, and our initiatives to bring RIFT to Asia through some of the industry's biggest collaborations sets Trion apart from other Western game developers."

[Source: Trion press release]

Trion signs another RIFT publishing deal, brings game to southeast Asia originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiasoftfantasylars-buttlerpublishing-dealriftrift-asiasoftrift-publishing-dealrift-southeast-asiasoutheast-asiatelaraTue, 21 Feb 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: A RIFT wedding primer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-rift-wedding-primer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-rift-wedding-primer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-rift-wedding-primer/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Opinion, RIFT, Guides, Enter at Your Own Rift

Rift Wedding

Right now in RIFT, couples are donning their best attire, polishing up their rings, and practicing their vows as they participate in a Valentine's Day wedding challenge. From yesterday until today at noon, players will attempt to set the Guinness World Record for most in-game weddings in a single day. I decided to participate, so I bought the elegant wedding dress and veil from the marriage coordinator and said to my husband, "Will you marry me in-game?" His answer was, "Why?"

I can't say I'm surprised because we've been married for the better part of 17 years, and he's never really been into the social part of gaming as much as I have. But he's also a good sport, so he agreed to buy a tux and do the ceremony anyway. In this week's Enter at Your Own Rift, we'll walk you through the process of tying the knot in game, from the pre-wedding prep to the lively celebrations afterwards.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: A RIFT wedding primer

Enter at Your Own Rift: A RIFT wedding primer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>enter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturedguinness-book-of-world-recordsguinness-world-recordsin-game-marriagekaren-bryanmmo-weddingopinionriftrift-planes-of-telaratelaratriontrion-worldsweddingweddingsWed, 15 Feb 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Trion releases RIFT wedding trailer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/08/trion-releases-rift-wedding-trailer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/08/trion-releases-rift-wedding-trailer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/08/trion-releases-rift-wedding-trailer/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Events, in-game, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, RIFT

RIFT - wedding party

A couple of weeks ago Trion announced its plan to get RIFT in the Guinness Book of World Records for hosting the most virtual marriages in a 24-hour period. Today the company has released a new video designed to show off the matrimony mechanics and give fans a sneak peek of what's in store for the Valentine's Day record attempt.

The festivities begin at 12:00 p.m. EST on February 14th, and Trion says that "any two RIFT players who get hitched in-game will be counted in the Guinness World Records title attempt and will receive 'The Avowed' in-game title." Don't forget to check out the video after the break.

[Source: Trion press release]

Continue reading Trion releases RIFT wedding trailer

Trion releases RIFT wedding trailer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ascended-weddingfantasyin-game-marriagein-game-weddingmarriagerifttelarathe-avowedtrailertriontrion-worldsvalentines-dayvideoweddingworld-record-attemptWed, 08 Feb 2012 10:30:00 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: Fantasy, Business models, Launches, MMO industry, Patches, News items, RIFT

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.]

'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[RIFT available on EA's Origin today]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/24/rift-available-on-eas-origin-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/24/rift-available-on-eas-origin-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/24/rift-available-on-eas-origin-today/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Business models, MMO industry, News items, RIFT

RIFT - Chloromancer in battle

If you haven't purchased RIFT yet, or you're looking for an additional copy, it might interest you to know that Trion's fantasy MMORPG is now available on Electronic Arts' Origin digital delivery platform.

The game comes bundled with an assortment of limited-edition items including a screechling vanity pet and the Ascended gift pack. The latter contains stat-boosting items that increase dexterity, strength, intelligence, and wisdom, as well as small health and mana boosters. Trion is also throwing in a 10-slot bag in case you need somewhere to put all those newly acquired potions.

RIFT launched to critical acclaim in March of 2011, and Trion is currently working on the title's seventh major content patch.

[Source: Trion press release]

RIFT available on EA's Origin today originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ascended-gift-packdigital-downloadeaelectronic-artsfantasyoriginpetriftscreechling-vanity-pettelaratriontrion-worldsTue, 24 Jan 2012 09:00:00 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: Fantasy, Previews, PvP, RIFT

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.

Trion 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[RIFT's 1.7 patch filled with content, coming soon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/rifts-1-7-patch-filled-with-content-coming-soon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/rifts-1-7-patch-filled-with-content-coming-soon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/rifts-1-7-patch-filled-with-content-coming-soon/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, RIFT, Dungeons

RIFT - some dragon or other

What's next for RIFT? Well, the 1.7 patch, for starters. The update is called Carnival of the Ascended, and if it sounds a bit festive, it is. Telaran weddings are in the offing, as Trion is introducing a marriage mechanic to its fantasy MMO. There's also the new River of Souls Chronicle, which the official forums bill as an "undead adventure for two."

A new master mode dungeon is coming too, as is an expert dungeon overhaul with more options and better loot for endgame avatars. Finally, there's a free weekend coming your way on January 19th, and you can return to Telara (or check it out for the first time) for no charge through January 22nd.

