Syfy + Trion = Defiance MMO Action Shooter (PC 360 PS3)

[Riggswolfe]

At the rate the beta is patching, the weekend will be over before it finishes.

I still don't have the e-mail with invite. Patcher does not work until you do the NDA. Lots of people saying they have not gotten e-mail on different boards. DefianceGame just tweeted 40 minutes ago to e-mail community@defiance.com if applied code and did not receive invite. This was what I was worried about when first posted here that don't know how to download. It takes me 8 hours with my connection to download 2 gigs.

Edit: 20 minutes after sending e-mail that did not get invite they sent one so they are being responsive.

I keep getting two emails. One in German, one in English.

[Ghambit]

New trailer is out:
Show trailer #2

I dunno about you guys but I've been mildly squeeing over this show/game (especially after that last trailer).  They've got over $100m wrapped up between the two products (the majority in the game) and the simple fact is this is the biggest sci-fi show production on any network since BSG.  And no, I dont count the abortion that was Terra Nova.

The show itself has promise and is so far what I've been wanting in a sci-fi series for a loooong time.  

As for the game, the premise is sound to me.  They pretty much want a perfected version of TR integrated with a AAA tv show.  If they succeed at simply making TR-Next it'll be a great success.  And let's face it, Trion has their shit together moreso than Garriott and NCSoft did.  Rift engine done hardish sci-fi combined with a dynamic TV show?  Hell, why not?

And their control over ingame events works well with the premise of the show altering the gamespace and vice versa.  Let alone the potential for character development in both genres and the simple fact that gameplayers will now have a deeper reason to play (something TR was severely lacking).  Should be an interesting ride.

Have I reached Falconeer level fanboism yet?  Nah, I'm still DLing the beta.  Gotta try it first.

[Riggswolfe]

I played it a bit tonight. 


<Rattran Edit>There is an NDA

[Malakili]

Stuff

I'm pretty sure there is an NDA for this beta event.

[Riggswolfe]

Sorry about that. It was late and I am so used to Beta weekends being the new "open beta" that I just sort of typed without thinking. My bad. Thanks for the edit.

[Ghambit]

Shtako!  I jekkin' hate    !!

[satael]

And remember when judging Defiance (based on the beta weekend) that there's an alpha still going and that the release is still 3 months away...

[Ghambit]

And remember when judging Defiance (based on the beta weekend) that there's an alpha still going and that the release is still 3 months away...

Kind of a counter-intuitive statement that.

[Malakili]

Judging from the betas/alphas I've been in over the last few years, these days "alpha" just means what "closed beta" used to, closed beta is what open betas were (open betas usually meant open to the public, not open as in, everyone can just march right in), and open betas are now basically just a free trial/marketing gimmick.

[Riggswolfe]

And remember when judging Defiance (based on the beta weekend) that there's an alpha still going and that the release is still 3 months away...

I'm so glad I haven't heard this said about pretty much every MMO with launch problems ever.

[Pennilenko]

I hate NDAs. Nowadays when I see that a game's beta has an NDA, I automatically assume they are hiding a shitty product behind it. I don't have a problem with alpha NDAs though. But specifically with the current way betas are handled an NDA means poor confidence in their product.

[Segoris]

Most of the time I'd agree, but Trion with Rifts had their beta NDA lifted really early, hopefully that continues with this game as well.

[Pennilenko]

With three months til release and they are still behind an NDA, this will not be a pre-order or even a day one purchase, if it is even going to be purchased at all.

[kildorn]

With three months til release and they are still behind an NDA, this will not be a pre-order or even a day one purchase, if it is even going to be purchased at all.

I'm actually a bit worried that they don't appear to have picked a business model yet, as evidenced by the fact that even if you were totally sold on the concept there does not actually appear to be any way to preorder this game for PC, nor any literature about it being F2P.

I understand the game is 3 months from release still, but this is something I'd expect to already be nailed down and publicly known by now.

I see preorders on EB's site, but none of them have any product details, but the graphic says beta access and exclusive items. Which means nobody's old EB what the hell they're selling yet, either.

[Malakili]

With three months til release and they are still behind an NDA, this will not be a pre-order or even a day one purchase, if it is even going to be purchased at all.

It is going to be free to play isn't it? 

Edit, maybe not I can't find that info now but I could have sworn I heard that.

[kildorn]

With three months til release and they are still behind an NDA, this will not be a pre-order or even a day one purchase, if it is even going to be purchased at all.

It is going to be free to play isn't it?

The most recent interview I could find said No. Sub choice or pay-per-content or F2P, they haven't actually decided yet. Which is worrisome.

[Ghambit]

I give this game a pass with having the NDA because there's a viable IP attached that they need to protect until the show releases.  Translation: any negative game press has the unfortunate effect of fucking up the show.  Knowing how game reviewers are, I wouldn't risk it either.

And really guys.  This show is not some SyFy joke.  Maybe it was mentioned in this thread earlier but I did some digging and found out who the creator was.  It's O'Bannon (old guys like me will remember his name scrolling in the credits on our old tube TVs  ).

Rockne S. O'Bannon is a television producer and writer. He is the creator of the science fiction movie Alien Nation, television shows seaQuest DSV, The Triangle and Farscape. More recently, he created the long awaited thriller drama Cult and the science fiction drama Defiance.