RIFT's 1.7 patch filled with content, coming soon originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.7-patchascendedcarnival-of-the-ascendedchronicledungeonsendgamefantasyin-game-marriagelootmarriagemarriage-mechanicmaster-modemaster-mode-dungeonnew-contentriftrift-1.7rift-planes-of-telarariver-of-souls-chronicletelaratriontrion-worldsweddingMon, 16 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Of apps and patches]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/enter-at-your-own-rift-of-apps-and-patches/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/enter-at-your-own-rift-of-apps-and-patches/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/enter-at-your-own-rift-of-apps-and-patches/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Guilds, Patches, News items, Opinion, Mobile, RIFT, Enter at Your Own Rift

Rift grotto

On the surface, things have been relatively quiet in RIFT. The Fae Yule Event moved along merrily, but there hasn't been much revealed about update 1.7 yet. Fans are so used to the rapid pace of updates that they've made a minigame out of guessing what's coming and when it will arrive.

But if you're wondering whether the team took the holidays off and left behind its work, fear not! Just a few days ago, Trion Worlds revealed a new iPhone app called RIFT Mobile and held its first developer Q&A with the community, during which it provided lots of new tidbits of information for RIFT fans to look forward to. In this week's Enter at Your Own Rift, we'll look at the highlights.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Of apps and patches

Enter at Your Own Rift: Of apps and patches originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>defiantsenter-at-your-own-riftfeaturedguardianshal-hanlinIPhonekaren-bryanmobile-appriftrift-mobileroleplayingsmartphonetelaratriontrion-worldsupdate-1.7Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at your own Rift: A holiday wish-list for Telara]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-holiday-wish-list-for-telara/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-holiday-wish-list-for-telara/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-holiday-wish-list-for-telara/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Opinion, RIFT, Enter at Your Own Rift

Rift-mas

The holidays are upon us, and one of the most important parts of the season is making wish lists. Mine came in at a rather modest four pages, with another two pages of in-game items for my characters. Trion certainly has had a busy year, and while the game looks a lot different now than it did at launch, there's always room for more changes and improvements.

Since I'm on a roll with making wish-lists this year, this week's Enter at Your Own Rift will give a rundown of what should be added to the game in 2012. Read on for the list, and then add your own below!

Continue reading Enter at your own Rift: A holiday wish-list for Telara

Enter at your own Rift: A holiday wish-list for Telara originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auction-houseenter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturedkaren-bryanmaelforgeopinionplayer-housingriftrift+game+trionrift+trionrift-planes-of-telararift-wish-listriftgametrionrifttriontelaratriontrion-worldsWed, 21 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT offers cheap client, lots of bonus XP for Christmas]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/rift-offers-cheap-client-lots-of-bonus-xp-for-christmas/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/rift-offers-cheap-client-lots-of-bonus-xp-for-christmas/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/rift-offers-cheap-client-lots-of-bonus-xp-for-christmas/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, RIFT, Promotions

RIFT - death plane

What does Christmas look like in Telara? There's probably snow, and elves, and according to the latest Trion news blurb, there are lots of presents too. First of all, the RIFT client is available for a paltry $4.99 starting tomorrow. And of course there's plenty of "cheer, joy, charity, and battling a never-ending stream of extra-dimensional monsters bent on undoing reality."

To help you in your quest to save the world from demons and bad Christmas music, Trion is running a pretty spiffy promotion from December 22nd through January 2nd. RIFT subscribers will enjoy 15% bonuses on kill XP, favor, prestige, plaques of achievement, marks of ascension, and planarite throughout the holidays, and you can learn more about the game at its official website.

[Source: Trion press release]

RIFT offers cheap client, lots of bonus XP for Christmas originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bonus-xpchristmas-promotionsdiscountspromotionsrifttelaratriontrion-worldsWed, 21 Dec 2011 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: The casual revolution in RIFT]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/enter-at-your-own-rift-the-casual-revolution-in-rift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/enter-at-your-own-rift-the-casual-revolution-in-rift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/enter-at-your-own-rift-the-casual-revolution-in-rift/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, MMO industry, Opinion, RIFT, Enter at Your Own Rift

Rift Fae Yule

The Fae Yule world event has arrived in Telara, and there's one part of the event in particular that really captures the holiday feeling. It's not the daily quests but the festive "shinies" that players can harvest around town, like mistletoe and the holiday candle. At first I enjoyed the fun of clicking and getting nice little rewards, but by the third shiny, I was cursing other players who were racing me to the spot and grabbing the goods before I could! Talk about a Black Friday flashback! Twenty minutes later I was in the middle of the most intense, knock-down brawl for shinies that could rival a top-tier PvP Warfront.