This has me a bit more optimistic and to the point I'd likely give the game a definitive shot regardless.  Had it been someone like Abrams or Spielberg I would've never even downloaded the beta.   And had the dev. been EA or Ubisoft et. al., likewise.  Trion+O'Bannon should theoretically be a good marriage.  Neither like to screw around with their offerings.

[Nija]

The NDA is going to be up until launch for the usual reasons.

Toss the game in the same bin with the rest of the NDA-til-launch games as well.

[kildorn]

To update my prior "why can't you actually order this game, that's odd":

PC preorders went up on their site, and on GMG and EB (no steam). So hey, they have that down! Also, they're listing no sub fee, so it looks like it's Buy to Play, with microtransactions of an unknown value.

[satael]

To update my prior "why can't you actually order this game, that's odd":

PC preorders went up on their site, and on GMG and EB (no steam). So hey, they have that down! Also, they're listing no sub fee, so it looks like it's Buy to Play, with microtransactions of an unknown value.

If it's buy to play (like gw2) I will probably get it. Any kind of subscription and I'll probably skip it (gw2 has spoiled me and I won't pay a sub anymore unless it's for something really incredible)

[Lantyssa]

Same here.  I don't mind a box cost, if it's reasonable.  For a sub though, I better be wined and dined.

[Falconeer]

Same here. The thing seems solid enough to deserve a one time purchase.

[kildorn]

By listing no sub fee, I don't mean "it's not on the list", but rather that they're listing that there is no sub fee.

The Ultimate $150 edition however comes with a DLC season pass, so I'm presuming that they're going to do a bunch of DLC episodes and content. Hopefully not too aggressively priced considering it's already a $60 game, and the $100 version doesn't have the DLC season pass either.

edit: and I'm absolutely interested in the no sub fee + those videos. I'd still love more information, but so far it looks like the promise that Firefall and GA made and missed.

[schpain]

The game aside; that trailer had a vaguely Firefly vibe to it.  Like the early episodes in Persephone and the battle in Serenity Valley etc etc.  Maybe it was the music running in the credits.  Is that why they've got us fanbois in a lather??

[Falconeer]

"No more Sy-Fy shows for me, they all get canceled and leave you hanging."

Which easily trickles down to the game.

[Ghambit]

Once again we're at this point where a company wants our money and we can't even advise eachother on whether to spend it or not.  I mean, is it even violating an NDA if I say "buy" or "wait?"

[Cadaverine]

The entire history of MMOs + SyFy show tie-in = wait.

[Ghambit]

Eh?  The only history was Stargate Worlds and it never got released.  And BSGO was a simple shitty webgame done after the show.  What other tie-ins have there been?  As I recall, Defiance will be the 1st one.
Speaking of BSG btw, the guy who did the effects for that series is doing Defiance as well.

[Stormwaltz]

What I've seen of the TV show has not seemed the slightest bit interesting. A bland regurgitation of long chewed-over ideas. It reminds me most of Earth 2, without the benefit of Earth 2's then-novel gimmick of "space ship crashes in the first episode, crew spends the rest of the series walking across a continent."

I have strong opinions about the beta. I'll try to remember to post them when the NDA is down.

[Ghambit]

I will agree that the whole IP seems a bit of a regurgitation, especially given its creator.  It really seems more of a late 90's era sci-fi series, only done with modern CGI and mildly original characters.  Thing is, I'm fine with that.  And in some ways, prefer it. We shall see.

I mean, at least they're trying guys.        Granted, I shouldn't confuse 'trying' with simply not having any other choice.  Network TV has pretty much abandoned sci-fi altogether and I dont see it coming back anytime soon save for a Trek series.

I do have an initial gripe that the premise of the game really doesn't match the premise of the show.  Arkhunters have nothing to do with the SyFy series to start and to me that's a bit of a let-down.  Grokking it today I realized the perfect utilization of this IP would've been something akin to Shadowrunner meets last season of Fringe.  Instead they went the opposite route with the show and are internalizing a small-town just trying to survive outside the influence of large corps. like Von Bach.  Mistake to me, but maybe they'll tie everything in somehow like DS9 did in later seasons.

Odds are initially the game will have little to do with the show simply because one is in San Fran and the other in St. Louis.

[Secundo]

Just wanted to add that some Russians have posted gameplay vids on youtube. Not going to link but when I checked it had 23k+ views.

Also going to say something later about the beta.  

[Riggswolfe]

The NDA is irritating the heck out of me. That is all.

[Ghambit]

Dont recall seeing this in here yet so, New Live-Action game trailer is up.
If you look close, you'll see an arkfall code to inject into your ego on the website.  Hint: watch the ego scene

So I guess we're not going to have a sub., which is nice.  And it looks like they're integrating the show with the game partly by easter-egging redeemable arkfall codes.  That's pretty slick.

Also new, Arkhunter Chronicles  (animated comic)

[Malakili]

This is up for pre-order on Steam now.  I'll pass myself.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/224600/

Base Offer

Pre-Purchase and Receive

Beta invite
3 day xp boost
Outlander outfit
In game title: Iron Demon
Steam Exclusive Weapon “Phoenix” sniper rifle

They are doing one of those "Tiered" things where the more people who pre-order the more you get, check out the link for details if you are interested.

[HaemishM]

I kept seeing that pre-order and couldn't remember what the fuck it was or why I couldn't remember it. Now I remember why I forgot it.