You wouldn't think that harvesting little festive oddities could be turned into a hardcore game, but that is exactly what I and a few other players ended up doing. And that got me thinking about Jesper Juul's book A Casual Revolution. In it, he looks at how video games have gone back to their roots and reinvented themselves, leading, for example, to the rise of the Wii. His book focused more on console gaming and didn't address MMOs that much, but in this week's Enter at Your Own Rift, I'd like to look at how his ideas apply to RIFT, particularly with recent changes to the game.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: The casual revolution in RIFT

Enter at Your Own Rift: The casual revolution in RIFT originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-theory-of-funcasual-revolutionenter-at-your-own-riftfae-yulefantasyfeaturedhammerknellinscribedjesper-juulkaren-bryanopinionraph-kosterriftrift-invasionsrift-planes-of-telaratelaratriontrion-worldszone-eventsWed, 07 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Into the flames of the official forums]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/enter-at-your-own-rift-into-the-flames-of-the-official-forums/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/enter-at-your-own-rift-into-the-flames-of-the-official-forums/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/enter-at-your-own-rift-into-the-flames-of-the-official-forums/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Opinion, RIFT, Enter at Your Own Rift

Ember Isle Fire

Over the summer at a game convention, I was having a conversation with a friend who asked me about RIFT. But curiously, he didn't ask me the usual questions about gameplay, souls, or invasions. He wanted to know whether the rumor was true that the official forums were just full of sound and fury rather than productive discussions. In the initial weeks after launch, I had to admit, the forums were a lot like the wild west. On one hand, you had post after post from people arguing about whether the game was good or bad, whether it was too much like World of Warcraft, and even whether the game would survive more than a year. On the other, you had grizzled veterans showing disdain for newer fans by posting curt replies to their questions about the game. There were some good discussions on the forum, but they often got lost in a sea of emotion, and as a result, I ended up avoiding the forum in the months that followed.

For this week's Enter at Your Own Rift, I've decided that it's time to don my flame-retardant suit and wade back into the forums to see if things have settled down at all. I've always been a believer that forums are an important part of that community feel in MMOs, and I'm channeling a bit of Jef's Community Detective to see how things fare today. Read on for my findings and for some helpful threads that I encountered in the process!

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Into the flames of the official forums

Enter at Your Own Rift: Into the flames of the official forums originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communityelrarenter-at-your-own-riftfeaturedforumforumsjames-nicholskaren-bryanriftrift-forumsrift-planes-of-telaratalk-of-telaratelaratriontrion-worldsWed, 09 Nov 2011 17:00:00 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: Fantasy, Business models, Events, real-world, MMO industry, Opinion, RIFT, Enter at Your Own Rift

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

Enter 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[RIFT's Ashes of History world event begins tomorrow]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/rifts-ashes-of-history-world-event-begins-tomorrow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/rifts-ashes-of-history-world-event-begins-tomorrow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/rifts-ashes-of-history-world-event-begins-tomorrow/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Events, in-game, Lore, News items, PvE, RIFT

RIFT title image

Since RIFT's release, the developers at Trion Worlds have staged frequent world events and mini-events to add some variety to the game. A brand-new Ashes of History world event kicks off tomorrow, putting players against the elemental forces of earth and fire. The event begins as disease-spreading Golden Maw cultists discover artifacts in the sea of Telara and begin plotting to use them for their own ends.

The world event opens up new daily quests for players to try out, and participants will be able to collect a rare Magma Opal currency from frequent rift events and invasions. The opals can be spent on rare equipment, companion pets and an exclusive Ash Strider mount.

Gallery: RIFT Ashes of History event

RIFT's Ashes of History world event begins tomorrow originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ashes-of-historyeventeventsgallerygolden-mawmagma-opalnewsriftriftstelaratriontrion-worldsworld-eventworld-eventsTue, 11 Oct 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Tidbits from 1.5]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/enter-at-your-own-rift-tidbits-from-1-5/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/enter-at-your-own-rift-tidbits-from-1-5/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/enter-at-your-own-rift-tidbits-from-1-5/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Patches, PvE, Opinion, RIFT, Enter at Your Own Rift

Rift Chronicles

RIFT's Update 1.5 has been live for about a week now, and with it comes lots of changes. What always strikes me about the updates is the number of quiet changes that leave you saying, "Wait, what was that?" It's not a ninja nerf; it's more like the fine print of the patch notes -- things that you tend to skip over or not read closely because there's so much other stuff to chew on.

This week in Enter at Your Own Rift, we'll take a look at a few of those "little" changes. And yes, we'll look at some of the larger ones too!

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Tidbits from 1.5

Enter at Your Own Rift: Tidbits from 1.5 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chroniclesenter-at-your-own-riftfeaturedkaren-bryanpatchriftrift-invasionstelaratriontrion-worldsupdateveteran-rewardsWed, 05 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Tackling the question of which is better]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/28/enter-at-your-own-rift-tackling-the-question-of-which-is-better/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/28/enter-at-your-own-rift-tackling-the-question-of-which-is-better/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/28/enter-at-your-own-rift-tackling-the-question-of-which-is-better/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Lore, Opinion, Races, RIFT, Enter at Your Own Rift

Rift starter area

From the first day that RIFT launched, an endless debate has erupted around one central issue. Players have chosen their sides and dug in deep defending them. It's led to countless arguments and a six-month battle that gets worse with each passing day.

For this week's Enter at Your Own Rift, I've decided to tackle this debate head on and really look at what divides the two sides. That's right -- the time has come to finally decide which is better: Guardian or Defiant.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Tackling the question of which is better

Enter at Your Own Rift: Tackling the question of which is better originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ashacyrildefiantsenter-at-your-own-riftfactionfactionsfeaturedfreemarchguardianskaren-bryanmeridianriftrift-planes-of-telarasanctumsilverwoodtelaratriontrion-worldsWed, 28 Sep 2011 18:00:00 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: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Interviews, RIFT, Enter at Your Own Rift

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

Enter 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[RIFT veteran rewards coming with 1.5 update]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/rift-veteran-rewards-coming-with-1-5-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/rift-veteran-rewards-coming-with-1-5-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/rift-veteran-rewards-coming-with-1-5-update/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, RIFT

RIFT - Defiant on horseback

It's somewhat wonky to think about veteran rewards for an MMORPG that's barely six months old, but nonetheless Trion is trotting out various incentives to keep players subscribing to RIFT and adventuring through the wilds of Telara with in-game shinies in tow.

Beginning with the game's 1.5 update, "being a veteran Ascended means honor, respect, and awesome rewards," according to the informational blurb on RIFT's website. We'll leave the honor and respect bit to your fertile imaginations, but the awesome rewards are quite tangible. They include full Guardian and Defiant uniforms, personal vendors, and on-the-go mailboxes. You can also buy your way to full veteran status (and unlock the high tier rewards immediately) by purchasing a multi-month subscription.

Look for more details in our upcoming interview with Trion.

[Thanks to Ren54 for the tip!]

RIFT veteran rewards coming with 1.5 update originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.5-patch1.5-updatedefiant-uniformfantasyguardian-uniformmailboxmmo-industrypersonal-vendorpromotionsriftrift-1.5telaratriontrion-worldsvet-rewardsveteran-rewardsTue, 20 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: RIFT's battle plan]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/14/enter-at-your-own-rift-rifts-battle-plan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/14/enter-at-your-own-rift-rifts-battle-plan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/14/enter-at-your-own-rift-rifts-battle-plan/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, MMO industry, Opinion, RIFT, Enter at Your Own Rift

Enter at your own Rift

A month or so ago my colleague Karen looked at RIFT's own future forecast for the game, and it's apparent from Trion Worlds' state of the game reports that the company is confident and clear in the direction it wants to go. The problem is that nobody consulted me, personally, on what I think the game needs as it heads forward. Not that I'm any great gaming guru, mind you, but it would be nice to be asked.

In a very real sense, RIFT is at a crossroads. It will shortly cease to be the newest big kid on the block, a position it has enjoyed for a majority of 2011. I won't invoke the names of the power hitters on deck, but trust me, many RIFT players are well aware of the competition. Players and guilds are evaluating the game as it is right now and whether or not they'll want to stay when the new hotness is released. My prediction? Some will, some won't. You can quote me on that.

Personally, I think RIFT is in a remarkably good position. It continues to grow in subscribers, according to the company, and it's proven to have staying power a half-year after launch. I'm encouraged when I see friends and fellow players randomly praise the game even though its honeymoon veneer has long since worn off. There's something worth fighting for, here -- but a fight it will have.

Hit the break as I lay out what I think should be RIFT's battle plan for the next 12 months.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: RIFT's battle plan

Enter at Your Own Rift: RIFT's battle plan originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ascendedbattle-planbattle-planscommercialsdavid-vs-goliathDrew-McLellanenter-at-your-own-riftexpansionfeaturedmarketingpatch-1.5pvpriftserver-transfertelaratriontrion-worldsupdate-1.5valourvengeanceworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 14 Sep 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT Extra Life charity event coming in October]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/14/rift-extra-life-charity-event-coming-in-october/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/14/rift-extra-life-charity-event-coming-in-october/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/14/rift-extra-life-charity-event-coming-in-october/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, MMO industry, News items, RIFT

RIFT - Extra Life charity banner

If you're feeling charitable this year but don't want to take time to log out of your favorite MMO to make a donation, Trion Worlds is offering you the next best thing. October 15th marks the date of RIFT's Extra Life event, which will feature a 24-hour gaming marathon designed to put a little coin in the pocket of the Children's Miracle Network.

How does it all work?

First you'll need to register with Extra Life and decide whether you want to play as part of a team or as an individual. Then you'll need to spread the word to family, friends, and anyone else who might be willing to sponsor your 24-hour Telara marathon. Finally, you can join up with Trion staffers in-game on the 15th and do your part for charity. There are a couple of pretty cool rewards on tap too, namely in-game titles like "the Charitable" (for all participants), and "the Insomniac" (for those who manage to last the entire 24 hours). You can find more details on the RIFT forums and at the Extra Life website.

RIFT Extra Life charity event coming in October originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24-hour-gaming-marathon24-hr-marathoncharitycharity-eventchildrens-miracle-networkdonationdonationsextra-lifefantasyin-game-eventriftrift-extra-lifesponsorshiptelaratriontrion-worldsWed, 14 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: RIFT - Drowning in Snow, Chapter IV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/massively-exclusive-rift-drowning-in-snow-chapter-iv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/massively-exclusive-rift-drowning-in-snow-chapter-iv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/massively-exclusive-rift-drowning-in-snow-chapter-iv/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Culture, Lore, RIFT

RIFT Drowning in Snow

Since April, Massively and Trion Worlds have been revealing installments of Drowning in Snow, a story intended to flesh out the lore of the ever-popular RIFT. Today, we publish the fourth chapter in this ongoing saga as it follows Kira Thanos and Uriel Chuluun, a pair of Defiant who traverse the treacherous, frozen heights of Abyssal Precipice to rescue the Eth woman Shiyesa Wohab from a band of insane cultists.

Sit back and enjoy the drama after the break!

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: RIFT - Drowning in Snow, Chapter IV

Massively Exclusive: RIFT - Drowning in Snow, Chapter IV originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drowning-in-snowfantasyfeaturedloreriftrift-planes-of-telarastorytelaratriontrion-world-networktrion-worldsMon, 12 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: The curious case of planar attunement]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/enter-at-your-own-rift-the-curious-case-of-planar-attunement/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/enter-at-your-own-rift-the-curious-case-of-planar-attunement/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/enter-at-your-own-rift-the-curious-case-of-planar-attunement/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Opinion, RIFT, Enter at Your Own Rift

Rift Shipwreck

Over the weekend, players finished off those last crumbs of the RIFT birthday cake and celebrated six months of fending off planar invasions. But already on the horizon is update 1.5, Ashes of History, and with it comes new ways for level-capped players to keep busy. One of the major features to arrive is the new Planar Attunement system. Players who are level 50 will be able to use any earned experience toward attunement points, which will grant new abilities and stat bonuses. In many ways, it resembles the AA systems used in EverQuest and EverQuest II, although there are some noticeable differences.

The testing continues, and there are still tweaks to come with this system, but there are several questions surrounding the addition of the Planar Attunement system. In this week's Enter at Your Own Rift, we'll look at some potentially tricky issues when it comes to RIFT and AAs.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: The curious case of planar attunement

Enter at Your Own Rift: The curious case of planar attunement originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaalternate-advancementashes-of-historyenter-at-your-own-riftfeaturedkaren-bryanplanar-attunementriftrift-invasionsrift-planes-of-telaratelaratriontrion-worldsWed, 07 Sep 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2011: RIFT sifts through the Ashes of History]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/30/pax-2011-rift-sifts-through-the-ashes-of-history/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/30/pax-2011-rift-sifts-through-the-ashes-of-history/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/30/pax-2011-rift-sifts-through-the-ashes-of-history/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Interviews, Patches, Massively Event Coverage, RIFT

Rift Junkies interview

PAX has come and gone, but the good news keeps pouring out. Over the weekend, RIFT fan site Rift Junkies got the opportunity to grill Trion's Simon Ffinch and Hal Hanlin about the show itself and the upcoming 1.5 patch.

Generally, the devs were pleased to see the crowds pack around Trion's booth, especially since playable stations were always full. They noted that many current RIFT players came to log into their accounts and show off the game to newcomers.

Patch 1.5 was a major focus of the interview, and Ffinch and Hanlin said that casual players should rejoice at its approach. Tentatively scheduled for September, 1.5 will include the new Chronicles system that has solo or duoing players exploring hand-crafted instances. These instances are designed to be "snapshots" of the larger raids they're associated with, and will give both casuals and raiders a better glimpse into the lore behind the setting. For example, the Hammerknell Chronicle will tell the story of how the king and prince become corrupted.

The patch, which is called Ashes of History, will also include the new planar attunement trees ("It's the players beginning to start taking controls of the powers of the planes," Ffinch explained) and the super-tough "master mode" for dungeons. It's interesting to note that this patch is setting the groundwork for the exploration of a larger Telara, as players will begin to find and renovate items that will eventually allow them to head to new zones.

Hit the jump to watch the full interview!

Continue reading PAX 2011: RIFT sifts through the Ashes of History

PAX 2011: RIFT sifts through the Ashes of History originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.5ashes-of-historychronicleschronicles-of-telaraeventhal-hanlinhammerknellinstant-adventuresinterviewmaster-dungeonsmaster-modepatch-1.5paxpax-primepax-prime-2011planar-attunementriftrift-junkiesriftjunkiesSimon-FfinchtelaravideoTue, 30 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Trion details RIFT, End of Nations, and Defiance plans for Gamescom]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/trion-details-rift-end-of-nations-and-defiance-plans-for-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/trion-details-rift-end-of-nations-and-defiance-plans-for-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/trion-details-rift-end-of-nations-and-defiance-plans-for-games/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Events, real-world, MMO industry, New titles, News items, MMORTS, RIFT

RIFT

Trion is one of many MMO companies gearing up for a big showing at this month's Gamescom, and a new interview with Adam Gershowitz, David Luehmann, and Rob Hill lets fans in on what they can expect regarding the world of Telara.

For starters, there will be a lot of lip service given to RIFT's "Endgame for All" initiative, specifically the new Chronicle instances coming with the 1.5 patch. Gershowitz also mentions the Hammerknell weekend warfront and says its a way for Trion to "spice up the normal warfront grind" via new gameplay and additional rewards. Said new gameplay takes the form of a new mode called escalation, which is essentially the Telaran equivalent of capture-the-flag.

The interview also touches on Trion's End of Nations and Defiance titles, both of which will also be featured at Gamescom (though it's worth noting that Defiance will be restricted to industry previewers as Trion says the title "isn't quite ready for its player debut").

Trion details RIFT, End of Nations, and Defiance plans for Gamescom originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.5-patchadam-gershowitzcapture-the-flagconsconventionsctfdavid-luemanndefianceend-of-nationsescalationfantasygamescomgamescom-2011gamescom-not-gamescongrindinterviewsreal-world-eventsriftrob-hillsci-fitelaratriontrion-world-networktrion-worldsweekend-warfrontsWed, 10 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT founders receive free game client for friends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/22/rift-founders-receive-free-game-client-for-friends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/22/rift-founders-receive-free-game-client-for-friends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/22/rift-founders-receive-free-game-client-for-friends/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, RIFT, Promotions

RIFT founders, check your emails. Trion Worlds has sent out a new offer tied to its Ascend-a-Friend promotion. The program is geared toward early (and multi-month) adopters and their RIFT-less buddies, and aims to bring people together in the world of Telara for hours of adventure and progression.

The founder email features a code that grants your friend a free copy of the game client, and as long as your pal signs up under the Ascend-a-Friend program, he'll count towards your reward total. If you manage to convert three friends, you'll receive an Ember Steed which matches the speed of your fastest mount, and probably looks a lot nicer to boot.

Your friend isn't left out in the cold, of course. In addition to a free copy of RIFT, Ascend-a-Friend participants will get a unique in-game title ("The Chosen") as well as the ability to summon (or be summoned) to their referring buddy once every half hour.

RIFT founders receive free game client for friends originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ascend-a-friendbuddy-keysember-steedfantasyfounderfree-copy-of-riftpromotionsriftrift-planes-of-telaratelarathe-chosentriontrion-world-networktrion-worldsFri, 22 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: A guild-tool wishlist]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/20/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-guild-tool-wishlist/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/20/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-guild-tool-wishlist/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/20/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-guild-tool-wishlist/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Guilds, Opinion, RIFT, Enter at Your Own Rift

As we fended off dripping, soggy, Abyssal infiltrators all over the cities, many rejoiced at seeing the arrival of guild banks with the latest update. Finally, guild members could unload their stacks of tradeskill resources, extra shinies, and other random loot that ends up cluttering the bank and making guild leaders cringe in frustration.

Now that our patience has paid off, and the non-stop calls for guild banks has been answered, I'd like to show my appreciation by doing what any true MMOer would do -- rattle off a wish list of new guild tools that I want to see in RIFT! Read on for a look at what I'd like to see added, and also what I hope isn't put in game.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: A guild-tool wishlist

Enter at Your Own Rift: A guild-tool wishlist originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>enter-at-your-own-riftguild-banksguild-hallsguild-recruitingguild-toolsrifttelaraWed, 20 Jul 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Are rifts in danger of collapsing?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/enter-at-your-own-rift-are-rifts-in-danger-of-collapsing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/enter-at-your-own-rift-are-rifts-in-danger-of-collapsing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/enter-at-your-own-rift-are-rifts-in-danger-of-collapsing/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Game mechanics, Warhammer Online, RIFT, Enter at Your Own Rift

Like many of you, I've been exploring RIFT's Waves of Madness event over the past couple of weeks -- and enjoying it, too. You can really see how Trion Worlds has taken some of the lessons learned from River of Souls and improved its second world event. There just seems like more to do, much more in terms of atmosphere (I love the dripping ceilings in Sanctum), I'm not feeling as rushed, and the event story is coming through loud and clear.

One of the interesting things I've noticed is that the event's daily quests have subtly shifted our focus from single-player activities to group ones. In phase one, it was all about boring solo quests: find hidden invaders, collect eggs, defeat a few underwater baddies. But just when we started to get used to (and bored from) the routine, the successive phases have moved us toward the game's dynamic content. Namely, rifts, rifts and more rifts.

I think this is brilliant, because we're now given a solid reason why we should participate in rifts above the mere rewards. I've been worried that Trion's letting its focus on dynamic content slip as it's been rushing to get other game features and endgame raids out the door, and RIFT without people playing rifts would be sadly ironic.

Today we're going to look at just how much RIFT depends on its titular feature, and what Trion should be doing to ensure that it doesn't become another nice yet abandoned idea.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Are rifts in danger of collapsing?

Enter at Your Own Rift: Are rifts in danger of collapsing? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dynamic-contentsdynamic-eventdynamic-eventseventfeaturedguild-wars-2gw2invasioninvasionspublic-questpublic-questingpublic-questing-2.0public-questspublic-quests-2.0riftrift-planes-of-telarariftsriver-of-soulssanctumtelaratriontrion-worldsultima-onlineuowaves-of-madnessworld-eventWed, 13 Jul 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: RIFT - Drowning in Snow, Chapter II]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/massively-exclusive-rift-drowning-in-snow-chapter-ii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/massively-exclusive-rift-drowning-in-snow-chapter-ii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/massively-exclusive-rift-drowning-in-snow-chapter-ii/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Lore, MMO industry, RIFT

Last April, Massively brought you the first part of an exclusive RIFT lore reveal called Drowning in Snow. The story introduced Kira Thanos and Uriel Chuluun, a pair of Defiant agents about to embark on an important mission given to them by the Faceless Man.

Today we bring you the story's second installment which finds our heroes riding deep into the snowbound wilderness near Iron Pine Peak. Chapter two boasts quite a bit more action than its predecessor, and our protagonists must contend with a water rift and the havoc it inevitably brings (including a monstrous crab-like creature intent on making a meal out of Uriel). Turn the page for the very latest in RIFT lore.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: RIFT - Drowning in Snow, Chapter II

Massively Exclusive: RIFT - Drowning in Snow, Chapter II originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drowning-in-snowfantasyfeaturedkirakira-thanosloreriftrift-planes-of-telaratelaratriontrion-world-networktrion-worldsurielUriel-ChuluunTue, 12 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Creature comforts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/06/enter-at-your-own-rift-creature-comforts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/06/enter-at-your-own-rift-creature-comforts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/06/enter-at-your-own-rift-creature-comforts/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Game mechanics, RIFT, Enter at Your Own Rift

I've got a problem that nine interventions and three bouts of electroshock therapy have yet to cure: I'm hopelessly addicted to collecting non-combat pets (aka vanity pets) in MMOs. I don't know why that is, exactly, although I've always had a fondness for "fluffy" elements on online games. In my opinion, a lot of what we work for in MMOs is cosmetic anyway -- a really good-looking set of armor, a top-of-the-line mount -- with some piddly stats occasionally making a cameo.

(Comment bait? Oh yes, I'm evil that way!)

While adding nothing to my combat power nor helping me advance in the game, pets still hold purpose. They are fun to display, particularly if you have rare critters that others haven't seen, and they can give you a feeling of virtual companionship during your journeys. Unlike many collection items, pets have a use -- you can actually do something with them instead of tucking them away where they'll sit collecting pixelated dust.

I was pretty pleased to discover that RIFT wasn't going to leave us high and dry when it came to non-combat pets, although it's interesting that they're somewhat harder to come by than in, say, World of Warcraft. If you're like I am, you're scouring the game looking to expand your menagerie, so it might be frustrating to be well on your way to 50 with only a paltry pair of pets to your name. Where is everyone getting all of these? How can I snag a few more?

Join me after the jump as we examine six ways to collect crazy critters!

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Creature comforts

Enter at Your Own Rift: Creature comforts originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Jul 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artifactartifact-collectionsascend-a-friendcollectionscompanioncompanionscrittercritter-tearscrittersenter-at-your-own-riftfactionfeaturedharbinger-of-reguloslucky-coinnon-combat-petnon-combat-petspetpetsreputationreputation-vendorriftrift-planes-of-telarariver-of-soulssaga-of-the-endlessscottytelaratriontrion-worldsvanity-petvanity-petswaves-of-madnessworld-eventWed, 06 Jul 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Get RIFT for $9.99 this weekend]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/17/get-rift-for-9-99-this-weekend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/17/get-rift-for-9-99-this-weekend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/17/get-rift-for-9-99-this-weekend/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, RIFT, Promotions

Trion's got a couple of weekend deals in store for all you last-minute Father's Day shopping slackers, provided of course that the gaming dad in your family plays RIFT.

First up is a $9.99 special that gives you the full game client. Gameplay time will cost you extra, though, so assuming you go with the standard monthly fee, you're looking at around 25 bucks for full access to Telara.

Next up is the trial upgrade collector's edition special, which will set you back $16.99. You get the full client per above as well as a tartagon mount, a collector's satchel, and a bogling wastrel pet. Both deals are digital only, so if your dad, husband, or baby's daddy wants a box, you'll need to check out the brick and mortar or online retailers listed on Trion's website.

Get RIFT for $9.99 this weekend originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Jun 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>collectors-editiondealsdigital-downloadfantasyfathers-dayfathersdaypromotionsriftspecialstelaratriontrion-world-networktrion-worldsFri, 17 Jun 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT's 1.3 update bringing new raid, free transfers, and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/rifts-1-3-update-bringing-new-raid-free-transfers-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/rifts-1-3-update-bringing-new-raid-free-transfers-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/rifts-1-3-update-bringing-new-raid-free-transfers-and-more/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, RIFT

With less than a week remaining until the biggest game update in RIFT's short history, Trion Worlds is upping the excitement ante with a new press release detailing the extensive features coming with Waves of Madness.

The official unveiling will happen courtesy of a world event on June 22nd, and RIFT's 1.3 version update will subsequently include guild bank functionality, new item sets, new character accessories, new artifacts, free character transfers, and Hammerknell. This last is a 20-player raid that Trion says "will challenge even the most practiced players."

The encounter boasts three wings, 10 bosses, and a gaggle of gross-out monsters designed to make life more fun for Telara's endgame players. If we've piqued your curiosity, have a look at the official website for all the details.

RIFT's 1.3 update bringing new raid, free transfers, and more originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.3-patch1.3-updateartifactsendgame-contentfantasyfree-character-transfersguild-bankhammerknellitem-setspress-releasepveraidraidingriftrift-1.3rift-patchtelaratriontrion-world-networktrion-worldswaves-of-madnessWed, 15 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 2011: Hands on with RIFT's 1.3 update]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/e3-2011-hands-on-with-rifts-1-3-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/e3-2011-hands-on-with-rifts-1-3-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/e3-2011-hands-on-with-rifts-1-3-update/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Interviews, Patches, Previews, Massively Event Coverage, RIFT

With patch 1.2 fading in the rearview mirror, RIFT players have turned their attention to the incoming patch 1.3 due on June 22nd. Titled Waves of Madness, the update will kick off a new world event and add an additional tier of endgame content in the form of an additional raid.

We got the opportunity to dive into 1.3 early at E3, all while a petite seven-foot-tall dev perched on our shoulder and gave us running commentary. Patch 1.3's crown jewel is a 20-person raid in the ancient fortress of Hammerknell, which was built by folks who thought it'd be a smashing idea to cram evil spirits into runes and then use that as the foundation. Sounds to us a lot like building a summer camp on top of a desecrated native burial ground, but we're sure these architects had good intentions.

Surprise, surprise, the spirits started to ooze out into Hammerknell and tore up the place. To make matters worse, Hammerknell is the prison of a water dragon -- and the water plane started to come to its rescue. So the Dwarves decided to treat it like an illegal toxic dump by sealing up the fortress, whistling innocently, and conveniently forgetting it until another raid area was needed.

But it's not as simple as just unlocking the front door and marching in to claim some loot! Hit the jump as we walk you through the process of down-and-dirty archaeology!

Continue reading E3 2011: Hands on with RIFT's 1.3 update

E3 2011: Hands on with RIFT's 1.3 update originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.310-man-raid10-person-raid20-man-raid20-person-raidcharacter-transfersdeathdwarfdwarvese3e3-2011featuredguild-bankshammerknellJornarupatch-1.2patch-1.3previewpreviewsraidregulosriftrift-planes-of-telarascottytelaratriontrion-worldswaterworld-eventThu, 09 Jun 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT 'Spoils of War' mini-event kicks off today]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/04/rift-spoils-of-war-mini-event-kicks-off-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/04/rift-spoils-of-war-mini-event-kicks-off-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/04/rift-spoils-of-war-mini-event-kicks-off-today/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, RIFT

To help tide players over until RIFT's 1.2 patch is released, Trion Worlds has set into motion a mini-event from May 4th through the 9th. Titled "Spoils of War," the event serves as an epilogue for last month's River of Souls.

After thwarting Alsbeth and her motley crew, players find that tainted treasure is literally raining from the skies in Telara and earth and fire rifts are appearing everywhere with disturbing frequency. Players will be asked to go on four daily quests -- available in their respective capital cities -- to investigate the "too good to be true" free loot. The quests task players to gather up golden coins in the capitals and special dragon eggshells around the world.

RIFT players who participate can turn these coins and eggshells in for for containers that can hold a variety of goodies. These rewards include rare artifacts, achievements and a new "Gritty Kitty" companion pet.

Currently, RIFT's 1.2 update is tentatively scheduled for May 10th.

RIFT 'Spoils of War' mini-event kicks off today originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 May 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.2-patchalsbethalsbeth-the-discordantdragon-eggshellseventgritty-kittyin-game-eventpatch-1.2riftrift-planes-of-telarariver-of-soulsspoils-of-wartainted-coinstelaratriontrion-worldsWed, 04 May 2011 09:00:00 EST